Talking Catholic

Almost 90 years ago, Jesus appeared to a humble Polish nun, bringing his message of Divine Mercy and instructing her to share it with the world. Today, Saint Faustina Kowalska is remembered as a nun, mystic, and messenger of Jesus’ call for all to be doers of mercy, bringing peace, love, and joy to all. On her feast day today, Laurie and Pete unpack the life of this remarkable woman, and of the Di...

Sister Mary Cronin, Coordinator of Prison Ministry for Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden, Inc., sits down in the Vault this week with Mike and Pete to discuss her ministry to the incarcerated throughout South Jersey. The Sister of Mercy also praised the good work of Prison Ministry volunteers, and her own faith journey which has led her down South, to New England, and back to South Jersey.

On this week’s Talking Catholic, Mike and Pete are under the weather, and call upon Laurie Power, friend of the show and co-host of Talking Saints, to carry the show (when she could get a word in edgewise in the midst of Mike's cold medicine-induced ramblings). The spirited Director of Evangelization and Discipleship at Christ the Redeemer, Atco covered for the two regulars perfectly, sharing thou...

As Bishop Sullivan Sullivan decrees the new Camden Diocese Shrine of Saint Padre Pio in Vineland today, Laurie and Pete look at the life of this revered saint on his feast day. The Capuchin Friar best remembered for his deep faith, contemplative nature, and for bearing the stigmata, the wounds of Christ. The two hosts try to answer the question: How can understanding his life and suffering, bring...

How can one find peace amidst the daily noise of life, and how can prayer help? The answer to this question, and other insightful topics, are covered in this week’s episode with Deborah Smaldore, Director of Religious Education at Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Haddon Heights. With Mike and Pete, Smaldore shares best practices of growing the faith in students during her nine years at the parish, and...

In our increasingly secularized world, men often have a difficult time living their faith to the fullest. To help men counteract this modern phenomena, on November 10th, we will be hosting a men’s spirituality conference called Man Up South Jersey. This one-day event will give men the tools to better embrace their faith. Open to men of all ages, the conference will feature powerful speakers, Eucha...

Every two years, the Diocese of Camden makes a pilgrimage to Washington, D.C.’s beautiful Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, to pray to and receive graces from Mary, Mother of God, the Patroness of the United States and the Catholic community of South Jersey. As the diocesan community prepares for its next pilgrimage next month, Father James Bartoloma, Chancellor for the...

This week, Mike and Pete sit down with our friends from Catholic Charities - Kevin Hickey, Mary McCusker and Patrick Barry - to discuss the Share he Journey Initiative and the upcoming Justice for All dinner. Mary and Patrick have both made pilgrimages to the Texas/Mexico border to see first hand the immigration concerns in that area of the county. They learned a great deal about it from Sister No...

Writer. Orator. Bishop. Doctor of the Church. Augustine of Hippo was all of these, but his greatest title is that of Saint. On his feast day, Laurie and Pete discuss the life of this influential 4th Century man, the son of Saint Monica, whose initial worldly ways found God’s love and grace. “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels,” he once wrote, reca...

While it may be a low bar, Mike is convinced this is the best podcast we’ve ever recorded. And naturally, it’s all due to our guests, Sr. Agnes, Sr. Ann Kateri, Sr. Joseph and Sr. Chiara - collectively known as the CFRs - AKA - the women religious from the Community of Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal. It’s their second time on the podcast and they are as wonderful as ever. We chat about their fi...

On the latest show, Mike and Pete spend a Summer evening in Atlantic City with youth who are living the Gospel call to serve others throughout the shore area. The hosts and the young church have a spirited discussion of their week in the urban beach town, faith, and the dangers of recording a podcast just before dinner (#hangry). Guests included Greg Coogan, Director of Youth, Young Adult, and Cam...

Sister Dorothy Aloisio, Franciscan Missionary Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, has been a joyful presence in the lives of South Jersey’s Catholics for more than 50 years, whether serving in schools or in parishes throughout the Diocese of Camden. The current Pastoral Associate of Our Lady of Hope, Blackwood is this week’s guest on Talking Catholic. In a delightful discussion with hosts Mike...

This week we’re chatting with Deacon Anthony Cioe about Man Up South Jersey, the men’s spirituality conference, with a special focus on missionary discipleship. After 10 years in the City of Philadelphia, on Nov. 10, 2018, the conference will come to South Jersey for the first time. Deacon Anthony is shepherding this event that inspires attendees to become better husbands, better fathers, better s...

Pete and Mike take a tour of the shore this week, heading to Cape May to speak with a pair of art teachers in diocesan Catholic schools: Grace Hoffner from Saint Mary Regional School in East Vineland, and Dave Sipple from Gloucester Catholic High School. From the site of the current "Art on the Mall" exhibition showcasing student artists from around the diocese, Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, th...

Fr. Joseph Capella, one of South Jersey's truly kind, inspiring, and faith-filled individuals, and now the newly-named Rector of Cherry Hill’s Camden Catholic High School, joins Mike and Pete in the Vault this week. This fantastic hour includes Fr. Capella discussing his Hammonton roots; his role as an educator in South Jersey’s schools for the past 20+ years; and finding God’s grace and strength...

"Who will teach me what is most pleasing to God, that I may do it?" This was the desire of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, who is remembered by Laurie and Pete today, on her feast day. The 'Lily of the Mohawks" was born to a Mohawk father and a Christian Algonquin mother in Ossernon (upstate New York), and was baptized at the age of 20. Working at the Saint Francis Mission near Montreal, she was a model...

Father Adam Cichoski, Parochial Vicar of Lindenwold’s Parish Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, steps into the vault this week with Mike and Pete. Fresh off his recent trip to Lourdes and the Camino, Father Adam shares his transformative experience in France and Spain, his first year as a diocesan priest, and learning Spanish in Texas. To learn more about Fr. Adam's trip with our seminarians, read t...

Elena Brandt, Swedesboro resident and founder of FontSound, LLC., is this week’s guest with Mike and Pete for a fantastic hour in the vault (assuming you can make it through the record-setting 14 minutes of news read and banter at the beginning. Sorry.). This driven and energetic young woman from Queens, NY, shares the story of her passion project, FontSound, which assists Catholic parishes in emp...

The dynamic duo are back again and talking about another dynamic duo, the two foundational pillars of the Catholic Church, Saints Peter and Paul. Laurie Power and Pete Sanchez share the lives and impact of Peter, the first Apostle and Rock of the church, and Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles. Their devotion to the Catholic faith, and the passion to share its truth and beauty with all, inspires fai...

The third co-host is back! Fr. Robert Sinatra, pastor of Saint Padre Pio Parish in Vineland, joins Mike and Pete for a spirited hour of conversation that we thought was going to be about the importance of leisure time, something we tend to get a few minutes more of in the summer. However, what actually happened is three pals locked themselves in a vault and talked about whatever popped into their...

Mike and Pete stray far from the friendly confines of The Vault as they attend the Catholic Media Conference in Green Bay, Wisconsin (https://www.cmctitletown.com/). Joining them this week are fellow attendees Erin Friedlander, communications director from the Diocese of Metuchen, and Mary Beth Peabody, Marketing and Communications Manager for the Catholic Schools Office of the Diocese of Camden....

Jeff Morris, founder of the Woodbury-based Morris Graphic Inc, and President of the South Jersey Catholic Business Network (http://cbnsj.org/), talks with our co-hosts this week about the CBN's upcoming Best Practices Symposium at Rowan College of Gloucester County, an all-day event for business leaders on June 21st. The trio also discuss the bucolic town of Woodbury and his 30+ years at Morris Gr...

Julie LaRosa, the delightful and enthusiastic Assistant Director for Christian Formation for Youth & Young Adults at Sewell’s Church of the Holy Family, gets into The Vault this week with Mike and Pete. Schools might be closing their doors for the summer, but the faith formation doesn’t end. Julie enthusiastically talks about her parish’s upcoming Vacation Bible School next month, a week of fun, f...

As Father’s Day approaches , Mike and Pete are joined by Bill McCusker, author of “Fatherhood: In Pieces- Wisdom and Advice from Fathers for Fathers,” and founder of Fathers & Families, Inc., whose mission is to improve the lives of children, mothers, and families, and communities and the country, by building awareness of the importance of the institution of fatherhood. The three discuss fatherhoo...

On June 16, the Diocese of Camden will welcome two new priests into its midst, Deacons Anthony Infante and Joshua Nevitt. After many years of seminary, they are finally ready to take their vows as shepherds to the Catholics of South Jersey. We hope you will keep them in your prayers now and always.