Talking Catholic

It’s ordination time in the Diocese of Camden and to celebrate we invite onto the show our four newest transitional deacons, Chris Myers, Logan Nilsen, Cesar Pirateque and Stephen Robbins. These four men from the ranks of our seminarians are also joined by Vocations Director Fr. Adam Cichoski. Our hosts Kari Janisse and Mike Walsh chat with the group about their vocation journey and what seminary...

It’s a joyful conversation on this week’s episode as Mary McCusker and Mike Walsh sit down with one of their favorite returning guests, Jose Rodriguez, the director of the Office of Youth, Young Adults and Campus Ministry for the Diocese of Camden. The trio chat about Jose’s summer plans for activities in South Jersey, including the Diocesan Youth Congress & the week-long Summer in the City Retrea...

In today’s episode, Marianela Nunez and Mike Walsh welcomed South Jersey Scholarship Fund (SJSF) board members Monsignor James Martin, President Emeritus of Camden Catholic High School; Christine Messina, Vice President at AllRisk Property Damage Experts; and Mariann Gilbride, Director of Development for the Diocese of Camden. From the Office of Catholic Schools, Superintendent Dr. Bill Watson and...

Today the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Saint Dominic Savio, and our Talking Saints hosts are ready to share the short but impactful life of this 19th century Italian who was the youngest non-martyr to be canonized.  Laurie and Pete’s conversation includes young Dominic’s devout faith, the four promises he made after his First Communion, and how his relationship with another saint-to-be,...

When you’re in the middle of a pandemic and make the decision to open your schools to full-time in-person learning, it’s good to know you have health experts on the payroll. South Jersey Catholic Schools have some of the most well-trained nurses working in them today. Our hosts Marianela Nunez and Mike Walsh talk to three - Shayna Benson from Saint Margaret Regional School; Cele McEvoy Walter from...

Today’s episode topic is one few people instinctively want to consider, however, it’s one that every person should really take the time to research and remain vigilant about… and the sooner the better. Yes, even you millennials. On today’s episode we do a deep dive on end of life and estate planning: living wills, advanced directives, DNRs, power of attorney and all forms of planned giving. On its...

Today’s episode is one of those where going in to it you wonder why you’re listening to two newspaper advertising representatives talk about their job and by the end of the episode you say to yourself, “What wonderful people!. Who new advertising sales was so interesting and spiritual!?!?” Meet Neal Cullen and Paul Worthington, the advertising director and advertising representative of the Catholi...

“I am the Immaculate Conception.” With these words, the beautiful lady dressed in blue and white identified herself to 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous, in the grotto of Massabielle, France in 1858. The many visions Bernadette had of the Blessed Mother contained promises of love and protection, with the recitation of the rosary. The chapel built at the site of Bernadette of Mary’s visions, the San...

You know what voice you haven’t heard in a while? That would be our beloved co-host Mary McCusker who rejoins us for the first time since January after successfully defeating COVID. Thank God! And she brings with her one of our favorite people who we’ve been wanting to have on the podcast for some time, one of Catholic Charities’ finest and most passionate representatives, Melissa Hruska. For more...

This week we welcome back the hardest working guest in the history of our podcast, Olympian Priscilla Frederick-Loomis. If we all had the energy, drive and determination of Priscilla, this world would be a vastly different place :) Kari Janisse and Mike Walsh chat with her about ambition to return to the Olympics this year competing for the country of Antigua & Barbuda, her radio show, her podcast...

It’s the most important week of the liturgical year, so our hosts Kari Janisse and Mike Walsh brought in a couple of spiritual heavy hitters - Fr. Raymond Gormley, pastor of the Church of the Incarnation (https://www.incarnation-church.org) in Mantua, NJ, and one of our favorite friends of the show, Donna Ottaviano-Britt, head of the Secretariat for Pastoral Life for the Diocese of Camden. Togethe...

This week we enjoy a conversation with some of our favorite behind-the-scenes people in catholic schools. Advancement director of Our Lady of Hope Regional School in Blackwood,  Betty Kuvinka and Communications and Marketing Director at Camden Catholic High School, Kate Bieg. The duo talk to Mike Walsh and Marianela Nunez about their roles to support Catholic education in South Jersey. If you are...

[This episode is also available in video form on our YouTube Channel at: https://youtu.be/Rp8RxO-U0nc] On March 22, 23 & 24 the Diocese of Camden will be broadcasting a three night Lenten virtual retreat at 7 PM on our Facebook and YouTube channels. The retreat leaders join our host Mike Walsh and guest host Donna Ottaviano-Britt today to discuss the upcoming three nights filled with hope, humor a...

It’s a great hour this week as we welcome back Jeff Shields, Youth Minister at Saint Rose of Lima Parish, Haddon Heights and leader of Forgotten Truth, a band and ministry. Not only do Kari Janisse and Mike Walsh get to chat with Jeff about his ministry and his influences, but he also performs three of his songs for us! Follow Forgotten Truth at:
 www.facebook.com/forgottentruth/
 twitter.com/Forg...

Women, mothers, martyrs - the lives and heroic witness of Saints Perpetua & Felicity are chronicled in the former’s diary, one of the earliest writings of a Christian woman. Their persecution and deaths in 3rd century North Africa shine a light on the courage of Jesus’ disciples, and Talking Saints hosts Laurie Power and Pete Sanchez find inspiration in recounting the deeds of these remarkable sai...

In the Diocese of Camden, it is fundraising season again as the House of Chairty - Bishop’s Annual Appeal begins anew this winter. The annual campaign that serves many ministries of the diocese, including various social services, Catholic schools, ministries and vocations in South Jersey, is managed by our good friend of the podcast and Associate Director of Development for the Diocese of Camden,...

Our guest this week is a South Jersey pediatrician with a stunning conversion story. Dr. Daniel Costa grew up in Brazil going to a church that demonized Catholicism, the pope and the venerating of the Blessed Mother. However, as he hit his early 20’s he had an epic change of heart that he credits fully to the work of the Holy Spirit. His story leaves our hosts Kari Janisse and Mike Walsh simultane...

This week our hosts Kari Janisse and Mike Walsh bring back listener favorite Fr. Josh Nevitt, pastoral associate from Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish and director of Catholic identity at Holy Spirit High School, to discuss Lent and how we can better prepare for it. The trio talk about the ways people can focus on their faith during Lent, wether they’re hardcore Catholics or Catholics who haven’t...

This week our hosts Kari Janisse and Mike Walsh sit down with Fr. Chris Bakey, parochial vicar at Our Lady of Peace Parish in Williamstown, N.J., who recently came through a harrowing COVID ordeal. We talk about the nurse in his parish who likely saved his life, the ordeal of weeks in the hospital when it very much looked like he would not survive, and how his connection to Mary helped buoy him in...

“Be good, love the Lord, pray for those who do not know Him.  What a great grace it is to know God!” - Saint Josephine Bakhita   As Black History month continues, Talking Saints focuses on today’s Feast of Saint Josephine Bakhita, a 19th century Sudanese woman whose faith and generosity of spirit continue to inspire others.   Our hosts Laurie and Pete unpack the journey of Saint Josephine Bakhita-...

On this week’s episode Marianela Nunez and Mike Walsh welcome two distinguished guests to talk Catholic Schools and schools choice, Superintendent of the Office of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Camden, Dr. Bill Watson, and John Schoenig the Senior Director of Teacher Formation and Education Policy for the University of Notre Dame's Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE). In this role, he lead...

A new year of Talking Saints kicks off with the patron of “Gospel Magic,” Saint John Bosco. This 19th century Italian priest was known for his “creative evangelization” in reaching out to young boys on the margins of society. In establishing the Society of Saint Francis de Sales, he provided a home, fellowship, and the gift of the faith to hundreds of these disaffected youth. Hosts Laurie Power an...

This week our host Mike Walsh is flying solo, but there’s a ton to talk about so he brought his far more knowledgeable colleague, Donna Ottaviano-Britt, director of the Diocese of Camden’s Office of Discipleship and Leadership, onto the show to discuss a smorgasbord of Catholic news including the pro-life movement, the Year of Saint Joseph, how ashes will likely be distributed on Ash Wednesday and...

This week, Mary McCusker and Mike Walsh are joined by Brian Corbin, Executive Vice President of Member Services for Catholic Charities USA, and Kevin Hickey, who serves on the CCUSA Board of Trustees in addition to his role as Executive Director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden.  Brian and Kevin are both deeply grounded in the guiding principles, social teachings and scriptures that guide...

This week we’re chatting with some young adults from our host Kari Janisse’s ACTS program, an initiative of Our Lady of Peace Parish in Williamstown, NJ that works specifically with young Catholics age 18-28. Joining Kari and Mike Walsh for this episode are Martin Deluhery, Theo Deluhery, Kim Pacis and Yailyn Nuñez. The quartet discuss what they were looking for in a program like this, what it off...