Talking Catholic

It’s another summer restaurant review and Catholic entrepreneur showcase! Kari Janisse and Mike Walsh traveled down to Wildwood Crest at the height of the summer beach season to chat with Deb John who operates Royal Grill with her husband and executive chef Phil John. Also joining us for this show is Notre Dame de la Mer pastor Fr. Cadmus Mazzarella and Kari’s husband Phil and son JP. The group sa...

Only a few weeks removed from the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, we’ve invited four Diocese of Camden pilgrims on to the podcast to reflect on their journey. Joining us this week are  Evelyn Cuttino, Holy Eucharist Parish, Cherry Hill Laurie Power, award winning host of Talking Saints Sister Cecilia Nanni, FMIJ Judy Marino, Catholic Community of Christ our Light, Cherry Hill Our gu...

Mike welcomes Catholic Charities of South Jersey Executive Director Maria Elena Hallion, PhD., on to the show this week to chat about taking over the reigns of the social service organization that serves tens of thousands of clients throughout the year. We discuss the work of Catholic Charities, her path to leadership of the organization, her spirituality, and how her years in academia were great...

"Saints Joachim and Anne were part of a long chain of people who had transmitted their faith and love for God, expressed in the warmth and love of family life, down to Mary..."  - Pope Francis   Though not mentioned in the Bible, Saints Joachim and Anne are revered as the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandparents of Jesus.  On this month's episode of Talking Saints, Pete and Laurie share...

STEAL AN IDEA ALERT. Mike and Jen headed down the shore (adjacent) this week to chat with a group of young folks who have helped develop an event every parish should be using!!! The Dream On Youth Festival set for July 19 at Saint Katharine Drexel Church, Egg Harbor Township is a brilliant youth-focused event that even in its inaugural year is getting a ton of attention - all from the minds of you...

As you may have heard, Mike Walsh was recently at the Catholic Media Association’s annual conference. While there he took the opportunity to actually meet new people. His efforts were abundantly rewarded and he brought two members of that bounty on the podcast this week to showcase the incredible talent of the current crop of young Catholic professionals. Joining him this week are 29-year-old Mont...

It’s summertime, which can only mean it’s time for a Kari Janisse classic episode, on the road and eating! This time she and Mike Walsh visit with local Catholic entrepreneur Anthony Bongiovanni, owner of Lena’s Water Ice & Custard in Lindenwold, NJ. They discuss his path into the food service world and his dedication to high-quality treats. This episode is also a bit of a crossover with special g...

Summer is officially here, and that can only mean one thing: It’s time for a “Talking Catholic” hostful episode!   With co-host Mike Walsh away at the Catholic Media Association Conference in Atlanta, the “TC” crew busted into the vault and got into the recording equipment. Join hosts Kari Janisse, Mike Bress, Marianela Nunez, Jen Mauro and Peter G. Sánchez of “Talking Saints” fame as they discuss...

We welcome back Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Rector Fr. Adam Cichoski this week to chat about his role this year as padrino - a great honor from Camden’s Puerto Rican community - of the Parada San Juan Bautista in Camden, NJ, what life has been like as rector of the bishop’s church for the past two years, and his devotion to World War II and Korean War Army Chaplain Fr. Emil Kapaun, who...

Human beings are built for stories – and have been since the time of the greatest of all faith storytellers: Jesus.   He told stories that were able to draw in diverse crowds with different points of view. In a similar way, every person’s story – every witness – is the most important thing one can share with another person.   Join hosts Mike Walsh and Jen Mauro on this week’s episode of “Talking C...

“O Lord, you have been our refuge in all generations.” Bishop, evangelist, and saint, Boniface, the “Apostle of Germany,” is the subject of the latest Talking Saints on his feast day, June 5. Hosts Laurie and Pete unravel the life of this 8thcentury Benedictine monk, who reformed the Church and converted thousands across Europe, and could have quite possibly started the tradition of the Christmas...

The intersection of science in faith is often thought to be contentious, however, for Catholic scientists it’s actually considered a fertile ground for discussion and support. Joining us this week is the president of the Society of Catholic Scientists, Stephen Barr, Ph. D. The professor emeritus of physics at the University of Delaware is a founding member of the society that now boasts more than...

It’s been a festive May for the Catholic faithful of South Jersey. In addition to ordaining two transitional deacons and a new priest, the Diocese of Camden has been blessed with its first coadjutor bishop! On May 21, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Joseph Williams as coadjutor bishop of the diocese who will succeed Bishop Dennis Sullivan when he retires on his 80th birthday, March 17, 2025. But wha...

Co-hosts Marianela Nunez and Mike Bress took the podcast on the road this week to the Port-O-Call Hotel in Ocean City to talk with Catholics School principals at their annual end-of-the-year retreat, which included an extra special surprise guest… the world famous Phillie Phanatic! Patti Paulsen, Holy Angels Catholic School, Woodbury; Elizabeth Mariani, Sacred Heart School, Camden; and Tom Iacovon...

Jubilee 2025 is fast approaching (it will open on Christmas Eve 2024). The jubilee is a great religious event that takes place every 25 years and features the opening of Holy Doors, pilgrimages, a focus on reconciliation, and a commitment to serve God with joy. In preparation for the jubilee year, Pope Francis marked 2024 as a Year of Prayer and published a pastoral resource called “Teach us to Pr...

The spring sports season is in full swing for elementary and high schools across the Diocese of Camden, which means it is time to check in with Catholic Star Herald sports reporter Mark Zimmaro.   Co-hosts Jen Mauro and Mike Bress join forces once again to talk with Mark about team outlooks across various spring sports including baseball, softball, track and field, and boys and girls lacrosse. The...

It’s a “two-for-one” special on today’s Talking Saints, as Laurie and Pete explore the lives and examples of Saints Philip and James, apostles and martyrs of Jesus.  Learn why they share a feast on May 3; how Philip’s curiosity led to a crucial Church teaching; and why James is known as “the Less.”    Saints Philip and James, pray for us! Listen to Talking Saints with Laurie Power and Pete Sanchez...

It’s another laughter-filled episode of Talking Catholic, as co-hosts Jen Mauro and Mike Walsh welcome a new guest to the show: Deacon Dean Johnson, who serves in Church of the Holy Family, Sewell.   First, Deacon Dean shares what he learned during his time in the diaconate program – both educationally and spiritually. “The more I got to know about the Church, the more I fell in love with her,” he...

Naming Saint George the Patron of England, King Edward III referred to him as “the most invincible athlete of Christ.” This 4th century soldier and martyr, indeed, was strong and untiring in his witness, inspiring others to put their faith in the one true God. In the latest Talking Saints, Laurie and Pete remember this his feast day, and share the life of this “dragonslayer” who continues to give...

Technology plays a huge role in our everyday lives, including how we choose, and enroll into, Catholic schools. Co-hosts Marianela Nunez and Michael Bress brought in colleagues Robin Parrish and Jeff Stoddard from the education technology company FACTS (https://factsmgt.com) to discuss the impact that technology has had on schools and for inquiring parents. Filled with excellent tips, tricks and b...

“How do we be Church together?”   Such is among the topics “Talking Catholic” tackles in this week’s episode with guests Michael Canaris and Maureen H. O’Connell.   Discussing all things synodal, Canaris – longtime columnist for the Catholic Star Herald and associate professor of theology at Loyola University Chicago’s Institute of Pastoral Studies – and O’Connell, author and professor of Christia...

This week, Kari and Mike have a great Holy Week wrap-up conversation, speak with one of the newest members of the Catholic Church, and review the excellent new movie “Cabrini” with guest reviewers Fr. John Rossi, pastor of Saint Bridget University Parish, Candice Rauchfuss and Sam Brown. Our guests really get into the nuts and bolts of the new movie about Mother Cabrini and how they came away very...

We’ve come to Holy Week, the most unique and opportunity-laden time period on the Catholic calendar. Jen and Mike sat down with Fr. Stephen Robbins, Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Camden to discuss many of the nuances of the Holy Week Masses and services. It’s a really great conversation with Fr. Robbins dropping golden nuggets of information and wisdom thr...

It’s been a while since we’ve chatted with our college friends. So, with the spring semester halfway finished, we welcome back prodigal host and Rowan University Catholic Campus Ministry director Kari Janisse (https://www.stbridgetup.org/rowan-catholic-campus-ministry) and her Stockton University Newman Club counterpart Brittany Shields (https://www.stocktonccm.com). To give us what a day in the l...

Catholic School principals are involved in every aspect of running their school. Recently, we had the opportunity to sit down with three of the newer elementary school principals in the Diocese of Camden – Sr. Santa Theresa, St. Teresa Regional School, Runnemede; Elizabeth Mariani, Sacred Heart School, Camden; and Ramona Bregatta, Our Lady Star of the Sea Regional School, Atlantic City. The trio t...