Speaking of Faith: A Minnesota Catholic Podcast

Joe Towalski, director of communications and development for the Diocese of St. Cloud talks with Kristin Colberg, associate professor of theology at St. John's School of Theology and Seminary in Collegeville and David Fremo, director of Catholic Education Ministries and coordinator of the local synod consultation process here in the Diocese of St. Cloud.

As part of Respect Life Month, we feature a conversation with Dr. Merryn Jolkovsky, palliative care specialist at CentraCare-St. Cloud Hospital. Jolkovsky explains how palliative care provides patients with relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of serious illness and improves their quality of life.

Father Bill Vos visits with Father Fred Timp SVD, who is currently serving in Ghana. They talk about his work and reflect on this year's World Mission Sunday Theme: "We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:20)

Kristi Bivens, associate director of lay leadership formation for the Diocese of St. Cloud and one of two co-chairs for Diocesan Ministry Day visits with the day's keynote speaker, Cindy Liliana Gonzalez.

In this episode, Dianne Towalski, multimedia journalist for The Central Minnesota Catholic magazine, talks with Father Jeff Ethen and Father Peter Kirchner as they reflect on their experience being in New York on Sept. 11, 2001.

A conversation with local farmers and the head of Catholic Rural Life.

Barb Simon-Johnson talks with Father Doug Liebsch, diocesan director of vocations, and seminarian Kevin Soenneker.

Dianne Towalski visited with Grace McCallum at her gym shortly before she left for Tokyo to compete in the Olympics.

Deacon Terry Jancik, Deacon Phil Henneman and Bob Walquist host a weekly show, which began last May.

Guest: Deb Dingmann, funeral director, mortician and owner of Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Homes Dingmann talks with Joe Towalski about her work with grieving families in need of healing and how serving as a funeral director has influenced her own perspective on life and death.

Last in a five-part series on how the religious communities in the Diocese of St. Cloud pray, why prayer is important and how their prayers have changed during Advent and now Christmas season. This episode features Poor Clare Sister Mary Matthew Tomsyck.

Fourth in a five-part series on how the religious communities in the Diocese of St. Cloud pray, why prayer is important and how their prayers change during Advent/Christmas. This episode features Sister Rose Mae Rausch from the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls.

Third in a five-part series on how the religious communities in the Diocese of St. Cloud pray, why prayer is important and how their prayers change during Advent/Christmas. This episode features Father Kermit Holl from the Crosier Fathers and Brothers in Onamia.

Second in a five-part series on how the religious communities in the Diocese of St. Cloud pray, why prayer is important and how their prayers change during Advent/Christmas. This episode features Sister Katherine Howard of the Sisters of St. Benedict in St. Joseph.

First in a five-part series on how the religious communities in the Diocese of St. Cloud pray, why prayer is important and how their prayers change during Advent/Christmas. This episode features Father John Meoska from St. John's Abbey.

Guest: Mark Hart, executive vice president for Life Teen International and co-host of "The Catholic Guy Show" on SiriusXM radio Mark addresses everything a novice Bible reader needs to know, including tips for purchasing one, reading it properly and making the Bible an integral part of your daily prayer life.

Take a walk with Fr. Greg. He will be leading us, not on the road to Emmaus, but through a Stewardship Way of Life. Is hospitality more than having greeters? How can we measure prayer? Who should be the focus of our stewardship formation? Is service really that important? Listen to learn some ways to incorporate the four pillars of stewardship in parish life. Fr. Greg Paffel is the pastor of Our L...

Father Tom Knoblach, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Sauk Rapids and Annunciation Parish in Mayhew Lake, talks about the spirituality of stewardship in his presentation Aug. 25 during the diocese's online Stewardship Week conference Aug. 25-27.

Guest: Father James Kurzynski, pastor of St. Olaf in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is an amateur astronomer who contributes to the Vatican Observatory Foundation's "Sacred Space Astronomy" blog Father Kurzynski discusses his priesthood vocation, how he became interested in astronomy and his views on the relationship between faith and science.

Patrick Flynn and Janet Dusek from the Office of Marriage and Family discuss how to keep God, your faith and love at the center of your big day.

Topic: Secrets of the fish fry Guests: Vicki Sanborn and Beth Schroden, co-coordinators of the Lenten fish fries at St. Katharine Drexel School in St. Cloud. Sanborn and Schroden discuss the behind- the-scenes secrets to having a successful fish fry — one that draws a faith community together for delicious food and fellowship.

Topic: The power of mercy Guest: Bishop Donald Kettler Bishop Kettler discusses his favorite Scripture passages focusing on mercy and suggests practical ways to be a bringer of mercy to those we encounter every day

Guest: David Fremo, director of Catholic Education Ministries for the Diocese of St. Cloud Fremo, drawing on two decades as a Catholic school teacher and administrator, offers families his top five tips for ensuring their children have a positive school experience.

Guest: Linda Kaiser, former director of Catholic Education Ministries for the Diocese of St. Cloud Kaiser talks about what makes a Catholic school Catholic, the biggest challenges to schools in living out their Catholic identity and what parents and people in the pews can do to help.

Topic: Hands Across the World Cediel talks about the organization's efforts to promote human dignity by assisting newly-arrived immigrants and refugees to obtain the skills they need to flourish in their new homes