Life Beyond the Chariot | A Faith & Family Series

We sit down with Fr. George Elliott, priest of the Diocese of Tyler and pastor of “Catholic Nacogdoches” to discuss what it means to have a parish that is focused on building disciples. We talk about how his parish is helping people through a discipleship pathway, how they are forming parish leaders, and how this model of discipleship has impacted how they do marriage formation for engaged couples...

When the Vatican published the Catechumenal Pathways for Married Life document last year, it raised a lot of questions about what marriage preparation should look like: Why is the Church asking for longer preparation? What do all the proposed phases and stages mean? In today’s episode, we talk about what the Marriage Catechumenate is, and why it matters for both engaged and married couples.    Sho...

What’s the point of baptism prep? What makes a good baptism program? In today’s episode, we discuss things that both parents and parishes can do to make that experience even better.   Resources: Article by Marcel LeJeune: Sacramental Formation - Moving From Forms and Classes to Relationship and Conversion (Catholic Missionary Disciples - College Station, TX)  Way of the Holy Family Baptism Prep (...

We continue our conversation with Catholic speaker and musician Noelle Garcia to talk about what it means to be a Catholic woman—this time zooming in to our vocations as wives and mothers. There are a lot of strong opinions out there on where women belong... should they work outside the home, what does it mean to be submissive to your husband... and these can be controversial topics! The primary q...

In today’s culture we hear a lot of people asking, “What is a Woman?” Understanding our identity as men and women seems to be a challenge. But as women of faith, we see an opportunity to take that question even deeper: What is the spiritual impact of being a woman? In today’s episode we sit down with Noelle Garcia, a wife & Mom who serves as the Director of Catholic Programs for EQ Saints, to...

We continue our conversation with Fr. John-Mary Bowlin of the Diocese of Tyler to talk about spiritual warfare—specifically, about the spiritual practices and disciplines we can engage in as Catholic families. If you have a child or loved one who has fallen away from the Faith, we hope this conversation can bring hope and encouragement and offer guidance on ways to pray. 

What does it mean to engage in the spiritual battle as Catholic families? In today’s episode we begin a two-part conversation with Fr. John-Mary Bowlin (priest of the Diocese of Tyler) on the spiritual battle and the role of parents in protecting their children from the Evil One.

We are continuing our conversation about Body Literacy with Christina Valenzuela from Pearl & Thistle, this time focusing on how we share this education with our daughters. Christina explains why this conversation with our girls is so important and why they need to hear this from us as moms. She also offers very practical advice on how and when we should start to introduce this education and how t...

We have talked about Natural Family Planning and Fertility Awareness before, but have you ever heard of Body Literacy? In today’s episode we sit down with Christina Valenzuela, founder of Pearl & Thistle, to talk about Lifelong Body Literacy for Women-- what it is, why it is important, and how this is helping women in all seasons of life.    Show Notes:  Learn more about Pearl & Thistle at https:/...

In this final part of the talk series from our favored. retreat, we are sharing the keynote by Sister Josephine Garrett entitled “Living as the Favored One”.   Once we receive the loving Gaze of the Father, how do we live as women of faith? It doesn’t mean that we won’t struggle, but it does mean that we can be rooted in the love and mercy of God and continue to return to His gaze.   To view pictu...

This week we’re sharing Deanna Johnston’s keynote called “Receiving the Father’s Gaze” from our Women’s Retreat in the Diocese of Tyler, favored.   In this talk, Deanna encourages women to reflect on their relationship with God, what it means to receive God’s loving gaze, and how the Blessed Mother models for us the way we can be at peace and have confidence in God’s unconditional love.  To view p...

On March 25th, the St. Philip Institute hosted a Women’s Retreat here in the Diocese of Tyler called “favored.” This first keynote given by Chika Anyanwu is called “Worldly Favor.” Chika talks about what can happen when our sense of worth and desires of our heart are not rooted in God first and foremost. She shares her own story in a beautiful way that will leave you feeling uplifted and encourage...

What can moms learn from St. John the Baptist? In today’s episode we talk about the qualities from this saint that can help us in our vocation (you know, besides being a voice “crying out in the wilderness” at our kids…).   Resources: Year of Baptism & St. John the Baptist  2023 Eucharistic Congress Registration CET Article from Dr. Luke Arredondo  

At the beginning of Advent 2022, the Diocese of Tyler entered into the Year of Baptism and St. John the Baptist. In today’s episode we sit down with His Excellency, Bishop Joseph Strickland to discuss his hopes for our diocese over the coming year, and what we can receive by responding joyfully and intentionally to our baptismal call.   Show Notes: Year of Baptism & St. John the Baptist    Save th...

Death can be a difficult reality to face; but in light of our Catholic faith we have a tremendous reason for hope! In today’s episode we sit down with Fr. Justin Braun, pastor of Sacred Heart in Texarkana, to discuss what it means to have a “happy” death, and what are some of the practical things we can do when accompanying someone in their final moments.    Show Notes: Litany of the Saints    On...

How do we help our children to not only prepare for their sacraments, but also help them to have a relationship with Jesus? In today’s episode we talk about very practical ways we can accompany our children in their sacrament formation in a way that also nurtures their walk with Jesus for a lifetime.    Resources: Sacrament Preparation Worksheets (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1O41C0lAUOF...

During this episode, we visit with special guest, Noelle Garcia McHugh, to discuss Mary and how we can have a relationship with her. We address some of the following questions: How is Mary a model of motherhood? What does Mary teach us about trusting God? Mary experienced an absence of Jesus too-- what can we learn from her? How can we help bring her into the lives of our children?   Watch on YouT...

Also on YouTube: Slay Your Dragons     Additional Resources: Temperance Worksheets     Email us at podcast@stphilipinstitute.org or Join our Facebook Community ! 

For NFP Awareness Week we’re throwing it back to a great episode from our archive! Are Natural Family Planning and contraception the same thing? Is it possible to use NFP with a “contraceptive mentality”? In today’s episode, we break open the Church’s teaching on these issues.    Watch on YouTube: Is NFP Just Catholic Contraception? (Throwback Episode)   Additional Resources ~ Real Talk on NFP by...

In today’s episode we break open the virtue of Fortitude-- how this is so much more than simply being “brave” but how it helps us to achieve difficult goods, and endure difficult things.   Watch on YouTube: Beyond Comfort and Into Greatness (Fortitude)   Other YouTube Episodes: How to Deal Justly (Virtue of Justice) The Virtue of Faith (SPI Podcast) Why the World Needs Christian Hope (SPI Podcast)...

Justice is one of the least understood virtues! Is Justice about punishment and giving people what is coming to them? Or does it have more to do with being in right relationship with God and others? Continuing our series on the Cardinal Virtues, we unpack what Justice actually means and how to practically live this virtue out in daily life.   Watch on YouTube:  How to Deal Justly with Others   Oth...

How do we make “good” decisions? Better yet, how do we make decisions that also draw us closer to God? In today’s episode we discuss the virtue of prudence and offer some practical tips for living this out in family life.   Watch on YouTube: How to Make Good Decisions   Other Episodes: Can We Talk About Virtue (with Dr. Luke Arredondo) How to Keep Satan Out of Your Summer   Additional Resources Pr...

This week there’s an exciting new video on the St. Philip Institute’s YouTube channel! Joel McMichael is a seminarian for the Diocese of Tyler here in East Texas, and he shares his conversion story from growing up Baptist to converting to the Catholic Faith and entering seminary! Head on over to the St. Philip Institute YouTube channel and watch here: https://youtu.be/UJ93j_OjmAY

We are excited to launch a new series of episodes that focus specifically on the virtues! In this introductory episode with Dr. Luke Arredondo, Director of Faith Formation, and host of the St. Philip Institute Podcast, we lay the foundation for what is virtue, the differences between the Cardinal and Theological Virtues, and why these are essential to the Christian life.   From the St. Philip Inst...

Fr. Justin Braun, Pastor of Sacred Heart in Texarkana and Chaplain of the St. Philip Institute, shares how the Eucharist played an important part in his vocation story. He offers practical advice on leading our children, particularly older teens, to a deeper love of the Eucharist and how we can increase Eucharistic devotion during Mass and in our homes.   Watch on YouTube: