Just An Average Catholic - Pursuing Holiness in Ordinary Life

Twenty weeks ago,  Just An Average Catholic  began with a simple question: What does it mean to live as an ordinary Catholic striving for holiness? In this Season One finale, we look back on the journey we've shared together—from discovering that holiness is for everyone, to growing through prayer, Scripture, the sacraments, service, and ultimately finding our way back to the heart of our Cath...

What happens when we faithfully answer God's invitation to the Mass—not just once, but week after week? In this episode of  Just An Average Catholic , we continue our journey by exploring the "Where" and the "When" of the Mass. While the obvious answers may be  our parish church  and  Sunday , we'll discover that God's invitation reaches far beyond a building and fa...

Why do Catholics go to Mass? For many people, Mass can begin to feel routine. Some say they don't get anything out of it. Others struggle with busy schedules, disagreements with a priest, or the belief that watching online is enough. But what if we've forgotten what the Mass truly is—and more importantly, Who is waiting for us there? In this episode of  Just An Average Catholic , Michael C...

In this heartfelt episode of  Just An Average Catholic , Michael Champagne explores a question that touches countless Catholic families: what happens when loved ones walk away from the faith? Whether you're a parent grieving the loss of your child's connection to the Church, a grandparent longing to share your faith with your grandchildren, or someone who has drifted away from Catholicism...

In Episode 16 of Just An Average Catholic, Michael Champagne reflects on the beauty, challenges, and spiritual purpose of Catholic marriage and family life in a world that often struggles to understand commitment, sacrifice, and faithfulness. “Catholic Marriage: Growing in Holiness Together” explores how husbands and wives help shape one another through ordinary daily life — not through perfection...

Some people enter our lives for only a short time… yet leave an impact that lasts forever. In this heartfelt episode of Just An Average Catholic, Michael Champagne reflects on the people God places in our lives — mentors, family members, friends, coworkers, teachers, spiritual guides, and even unexpected strangers whose encouragement, wisdom, and kindness help shape who we become. Through personal...

What does it really mean to live our faith once Sunday Mass is over? In Episode 14 of  Just An Average Catholic , Michael Champagne reflects on the challenge of carrying our Catholic faith into everyday life — into our workplaces, families, friendships, conversations, and even the difficult moments we face each day. In a world filled with noise, division, distraction, and constant pressure, authen...

What happens when prayer feels empty… and God feels distant? In this episode of  Just An Average Catholic , Michael Champagne reflects on the spiritual dry seasons that many Christians experience but few openly discuss. Whether caused by exhaustion, grief, distraction, suffering, or quiet spiritual growth, these seasons can leave us wondering where God is — and whether our faith is weakening. But...

Last episode, we reflected on recognizing the voice of God. But hearing Him is only the beginning. The real question is: what happens next? In Episode 12 of Just An Average Catholic, we explore what it means to truly follow Christ in the middle of uncertainty, suffering, and everyday life. This episode challenges the idea of being an “à la carte Catholic” — choosing only the comfortable parts of t...

In Episode 11 of  Just An Average Catholic , we explore one of the most important questions in the spiritual life: How do you recognize the voice of God? Is it a feeling? A thought? A sense of peace? Or something else entirely? God is always speaking—but discerning His voice from our own thoughts, emotions, or outside noise can be challenging. In this episode, we break down what discernment really...

Episode 10 – God Forms Us Slowly We live in a world that expects quick results, clear answers, and immediate progress. But spiritual growth usually doesn’t happen that way. In this episode of  Just an Average Catholic , we reflect on patience, trust, and the quiet ways God works over time. Through Scripture, personal reflection, and the reminder that God has a good plan for each of us, we’re invit...

Faith is not only something we believe, pray, or learn. It is something we live. In this episode of  Just an Average Catholic , I reflect on how serving others can become more than an act of charity — it can become an encounter with Christ. Drawing from my experience with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, I share how the simple act of being present can bring dignity, compassion, and hope to thos...

Many of us want to understand Scripture more deeply… but sometimes it can feel confusing, distant, or difficult to apply to everyday life. What if we’re not meant to do it alone? In this episode of  Just an Average Catholic , we reflect on how listening to Scripture with others can open new insight, deepen faith, and reveal how God still speaks personally through His Word today. Because the same G...

In this episode of  Just an Average Catholic , I reflect on what it means to discover your faith all over again. For many of us, faith begins as something we learn—through school, catechism, or routine. But at some point, we’re invited to experience it more personally. Drawing from the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35), I explore how faith often deepens not through sudde...

Prayer is something most of us want to do more consistently… But it doesn’t always come easily. We feel busy. Distracted. Unsure of what to say. And sometimes, prayer becomes something we intend to do — but struggle to make part of our daily lives. In this episode of  Just an Average Catholic , we reflect on why prayer can feel difficult and how it often comes down not to time, but to priority. Th...

Many of us want to grow in our faith… but the idea of spiritual growth can sometimes feel overwhelming. We think it requires dramatic change — more prayer, more discipline, more effort. But what if growth happens in a much simpler way? In this episode of  Just an Average Catholic , we reflect on how faith is shaped not through big moments, but through small, consistent habits practiced over time....

The middle of Lent can be an honest moment. The enthusiasm of Ash Wednesday has faded, and many of us begin to wonder how our Lenten commitments are really going. In this episode of  Just an Average Catholic , we reflect on the grace of beginning again through the Gospel story of the Prodigal Son. Because Lent is not about proving ourselves to God — it’s about returning to Him. And wherever we fin...

Many Catholics don’t reject holiness — they quietly disqualify themselves from it. In this episode of  Just an Average Catholic , we explore the subtle habit of comparing our faith to the people around us. Whether it’s someone who seems to pray more, know more, or serve more visibly, comparison can slowly turn spiritual formation into spiritual performance. But the Gospel tells a different story....

In this episode, we discuss the misconceptions people have about holiness. We delve into why holiness isn't reserved for just a few. Many people don't believe they are worthy to become holy, and that's just not the case. We're all called by God to be holy - it's just that many people don't know where to begin. #spiritualgrowth #faithjourney #catholicspirituality #catholicfa...

This is the inaugural episode of Just An Average Catholic, a podcast about pursuing holiness in ordinary life. It's designed to lay the foundation for a series of conversations about what an average Catholic person can do to increase their spirituality and holiness in their daily lives. No matter where you are in your faith journey, you can always find additional ways to grow closer in your pe...