Speaking of Faith: A Minnesota Catholic Podcast

In this episode of Speaking of Faith, host Amber Walling welcomes Kelli Kleinschnitz, Director of Faith Formation, and Father Erik Lundgren, Pastor of three parishes within the Holy Saints ACC. Together, they discuss innovative efforts to reconnect with lapsed Catholics, offer a deeper look into their approach which included the use of technology to gather rapid feedback through a survey called Pa...

This episode of Speaking of Faith features a conversation with Sarah Kroger, an award-nominated musician and newly published children's author. Sarah discusses her journey of discovering self-love and identity and how it inspired her to write her song 'Belovedness.' From that, she authored a devotional and her recently released children's book, 'My Beloved Child.' Sarah hopes that through her book...

In this episode of Speaking of Faith, Elizabeth Brown, the director of the Mission Office and the Society for the Propagation of Faith, shares about her background in ministry and the multifaceted work of the Mission Office. She also shares the principles of Fair Trade, detailing how it supports marginalized farmers and artisans by ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions. Lastly, Elizabeth...

Sister Pat Forster and Patty Keeling, who are deeply involved in immigrant advocacy, share insights into the Church's teachings on welcoming immigrants and discuss the rights of immigrants to work, equality and support. Both Sister Pat and Patty reflect on their personal faith and how their work with immigrants has deepened their understanding of love, compassion, and universal dignity. The conver...

In this episode, John Grim and Mary Evelyn Tucker, co-directors of the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology delve into their decades-long work on integrating religious and ecological studies to address environmental crises. They discuss the impact of Pope Francis' encyclical 'Laudato Si', which fuses social justice with environmental concerns, and explore the significance of ecological conversion. T...

Kristin Molitor has ministry background in both diocesan and parish settings and has heart for discipleship and spiritual formation. In this episode, she discusses the essence of accompaniment in Christian faith. The conversation draws parallels between Jesus' discipleship and modern accompaniment and stresses that faith thrives on shared experiences and relational bonds. Practical steps for foste...

In this episode, we welcome Fr. Juan Molina, president and CEO and Lizett Farias, senior director of programs at the Mexican American Catholic College (MACC). Both discusses the diverse formation programs offered by MACC and highlight their mission to equip individuals for ministry through certificate and degree programs, partnerships with other educational bodies, and a strong emphasis on intercu...

Benedictine sister Nina Lasceski returns to share thoughts the Benedictine value of hospitality. Reflection includes ways Area Catholic Communities can be especially hospitable when welcoming visitors and new members during the diocesan planning process — All Things New.

Visiting from the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, Archbishop Shawn McKnight, author of Understanding the Diaconate: Historical, Theological, and Sociological Foundations, published by The Catholic University of America Press, shares his connection to Central Minnesota and his expertise of the permanent diaconate with host Amber Walling.

Tami and Randy Kruzel's daughter BriAnna died unexpectedly by unknown causes in 2013 and Scott and Reyne Roeder's son Jackson died by suicide in 2018. Tami Kruzel and Scott Roeder took their grief and turned it into advocacy when they began Bri's Lodge and the Jackson Roeder Legacy fund, respectively. Each bereaved parent shares their grief journey and their hopes to help others with their work.

Mary Jo Legare-Hoffmann, faith community nurse at St. Augustine's church in St. Cloud, and Bethany Tollefson, parish health ministries coordinator and a nurse in behavioral health discuss how grief looks and feels different for everyone and provide resources for those needing mental health support. For the Diocesan Mental Health Committee website click the link below: https://stcdio.org/mental-hea...

Benedictine Sister, Nina Lasceski, reflects upon how St. Benedict encourages Christian stewardship through his Rule without using the word stewardship in the document. Discussion also includes stewardship in the context of the All Things New diocesan planning process.

Dr. Deepan Rajaratnam, director of ministerial formation at Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary, and Deacon Richard Scheierl, deacon moderator for the Diocese of Saint Cloud, discuss the formation process, including human, intellectual, spiritual and pastoral formation, for those discerning the diaconate in the Diocese of Saint Cloud.

All Things New Planning Series: In this episode, Jessica Goebel, human resources coordinator at the Diocese of St. Cloud, and Adam Saltmarsh, director of operations for the Parishes on the Prairie ACC, explore human stewardship. The conversation delves into approaching leadership with humility, nurturing God-given potential and seeing teammates through God's eyes.

Did you know that some priests have their own vestments? Learn about this and more as the Diocese of St. Cloud's newly ordained priests, Father Nathaniel Daubner and Father Joseph VanDenheuvel, reflect upon their ordination, celebrating their first Mass and their first three weeks serving in priestly ministry.

Diocesan Chancellor and former editor of The Central Minnesota Catholic Joe Towalski talks with Bishop Emeritus Donald Kettler as he celebrates his 55th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood.

Throughout his life, PJ Connors has shared his faith and served in ministry in various roles, but his role as Confirmation Sponsor and grandfather to Wyatt Connors is especially special to him. PJ and Wyatt share how their faith journeys have inspired one another.

Aside from her time away for college to study agriculture, Hannah Molitor has lived, worked and worshiped in Stearns County. She immerses herself in life on her family dairy farm, and through her work with the USDA and DHIA, she regularly connects with others in the local farming community. Hannah discusses the intersection of farming and faith in this podcast.

John Thavis is a Former Rome Bureau Chief for Catholic News Service and an author and speaker specializing in Vatican and religious affairs. He is the author of the best-selling books, "The Vatican Diaries: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Power, Personalities, and Politics at the Heart of the Catholic Church," and "The Vatican Prophecies: Investigating Supernatural Signs, Apparitions, and Miracles...

In episode 2 of our podcast series on rural life in our diocese, Father Gregory Mastey and Father Derek Wiechman talk to Barb Simon-Johnson about growing up on farms and now serving in rural communities.

In this introduction to our series of 3 podcasts on rural life in our diocese, Kateri Mancini and JoAnn Braegelman, team members from the Office of Social Concerns, talk about the upcoming feast of St. Isidore, as well as how our diocesan mission statement addresses rural life and share a bit about what this ministry means for the diocese.

Linda George, parishioner at St. Boniface in Cold Spring, shares how listening plays a role in discernment process – listening to others, to research, to the Holy Spirit. She provides examples of discernment from her life, methods she finds useful and even a nugget of wisdom her daily devotional brought forward on the Solemnity of Saint Joseph.

In this episode, part of our ongoing series focusing on the pastoral planning initiative 'All Things New,' we hear a conversation between Amy Hoeschen, administrator for the One in Faith ACC and Jessica Goebel, human resources coordinator for the diocese of Saint Cloud. They share about their experience as lay faithful in the Church and how their choice to enroll in the Emmaus Institute program no...

El diácono Mario Mancilla, gerente de ministerios latinos de la Diócesis de Saint Cloud, conversa con Sandy Cruz García, coordinadora general de ministerios latinos de Casa San Benito de la Abadía de San Juan, para hablar sobre la participación de los laicos en la iglesia, incluyendo la de Sandy. También comparten su experiencia compa al participar en el Instituto Emaús y cómo esta experiencia pro...

Msgr. Michael Heintz, pastor at Saint Pius X in Granger, Indiana and visiting director of the John S. and Virginia A. Marten program in homiletics and liturgics and Dr. Katharine Harmon, director of the Obsculta Preaching Initiative at Saint John's School of Theology who teaches in the areas of liturgical studies and the history of Christianity. They share their thoughts on the state of preaching...