Have you ever had your life all mapped out only for God to completely reroute your plans? Today we're chatting with Joseph Gonzales, Youth Minister and Development Director for St. John the Baptist Parish in New Freedom, about his big plot twist moment in life that led him to follow God's call much differently than he imagined.

SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 16:9

SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Francis of Assisi

Deacon Drew Heidelbaugh sits down with us to discuss how he discerned his vocation and the mental gymnastics that went along with it.

Scripture: John 21:15-17

Saint Spotlight: St. John Vianney

Open any social media app and you’ll find Catholics and non catholics alike arguing over whether or not to celebrate this holiday because, unfortunately, it has been long associated with spirituality and the occult. So many people are convinced of Halloween’s pagan origins, and with the abundance of violence, gore, sensuality, occultism, and demonic aspects now associated with Halloween, it’s hard not to. But is Halloween a pagan holiday or is it a hijacked holy day? How does the Catholic church feel about it? And since we’re talking about ghosts, are they even real and is believing in them in accordance with our Catholic faith?

Today we're excited to welcome back to the program Father Jonathan Sawicki, pastor at Saint Theresa’s Parish in New Cumberland to talk through the history of this fascinating holiday and find out if it’s all, in fact, just a bunch of hocus pocus.

Scripture: John 1:5

Saint Spotlight: St. Lucy

Our art and our faith actually can work in concert with one another. Today we're excited to introduce you to James from Saint Joseph Catholic School in Danville and his teacher, Kurt Eck, together known and the duo behind the podcast, Fun Fact Times with James D. What started as a little experiment has grown into two full seasons of episodes with guests ranging from students and teachers to priests and even Bishop Senior.

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 35:31-32

SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Catherine of Bologna

Listen to James' interview with Rachel on Fun Fact Times: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0QGTEIlgGtGSDDg17KqfgM?si=OfnRUzyNQuuuwQVE_heUXA

Today we're chatting with Sean Domencic about how our faith calls us to be stewards of creation and some tactile ways we can incorporate change in our daily lives.

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 24:1

SAINT SPOTLIGHT: Servant of God Dorothy Day

Today we’re chatting with the incomparable Eric Failing. Eric is the executive director of the PA Catholic Conference, the public affairs arm of the Catholic church that advocates and lobbies for Catholic Education, faith & politics, health care, life and dignity, marriage and family, religious liberty and social justice.

SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 31:8-9

SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Oscar Romero

We talk a lot about “meeting people where they’re at” – isolation and loneliness is now considered to be an epidemic in this country, especially for those who are elderly, injured or homebound – so how to we remind them they are still part of the body of Christ? Today we’ll be chatting with Sharon Fisher,one of our extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at Holy Infant Parish in Manchester, about the gift of spiritual communion and why she continues to participate in this ministry.

SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 11:26

SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Tarsicius

Today we’re joined by the newly ordained Father Andrew St. Denis. Father St. Denis attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia for his formation, graduated from Lancaster Catholic High school and later Bloomsburg University with a degree in business administration and finance. He currently serves as the pastoral vicar at St. Joseph Parish in York and Chaplain at York Catholic middle and high school and was blessed to attend the Eucharistic congress in person shortly before his ordination.

Scripture Reading: John 6:35

Saint Spotlight: St. Manuel Gonzalez Garcia

Today on our show, we’re chatting with Dr. John Rossi about his reversion experience, what second chances mean in the eyes of God, and why we shouldn’t be afraid to come home even if we’ve spent a long time away.

Scripture Verse: 1 John 1:9

Saint Spotlight: St. Thomas Aquinas

Today we’re joined by Deacon Scott Root. Deacon Root is a permanent deacon in our Diocese who holds a masters in Pastoral Studies in the Diaconate Formation Program from Pontifical College Josephium, a Catechist certification from Franciscan university of Steubenville, a master Catechist Certification from our Diocese, and he’s the senior theology teacher at Trinity High School. He’s also a husband, father and regular guest on our podcast over the last several months helping us get Back-to-Basics with our faith.

Scripture Verse: Luke 22:19

Saint Spotlight: Carlo Acutis