Deacons Pod

Media literacy education, digital literacy skills, artificial intelligence, and the power of movies are topics in this first Deacons Pod episode of 2024. The deacons' wonderful guest is Sr. Rose Pacatte, a Daughter of St. Paul, the founding director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies, and a film critic. ABOUT THE SHOW: Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s especially created to ins...

The deacons speak with Robert Ellsberg, publisher of Orbis Books, writer of the "Blessed Among Us" column in "Give Us This Day," and one-time managing editor of the Catholic Worker newspaper. The episode touches on Advent, Christmas, the future of Catholic book publishing, Servant of God Dorothy Day, Servant of God Isaac Hecker, and Robert's well-known father Daniel Ellsberg, who entered eternal l...

The deacons speak with Joan Rosenhauer, President of Jesuit Refugee Service USA, an organization which serves and advocates on behalf of refugees and forcibly displaced people. Before joining JRS/USA in 2018, Joan spent nine years as Executive Vice President of Catholic Relief Services. Prior to that, she served at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Department for Justice, Peace, and Human D...

How can the Church's evangelization efforts be more effective? Is World Youth Day having a lasting impact? Where can "threshold Catholics" or "seekers" find hope? These are some of the deacons' questions in this episode for Marilyn Santos, a veteran Catholic educator and youth minister. She serves today as Associate Director of the Secretariat of Evangelization & Catechesis at the U. S. Conference...

Deacon Dennis and Deacon Patrick speak with Cherylann and Len Gengel of the Be Like Brit Foundation, which operates a home and academy for children in Haiti. They began the foundation after their daughter Brit died while on a mission trip in Haiti during the devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010. During the Saturday evening Mass on November 18, 2023, Cherylann and Len will be honored by the P...

The deacons speak with Nancy Klein Maguire, author of "An Infinity of Little Hours: Five Young Men and Their Trial of Faith in the Western World's Most Austere Monastic Order" and "The Monk's Widow: A Memoir of a Resilient Love and an Intimate Death." Before their conversation with Dr. Maguire, Deacon Mark, Deacon Dennis, and Deacon Drew discuss the different orders of Catholic monks and the varyi...

The deacons speak with U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas about her spiritual journey and the sense of peace she has found three years after her son Daniel, age 20, was shot and killed at their home in New Jersey. Judge Salas and her husband Mark (who also was shot during the attack) have publicly forgiven the assailant. She is the first Deacons Pod guest to make a return visit to the pod. New...

Chaplains for police departments, sheriff's offices, and other law enforcement agencies serve during some of life's worst moments. To explore the blessings and challenges of such roles, the deacons speak with Paulist Fr. Charlie Donahue and Deacon Patrick Murphy-Racey (one of the Paulist Deacon Affiliates). They both serve as law enforcement chaplains in Knoxville, TN. Fr. Charlie is a chaplain wi...

The deacons speak with Deacon Bill Ditewig, a retired U.S. Navy Commander, linguist, professor, and author of several Paulist Press books about the diaconate. His most recent book is "Courageous Humility: Reflections on the Church, Diakonia, and Deacons." A deacon of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., he lives today in Florida. ABOUT THE SHOW: Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s esp...

The deacons speak with Gerard Straub, an author, former television producer, and Secular Franciscan who leads the Santa Chiara Children’s Center in Haiti. On September 28, 2023, he is slated to deliver the Annual Gallagher Talk at the Catholic Information Center in Grand Rapids, MI.  ABOUT THE SHOW: Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s especially created to inspire and give hope to peo...

The deacons speak with Deacon Kevin Martin, a permanent deacon of the Archdiocese of Boston, and author of "All Is Well: Life Lessons from a Preacher's Father." The book is a memoir of a parent’s sudden passing from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), recalling life lessons learned, and regaining faith in the process. ABOUT THE SHOW: Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s especially created to i...

The deacons speak with Dr. Carmen Acevedo Butcher, translator of a "revolutionary" new translation of the spiritual classic "The Practice of the Presence of God" by French Carmelite Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (c. 1614 - 1691). Dr. Acevedo Butcher teaches at the University of California, Berkeley. ABOUT THE SHOW: Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s especially created to inspi...

The deacons speak with Dr. Kevin Ahern, a theological ethicist and public theologian. He is an associate professor of religious studies at Manhattan College in Bronx, NY. Dr. Ahern is author of "Structures of Grace: Catholic Organizations Serving the Global Common Good" and co-editor (with Paulist seminarian Chris Malano) of "God’s Quad: Small Faith Communities on Campus and Beyond." He is a past...

The deacons speak with Stephanie Clary, editor of "Earthbeat," the faith and climate project of the National Catholic Reporter. Their conversation looks at the environmental challenges our world faces and what people of faith can do to help address them. ABOUT THE SHOW: Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s especially created to inspire and give hope to people on the “threshold of faith...

The deacons speak with Bob Carini, a one-time supervisor of counselors in a Connecticut prison. They speak about the Twelve-Step program, addiction, and more. Deacon Dennis and Deacon Tom met Bob when they served as prison ministers. ABOUT THE SHOW: Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s especially created to inspire and give hope to people on the “threshold of faith”: Those who are thin...

The deacons speak with Paulist Fr. Joe Ciccone, a veteran pastor and campus minister, about listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit when life takes us out of our comfort zones. Fr. Joe shares the story of his recent treatment for lymphoma and its impact on his ministry. A Brooklyn native, Fr. Joe worked in advertising on Madison Avenue before entering the seminary. ABOUT THE SHOW: Deacons P...

The deacons speak with Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda, author of "The Shepherd Who Didn't Run: Fr. Stanley Rother, Martyr from Oklahoma." It's the story of Blessed Stanley Rother (1935 - 1981), a priest from Oklahoma who served as a missionary with the Tzʼutujil people in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala. He was murdered by gunmen on July 28, 1981. In 2016, Pope Francis confirmed that Fr. Stanley died a martyr...

Why do Catholics leave the Church? What is the best way to accompany Catholics thinking about leaving? How should Catholics be present to those who leave because of the sexual abuse crisis? The deacons consider these questions in this installment of Deacons Pod. Deacon Drew, Deacon Tom and Deacon Dennis are joined by Deacon Mark Asselin, another Paulist Deacon Affiliate, for this challenging conve...

The Deacons talk about what they read and do on a regular basis to deepen their spirituality, and offer practical advice for listeners about how to deepen their own spiritual lives. ABOUT THE SHOW: Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s especially created to inspire and give hope to people on the “threshold of faith”: Those who are thinking about going to Church and those who are thinkin...

The deacons have a great conversation with Kate Williams, Vice President of Sacred Music at GIA Publications, Inc., and a Music Minister at Old St. Mary's Church in Chicago. The deacons ask Kate about the impact of liturgical music on the faith lives of Mass-goers. She also shares what gives her hope in the Church today. ABOUT THE SHOW: Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s especially c...

The deacons speak with Dr. Jessica Coblentz, author of "Dust in the Blood: A Theology of Life with Depression." She argues for (and contributes to) an expansion of Christian ideas about what depression is, how God relates to it, and how Christians should understand and respond to depression in turn. Dr. Coblentz is an assistant professor in the Department of Religious Studies and Theology at St. M...

The deacons speak with Mike Hayes, director of young adult ministry in the Diocese of Cleveland, OH, about discernment, what's working today in young adult ministry, and more. Mike shares how he left a career in New York City radio to help start Busted Halo, a Paulist Fathers media ministry. (Mike's lackluster response to a late-night interview with basketball great Michael Jordan figures in the s...

The deacons speak with Paulist Fr. Frank Desiderio about letting go of grudges, extending mercy, and how exploring mysticism might help Catholics who are struggling with the Church. Fr. Frank preaches parish missions, writes poetry inspired by scripture, and serves as vice president of the Paulist Fathers. He previously was president of Paulist Productions, director of the Paulist Center in Boston...

The deacons speak with Paulist Fr. Mark David Janus, president of Paulist Press, about his new book "Mercy Not Sacrifice: Lenten Daily Reflections." They also ask Fr. Mark-David, who is a psychologist, about the impact of stress caused by COVID. ABOUT THE SHOW: Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s especially created to inspire and give hope to people on the “threshold of faith”: Those...

The deacons speak with Diana Macalintal, co-founder and co-director of TeamRCIA, a resource for parishes and ministers working with adults who are becoming Catholic. She also is an author and speaker on topics related to liturgy, music, prayer, and intercultural ministry. Diana is an alumna of the University Catholic Center at UCLA. ABOUT THE SHOW: Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s...