henrinouwensociety

What does it mean to find home in a wounded world? In this deeply moving episode of Now and Then ...Again, host Wendy VanderWal Martin welcomes Dr. Carlos Thompson, professor of Christian Ministry and Disability at Western Theological Seminary and steward of the Friendship House Fellows Program. Fresh from his keynote address at the Henri Nouwen Society’s international conference, Longing for Home...

In this episode of Now and Then Again, host Wendy Vanderwal Martin speaks with Meagan Harkins, a participant in the Henri Nouwen Society’s “30 Under 30” program. Meagan shares her journey from early encounters with Henri Nouwen’s writings to her current work in foster care and social work. Together, they explore themes of identity, belonging, and spiritual formation—reflecting on what it means to...

In this episode of Now and Then Again, host Wendy VanderWal Martin speaks with Jenna Calabrese, a member of the Henri Nouwen Society’s 30 Under 30 cohort and newly licensed occupational therapist. Jenna shares how her encounter with Henri Nouwen’s writings and her experience at L’Arche shaped her vocation, spiritual life, and understanding of presence and participation in a wounded world. Together...

In this episode of Now & Then… Again, Wendy VanderWal Martin sits down with Matthew Vaccaro, a Divinity student, youth minister, and member of the Henri Nouwen Society’s 30 Under 30 cohort. Matthew reflects on his journey from an anxiety-filled rapture theology to the spacious, compassionate spirituality of Henri Nouwen. Together, they explore loneliness, community, Gen Z’s exhaustion with product...

In this episode of Now & Then… Again, Wendy VanderWal Martin sits down with Gavin Cogburn—a Texas-based spiritual director-in-training, retreat leader, and member of the Henri Nouwen Society’s 30 Under 30 cohort. Gavin shares her surprising journey from early childhood education to interfaith spiritual formation, her deep connection to Henri Nouwen’s writings, and her vision for creating retreats...

In this episode, Gaby Salib shares how Henri Nouwen’s spiritual wisdom shaped her faith, vocation, and sense of belovedness amid the pressures of academia and early adulthood. Drawing from her Coptic Orthodox roots and participation in the 30 Under 30 cohort, Gaby reflects on ecumenical friendship, mentoring across traditions, motherhood, and her creative project of children’s books inspired by Li...

In this rich and intimate conversation, four of Henri Nouwen’s former Harvard Divinity School assistants—Jim Smith, Barbara Prey, Peter Weiskel, and Michael C. O'Laughlin—reunite to reflect on a formative era in Henri’s life and work. Together, they open a window into the daily rhythms, challenges, joys, and spiritual depth of accompanying Henri during his influential Harvard years. With warmth, h...

As the noise of the holiday season rises, how can we recover the stillness, peace, and joy at the heart of Advent? In this deeply moving episode of Now & Then, host Wendy VanderWal Martin welcomes pastor and author Rich Villodas to explore his new devotional, Waiting for Jesus: An Advent Invitation to Prayer and Renewal. Rich shares how the rhythms of the church calendar have reoriented his life a...

In this insightful episode of Henri's Bookshelf, host Wendy VanderWal Martin is joined by her daughter Renate Carson to dive deep into Henri Nouwen's powerful work Peacework. The episode explores how Nouwen’s teachings on peacemaking—rooted in prayer, resistance, and community—remain relevant in today's divided world. Renate, a theology and culture student at St. Stephen University, shares her per...

Bruce’s guest today is Stacey Campbell. Stacey serves as the President & CEO of Prison Fellowship Canada, a national ministry organization that prepares and mobilizes the Church community in response to the issue of crime and the restoration of offenders. Stacey and HNS ED Bruce Adema discuss Henri Nouwen’s letter that talks about power. How do spiritual power and worldly power manifest themselves...

Bruce’s guest today is Father Dr. Ron Rolheiser. Father Ron is a Roman Catholic priest and a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He’s a community builder, lecturer and writer. He now serves on the faculty of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonia Texas, where was President for 15 years. Ron speaks with HNS ED Bruce Adema about a letter of Henri Nouwen in which he reflects on...

Welcome to Henri’s Bookshelf, a podcast brought to you by the Henri Nouwen Society — where timeless words spark fresh conversations. In this episode, host Dr. Wendy VanderWal Martin is joined by Rev. Dr. Kyle Norman for a rich and reflective dive into one of Henri Nouwen’s most enduring works: Reaching Out. Together, they explore Nouwen’s spiritual vision of the inner journey — from loneliness to...

Bruce’s guest today is Dr. Adriana Bara, the National Director of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, which works in the Middle East, northeast Africa, India, and Eastern Europe. She speaks with HNS ED Bruce Adema about Henri Nouwen’s 1991 letter to Sister Marcia Hobart, an Anchoress who had written to Henri about the Persian Gulf War that was happening at the time. Considering what’s happ...

Bruce’s guest today is Dr. Luther E. Smith Jr. Luther is Professor Emeritus of Church and Community, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, and is the author and editor of influential books on Howard Thurman, Christian community, and spiritual practices. Luther and Henri Nouwen Society ED Bruce Adema discuss a letter Henri Nouwen wrote to his friend Sue Mosteller about his concerns, even ap...

Many of Henri Nouwen's deep spiritual insights arose from experiences of anguish. In the Inner Voice of Love, Nouwen penned spiritual imperatives for himself during the most difficult period of his life. Meant to be a deeply personal journal, friends encouraged him to offer it as a gift of consolation for those who live through the pain of broken relationships and immense loss. In this podcast con...

Bruce’s guest today is Sharon Ramsay. Sharon has worked as a registered psychotherapist and registered marriage and family therapist, helping individuals journey through unexpected experiences in different seasons of life. She also is a board member of the Henri Nouwen Society! Sharon and HNS ED Bruce Adema discuss Henri Nouwen’s letter written to a Free Methodist Church gathering, and the letter...

Bruce’s guest is Rev. Dr. Sam Lee. Sam is a co-lead pastor at Spring Garden, Baptist Church in Toronto. He has over 15 years of ministry experience with children and youth ministry. His dissertation focused on central role of spiritual identity in youth, integrating Henry Nouwen’s book, The Life of the Beloved. Sam and HNS ED Bruce Adema discuss one of Henri Nouwen’s letters that talks about the v...

In this episode, Wendy and Sandy expand on Henri Nouwen's wisdom in his book, Aging: The Fulfillment of Life. Their conversation considers the opportunities and challenges for those in the third act of life in our current context. Sandy shares insights and reflections from her work in accompanying others through conscious aging. Sharing stories and reflections on death and dying round out this eng...

Bruce’s guest today is Mary Tutterow. Mary lives in South Carolina and is an author, speaker, and workshop leader. Her books, “The Heart of the Caregiver” and “The Peaceful Caregiver,” and the wisdom that she has gained come from her family’s situation and her deep reflection on it. In this episode, Mary and HNS ED Bruce Adema discuss Henri Nouwen’s letter about spiritual care for people with seve...

Bruce’s guest today is Dr. John Vissers. John is a member of the Knox College Faculty (Knox is part of the University of Toronto). John is a former Principal of Knox, as well as a former Moderator of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. He also serves as a board member of the Henri Nouwen Society. John and HNS ED Bruce Adema discuss a letter Henri Nouwen wrote to a minister who is experiencing confl...

In the beautiful compilation, Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life, Henri Nouwen invites us to learn to listen deeply to the voice of the Spirit. Encouraging us to encounter this voice through books, nature, people and events, Nouwen reminds us that God is ever present. In this episode of Henri's bookshelf, we speak with Sam Cooper, a pastor who has accompanied a local community of faith f...

The last manuscript of Henri J.M. Nouwen, left unfinished at his sudden death in 1996, recounts his transformative friendship with a traveling trapeze troupe, the Flying Rodleighs. Nouwen thought his trapeze story could become his most important book. Author Carolyn Whitney-Brown, Henri's colleague and friend, was invited to take the unpublished material and offer it to readers as the final metaph...

Henri Nouwen gave a series of lectures on the importance of following Jesus in an age of anxiety which became the basis for this book. Following Jesus explores calling and purpose, fear and hope, and why, when the twenty-first-century seeker has so many choices, including atheism and secularism, the greatest reward for those looking for fulfillment is to choose to embrace the truth of God’s love....

Melinda's journey reminds us all of the deep grace that is ours when we stop and experience that we are truly Beloved. Bio: Melinda's career spans over 20 years of broadcast, motivational speaking, and advocacy experience. In January 2017, Melinda became the Executive Producer and Host of the show, See Hear Love. Melinda's hope and joy in life is to share her personal story of faith, grace, and re...

Artist David Hayward shares a transformational encounter with Henri Nouwen and the freedom he has experienced embracing his creativity. Bio: David Hayward, also known as the Naked Pastor, is a pastor turned artist painting, drawing, and thinking about what it takes to be free to be you. The idea behind the name is to seek to tell the naked truth - no matter how vulnerable it feels. Through his art...