Speaking of Faith: A Minnesota Catholic Podcast

This episode of the Diocese of St. Cloud's "Speaking of Faith" features reflection on the Mexican American Catholic College (MACC) in San Antonio immersion program — "Hispanic Ministry in the 21st Century." Participants from both MACC (Adriana Gomez and Martin Martinez) and the Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary (Chris Conway and Kateri Mancini) explain MACC's history and the program's b...

In this episode of Speaking of Faith from the Diocese of St. Cloud, host Amber interviews Ben Epper, incoming Faith Formation Director at the Church of St. Joseph in St. Joseph, about his M.Div. capstone, "Setting the Table: A Reversal Model for Including Youth and Young Adults in Ecclesial Restructuring and Renewal." Ben shares survey findings from 15 ACCs showing minimal youth and early young ad...

This episode of "Speaking of Faith" spotlights the 2020 Catholic Century Farm Award recipient, the Donnay Family. Erin Donnay shares the 106-year legacy of her family's farm near Kimball, which began with her husband, Kevin's, great grandfather Matthias Donnay. Erin and her husband are now fourth-generation stewards of the land. Erin traces the farm's roots back to 1920, describes daily life on a...

In this episode of the Diocese of St. Cloud podcast Speaking of Faith, Mary Parks, a trauma-informed educator, healthcare chaplain and spiritual director, shares about human formation—developing emotional skills, virtues, maturity and freedom to live in alignment with God. Mary explains how Catholic teaching on human dignity and the four pillars of formation makes human formation foundational, esp...

In this episode of Speaking of Faith, Dr. Daniella Zsupan-Jerome and Dr. Matthew Sherman of Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary discuss Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, released May 25, 2026. They explain what an encyclical is, why it carries high teaching authority and also outline the core message of the Magnifica Humanitas: Catholics and all people should use consc...

In this Memorial Day episode of the Diocese of St. Cloud's "Speaking of Faith," Pat Timmerman and her son Father Craig share the life and sacrifice of Army First Lieutenant Jason Gary Timmerman, a joyful farm kid, teacher, and devoted Catholic remembered for helping others. They recount Jason's service in Iraq, his love of Psalm 91 and the shock of learning he was killed instantly by an IED while...

May as Mental Health Awareness Month frames a conversation with Father Alan Wielinski and Deb Forstner of the Pelican Valley ACC. They discuss why mental health ministry belongs in parish life, addressing stigma, normalizing conversation and integrating faith's gifts of hope and community. The team's efforts include a suicide prevention remembrance and healing Mass, faith formation presentations o...

The conversation with theologian Dr. Jessica Coblentz continues. Drawing from her book 'Dust in the Blood: A Theology of Life with Depression,' she reframes depression as a "wilderness experience," reflecting on biblical stories of displacement and God's presence in suffering. Dr. Coblentz takes a deeper look at the story of Hagar, highlighting how God often provides not dramatic rescues but "smal...

In this episode of Speaking of Faith from the Diocese of St. Cloud, Dr. Jessica Coblentz, a theology professor at Saint Mary's College and author of Dust in the Blood: A Theology of Life with Depression published by Liturgical Press. Dr. Coblentz's book provides framework for the conversation where she shares how a severe depressive episode in her twenties felt like a frightening identity shift, m...

In this episode of the Diocese of St. Cloud's "Speaking of Faith," host Amber talks with Benedictine Sister Laura Suhr, director of Girls, God and Good Times (3G) Camp, and parent Stephanie Nix about the Catholic Benedictine summer camp for girls in its 20th year on the College of St. Benedict campus in St. Joseph. They discuss what sets 3G, a camp for girls exiting 4th through 11th grade, apart—m...

Liturgical Press celebrates 100 years of publishing! Therese Ratliff, director, Tara Durheim, marketing director, and Margaret Nuzzolese Conway, development manager, reflect on the press's Benedictine roots, Father Virgil Michel's role in the Liturgical Movement leading to Vatican II and how the mission has consistently centered stewardship, community and welcoming diverse voices, including women....

This episode includes a conversation about synodality with Dr. Kristin Colberg professor of theology at the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University and the only Vatican-appointed U.S. member of the Theological Commission supporting the Synod on Synodality. Dr. Colberg explains synodality as the ancient practice of "walking the path together" through prayerful listening and communal disce...

What does it mean to be a pilgrim today? In this episode, theologian and comparative theologian, Dr. Chris Conway explores pilgrimage as a spiritual practice that stretches across religions, cultures, and even secular life. Drawing on Hindu devotional traditions, Pope Francis' Jubilee theme "Pilgrims of Hope," and personal experiences from India to the U.S.–Mexico border, Conway reflects on journe...

In this episode Julene Jarnot, founder and executive director of the Catholic Garden Network, talks about how gardens in Catholic settings connect faith, prayer and practical service. She also discusses gardening as a lived way to care for creation and a connection to the Works of Mercy. Julene offers advice to start small with clear goals and emphasizes that many gifts—not just gardening expertis...

In this podcast, host Amber interviews Jim Ennis, executive director of Catholic Rural Life, about rural Catholic communities — their value, existing challenges and his hope for the future. Challengs he shares include priest shortages, limited formation resources, isolation and elevated suicide rates among farmers. He discusses the importance for stronger lay leadership, ecumenical collaboration a...

In this episode of Speaking of Faith, host Amber interviews Kateri Mancini, director of the Office of Social Concerns, and Lexi Torres, a social concerns intern and M.Div. student, about their experience at "Day on the Hill" in St. Paul with the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC). They share how the day began with multi-faith prayer and advocacy education and moved into meetings with leg...

In this episode of the Diocese of St. Cloud podcast Speaking of Faith, Tom Delaney, a secular Franciscan, educational psychologist, and mental and behavioral health advocate explains forgiveness as both a gift and a process that integrates wrongdoing into one's life story. He shares how forgivness can offer health benefits and allows us to participate in salvation. Using Jesus and Peter as an exam...

In this episode of "Speaking of Faith," Father William Orbih, rector of the seminary at Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary, previews his upcoming Theology Day presentation titled "Christian Hope: Ark, Anchor and Action." He shares why he considers hope the often forgotten theological virtue, why Christian hope is a person — Jesus Christ — and not a feeling and how listeners can let Chris...

In this episode of Speaking of Faith, Amber interviews Craig Gould, the program director of Notre Dame Vision at the McGrath Institute for Church Life. Gould shares personal anecdotes of his connection to Minnesota and his humor-filled family life. The conversation covers his upcoming keynote speech at the men's conference in St. Cloud, focusing on the themes of 'His Power, Our Weakness' and the c...

This episode of 'Speaking of Faith' features Shawn Colberg, the dean of St. John's School of Theology and Seminary, who shares about the $10 million Stabilitas grant the school received from the Lilly Foundation. The grant work will focus on renewal in rural ministry and includes collaboration with nine dioceses across Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wyoming and Montana. Colberg explains how the gr...

In this episode of 'Speaking of Faith,' Collin Prom, a diocesan seminarian, and Father Doug Leibsch, the vocations director for the Diocese of St. Cloud, discuss Totus Tuus. Totus Tuus, meaning 'totally yours' in English, is a summer program organized by the diocesan vocations office and hosted by local Area Catholic Communities aimed to help young people (grades 1 – 12) grow in their understandin...

In this episode of Speaking of Faith, host Amber talks with Melanie Solland, Philip Shefveland and Father Derek Wiechmann about their experience at the SEEK Conference in Columbus, Ohio. The discussion highlights the growth, spiritual rejuvenation and the universal Church connection experienced by young Catholics at the event. They share their preparation, the structure of the conference, and impa...

In this podcast episode, Father Erik Lundgren and Matt Birk, a former NFL Center and Super Bowl Champion discuss faith paths and personal growth. Birk shares his journey of growing up in a devout Catholic family, through his football career and how he regained a deeper connection with his Catholic faith. While sharing the challenges he's faced in his faith, Birk emphasizes the importance of commun...

In this episode of 'Speaking of Faith,' Father John Klassen, a Benedictine priest and director of Abbey Development at St. John's Abbey, discusses the concept of Christian unity. Father Klassen delves into the historical context of Christian unity, emphasizing the significance of the Second Vatican Council and its progressive stance towards ecumenism. Throughout the discussion, Father Klassen high...

In the second episode with Father Erik Lundgren and Kelli Kleinschnitz, the two share results of the Path survey, which was aimed to understand why some Catholics have fallen away from the church. Discussion included how respondents felt disconnected from their parish, disagreed with church teachings, or had busy schedules. Additionally, the value of community and authenticity in their current fai...