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Throughout history, the Holy Spirit has moved our faith to greater understanding of God's remit for us.   As our society has evolved over the last century, the ways in which women participate in and shape our faith have expanded and become more prominent.  From the heroines of the Old Testament to the devoted disciples of Christ, women have walked with the Spirit in a myriad of ways.  In this...

Catholicism has a deep tradition of faith and science, but scientific approaches rarely allow for the role of God in our observations of the physical universe.  Fr Ed Kohler proposes a new paradigm to unify hard science with our understanding of God's creation.  Part theology, part physics, Divine Mechanics provide a bridge between the two.   Further explorations of the world of Divine Mechan...

1.4 billion voices lifted in joy on May 8th when the announcement rang out: Habemus Papam!  Though his Papacy is only just taking form, we can see much of the character of Leo XIV in his Augustinian charism, his missionary work in the world, and his cardinalate.  The name Leo also has great historic significance that gives us a vision of his hopes for our future.  Fr Hightower joins us to give som...

Early on Easter Monday in the Jubilee Year 2025, Pope Francis went home to the Lord.  His legacy is sure to be one of compassion and humanity, always focusing on and lifting up the voices of the poor and disenfranchised, in the spirit of the Jesuit charism of drawing in the people of God rather than hiding behind a veil of clericalism.  The first Pope from the Americas, as well as the first Pope f...

Easter is more than just a single day.  True, one Sunday a year we dedicate our joy to our risen Lord, but the Easter Season continues for the next 40 (+10) days.  During this time, we are invited to reflect on what Jesus was trying to teach his disciples after his resurrection, to transform them from followers into true missionaries.  In contemplating this within the context of our own lives, we...

The third day of the Eucharistic Congress for the Diocese of Helena culminates with a Mass at the Cathedral of St. Helena, a Eucharistic Procession to Carroll College, and a Benediction at All Saints Chapel.  Our Eucharistic Congress commentary is capped off by an interview with Dr. Hannah Hemphill, Assistant Professor of Catholic Studies at Carroll, where we explore the origins and evolution of E...

The second day of the Eucharistic Congress was by far the most busy.  From sun up to sun down there were both general presentations and more in-depth explorations concerning all manner of topics around the Eucharist.  The first of our interviews features Brooke, a high-schooler from Helena who shares with us a touching and inspirational story of conversion.  The second interview is with Dr. Charle...

In our first episode covering the Eucharistic Congress for the Diocese of Helena, we set the stage for the upcoming days.  Alex Kautzky, the Diocese of Helena's Director of Pro Life, Faith, and Evangelization and one of the main organizers for this event, brings us through the preparations for an event of this scale and the Diocese's faith formation mission.  Dr. John Ries, Professor of...

It is time once again for the Novena of Grace here at St. Francis Xavier Parish.  This year's presenter is Dr. Katherine Greiner, an Associate Professor of Theology at Carroll College in Helena, MT.  Her topic is the Poverty of Spirit spoken of in Matthew 25, specifically the need for God's presence and support in our lives.  Nicholas sits down with Dr. Greiner to discuss this commonly m...

In this episode we cultivate a deeper understanding of gratitude, patience, temperance, and diligence.  Fr Cochran joins Nicholas for the second half of our discussion regarding the Seven Heavenly Virtues.  

When deciding how to engage with others, we take as inspiration the virtues laid out for us by our faith.  Virtue is integral to the practice of the Christian faith, and it is our responsibility to cultivate it through moral discernment.  We do so not only to practice good deeds, but to avoid falling into sin.  Father Cochran joins us to explore the first of our Heavenly Virtues, and the roots of...

A Jubilee Year are special times in the calendar of the Catholic Church.  With its origins in the celebration prescribed by God in the Old Testament book of Leviticus, it invites us to contemplate God's love and grace, seek redemption from our sins, and be a sign of God's mercy to those around us.   Shai Hill joins us to talk about the opportunities we can take to deepen our faith during...

We continue our exploration of the seven Sacraments of the Catholic faith by looking into the Sacraments of Service: Reconciliation, Anointing, and the vocations of holy orders and marriage.  These sacraments invite us to open our hearts to the will of God by intimately sharing with one another our inmost frailty and strength.  They represent our continuing and evolving relationship with the Churc...

Rituals and rites define all faith communities, and Catholics have seven specific Sacraments which we experience throughout our faith journey.  These Sacraments are designed to bring us closer to God and each other, to live out Christ's mission and vision for us, and to renew our dedication to the ideals of Holy Mother Church.  Fr Hightower joins us to introduce the first set of these Sacrame...

It is National Catholic Schools Week! Our Catholic schools offer a unique and essential educational paradigm in today's increasingly secular society.  As well as instilling our young people with Christian values, Catholic schools seek to create productive and educated citizens who are able to carry out the Gospel message in a practical and tangible way.  Dr Tom Noonan joins us for this specia...

God calls all of us into his service, for his glory and for our wellbeing.  Sometimes it can be hard to know what we are called to do.  Are we called to participate in religious life?  Do we best serve by entering into the sacrament of marriage and raising a family?  These questions must be answered with a sober and purposeful mind.  Fr Daniel Nevares helps us to understand the process of vocation...

Baptism is one of the fundamental Christian rituals, honored and held in high esteem by all Trinitarian faiths.  But what is baptism?  Is it simply the act of immersion in water, or is it something more?  And why did Christ, God incarnate in the world, undergo this process at the hands of his cousin John who, in his own words, was "unfit to kneel down and untie His sandals" (Mk 1:7-8)? ...

For Catholics, one of the most powerful elements of the season of Advent is the music that draws us together.  Whether they be old hymns that are near and dear to our hearts, or joyful tunes we hear when shopping for our families, the songs of this season speak to us of the magnitude of our Savior's coming.  St Francis Xavier Parish's music director, Robert Harsch, is in the studio to sp...

As we journey through this Advent season, we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of our Savior.  For those of us who work at a church, extensive preparation is needed to help parishioners experience the peace and wonder of the Mass.  Come behind the scenes with the staff of St. Francis Xavier Parish as we make our sacred preparations.

Widely appreciated by both the faithful and the secular world, sacred art holds a place of special significance to our Church and society.  Art speaks where words fail, imparting emotions in a way that unites us all in the appreciation of its beauty.  It can take one's breath away with a glimpse of the divine and bring our stories to life.  Fr Tom Lankenau shares his profound love of this sub...

Every year, on the fourth Thursday of November, Americans are asked what they are thankful for.  When we struggle, it can be difficult to come up with an answer.  However, by cultivating a more positive outlook, we begin to see all of the gifts that God generously bestows on us.  This perspectival shift empowers us to be divinely generous with others. Fr Conroy and Fr Cochran join us for this very...

Fr Cochran rejoins Nicholas for the final installment of our three part series on the Beatitudes.  Tune back into the conversation as we give a final examination of these powerful and proactive statements.

We continue our exploration of the Beatitudes in this second installment of our three part series.  Fr Cochran is back to offer his sage wisdom and understanding for us to contemplate.  Join Nicholas as we further examine this most important and vital section of scripture.

Matthew 5, also known as the Beatitudes, is one of the most popular sections of the Bible.  The words are simple yet powerful, mysterious, and compelling.  But how many of us really know the depth of their meaning?  There's quite a bit to unpack when it comes to these verses.  Fr Cochran joins Nicholas in the studio to begin our deep dive into the Beatitudes.

From helping the poorest and most desperate of humanity all the way to the hallowed halls of Congress, Father Pat Conroy has lived a remarkable life.   His breadth of experience has given him precious wisdom to share.  Join Nicholas as we trace Fr Conroy's journey and discover the lessons that dwell there.