God loves to speak to us through our gifts. This is what Valerie Delgado learned when she had a dry spell in her prayer life and leaned into her love of art. Through drawing she not only grew closer in her own relationship with the Lord, but also found that she could help others through her work.

In this episode of the Ave Spotlight Catholic Art and Media series, Valerie shares this story with Chenele, as well as how it led to her current calling and the creation of Pax.Beloved. They also discuss how Christians can express and nurture their faith through art and how Catholic artists contribute to the Universal Church by offering so many different depictions of beauty to reach the hearts of people with different tastes, backgrounds, or stories.

Links:

• Check out Valerie Delgado's Art
• Follow Valerie on Instagram
• Follow Ave Maria Press on Instagram

In the second episode of Ave Spotlight’s Compassion in Action series, guest Fr. Leo Patalinghug of Plating Grace chats with Chenele about why Jesus used meals to create solidarity and how we as Christians can continue to do that today. He also shares how a meal with others not only satisfies our physical hunger, but also our deepest craving to be known, loved, heard, and seen. Discover through Fr. Leo’s stories how this healing presence of community mixed with the joy of feasting can bridge gaps, combat marginalization, and build authentic connections.

Links:

• Learn more About Fr. Leo Patalinghug at Plating Grace
• Follow Ave Maria Press on Instagram

Can the music you listen to be a bop AND spiritually nourishing?

Join us this week on episode 2 of our Catholic Art and Media Series as Chenele sits down with Will Hickl of NOVUM Records to explain that, no, you don’t have to sacrifice good sound for good messages. Will shares how thanks to the easy access of streaming, on platforms such as Spotify, there has been a new Renaissance for Catholic musicians to share their talents and create music that is wholesome and fun.

Whether you are an artist who wants to learn the ins and outs of the Catholic music scene or a music lover who is curious about how the tunes you dance to get produced, this episode offers you an insider view of how we can reclaim the beauty of music.

Links:

• Follow Ave Maria Press on Instagram
• Follow NOVUM Records on Instagram
• Follow Will Hickl on Instagram
• NOVUM Records Releases Spotify Playlist
• Submit a Demo to NOVUM Records

Join us this week as we talk with Sam Povlock of FemCatholic all about a truly dignified workplace. We talk paid leave, corporate balance, and the definition of work. You don’t want to miss it!

Links:

• Follow Ave Maria Press on Instagram
• Learn More About FemCatholic

In the first episode of our series on Catholic Art and Media, Chenele Shaw is joined by Catholic evangelist Tanner Kalina. They talk about the power of using social media as a tool of evangelization, Hollywood, Tik-Tok, and the Eucharistic Revival. You don’t want to miss it!

Links:

• Follow Ave Maria Press on Instagram
• Follow Tanner Kalina on Instagram

In this first episode of our Compassion in Action series, Chenele Shaw and Maria Benes provide an overview of Catholic Social Teaching and its significance in the modern world. Maria sheds light on the key principles and values that guide these teachings.

Links:

• Follow Ave Maria Press on Instagram
• Learn More About the Before Gethsemane Initiative

Are you looking for good summer reads for your kids that are not only entertaining but will also help them grow in virtue?

Join Chenele Shaw this week as she speaks with Jessica Thornton from the Lion & Lamb, a subscription book club for kids ages newborn to twelve. Thornton discusses how she reads and reviews books to help busy parents find appropriate and inspiring reads for their kids. You don’t want to miss it!

Links:

• Follow Ave Maria Press on Instagram
• Learn More about the Lion & Lamb Book Club

Join Chenele Shaw this week as she talks with special guest Mari Wagner of West Coast Catholic about devotions, creativity, and growing in our relationship with Mary.

Links:

• Follow Ave Maria Press on Instagram
• Learn More About Mari Wagner and West Coast Catholic

You loved this episode from Fr. Casey Cole, OFM, so much that we brought it back! We hope you enjoy this Ave Spotlight “best of” episode.

What do a priest, baseball, and the beatitudes have in common?

Chenele Shaw talks with popular YouTuber Fr. Casey Cole, OFM, about social media, the priesthood, and his summer of 2022 Bleacher Brothers tour. He visited all thirty MLB parks in eleven weeks with his friend Fr. Roberto “Tito” Serrano, OFM, to share the good news.

Links:

• Follow Ave Maria Press on Instagram
• Check out Fr. Casey Cole's book

On this episode, Rachael Killackey of Magdala Ministries joins Chenele to talk about sexual addiction, pornography, community, and rediscovering true intimacy with God. It’s a powerful discussion that you won’t want to miss!

Links:

• Follow Ave Maria Press on Instagram
• Learn More About Rachael's new book, Love in Recovery, and Magdala Ministries