Are we not here? Today as we say farewell to Tara Smith, we announce the end of this particular podcast journey of the friends in your head. As Tara and Jerry sit down for one last time, they openly discuss the change in the air for Catholic communications. Tara shares an update on her journey and Jerry gives some hints about what is next for the podcast. 

Fear not! We will still be here. 

Tara and Jerry sit down with Tony Varas, Director of the Worship Office, as they give thanks to God for his ten years of service to the Church of Metuchen.

Tony shares with us the impact of liturgical life and the sacred journey he has walked dedicated to the people of God in the Church of Metuchen. 

As the Church enters Holy week we welcome the Most Rev. James F. Checchio, Bishop of Metuchen to lead us in a prayerful journey through the stations of the cross with the parish community of St. Cecelia, Iselin.

Music is provided by the Cathedral Vocal Quartet. 

On March 19, 2020, as the world began to shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, Tara and Jerry found Nathan Bishop, a violinist, and Bridget Knodel, a classical and folk harpist in the choir loft of Saint Francis of Assisi Cathedral. In the loft, they recorded the newly composed piece ‘Song of Healing’ by Tim Keyes, and the two-year journey together to Celtic Lent began; their concert was initially scheduled just days before the pandemic shutdown.

Two years later, they joyfully welcome them both to the podcast to speak on their journey, the healing of music, and how it plays a vital role through the lens of evangelization in an ever-changing world.

This podcast episode includes two recorded pieces initially recorded on March 19, 2020, at the Cathedral of Saint Francis of Assisi, Metuchen. 

1. Algues, Bernard Andres  2. Song of Healing, Tim Keyes

This week, Tara, Jerry, and Tiffany discuss how their lenten challenge is going and the true intention for this liturgical season.  

In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of Metuchen, we invite you to make a commitment – a commitment to doing 40 works of mercy, a commitment to serving one another with the same love and mercy bestowed on us by the Father, and a commitment to the Lord to witness to His great love in the four beautiful counties of the Diocese of Metuchen. 

Find out more at www.diometuchen.org/worksofmercy

As the Diocese of Metuchen prepares to enter into a period of listening sessions for the Synod on Synodality, Jerry invites each of us to reflect on the message from Msgr. John Fell, Director of Priest Personnel and the Director of Vocations on the importance of being a 'Listening Church' 

Msgr. John Fell's homily was recorded at the Parish of St. Bartholomew in East Brunswick during the diocesan eucharistic forty hours for the Synod on Synodality. 

Tara and Jerry welcome their friend, Joanne Ward, Advisor to The Catholic Spirit, in honor of Catholic Press Month. 

Joanne shares her journey through Catholic communications and speaks on the importance of the Catholic press in our community. 

St. Francis de Sales, pray for us! 

As the Church in the United States prepares to commemorate the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, the Diocese of Metuchen invites the faithful to join in a prayerful novena for the protection of all life, from conception to natural death, as part of their local participation in the 9 Days for Life Novena.

The 9 Days for Life Novena is prayed annually each January for the protection of human life. Each day’s intention is accompanied by a short reflection and suggested actions to help build a culture of life.

All the faithful of the Diocese of Metuchen are invited to join Jerry Wutkowski, Assistant Director of the Office of Communications and Public Relations and Co-Host of the diocesan podcast ‘Am I Not Here,’ in praying this novena for the protection of the gift of life in our state, nation, and world.

This resource is generously provided by the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and can be found at www.respectlife.org.

Recordings of the novena will be made available daily from January 19 - 27, 2022 at www.diometuchen.org/aminothere.

As the Church in the United States prepares to commemorate the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, the Diocese of Metuchen invites the faithful to join in a prayerful novena for the protection of all life, from conception to natural death, as part of their local participation in the 9 Days for Life Novena.

The 9 Days for Life Novena is prayed annually each January for the protection of human life. Each day’s intention is accompanied by a short reflection and suggested actions to help build a culture of life.

All the faithful of the Diocese of Metuchen are invited to join Jerry Wutkowski, Assistant Director of the Office of Communications and Public Relations and Co-Host of the diocesan podcast ‘Am I Not Here,’ in praying this novena for the protection of the gift of life in our state, nation, and world.

This resource is generously provided by the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and can be found at www.respectlife.org.

Recordings of the novena will be made available daily from January 19 - 27, 2022 at www.diometuchen.org/aminothere.