Practicing Catholic Show

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&#...

Host Patrick Conley gets the inside scoop on the Center for Catholic Social Thought, which was just launched in the Twin Cities, and why it’s important for all of us.   Like what you're hearing? Follow us @practicingcatholicshow and leave us a review! 

Did you notice that daily Mass was cancelled at your parish this week? That’s because nearly all the priests of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis were “out of the office” for their Presbyteral Assembly. Archbishop Hebda joined us to talk about the week-long conference and why it's important.

Here, in the Archdiocese, we are privileged to have both Saint John Vianney College Seminary and the Saint Paul Seminary to help men discern and prepare for the priesthood and to help lay men and women live out lives deeply committed to serving the Lord. But all of that does not happen without the generous support of local Catholics. Tizoc Rosales, back at SPS as the Director of Advancement, knows...

Young adults here in the Archdiocese who attended the “Hearts on Fire” retreat at the University of St. Thomas this weekend were in for quite an experience. They heard from Father Joe Laramie – a Jesuit – who has worked in campus ministry, written books, and now serves as a national preacher for the Eucharistic Revival. Father Laramie has a special devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and joined...

Did you find it difficult to keep-up with all of the new laws passed by the 2023 Minnesota Legislature and signed by Governor Walz? It’s okay if you did, because we’re sitting down with Jason Adkins from the Minnesota Catholic Conference to understand what happened when it comes to abortion, so-called gender affirmation, marijuana and more. In part 1 of our conversation with Jason Adkins, Rebecca...

Did you find it difficult to keep-up with all of the new laws passed by the 2023 Minnesota Legislature and signed by Governor Walz? It’s okay if you did, because we’re sitting down with Jason Adkins from the Minnesota Catholic Conference to understand what happened when it comes to abortion, so-called gender affirmation, marijuana and more.  Gender identity and so-called gender affirming care were...

Did you find it difficult to keep up with all of the new laws passed by the 2023 Minnesota Legislature and signed by Governor Walz? It’s okay if you did, because we’re sitting down with Jason Adkins from the Minnesota Catholic Conference to understand what happened when it comes to abortion, so-called gender affirmation, marijuana and more. In part 3 of our conversation, The Catholic Spirit’s Rebe...

Smart, funny, engaging, kind, witty and committed. Those are just some of the words people use to describe Sister Carolyn Puccio, a sister of Saint Joseph Carondelet who’s stepping-down as Delegate for Religious for the Archdiocese. She's sharing her story and a few fond memories of her 63 years in religious life as she steps down from her current role.

On June 10, the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis celebrated its annual Marriage Day with Mass, renewal of vows and a reception. Couples celebrating major milestones were honored in a special way by Archbishop Hebda. In light of the event, we're talking marriage and getting some expert advice.  Joining us, Doctor Gary and Mary Williams, who live in Stillwater, attend Saint Michael and...