Deacons Pod

In this episode of Deacons Pod, we take note of the United States' 250th anniversary this July 4, and the ways it is being marked by the Paulists. Deacon Mike Hayes, one of the Paulist Deacon Affiliates, also shares memories his father, who immigrated from Ireland to Yonkers, NY.

In this episode of Deacons Pod, we hear from Sr. Susan Francois, CSJP, about the witness and ministry taking place outside Delaney Hall, a facility used for immigrant detention in Newark, NJ. Delaney Hall is managed by the GEO Group under contract for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Deacon Mike Hayes, one of the Paulist Deacon Affiliates, asks Sr. Susan about conditions for the det...

Paulist Fr. Ricky Manalo speaks with the Paulist Deacon Affiliates in this episode of Deacons Pod about Pope Leo XIV's new encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas." The document addresses the challenges humanity faces due to artificial intelligence. Fr. Ricky has made understanding AI part of his ministry. He is a co-founder of CatholicFaithAI.org. His next book "The Catholic Handbook on AI" will be publi...

Charlene Howard, executive director of Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace movement, is our special guest on this episode of Deacons Pod. "Peace is not a destination. It's a way of life," she tells Deacon Mike Berstene, one of the Paulist Deacon Affiliates, as she describes Pax Christi's work to promote peace, non-violence, and justice in the model of Jesus Christ. Deacon Mike asks Charle...

In this special episode of Deacons Pod, we feature an audio diary created by Deacon Mike Hayes while he attended the 25th anniversary celebrations for the Paulist Fathers' media ministry Busted Halo held April 18 and April 19, 2026, in New York City. Deacon Mike, now one of the Paulist Deacon Affiliates, was one of the founders of Busted Halo in 2001. In this audio diary, he recalls some of the mi...

This special episode of Deacons Pod brings us a remembrance of athlete and radio broadcaster Marty Glickman (1917 - 2001) at the time of the 90th anniversary of the 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin, Germany. Glickman was a sprinter on the U.S. team at the 1936 Olympics. It was anticipated that he would run as part of the four-man relay squad. But, on the day of the race, the U.S. Olympic Committe...

What role do Catholic deacons play in the Church during Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum? That is one of the questions that four Paulist Deacon Affiliates addressed in this Deacons Pod episode recorded on Holy Thursday 2026 just as Lent was coming to an end and the Sacred Triduum was about to begin. Deacon Drew Dickson, Deacon Dennis Dolan, Deacon Mike Hayes, and Deacon Patrick Ouellette also shar...

Paulist Productions' new documentary "Baseball: Beyond Belief" is the subject of this special episode of Deacons Pod. Based on the book "Baseball as a Road to God: Seeing Beyond the Game" by former New York University president John Sexton, the documentary explores how baseball and faith intertwine in powerful and surprising ways. In the episode, Deacon Mike Hayes of the Paulist Deacon Affiliates ...

What is our relationship to the Bible as an object? What does it mean for us when the Bible is used as a means of control? Does the Bible become an "accessory" to crimes of violence or exclusion? How do we read the Scriptures in ways that heal rather than harm? These are just some of the questions tackled in this special episode of Deacons Pod in which the Paulist Deacon Affiliates interview our o...

Longtime Catholic writer Mary DeTurris Poust is our guest on this episode of Deacons Pod. A former Director of Communications for the Diocese of Albany, NY, Mary has been a reporter, editor, and columnist for multiple diocesan newspapers. She also is author of several books on spiritual topics, leads retreats, and serves as a spiritual director. Her blog and website are called "Not Strictly Spirit...

Spiritual director, retreat leader, and author Becky Eldredge visits with the Paulist Deacon Affiliates in this special episode of Deacons Pod. The founder of Ignatian Ministries, Becky accompanies clergy, religious, and lay leaders in monthly spiritual direction and through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. She also trains spiritual directors, and works with individuals and groups to teach...

Esteemed Catholic author and speaker Lisa Hendey is our guest on this special episode of Deacons Pod. She speaks with the Paulist Deacon Affiliates about her new book "Jesus Every Day, Jesus Every Way: A Weekly Devotional" from Loyola Press. The book has 52 weekly entries which readers may begin on any week of the year. Each entry includes prayer, Scripture, a reflection, thought-provoking questio...

Maryknoll Fr. James Kroeger, a longtime missionary and author, speaks with the Paulist Deacon Affiliates in this episode of Deacons Pod. Fr. Kroeger, who was a missionary in Asia for more than five decades, shares details about his life and ministry, and reflects on the 60th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. Ordained a priest in 1975, he is the author of many articles as well as multiple...

In this "Year In Review" episode of Deacons Pod, the Paulist Deacon Affiliates comment on the highs and lows of 2025 for them personally and in their ministries. "Through it all, I have seen the hand of God," reflects Deacon Patrick Ouellette. The deacons also chat about which of our 2025 episodes and guests resonated with them.

In this special Advent episode of Deacons Pod, the Paulist Deacon Affiliates welcome two guests: Maggi Van Dorn, host and producer of America Media's Hark! podcast, and Shemaiah Gonzalez, author of the new book "Undaunted Joy: The Revolutionary Act of Cultivating Delight." The deacons speak with Maggi about three of the Christmas carols featured in this Advent's new season of "Hark!," including "C...

Bishop Daniel Turley, O.S.A., is our guest on this special episode of Deacons Pod. Like Pope Leo XIV, he is a Chicago native, a member of the Midwest Augustinians, and served for decades as a missionary in Peru. In this conversation with the Paulist Deacon Affiliates, Bishop Turley shares memories of Pope Leo and speaks about the pope's gift for listening. He also provides insights into the August...

How does the Church welcome people and express hospitality? How does the Church live out Catholic social teaching? Are our parishes in "maintenance mode" or "mission mode"? These are some of the important questions that Sr. Donna Ciangio, O.P., discusses with the Paulist Deacon Affiliates in this episode of Deacons Pod. Sr. Donna has served since 2018 as Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Newark in...

Colleen Dulle, author of the compelling new book "Struck Down, Not Destroyed: Keeping the Faith as a Vatican Reporter," is our guest on this episode of Deacons Pod hosted by the Paulist Deacon Affiliates. Colleen is the Vatican correspondent for America Media where she co-hosts the "Inside the Vatican" podcast. In "Struck Down, Not Destroyed," Colleen shares her personal faith journey and how, at...

In this episode of Deacons Pod, three of the Paulist Deacon Affiliates take note of some of the things happening in the United States, including the federal government shutdown; the demolition of the White House's East Wing; the banishment of the Pentagon press corps; and more. They also report on happenings in their own ministries and reflect on some of the topics in our recent episodes.

In this special episode of Deacons Pod, Deacon Patrick Murphy-Racey and Deacon Mark Asselin remember their moms, Sheila Murphy and Julienne Asselin, who both passed away earlier this year. Deacon Patrick and Deacon Mark share details about their moms' lives and how they each died. The deacons also reflect on how their faith has sustained them over the past year.

In this thought-provoking episode of Deacons Pod, the Paulist Deacon Affiliates speak with esteemed Catholic speaker and broadcaster Gloria Purvis. On Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 6 p.m. Eastern, Gloria will deliver the 2025 Gallagher Talk at the Catholic Information Center, a Paulist Fathers ministry in Grand Rapids, MI, on the topic "The Role of Compassion in a Divided World." Those intereste...

In this special episode of Deacons Pod, the Paulist Deacon Affiliates discuss "the friendship recession" – the possible change in the way adults today experience and maintain friendships, notably due to workplace changes sparked by the COVID pandemic. During their conversation, the deacons consider how "the friendship recession" differs between men and women, as well as the role of friendships in...

The new Paulist Press book "Women Responding to the Spirit: Selections from the Madeleva Lectures" is the topic of this special episode of Deacons Pod. Since 1985, the Center for the Study of Spirituality at Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN, has hosted the annual Madeleva Lecture. This book is a one-volume anthology of essential selections from this world-class program. The lectures were del...

In this "Back to School" episode of Deacons Pod, the Paulist Deacon Affiliates have a wonderful conversation with Marissa Papula, the Director of Campus Ministry at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. They speak about what draws today's college students to Catholic campus ministry; the powerful impact of Kairos weekend retreats; and much more. Marissa also is a contributor to Catholic Wome...

In this special episode of Deacons Pod, learn about the lives and ministries of our three brand new Paulist Deacon Affiliates. They are Deacon Mike Berstene of Tollan, CT; Deacon Mike Hayes of Cleveland, OH; and Deacon Dennis Rybicki of Grand Rapids, MI.