For those of you who are fans of Maryknoll, you know Fr. Finch from the weekly Journey of Faith reflection he sends you every Sunday. 

Originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., Fr. Finch was inspired by one of Maryknoll's first priests and fellow Brooklynites, Bishop Francis Xavier Ford, who was martyred in China in 1952.  Fr. Finch was one of the first students to attend the school in Brooklyn named in honor of the martyr, Bishop Ford High School. 

Journey with us to the highlands of Peru, where Fr. Finch worked with the indigenous Aymara community for over 20 years.  

Fr. Finch reminds us that in mission we have to meet people where they are, not where we want or expect them to be. 

Newly ordained Maryknoll Fr. Jonathan Hill's path to mission began when he was very young. Influenced by his jet-setting grandparents who read bedtime stories to him from the Encyclopedia Britannica, Jonathan knew early in his life that he wanted to help people - with childhood dreams of becoming a Veterinarian in the Serengeti, living as a cowboy in Wyoming, or becoming a missionary.

Fr. Jonathan, who was raised a Baptist, was inspired by the work of St. Teresa of Calcutta and found a strong calling to Catholicism. As he shares with us the details of his journey following signs from God, we see Fr. Jonathan's dreams of helping others and living near the Serengeti coming true as he prepares for his life in mission in Tanzania. 

To read the transcript of this episode, please go to Maryknoll Podcasts

Maryknoll Magazine article: Called To Share God's Grace and Love

In this episode we sit down with Fr. Robert Wynne who celebrates his 50th Jubilee as a Maryknoll Missioner this year. 

His 50-years of Mission work have included Hawaii as well as Cambodia, an active missionary country of which Fr. Wynne requested to join at the age of 68 in 2007. 

Fr. Wynne share's stories of his missionary work and the transformative qualities of the people he's worked with during his career as a Maryknoll Missioner.  

In this episode of Among The People, we are excited to welcome the newly ordained Maryknoll Brother, Br. Ryan Thibert. 

Although Br. Ryan recently took his permanent oath to a life of service with the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, he has already had a substantial amount of experience as a missioner. With life changing experiences situations in Jamaica and Bolivia, Br. Ryan learned early in his mission experience that 'being present' for those most in need has helped not only those he serves, but also himself during the most difficult times in mission. 

About Br. Ryan Thibert, M.M.

Brother Ryan Thibert acknowledges that he felt an attraction to religious life growing up in a strong Catholic family. He sought direction from his parish priest, who knew Maryknoll and thought it might be a good fit for his mission-oriented parishioner.

Brother Ryan Thibert is a native of Ontario, Canada. He was born a minute after his twin brother, Aaron, and four years after their sister, Jennifer. He credits his parents, Larry and Rox-Ann Thibert, for his love of service because of their unconditional love.

Having met Society members like Brother Robert Butsch has helped Ryan. He says it is by witnessing how passionate they are about their work and seeing how the Holy Spirit seem to work through them inspired him. He became aware that he can use his own educational background and artistic talent to help people be the best they can be.

"I realize that it is in living for others through Christ where I feel truly happy and at peace." ~ Brother Ryan Thibert, M.M.

A short-term mission trip to Jamaica with three other prospective Maryknoll candidates sealed his decision. Working at the Blessed Sacrament Orphanage in Montego Bay, and remembering the Franciscan brother who had come to console his family when his grandfather died made him realize that being present, giving life to those who need love is the essence of the brother's vocation. That is what he felt the Holy Spirit was calling him to do. So in 2011, he decided to join the Maryknoll Brothers' formation program.

He completed his undergraduate degree in art at St. Xavier University in Chicago all the while deepening his spirituality through prayer and theological studies.

He underwent his overseas training program in Cochabamba, Bolivia, where young missioners are immersed in language study and life in another culture as well as various pastoral works as they continue to discern their call to cross-cultural mission. He will return to Latin America where he has been assigned to work in mission.

Fr. John Bath has been a Maryknoll Missioner for 28 years and has extensive mission experience working with refugees in Cambodia and South Sudan. 

In this episode, you will hear how Fr. Barth built a successful program in Cambodia to train the blind in massage therapy. This program was so successful that it is still active in both Cambodia and now Peru. 

Seventeen years later, Fr. Barth is now working with the South Sudanese refugees in Uganda, delivering food and supplies to villages and schools. 

Join us as Fr. Barth shares his journey from an unfulfilling government job in Albany, NY to his Calling to make the world a better place through his ministry. 

We are joined by Gerard O'Connell, associate editor and Vatican correspondent for America Magazine, who recently authored Orbis Books' the Election of Pope Francis, an Inside Account of the Conclave that Change History.

Gerry, who's covered the Vatican for nearly 35 years, brings special insight into the current pope as he and his wife, who's also a Vatican correspondent from Argentina, were friends with Cardinal Bergoglio before he was elected in 2013.

Contrary to the predictions of most Vatican watchers, both Gerry and his wife predicted Bergoglio might well become the next pope.

We hope you enjoy this fascinating and detailed perspective of the historic 2013 Vatican conclave. 

Gerard O'Connell is an associate editor and Vatican correspondent for America magazine. 

He has covered the Vatican since 1985, reporting for a number of English-speaking news outlets, including The Tablet (UK), Our Sunday Visitor, The National Catholic Reporter, and Inside the Vatican. 

He is the author of Do Not Stifle the Spirit: Conversations with Jacques Dupuis (Orbis).

Hello everyone, it's Father Daniel Kim here.

Thank you so much for your questions. According to this list, it seems like the most common question is, surprise, surprise, why do we give up things for Lent?

Well, I'll give you the short answer.

It's because Christians, we are called to imitate the life of Christ, and that involves the time he spent in the desert, where for 40 days he was not only tempted by the Devil, but through self denial prepared himself for the ministry, the very public ministry that lay ahead.

As baptized faithful, we do believe that God has a specific calling for each and every one of us. By not indulging in the things that we normally do, helps us reexamine our spiritual lives, the quality of our spiritual lives, and to really get closer to Christ, which is basically what we are all called to do, ultimately.

One Lent I remember, I gave up meat. Not just on Fridays, but for 40 days. It was tough, but during the process, especially when I got cravings, I was like, 'If Christ could give up not eating for 40 days, I think I can give up not eating meat".

You know, through that self denial, it really connected me closer to Christ. It was a pretty meaningful Lenten season, and Easter was awesome too, because ... You know what?

I actually remember it right now. Some of the funny things that I found that people gave up, this is according to The Daily Express, it's a U.K. Magazine.

The most common things were chocolate, social networking, alcohol, Twitter, Facebook, school ... Okay ... Meat, sweets, coffee, and soda.

The funny thing is, it says social media here. One of my Lenten observances this year is to actually engage in social media, and I ended up creating an Instagram and Twitter account to connect with all of you. Yeah, I guess it could kind of go both ways.

It depends on what leads you into getting closer to Christ.

Anyway, that's kind of my answer for why do we give up things for Lent. For next week, I was thinking we could do something fun.

I just listed the many things that people gave up, were the popular things that people gave up for Lent. Why don't we share that amongst ourselves?

I'll create a poll following this post, and in it you could share what you have given up, and if you're successful this far. I'll share the results with you next week.

Thanks again for listening, and have a wonderful rest of the Lenten season. God bless.

On this episode of Among The People, we sit down with Father Russ Feldmeier, a Maryknoll missioner who spent 36 years on foreign mission assigned to Korea following his time with the Peace Corps. He is currently heading the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers formation house in Chicago.

Our co-host, Fr. Joe Veneroso and Fr. Russ have a deep history with each other, both serving in the Peace Corps in Korea prior to joining Maryknoll. We will also talk about the Catholic Church's past and future in Korea.

The interview also touches on how the acceptance of international seminarians are shaping the future of Maryknoll and how it can serve a better world.

Father Mike is an actor. Always has been, always will be. He's also a missionary with a vast array of experiences in Latin America, Asia and Africa.

Turn your dial up and learn about the versatile and spiritually gifted Father Michael Bassano, M.M., who currently works with refugees in a UN-run camp in South Sudan. Follow his exciting and remarkable journey from Chile to Thailand to Tanzania and beyond as a Maryknoll missioner of unshakable faith and calling.

In this deeply moving podcast, the ebullient priest gives his testimony as to how God tugs on us until we answer; how He prepares us for our real calling through everything we do beforehand, and how "…all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

From his humble days in the Diocese of Syracuse, the small town pastor felt a nudge—no, a shove—to "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15). But just how would that happen in the context of his cozy parish?    

So, in 1987, he decide to join the ranks of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers—the Catholic Foreign Mission Society—with the understanding that he would return to his duties Stateside after five years.

Well, God had other plans. Moved by the sacrifices of the Church martyrs of El Salvador, he mobilized himself for the poor and voiceless, and remains a Maryknoll missioner to this day.    

But, let's go back to "Act One, Scene One" of this real-life play for a moment.

Some actors are shy in real life; others have a boldness that crosses over from the stage to the street. Father Mike possesses that boldness. His journey with Maryknoll started out with an unannounced visit to the Maryknoll campus, when he asked to see "a priest" and stated his case for apprenticeship. After securing his bishop's permission, he was assigned as an associate to Chile.

Fear ran through Father Mike's veins as he disembarked the plane, entering into the dangerous territory of the Pinochet regime. But he wasn't as afraid for his own safety as much as he was of his perceived inadequacy for the calling that burned within him. "If you're working with the poor, you must be communist!" he says of the military junta's perception of him.

During his reign as president and then Supreme Head of the nation, Augusto Pinochet had incarcerated 80,000, tortured tens of thousands and executed 3,095 souls.

Even when teargassed, arrested, and finding himself in the midst of a post-coup volatility that could have resulted in his death, Father Mike sang songs of justice for those who vanished mysteriously, never to return to their families.

He took to the streets, a wandering minstrel of sorts, with guitar, cross and basket in hand to perform the Gospel of Saint Matthew for anyone who would listen. Dramatizing reality was a means of survival for many Chilean youth; it brought healing from growing up in alcoholic homes, witnessing neighbors being tortured and feeling the uncertainly of their future. The tenacity of the human spirit in these "poblanos" astounded the early missioner.

"It's like God had been preparing me for all the theater I did before, to do something as a missioner that would really impact the hearts of people," said Father Mike.He continues to take his show on the road in other parts of the world where Maryknoll missioners serve.

You won't find stories like Father Mike's in any history book or documentary. Listen and learn—as they say—to what a real-life missioner with the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers has to share, because we've only just begun to scratch the surface here.

From the streets of Chile, during the protest demonstrations against torture, to caring for HIV/AIDS patients in Thailand and now serving the people of Sudan, Fr. Mike Bassano share his reflections and stories as a Maryknoll missioner.