The Konza Catholic Podcast

Join us for a thoughtful discussion as Fr Gale, Fr Drew, Vaughn Kohler, and Deacon Brian McCaffery discuss the heated state of American discourse, and how we can and should respond to it as faithful Catholics. They explain how we might have gotten here, and what the next steps are for those seeking Heaven. 

Tune in for another Thirsty Thursday as Father Gale tells us about his favorite Christmas gift, a sweatshirt with the letters SOSA. He explains what it means, what the Spirit of Saint Andrew looks like in everyday life, how it can change your life, and recounts the first time he delivered this message. 

Pope Francis recently declared this new church year as the "Year of Saint Joseph", So the Konza Catholic Crew is back to explain what that means, and why St. Joseph is such an important model for us as Christians. Come for Pope Francis' expounding on the life of the silent Saint, stay for Father Gale's speculation on St. Joseph's prayer.

Join us for another Thirsty Thursday as Father Drew walks us through the history and basics of consecrating ourselves to Jesus through Mary, or "Marian Consecration" as it is popularly known. He explains the history, the benefits, and why he's committed to this discipline of prayer for the last fifteen years.

What's the Word of the Year? For years, Father Drew and his friends have been choosing a "Word of the Year" for the upcoming year. It's meant to give the new year a theme, a focus, and express their hopes for the next 12 months. It's interesting, meaningful, and fun! On this episode, the priests and Vaughn share their Word of the Year and unpack the highlights (yes, there were highlights) of 2020.

What does Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer have to do with the real meaning of Christmas? We're talking about that great television program that aired way back in 1964. Do Rudolph, Hermie, Yukon Cornelius, and the Abominable Snowman have anything to teach us about the story of the Incarnation, the amazingly true story about God the Son coming to Earth as a human baby? Father Gale thinks so. (And he...

The Confessions by Saint Augustine is arguably the second-most influential book in Church history. When it first appeared on the scene, it was shocking in its level of vulnerability. Few, if any, church leaders had shared his personal story in such a courageous, transparent way. Father Drew and Andy Brandt talk through this spiritual tell-all and show how it has helped millions discover that "our...

During this season of Advent, we often hear about the "wise men" who came from the East to offer gifts to the baby Jesus. In this episode, Father Drew Hoffman offers an insightful and beautiful reflection on the connections between the story of "The Magi" and the celebration and experience of the Holy Mass.

Kale Watchous is a 22-year old Catholic convert from Wichita who wrote a 687-page book titled "Built on the Apostles." (Kale is really, really smart and we pray the Lord keeps him humble.) He wrote the book to defend his decision to enter the Catholic Church. In today's episode, the Konza Crew interviews Kale about his journey to Rome. It's a thought-provoking conversation that will not only remin...

700 years before it actually happened, the prophet Isaiah foretold the miraculous birth of Christ, as well as the way that God was going to bring light to a world in darkness. In the last couple decades, there's been a curious controversy about a well-known Christmas song that Catholics often sing during Advent. Do you know the prophecies and understand how rich and meaningful they are to your fai...

Why did Father Gale take a "Polar Plunge" this time last year and what does it have to do with St. Francis Xavier and the Church's great mission of introducing people to Jesus?  Are you passionate about sharing the gospel with others?  Why not? These are the questions posed (and answered) in this Thirsty Thursday episode.

You've never heard a podcast episode like this before! Father Gale and Father Drew recap the 7 basic plots of Hallmark holiday movies, and reflect on their relevance to the season of Advent. Believe it or not, you might smile. You might laugh. You might gain some helpful insight for your spiritual life!

How can we learn to be liberated from our enslavement to negative emotions, temptations, and the critical, self-destructive thoughts in our own minds? How can we learn to be more aware of God's spirit in our hearts and his action in our lives? St. Ignatius of Loyalty shared with the Church fourteen rules that will help us navigate our Christian life, and experience greater freedom in rejecting sin...

Five minutes at the beginning of your day can totally transform your faith—and your life. As we approach Thanksgiving, Father Gale Hammerschmidt explains how the practice of identifying your blessing on a regular basis can help you take off your "Insta-goggles," open your eyes to the extraordinary nature of your ordinary life, and ultimately, move you closer to becoming a saint.

The Masters golf tournament was last week! Even if you aren't a golfer and don't appreciate "The Tradition Unlike Any Other,"  there are some fascinating connections between the game of golf and the life of faith. In this fun, rollicking conversation between Father Gale and Father Drew, the two of them discuss some of the features and traditions of The Masters in particular and golf in general, an...

As the country has recently celebrated Veteran's Day, Father Drew Hoffman of St. Isidore's Catholic Student Center shares the story of a true American hero: Father Emil Kapaun. Venerated by the Catholic Church as a "Servant of God," Kapaun was ordained in the Diocese of Wichita, served as a U.S Army Chaplain in WW2 and Korea, and was an example of faith, valor, and service to others--even to the p...

Lamar Hunt Jr. is part owner of the Kansas City Chiefs and the founder of the Loretto Foundation, an organization dedicated "to building stronger families by encouraging spiritual growth." His achievements and credentials are impressive, but Lamar says that he is most thankful to be "a beloved child of God." He and the crew talk about his background growing up in a legendary NFL family, the euphor...

It's National Vocations Week! In this episode, Father Gale Hammerschmidt briefly shares the story of how he discerned his vocation to the priesthood. In addition, he provides helpful guidance for those trying to determine whether to pursue a vocation to the priesthood, the religious life, or marriage. Finally, he shares an easy-to-remember acronym for determining if you are the kind of person God...

We're a couple days past Halloween, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day, but it's not too late to delve into the significance (and utter coolness) of two of the greatest feast days of the Catholic year. How exactly does one become a saint? Do you have to be canonized by the Church? Why do we venerate the saints? Why and how do we pray for the souls in purgatory? Listen to this episode for answers to...

The doctrine of purgatory is a significant, admittedly strange teaching of the Catholic Church. One the one hand, it makes total sense. On the other hand, it's a perplexing mystery. What's purgatory all about? In this episode, Father Drew Hoffman of St. Isidore's Catholic Student Center explores and explains this oftentimes controversial and confusing doctrine, ultimately concluding that if we rig...

When Sister Serena Deters of the Marian Sisters of Lincoln comes into town, good (and cool) things happen. A beloved spiritual director, Sister Serena joins the Konza Crew for this episode and deep and hilarious conversation ensues. Listen to the exciting story behind her religious order's move to Nebraska, and learn "tips and tricks" (as Father Drew likes to say) for discerning your vocation, as...

Some people in history have some crazy nicknames. "Suleiman the Magnificent," "Ivan the Terrible," and "Michael the Drunkard" to name a few. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be given nickname "The Great?" That's exactly what Pope St. Gregory was called. How did he earn that nickname and what can we learn from him about pursuing greatness ourselves? That's what Father Drew Hoffman talks about in today's...

Too many Catholics think that the only way we're going to transform people's lives for Christ is to have all the answers or possess all the virtues. What if there was a way we could mightily impact others just by offering ourselves to them as real, down-to-earth human beings? In this episode, the Konza crew dives into the life of St. Philip Neri, an eccentric but authentic man who met people where...

Drawing from the riveting story surrounding the life of Saint John Paul the Great and the fall of the Soviet Union, Father Gale Hammerschmidt of St. Isidore's urges us to remember that while there are forces at work in our culture trying to marginalize the Church, they will not ultimately succeed. If we really want God in our lives, and rise to our duties and responsibilities, Jesus will make his...

When you're not in church, do you take your faith with you wherever you go? How does being a Christian shape the way you perform at your job, spend money on Amazon, or engage in the political process? Can we actually know how Jesus wants us to work, shop, or vote? Pastor Reid Kapple of Christ Community Church in Olathe, Kansas joins the Ad Astra Apostles and they discuss how all Christians can be...