In Via

Why would a pastor include pilgrimage in his new pastoral plan? Join us as Father Thomas Haan shares with us what role he hopes pilgrimage will play in his suburban parish. We discuss the importance of encounter in religious formation, whether through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Eucharistic Adoration, or pilgrimage. Listen as we share the transformative impact of pilgrimages, not only in awak...

Walking for hundreds of miles on pilgrimage sounds like the best and worst thing - and that's what attracted Angie Bosio to the Camino. In this unique episode, Angie sits down with us before and after her journey! She shares what she expects to be the best and worst parts of the trip - and returns to tell us whether she was right. She also reveals why she was doing the "minimum" - t...

Join us as we talk with renowned art historian, author, and tour guide Liz Lev. Liz has been working as a guide in Rome and the Vatican for over 20 years - in this discussion, you'll quickly see why she's the most sought-after guide to the Vatican Museums. We discuss the evangelizing power of beauty and the attempt to blunt that power (along with where the guilt lies for allowing that to...

We often think of Advent as waiting for the Lord to come, but perhaps we can also flip that image: rather than seeing it as waiting for the Messiah to find us, can we also see it as a journey for us to find the Messiah? This week's guest is Carolyn Pirtle, program director at the Notre Dame Center for Liturgy in the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame. We look at...

Has the Holy Land been on your heart and mind in the past months? Join us for an in-depth discussion with our special guest, Jenna Streich, who called Jerusalem home while she studied abroad in 2018. Jenna's unique perspective and experiences shed light on the beauty that is the Holy Land, not just as a historical or tourist site, but as a vibrant community brimming with culture and people wh...

To go on pilgrimage means to be open to surprises! In this episode, I chat with Rachel Gilman, the  director of Youth Ministry for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Rachel and I talk about her experiences both in Italy and on World Youth Day. We revisit Rachel's profound encounters with the churches, saints, and relics of Rome, plus the epiphanic moment she had in a quiet, empty church in Lisb...

In this special edition episode, John Paul and Joan endeavor to discuss a complex and often volatile topic. This time last year, John Paul was living with his young family in Jerusalem.  This first hand experience gave him some unique views of the complex paradox that is Jerusalem - a land entwined with beauty and tragedy, death and resurrection. We also discuss Christianity's potential influ...

This week, we're sitting down with Father Chase C.S.C., a Holy Cross priest and Dante scholar. In addition to hearing about Father Chase's experience on the Camino de Santiago, we'll delve into Dante's Divine Comedy. Can we say the Divine Comedy itself is a type of pilgrimage?  Together, we'll traverse through Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso, understanding how life can de...

Can you imagine ever thinking losing your luggage might be a ... gift? Connect with us as we engage in a rich conversation with Taylor, a two-time World Youth Day pilgrim. She recounts her captivating experiences in Panama and Portugal, sharing moments of joy, reflection, and even hardship, all through a lens of faith and spiritual growth. Taylor found a balance between joy and introspection, lear...

Have you ever wondered about the transformative power of a pilgrimage? Join Joan and Sylvia, a theology student from Marian University, as they unpack her pilgrimage to World Youth Day.  Travel mishaps and disappointments can often derail our plans, but imagine allowing God to transform them into profound lessons of spirituality. Listen in as Sylvia describes her experience at World Youth Day, fro...

Ever wondered why people embark on pilgrimages? Is it just a religious vacation or is there a deeper purpose to it? In our latest podcast episode, John Paul and Joan delve into the essence of these sacred journeys, speaking to common misconceptions and highlighting the difference between a vacation and a pilgrimage. While a tourist may enjoy a vacation free of worries and responsibilities, a pilgr...

What happens when the Lord actually answers a prayer on pilgrimage? In this first episode, Joan and John Paul explore the beginnings of Verso Ministries, a pilgrimage company, and how the Lord works when we're vulnerable and ask him to enter in.