The Catholic Cafe

Lourdes, France is known for the miracles associated with Our Lady's appearance to St. Bernadette many years ago. Many of us have heard of them. But, not many of us have MET them. Join us in the The FRENCH Catholic Cafe as we welcome Dr. William McGarry, a Knight of Malta and a noted oncologist, to the Luxurious Corner Booth to discuss his fight with cancer and his unlikely - perhaps even miraculo...

The Order of Malta is a religious order that is over 900 years old. The members of this order are knights and dames who have devoted themselves to caring for the sick and the poor and defending Christ's Holy Church. Because it is a religious order, some of these knights have taken solemn vows. So how were they called? And do you think you might be called to this vowed religious life? Join us in th...

For years and years there has been unrest in the Middle East. Actually, it has been going on for centuries and centuries. But, what is really going on? And, what are the possibilities that hope and peace can ever come to that part of the world? Join us in the FRENCH Catholic Cafe as we welcome Ambassador Justin Simpson, the Order of Malta's diplomatic representative in Ramallah, to help shed some...

We've heard a lot about the Crusades over the years. Unfortunately, most of what we've heard...and what many of us have come to believe...has been marred by half-truths, politics and even a re-writing history. So what were the Crusades REALLY about? What really happened and why? Join us in the FRENCH Catholic Cafe as Deacon Jeff and Robert welcome Knight of Malta and Professor of History Dane Munr...

Welcome to the Luxurious Corner Booth of The FRENCH Catholic Cafe! Yes, we're back in Lourdes, France once again on pilgrimage with the Order of Malta...and we've brought our studio with us so we can bring more great shows your way. In this first of twelve episodes, we welcome Margaret Melady, a Dame of Malta and President of the Federal Association of the Order of Malta, who discusses her persona...

Sister Mary Karen of the Sisters Of Life, an order of sisters devoted to protecting and defending the dignity of all human beings, especially the most vulnerable, joins Deacon Jeff and Tom in the Luxurious Corner Booth to tell the wonderful story of her discovery of God's calling her to the consecrated life.

Is God calling you? He most assuredly is. In fact, He's calling all of us...it's just that sometimes we're just too busy to hear Him. Join us in the Luxurious Corner Booth as we welcome Deacon Michael Stankiewicz, a Permanent Deacon from the Diocese of Wilmington in Delaware, as he speaks of God calling him to make the remarkable journey from a life of big banking to a life of diaconal service.

In many ways, St. Joseph is a wonderful model of true manhood. It is for this reason that a group of men who were seeking to become the best Christian men that they could be called their gathering the "Men of St. Joseph." Join Deacon Jeff and Tom as they welcome Dr. Kevin Ryan, Executive Director of the Men of St. Joseph, to the Luxurious Corner Booth to discuss the meaning and purpose of this now...

How much do we really know about living a Sprit-filled life? Let's start by checking with Sacred Scripture! There are many wonderful insights into life's blessings when filled with the third Divine Person of the Blessed Trinity found in the Bible. Join Deacon Jeff, Tom and Doug as they discuss just seven of the many "promises" that we can expect to receive when we invoke and welcome the Holy Spiri...

Pornography is typically underrated in it's devastating effect on the human family. It is usually laughed off as "something all boys do." Unfortunately, the statistics are alarming and there is a great need to awaken the awareness of fathers, sons and brothers as well as mothers, daughters and sisters to the destructive potential...and indeed, reality...of porn. Join Deacon Jeff and Tom as they we...

Alleluia! Come and celebrate Easter with us in the Luxurious Corner Booth of The Catholic Cafe. Join Deacon Jeff and Tom as they discuss the concept of the Resurrection and also lead us into a discussion of our own bodily resurrection on Judgment Day!

Have you ever been asked if the Devil is real? Have you ever wondered this yourself? Is there really some evil dude with a pitchfork trying to get you to sin? Join Deacon Jeff and Tom as they welcome back Peter Herbeck, Vice President and Director of Missions for Renewal Ministries to discuss the devil, sin and the remedy...Jesus Christ!

Are you a Trinitarian? Do you "live the Trinity?" Many people have a good relationship to one of the divine Persons of the Most Holy Trinity, but sometimes we find it hard to live life in a relationship with all Three. Join us in the Luxurious Corner Booth as Deacon Jeff, Tom and Doug speak of inviting fully into our lives the Triune God...Father Son and Holy Spirit.

Have you ever wondered why so many important events in the Bible lasted 40 days and nights or 40 years? That number 40 is actually significant and can tell us a lot about what the event is leading to. Join Deacon Jeff in the Luxurious Corner Booth as he, Tom and Doug discuss the number 40 and it's biblical significance.

So...what did you give up for Lent? We have always loved asking and answering this question every Ash Wednesday. The problem is that, for many people, the idea of "giving something up" has lost it's meaning and has even fallen by the wayside as a childish or obsolete custom. Join Deacon Jeff in the Luxurious Corner Booth as he, Tom and Doug discuss the meaning, purpose and extreme value of our Len...

Many people - Catholics and non-Catholics alike - are asking themselves, "Is this all there is?" Life can be tough, filled with many challenges, and many of us are wondering how to live a joy-filled life. Join Deacon Jeff and Doug as they welcome their guest, Fr. Emerich Vogt, OP, to the Luxurious Corner Booth to discuss the keys to not only recognize potential issues in themselves and their famil...

Many people struggle with authority in their lives...political, workplace, familial and even religious authority. In a culture that promotes the total empowerment of self, it's getting harder and harder to recognize the authority of the Church as a natural extension of Christ's authority. Join Deacon Jeff and Doug Grokulsky as they discuss the challenging and timely topic of authority today.

What happens when you work so long and so hard that you find it difficult to get to Mass? And, when you do go, you get nothing out of it because you're so tired. This is a dilemma many people in our current economy are facing. Join Deacon Jeff and Tom in the Luxurious Corner Booth as they try and assist a listener in her process of navigating this tough situation.

Once again, Deacon Jeff, Tom and Doug open up the mail bag in the Luxurious Corner Booth of The Catholic Cafe! Join them as they help a listener who wants to know what the Catholic Church can offer those who are only nominal Catholics, but have an intense desire to know more about what the Church teaches...and thereby grow in their faith.

What did Jesus REALLY mean when he told us that unless we turn and become like children we could not enter the kingdom of heaven? Didn't St. Paul tell us to "put away childish things?" Even the world would have our children grow up sooner and sooner. Join Deacon Jeff, Tom and Doug as they ponder the words of Jesus and explore ways in which we can all re-capture our child-like qualities.

Sometimes, I wonder if the season of Advent is one of the best kept secrets of the Church's liturgical year. Our commercial culture has taught us to skip right from Halloween (All Hallows Eve) to Christmas. And yet, the Church asks us to pause and spend a significant time (in fact, a season) to reflect on the coming - the advent - of the Lord. Join Deacon Jeff, Tom and Doug as they ponder the mean...

Meet Annemarie from the Netherlands. She is 24 years old and a "lone" Catholic in her family, amongst her friends and even in her parish. Annemarie is not the only one who feels this way. Join Deacon Jeff and Tom in the Luxurious Corner Booth as they discuss her email from Holland and try and offer some advice, guidance and comfort in her situation.

Do you know the true origins and development of the American holiday of Thanksgiving? Is it just an onramp to the Christmas season? Does it have a truly religious origin? Join Deacon Jeff, Tom and Doug in the Luxurious Corner Booth as they discuss how we can "take back" the holiday and live more fully its originally spiritual intent.

Join Deacon Jeff and Tom as they welcome their guest, Sister Mary Philomena of the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word, to the Luxurious Corner Booth. Sister shares her insights into both the charism of her order in Birmingham, Alabama and her own vocation to consecrated life as a Sister Servant.

Have you ever considered yourself an "expert" at art appreciation? Most of us do not. In fact, we usually feel unqualified to even comment on art. But, did you ever think that artists create art specifically for ordinary folks like me and you? Join Deacon Jeff and Tom in the Luxurious Corner Booth as they welcome Scott Peck, the Director and Curator of the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas, TX, and...