Catholic Chicago

Host Bob Gilligan talks to Geno Fernandez, president of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s school board.  They talk about raising money for the Archdiocese’s $1.4 million Gratitude Fund, which distributed $250 to full-time employees in Archdiocesan schools and $100 to part-time employees as a thank-you for their efforts toward in-person learning during the pandemic. 

Host Bob Gilligan talks to Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Teutopolis, about House Bill 697, which calls for a 50% income tax credit on contributions to pregnancy resource centers. 

Host Bob Gilligan speaks with Anthony Holter, president of Empower Illinois, the scholarship-granting organization for the Tax Credit Scholarship program used by most Catholic schools in Illinois.  They talk about the organization’s recently released annual report.

Host Bob Gilligan talks to Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of the Catholic Mobilizing Network, which seeks to end the death penalty and promote restorative justice, about the potential for ending the federal death penalty under President Joe Biden, who is the first sitting U.S. president to openly oppose the death penalty.

Beth White interviews Fr. James Martin, SJ, about his newest book, “Learning to Pray: A guide for Everyone.” The two discuss the genesis of the book that he worked on for about a decade. Fr. Jim shares that he wrote if for his 20-something self who had no idea how to pray. After thirty years of being a Jesuit, walking with people at all stages of their faith journey, Fr. Jim sees the importance of having an honest conversation about what does and does not happen in prayer. There is not a right way to pray, just different ways. And at the heart of all prayer, is God reaching for us.  

The Tolton Spirituality Center has been a fruit of the pandemic. Beth White, the Host of On the Way, interviews Fr. Gerard Jordan, OPraem, about the newly announced Center to serve the parishes of the Archdiocese of Chicago. With a $1 million grant from the Lilly Foundation, this new initiative will lead the way in healing and building vitality in parishes.  Fr. Gerard shares the ways in which Fr. Tolton was not deterred by racism or struggle and how his experience can help all of us as we face the challenges of the pandemic, “isms” in our society and Church, and the outcomes of parish communities uniting under a new roof. 

Hosts:  Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Mark Teresi.  The entire hour of today's program is dedicated to the season of Lent.  Guests Todd Williamson and Terry Navarro spend time discussing Ash Wednesday and the 40 days of Lent.

A new award-winning documentary has been released sharing the life-affirming work done every day at The Chicago Help Initiative (CHI) to help the homeless. Join Marie Jochum and Brigid Murphy as they welcome filmmaker Lucia Mauro and Jacqueline Hayes, founder of CHI to discuss “I Have A Name,” and the constellation of people and organizations working to eradicate poverty and homelessness. 

Lectura y reflexión del Evangelio según San Marcos 1, 29-39, del domingo, 7 de febrero de 2020. Viernes, 5 de febrero de 2021

Dr. Jim Rigg and Mark Teresi speak with some of the African American Heritage Award winners for 2021.  Guests:  Tracy Aldaz; Lee Von Overton; Jadyn Thomas.