Practicing Catholic Show

While students head back to school, do you feel like doing some learning yourself? Well, you’re in luck! The Catholic Social Difference speaker series from the newly formed Center for Catholic Social Thought is perfect for you, and Colin Miller, the Center’s founder, joined host Patrick Conley to tell you why.  Like what you're hearing? Leave us a review and follow us on social media @practici...

Long lines. Sleeping outside on the ground with hundreds of thousands of other young people. A DJ priest, and, hanging out with our Holy Father. That’s what many of us saw in news coverage of World Youth Day, held in Portugal - but we all know there’s a lot more to it than that. Host Patrick Conley sat down with Michelle Boris and Paul Lucke to unpack their experience at World Youth Day.  Like wha...

When we offer prayers for vocations in Mass, the priesthood and the religious life are often mentioned, sometimes the diaconate, and occasionally the married life...but we don’t often hear about Consecrated single life, specifically, the life of a Consecrated Virgin living in the world—a calling that seems to be increasing in popularity as of late, even in our local Church. Nicole Bettini, the new...

Whether it’s Gregorian Chant, old, traditional hymns, or more modern praise and worship songs, everyone seems to have a taste for music in Mass—and often, corresponding opinions, as well! Host Patrick Conley sat down with Simon Pick, Director of Music and Liturgy at Assumption Catholic Church in St. Paul, to talk about the importance of music to our spiritual lives. Like what you're hearing? L...

If you spend any time around teenagers these days, we're guessing you see a lot of leadership potential...Sure, it may need a bit of refining, but that’s what the DLITE program at Dunrovin retreat center is all about. Deacon Nick Vance, a transitional deacon for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, joined host Patrick Conley to tell us more about how the program is forming future lea...

We are in the midst of an historic Eucharistic revival in the Archdiocese and across the United States. Hopefully, you have taken steps to deepen your love of and devotion to Jesus, present to us in the most holy sacrament of the altar. But even if you haven’t it’s never too late to get started! Fr. Tim Tran, the point person for the National Eucharistic Revival for our Archdiocese, joined host Pa...

Do you watch the Miss America pageant in January? If you’re a practicing Catholic, you will want to plan on it in 2024! Angelina Amérigo was crowned Miss Minnesota in June and will represent our state in the Miss America pageant in January. What’s more, she is a parishioner at St. Bartholomew in Wayzata and joined host Patrick Conley to talk about how her faith has been a foundation throughout her...

Hospitality may seem like a rather innocuous thing: something that’s nice and kind to do, and usually appreciated, but perhaps not a sort of make-or-break, life-or-death thing. Try telling that to those who have fled their homes and nations to seek out refuge and sanctuary in the Twin Cities. Host Patrick Conley was joined by three representatives from Guardian Angels in Oakdale to talk about refu...

As Catholics, we’re blessed to be members of a universal Church. That was made very real for a group of women and men from the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis who spent more than a week with our sisters and brothers in the Diocese of Kitui, Kenya. Delegates from this year’s trip, Marci Franzen and Julie Woodruff, joined host Patrick Conley to talk about the trip and the partnership with...

While many of us spent some much-needed cabin time or plain old vacation time away from home this summer to re-fresh and re-charge, thousands of our young people spent time together growing in their faith. Joining host Patrick Conley to talk about how God is blessing young people in this Archdiocese through the popular Steubenville conferences, was Amy Cummings, executive director of Partnership f...

Have you heard of Blessed Solanus Casey? What about the Brothers of Peace? Well, if you’re like us and don’t know a lot about either of them, then you’re in luck! Producer Kayla Mayer sat down with Brother Paschal Listi from the Brothers of Peace in Saint Paul to talk about Blessed Solanus Casey and the work that the Brothers of Peace are doing.  Like what you're hearing? Leave us a review and...

Discernment. It’s a word we use a lot in the Catholic Church, don’t we? If we use it a lot, then we know that it’s important. But what does it mean? We’re getting some help from our shepherd, Archbishop Bernard Hebda, who joins producer Kayla Mayer for his monthly conversation. Like what you're hearing? Leave a review and follow us on social media @practicingcatholicshow!

Raise your hand if you are married, were married, or want to be married. Ok, keep them up. Now, for those who remain hands-down, raise your hand if you have close relatives or friends who are married or if you want to encourage those who are married. Did we get everyone? If your hand is up, you’ll love this guest. Catholic author and speaker, licensed marriage and family therapist, as well as wife...

Whether you realize it or not, we've just come through NFP Awareness week! Those who are familiar with and utilize Natural Family Planning are typically huge fans. And those who are unfamiliar with it often become intrigued just by hearing a little bit about it. Joining host Patrick Conley to nurture the fans and intrigue those unfamiliar with NFP is Alice Schwantes, a FertilityCare practition...

No matter your age, you probably use social media – to keep up with your kids, grandchildren and friends. It can be a great tool. But as you know – just look at Twitter – it can be a dark and negative place. At the same time, there are opportunities to evangelize, right? Joining host Patrick Conley to talk about being Practicing Catholics on social media is Mackenzie Hunter, a Catholic blogger on...

Do you go on retreat? A lot of Practicing Catholics do regularly, but many of us do not. Being that it’s summertime and a retreat is like a spiritual vacation, it's a good time to talk about “getting away with God.” Bob Beck – director of marketing and operations at Franciscan Retreats in Prior Lake – joined host Patrick Conley to talk about the benefits of a spiritual getaway. Like what you&#...

The 2023 National Kateri Tekakwitha Conference was in the Twin Cities this weekend bringing much-needed attention to our Native sisters and brothers, focusing on things like the harm from boarding schools, spiritual care for Native Catholics and more. It also focused on the prevalence of our Indigenous sisters who are missing and murdered. Father David Bailey, a priest of the Diocese of Tyler in T...

Recently, the film "Sound of Freedom" has drawn public attention to the issue of child trafficking as a real and potent issue in our society that we cannot afford to ignore. Human trafficking occurs around the world, in every segment of society—and even locally. Felicitas Brugo Onetti, who works for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as their Anti-Trafficking Education and...

Change, they say, is the only constant. In our Catholic parishes, we are familiar with change, especially big changes, like when our pastors are re-assigned. Such times can vary from ones of peaceful, smooth transition to tumultuous upheaval...usually somewhere in-between. Fr. Michael Van Sloun sat down with host Patrick Conley to discuss how these assignments work. Like what you're hearing? F...

If you’re a regular listener to the show and a practicing Catholic yourself, you probably strive to live ethically. Still, there are times when doing the unethical thing, especially if it’s something we deem as not overly important, tempts us—it may save time, money, and even face! Dr. Heidi Giebel, author and philosophy professor from the University of St. Thomas, joined host Patrick Conley to ta...

Grief. We’ve all been there, and often it involves a significant loss in our lives. In the midst of grief, you may find yourself questioning God’s presence—maybe even his existence. In trying to console someone walking through grief, you may struggle to find the words to say. Father Jon Vander Ploeg, director of spiritual formation at the Saint Paul Seminary, joins host Patrick Conley for a discus...

Vaunae Hansel, president of Elevate Life, joins host Patrick Conley to help explain how new Minnesota legislation will affect the pro-life movement, from individual women facing an unexpected pregnancy to our many crisis pregnancy centers.

How many of us have done something consistently for 30+ years? Tom Cassidy, a registered nurse at Our Lady of Peace Hospice & Home Health Care, has spent that much time specifically doing the important work of attending to the dying and has a fascinating story to tell. 

It’s been said before, but it’s always worth repeating: God will never be outdone in generosity. Our Heavenly Father always gives us the very best—including himself in the person of the Holy Spirit. And with the Holy Spirit come many gifts—gifts to help you and me live out our part in Christ’s mission to the world. Joining host Patrick Conley is the new Vicar for Charisms for the Archdiocese, Fr....

It may be the time for summer schedules and a bit of “R & R,” but things are still humming away—even if behind-the-scenes—with Synod Evangelization. Just to keep us all in the loop, host Patrick Conley chats with the newest member of the Office of Synod Evangelization, Laura Haraldson, who’ll update us on what’s happening in these summer months with implementation of the Synod. Like what you&#...