The Wise Guys Podcast

One of the challenges we face in parishes is a lack of inspiration among parishioners that translates into low attendance at parishes programs, like Preambula’s. Why is it so difficult to get people to step into new growth opportunities at the parish? Most formation programs are half filled with the same people that show up for everything. Join us as we explore some of the underlying reasons for t...

During the Christmas season we drink deeply from the First Letter of St. John wherein the beloved disciple leaves us no room for lukewarm discipleship. John is clear that we cannot compromise with the spirit of this world. We either abide fully in the love of Jesus, or we don’t. Listen in as we explore what this really means for us, especially when it comes to the two-fold command to love God and...

At the beginning of a new year, it’s always a good idea to take stalk of ourselves and discern what needs our attention in the year ahead. Resolutions do not have to be big and audacious. Seldom do those work out anyhow. Listen in as the wise guys take an honest appraisal of our personal growth edges and explore the little disciplines that make personal growth possible.

When the religious sense falls out, holidays become hollow days with lots of work but no joy. The purpose of our holiday traditions is to celebrate a sacred mystery that reminds us of what matters most—who we are and to whom we belong. Listen in as we discuss the purpose of all the holiday get up and the importance of how we celebrate our sacred family traditions.

Advent (like Lent) is a season that teaches us about the amazing ways that Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophecy. Christianity is a historical faith, inasmuch as God enters the human story in a specific time and place, as part of an unfolding plan to save us. The historical nature of our faith matters. We do not believe in a series of abstract ideas but in a series of concrete historical events th...

We live in a society that teaches us to hyper fixate on our feelings. Can we think our way out of emotional paralysis though? Not really. Join us as we explore the anecdote to the excessive emotions that paralyze us. Here’s a hint: good action makes for good feelings.

In our culture today, where masculinity can be either eclipsed or exaggerated, guys find it difficult to be vulnerable. This is our experience anyhow. As disciples, Jesus wants more than a guy’s logic and assent to truth. He also wants a man’s heart for the sake of love, but in ways that mirror the Sacred Heart. Join us as we explore the challenges men have with accessing their emotions, why this...

There’s a reason we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe at the end of the liturgical year. He is truly Lord of all and the perfect form of true authority. His throne is the cross, and He will return to judge the nations according to the measure of his example. Join us as we explore why within our current geo-political environment, Jesus’ Kingship over all nations...

The Pope recently elevated St. John Nueman to the dignity of Doctor of the Church. One of his most famous contributions to the faith is his explanation for the development of doctrine. Listen in as we discuss this important teaching and apply it to two issues that have been hotly debated for decades—The title of Mary as Co-Redemptrix and the church’s teaching on the death penalty.

During the month of November, the Church commemorates the saints and the faithful departed. The Christian belief in a final judgement and the possibility of heaven, hell, or purgatory after death is still a stumbling block for many. When viewed within a framework of law, it seems like final judgement simply boils down to getting what we have coming to us. But what if there’s more to it than that?...

We often see our work as toilsome. TGIF and Monday morning dread are evidence of a culture that misunderstands the nature and dignity of human work. The wrong mindset toward work leaves us either depressed or anxious. Join us as we explore the biblical view of work as a human vocation that images God and brings the satisfaction of peace to the restless human heart.

Join us as we interview Michel’s son-in-law. Tyree grew up in a broken and impoverished household led by the strong faith of his mother. Listen in as he tells the story of how prophetic dreams, Godly mentors, and the grace of Jesus lifted him out of the dark valley of despair and hopelessness into the light of God’s glory.

In this episode we discuss the Church’s teaching on peace and its relationship to the common good. What does true peace require and is it possible to bring a lasting peace to the Holy Land? What will it take to end this age of terrorism in one of the most troubled hot spots in the history of the world?

The Church teaches that we are obliged to inform our conscience. But we are also obliged to obey our conscience even when we are in error about what is right and wrong. Yet when people zealously oppose what is truly good from an erroneous conscience it creates unimaginable moral problems. This is why a proper moral education is so critical. Join us as we explore how this generally unknown teaching...

Freedom of speech is under assault today. Yet there are also very real problems with the way free speech is exercised. It should be no surprise that the Church has important things to say about this basic civil right. Join us as we delve into this teaching and apply it to the problems we see in our media.

In 1917 Our Lady of Fatima prophesied that, unless we returned to God in faith, the poison of Russia would spread throughout the world. She was referring to the ideology responsible for Communism and Secularism, which today we call Critical Theory. Yet she also predicted that her Immaculate Heart would Triumph in the end. Listen in as we discern what’s happening in the West today. Is God about to...

The last several weeks has revealed a dark moment in our nation. A Catholic school Mass shooting, a brutal subway murder, and a political assassination have left everyone stunned and the country reeling. As everyone flocks to their preferred political commentaries and narratives, it provides us an opportunity to look more deeply at the mystery of evil. Join us as we try to make sense out of the mu...

What happens to us when we approach our faith with a performative mindset?  We tend to live our lives to make ourselves worthy in the eyes of God and others. But the other problem is having a minimalist mindset, as though our faith is simply about checking boxes. And of course, there’s those who want to do everything their own way with a certain autonomy. Listen in as we unpack these three mindset...

Mass shootings seem, tragically, to be commonplace anymore. Listening to all the commentary in the media is disquieting and also misleading. When we politicize real social problems, we seldom discuss important issues on the level they require and deserve. Listen in as we explore what lies beneath terrible tragedies like the recent Catholic school shooting in Minnesota.

This is always a popular topic! Listen in as we discuss the Church’s teaching about the common good, the rule of law, governance, and obedience to authority. It’s a difficult but very necessary teaching, especially in this age of distrust and radical individualism. Without this important injunction, any social organization will disintegrate.

Fr. Mike is the parochial Vicar of St. James and St. Katharine Drexel parishes in Washington County, PA. Listen in as Fr. Mike unpacks his amazing faith-filled upbringing in rural PA and his powerful vocation story. Fr. Mike is a man of adventure who has never shied away from a good challenge, even if that means giving up everything for Jesus.

We hear much in the media these days about corruption. And lots of it is being exposed. Scripture tells us that the “love of money” is the root of all evil. Join us as we discuss the ways in which the inordinate or unjust pursuit of wealth can corrupt the institutions that support key values such as health, education, politics, and sex.  

Is there a best way to receive Holy Communion? Many have strong opinions about this, and there are arguments on both sides of the debate. Join us as we seek an answer to this contentious issue. Is how we receive our Eucharistic Lord a theological issue or a matter of personal preference? And is there only one way we ought to outwardly express our interior piety? Listen in as we seek to discern Jes...

These are unsettling words from Jesus. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns us not to fall into self-deception. Just because we do many great things for Jesus, it doesn’t mean we are fulfilling the will of the Father. Listen in as we explore the meaning and significance of Jesus’ warning for our lives. Here’s a hint: it's all about the relationship with God and not the pursuit of sel...

Listen in as we explore Tristan Collin’s conversion story on the set of The Chosen. Tristan was invited to be an extra in seasons 3 and 4 of the series. He shares with us how God spoke to him and has since led him on a journey of healing and redemption, a journey that led him to Preambula Group and his participation in The Way and On Fire.