Hey Everybody! It's Fr. Edward

In this episode, Fr. Edward Looney speaks with Dr. Mary Amore of Mayslake Ministries about the spiritual power of daily devotionals and the importance of spiritual direction in the Christian life. They discuss three of her devotional books—Everyday with Jesus, Everyday with Mary, and Everyday with Joseph—and how these can help believers grow in faith one day at a time. Topics include: What is Mays...

Is The Life of Chuck worth seeing? Catholic priest and film reviewer Fr. Edward Looney gives his honest reaction to this mind-bending, deeply human film based on Stephen King’s short story. Fr. Looney had early access to a pre-screening but still went to the theater to watch it again—and in this video, he explains why. He shares why this film struck a deep emotional chord and why he thinks it's on...

What is real friendship—and why is it so hard to find today? In this honest and heartfelt conversation, Fr. Edward Looney sits down with Kristen Strong, author of Desperate Woman Seeks Friends (Thomas Nelson Books), to talk about the beauty, complexity, and spiritual depth of friendship in the modern world. Together they explore: Why Kristen begins her book with the simple phrase, “hello, friend”...

What happens when a Catholic priest lets a horror movie be filmed in his church? 🎬 Fr. Aaron Williams from Mississippi joins me to talk about hosting the filming of The Ritual, a new exorcism thriller set in the 1920s. We dive into why exorcisms continue to fascinate audiences, whether the movie is historically accurate, and what Catholics should know before watching. In this powerful conversatio...

Fr. Edward Looney shares personal and spiritual reflections while on the road—offering an update on his latest travels, the academic paper he's presenting, and his new commitment to better health through diet and exercise. He recounts his visit to the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, drawing parallels between evangelical reverence for Graham and Catholic devotion to saints and shrines. He closes...

Join Fr. Edward as he interviews Fr. John Nepil from the Archdiocese of Denver about his new book To Heights and Unto Depths: Letters from the Colorado Trail. In this powerful conversation, they explore the deep spiritual lessons Fr. Nepil learned while hiking the 500-mile Colorado Trail—from mountain beauty and solitude to failure, fatherhood, and faith. 🏔 Topics covered include: Why Fr. Nepil ti...

During the Year of St. Joseph, Fr. Edward Looney discovered a crowdfunded project aiming to honor St. Joseph with a powerful public mural in Detroit. After supporting the project himself, Fr. Edward recently had the chance to visit the mural in person—and in this inspiring episode, he speaks with Daniel Egan, the man who helped bring this tribute to life. Together they discuss: 🎨 The original ins...

In this episode of Hey Everybody, It’s Fr. Edward, Fr. Edward Looney sits down with Dr. Neomi DeAnda, director of the International Marian Research Institute (IMRI), to discuss the powerful connection between Mary and the movies. They dive into IMRI’s exciting "Movies with Mary" crowdfunding project, which runs through April 9, 2025. The conversation spans everything from mainstream depictions of...

Fr. Edward Looney was invited by the Centre for Marian Studies in England to give a virtual zoom presentation on his studies of Maria of Agreada and Anne Catherine Emmerich. This video is the recorded presentation reflecting on the passion accounts.

How does a movie go from an idea to the screen? In this episode, Fr. Edward sits down with David Alford and Joseph Stam of Cross Purpose Productions to discuss their film Searching for the Elephant, now streaming on Tubi, Amazon Prime, and more. They dive into the entire filmmaking process—story development, screenwriting, casting, production, and marketing. Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look...

Near-death experiences (NDEs) captivate people across religious and secular backgrounds, but how do they align with Catholic teaching? In this episode, Fr. Edward Looney sits down with Catholic author Scott L. Smith to explore NDEs from a faith-based perspective. They discuss the seven medical stages of NDEs—disembodiment, tunnel experiences, the Being of Light, life reviews, and more—while also d...

In this week’s episode of This Past Week, Fr. Edward Looney reflects on recent events, thought-provoking reads, and intriguing films: 🔹 What he saw – A viral photo from Cardinal McElroy’s installation sparked controversy. Was the church really empty, or was the image misleading? Fr. Looney discusses the importance of fact-checking social media claims before sharing them. 🔹 What he read – Don Ful...

At a time when many are preparing to enter the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil, we explore one of the most influential evangelists of the 20th century—Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Known as a convert maker, Sheen helped bring an estimated 42,000 people into the Church. In this episode, Dr. Cheryl Hughes joins Fr. Edward Looney to discuss her book on Fulton Sheen and his lasting impact on Catholic c...

In this episode of This Past Week, Fr. Edward Looney reflects on recent cultural trends, his Lenten writings, and spiritual insights: 🔹 What He Saw – From comedians mocking Christianity to concerning book covers, Fr. Edward questions why society tolerates such disrespect toward faith. He also reacts to the Oscars and expresses dismay over Anora winning Best Picture due to its explicit content. 🔹...

Can the power of a priest and sacramental grace truly heal addiction and restore a marriage? In this compelling conversation, author Kevin Wells joins Fr. Edward Looney to share the deeply personal story behind his latest book, The Hermit. After chronicling The Priests We Need to Save the Church and the life of Venerable Aloysius Schwartz, Kevin now opens up about his own marriage—one marked by st...

In this episode of This Past Week, Fr. Edward Looney reflects on the inspiring life of Joe Reali, a young man from New York who passed away at 25 and is remembered for his holiness—could he one day be a saint? Fr. Looney shares how Joe’s life challenges us to live as saints now and boldly share our faith. He also explores a powerful insight from St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s Sermons on the Song of So...

Fr. Edward introduces readers to the collect prayer and his new Lenten devotional, Praying with the Church through Lent. In this episode you will hear how he didn't want to write this book, what is the collect prayer, a few reflections about a few different collect prayers, and why he thinks it's important to pray and meditate on the collect. Buy the Book: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/prayi...

We are all sinners—but Venerable Louis of Granada offers a roadmap to holiness in his classic spiritual work, The Sinner’s Guide. In this powerful interview, Fr. Edward Looney sits down with Fr. Basil Cole, O.P., a Dominican scholar, to explore the wisdom of this TAN Books "Book of the Year." 🔹 Who was Venerable Louis of Granada? Discover his life, influence, and why his writings remain essential...

In this episode of This Past Week, Fr. Edward Looney shares insights on avoiding online scams, the ease of reading fiction over theology, and three movies he watched. 🔹 What I Saw: Controversy over patriarchy and the fallout from Hannah, a catfish account on X (Twitter) Scammers impersonating priests and bishops—why you should never buy gift cards online Prayers for Pope Francis in challenging ti...

Fr. Edward Looney and Kurt Deion may have different focuses, but they share a common passion—visiting the final resting places of significant historical figures. Kurt Deion, known as the Presidential Grave Hunter, has visited the graves of nearly every U.S. president and vice president, while Fr. Looney seeks out the burial sites of saints, blesseds, and other holy men and women. In this episode,...

Looking for a faith-filled romance novel to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day? In this episode of Hey Everybody, It's Fr. Edward, Fr. Edward Looney sits down with Rebecca Martin, author of Love in the Eternal City, to discuss her debut novel published by Chrism Press. You'll hear: ❤️ Why Catholic romance fiction exists and why it matters. ❤️ The love story of Elena and Benedict, a Swiss Guard, and how...

In this episode of This Past Week, Fr. Edward Looney reflects on faith, history, and unexpected surprises in daily life. 🔹 What I Saw: A post from The Wisconsin Explorer about the breathtaking Cathedral of St. Paul in Minnesota—how a non-Catholic’s appreciation of the cathedral resonated with Fr. Edward. 🔹 What I Read: A fascinating insight from Anne Catherine Emmerich, who claimed that Jesus se...

In this compelling episode, Fr. Edward Looney sits down with Tess Livingstone, acclaimed Australian journalist and biographer of George Cardinal Pell, to explore the remarkable life, ministry, and controversies surrounding one of the most influential Church leaders of our time. 🔹 Inside the Episode: ✅ How Cardinal Pell’s early life and love for soccer nearly led him to a professional sports care...

In this episode of This Past Week, Fr. Edward Looney covers a wide range of thought-provoking topics, from everyday inconveniences to deep reflections on faith, memory, and media. Dunkin’ Dilemma – How can a coffee shop run out of cup covers? Fr. Edward explores possible reasons and invites your thoughts. Plane Tragedy in Washington D.C. – Reflecting on the unimaginable emotions of those who narro...

What’s it like serving as a juror? In this episode, Anna Nuzzo shares her personal experience of being selected for jury duty—from navigating the selection process to participating in deliberations and hearing the final verdict. Discover how Anna’s Catholic faith shaped her perspective, including her prayers for the convicted individual after the trial. This insightful discussion explores civic du...