Talking Catholic

In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Mary McCusker, Marketing & Communications Coordinator for Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden, sits down with Mike and Pete to discuss Catholic Charities' efforts to help those affected in Texas. If you would like to assist in the relief effort, visit www.catholiccharitiescamden.org/hurricane-harvey-relief, text CCUSADISASTER to 71777, or call 1-800-919-9338...

Jose Rodriguez, Jr., recently-named Coordinator of Hispanic, Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the Diocese of Camden, joins Mike and Pete in the vault this week to discuss his duties in bringing the faith to South Jersey's youth. This packed podcast also includes the three reflecting on prayer, silence, and last week's Summer in the City youth initiative.

Mr. Kevin Hickey, executive director of the Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden, and a trustee of Catholic Charities USA, joins Mike and Pete this week to discuss the upcoming Justice for All Dinner and the work of Catholic Charities in South Jersey. Last year, Catholic Charities served more than 33,000 people through its myriad of programs. We hope you can join Kevin and this year's JFA honoree...

This week we have two of the finest journalists in South Jersey join us as we welcome Carl Peters, Managing Editor of the Catholic Star Herald, and Jim McBride, the paper’s beloved photographer and living diocesan Wikipedia page. We talk with the both of them about how they got their start in journalism, how the diocese and the newspaper industry have changed over the years, and how much a good st...

We talk pilgrimages this week with Father Robert Hughes, Vicar General of the Diocese of Camden, and arguably one of the most traveled Catholics in South Jersey. Since his days as a wee lad in high school, he has been taking part in or leading dozens of pilgrimages, both in the U.S. and internationally. On the podcast this week, he schools Mike and Pete about the spiritual nature of pilgrimages, a...

Fr. David Rivera joins us this week to discuss what it’s like to minister in one of the most diverse and widespread parishes in Southern New Jersey, the Parish of the Holy Cross, which includes the city of Bridgeton and most of the surrounding county. We also touch on his background in moral theology and how a kid from urban Camden, New Jersey adjusted to life in the very rural area he now calls h...

This week we have an in depth chat about the Knights of Columbus, as Mike and Pete welcome their Brother Knight into the vault: Andy Lipenta, past State Deputy and newly-appointed Vice Supreme Master for New Jersey and New York. In between discussing the global order's dedication to service to God, country, and the community, they talk about the great work of the Knights locally and internationall...

Are there ever "dog days of summer" down the shore? Mike and Pete set out to answer that question this week, in their conversation with Father Jon Thomas, Pastor of Atlantic City's Parish of Saint Monica. The energetic young priest and our hosts also shoot the summer breeze on Atlantic City's revitalization; the upcoming Wedding of the Sea celebration in Atlantic City; the recent Convocation of Ca...

It's a special episode this week as we recap the Convocation of Catholic Leaders that was held July 1-4 in Orlando. Joining Mike and Pete are delegates to the Convocation, Father Kevin Mohan, Laurie Power, Michael Jordan Laskey and Michael Chambers. In all, 3,500 delegates from around the country came together to share their stories, best practices and energy of evangelization. You can check out t...

Have you ever considered fundraising to be a spiritual endeavor? If you haven't then you've never met this week's guest, the dean of fundraising in South Jersey, Jim Lanahan. As director of development he is the chief fundraiser for the Diocese of Camden. However, what makes Jim truly unique is the level of spirituality he brings to his job. He is a natural born evangelizer.

This week, it's a first for Talking Catholic, as Mike and Pete are graced with the presence of a religious sister, Sister Dianna Higgins, a Franciscan Missionary of the Infant Jesus. Sister Dianna, a teacher at Paul VI High School and facilitator of a monthly women's discernment group, discusses where youth and young adults are today, and how they can best understand God's call for their lives. As...

Have you ever wondered how a Catholic Mass or special service is created? Today we sit down with Stephen Obarski, Director of the Office of Worship and Christian Initiation for the Diocese of Camden, to discuss his role in developing Masses and incorporating changes from the Vatican to the rubrics of these liturgies. We also talk a little bit about the other hat he wears, as an archivist for the d...

With commencement season upon us, John Yeager from Paul VI High School in Haddon Township, takes Mike and Pete to school. The English and Film Professor recaps his year, and shares why literature is crucial to the formation of young minds. And just in time for summer, he passes out his recommended summer reading list.

Father Robert Sinatra is baaack! Bookending his first appearance during Holy Week, Father Sinatra helps Mike and Pete close the Easter season with a discussion on the feast of Pentecost. Along the way during the hour, the three men sound off on the Holy Spirit, the recent priest ordination in the Diocese of Camden, and their favorite baseball team.

Laurie Power, Director of Lifelong Faith Formation at Runnemede, N.J.'s Holy Child Parish, sits down with Mike and Pete for a lovely conversation on her ministry. The joyful and passionate young woman shares her work in bringing the Catholic faith to all ages; speaks about her time discerning a religious vocation; and educates the hosts about just what Lawn Chair Catechism is and why it works at h...

Deacon Jerry Jablonowski, Executive Director of VITALity Catholic Healthcare Services, and Mimi Schaible, Director of Care Coordination and Consultation for VITALity join Mike and Pete this week to explain how their programs enhance the quality and dignity of life for the elderly, persons with disabilities, and their families through programs and services that address the health and well-being of...

Father David Klein, Judicial Vicar, and Dr. Christina Hip-Flores, Tribunal Judge, join Pete and Mike this week for an insightful discussion of their work in the Diocese of Camden's Office of the Tribunal, holding fast to the tenants of Canon Law, and guiding individuals in the annulment process.

Father Ed Kennedy, Parochial Vicar at Blackwood's Our Lady of Hope Parish, stepped into the studio this week with Mike and Pete. Coming up on his first anniversary as an ordained priest, Father Kennedy shares the challenges and blessings he's experienced in the past 12 months; his family's priest heritage; and his first job as a movie theater projectionist.

This week's guest is the energetic and artistic Kari Janisse, Coordinator of Youth Ministry at Our Lady of Peace parish, in Williamstown, N.J. Kari is a dynamo who ministers to the youthful church, from children to young adults. Her strong faith fuels her intense desire to encourage the next generation of Catholic's to embrace and promote God's presence in their lives. Her efforts have been quite...

Bill Watson, Director of Curriculum and Assessment in the Diocese of Camden's Office of Catholic Schools, brings his teaching and education experience to this week's episode. In this intellectually engaging hour, he, Mike, and Pete talk about the importance of Catholic school teachers being models of faith for their students; forming well-rounded students on fire with the Catholic mission; and Mar...

On this week's program, Mike and Pete welcome to the podcast Kisanna Owens, Catholic Charities' Prison Re-entry Coordinator; and Deacon Jim Hallman, Catholic Charities' Prison Ministry Coordinator. Kisanna and Deacon Jim share powerful stories of the men and women they minister to inside and outside the prison walls, hoping to rehabilitate their lives and know God's love and mercy.

Road Trip! This week, Pete and Mike leave the friendly confines of "the vault" in Camden to travel down to Glassboro where they meet with Nina Camaioni, Coordinator of Catholic Campus Ministry at Rowan University. Our hosts enjoyed the warm, welcoming atmosphere and comfy couches at the ministry center, and discuss with Nina how students live their Catholic faith on campus; what youth desire from...

Just days before the start of Holy Week, Father Robert Sinatra joined Pete and Mike for an engaging, insightful, and sometimes humorous hour. The pastor of Vineland's Saint Padre Pio Parish eloquently shared the meaning of this penitential season, the Triduum and Chrism Mass, the power of Jesus' death and resurrection, and how the Catholic Church around the world prepares for Easter. We also discu...

This week, Father Michael Romano, Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Camden, and seminarian Stephen Robbins stop by the show to talk with Mike and Pete about seminarian life, the upcoming iRace4Vocations, and how young people can discern God's call for their lives. [Recorded on March 9, 2017. Please excuse the minor sound issues on Mike's mic.]

For today's episode, Mike and Pete sit down with Rod Herrera, director of the Camden Diocese's Office of Child and Youth Protection. They discuss Rod's time discerning the Jesuits, his background as a social worker, and the importance of the USCCB's Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. They also focus on the upcoming National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, and the impor...