The March, 2020 broadcast brings Deacon Gerry Keenan, Director of Operations with Renew My Church, to discuss this transformation project. The conversation with host Deacon Richard Hudzik wends its way from where we find ourselves in the Church today in Chicago and in the wider culture to the Church’s challenges as well as opportunities. These challenges and opportunities include calling all Catholics to a life of Faith. This life in Our Lord is to be integral to the life of the individual and a life that is inviting to all who yearn for the transcendent but do not know or have forgotten that the hungers of their hearts can be satisfied by the Good News of Jesus. Further information about Renew My Church can be found at https://www.renewmychurch.org/

Today’s guest is Sister Kara Davis, Daughters of Charity, who first met her community at a “Nun Run” (Indy’s Got Sisters) in Indianapolis and again at a Chicago’s Got Sisters event. Now one of the coordinators, Sister Kara talks about what this 24-hour “no strings attached” event involves, including meeting several congregations and opportunities for prayer and gathering information. The next Chicago’s Got Sister is April 17-18, 2020. To register, visit https://www.vocationscava.org. Sr. Lovina also promotes a Catholic Sisters Week event on March 11 at CTU. For more info: click https://catholicsistersweek.org/event/stories-of-spirit-and-heart-conversations-with-catholic-sisters/

Filing taxes is an important legal and civic responsibility for all Americans. Yet, for many people it can be a true hardship. One of Catholic Charities longtime partners is Ladder Up, an organization that does a tremendous job offering free tax preparation services to thousands of people in need. Join Marie Jochum and Michael Bare as they welcome Christine Cheng, Executive Director of Ladder Up and Doris Wilson, Director of Special Projects for Catholic Charities Women, Infant and Children (WIC) Food Centers Program to discuss how this partnership works to assist our clients. 

Hosts:  Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Mark Teresi.  Segment I:  Amanda Thompson, Director of Catholic Campus Ministry at DePaul University, talks about Catholics on campus.  Segment II:  Fr. Hans Zollner and Mr. Juan Carlos Cruz talk about safeguarding children in the church.  Fr. Zollner is one of the world's leading experts in the area of safeguarding minors.  He is the President of the Centre for Child Protection at the Pontifical Gregorian Institute in Rome, a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, and a consultor to the Vatican's Congregation for Clergy.  Juan Carlos Cruz is an advocate for victim-survivors and a survivor himself.  He influenced the Pope to set the stage for the global Church to move away from thinking that survivors want to destroy the Church, but instead, to partner with victims as they move forward with their lives as Catholics.  

Holy Name Cathedral Rector Fr. Greg Sakowicz gets into the Lenten spirit by talking with two men who are in charge of fish fries at local parishes. Fr. Greg keeps the Lenten theme going by visiting with Brian Brach of the Radio-TV office about Lenten reflections that are available via social media. Marie Jochum and Michael Bare of Catholic Charities visit with Alessandro DiSanto, an active member of Catholic Charities Junior Board and co-founder of Hallow, currently the most popular Catholic app in the nation. Focus on the Liturgy co-hosts Todd Williamson and Timothy Johnston engage in a timely discussion on the theology and spirituality that guide us during Lent. Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Mark Teresi invite Mark Schmeltzer into the studio to discuss Mercy Home for Boys and Girls’ annual March for Kids. And Fr. Greg and Mark talk with Josh Goralski, founder and CEO of Unlocking Communities.

Catholic Conference of Illinois Executive Director Bob Gilligan talks with Bishop David Malloy of the Diocese of Rockford who recently became Chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on International Justice and Peace. Next, Bob visits with Anthony Holter, executive director of Empower Illinois, the scholarship-granting organization in charge of most of the Tax Credit Scholarships granted to students attending Catholic schools throughout the state. Catholic Charities career experts Mitch Siegel and Jacqueline Small join Voice of Charity co-hosts Marie Jochum and Michael Bare to discuss how Catholic Charities assists veterans who are pursuing new job opportunities. On the Way co-hosts Beth White and Jenn Delvaux welcome guests into the studio to talk about their work with Catholic Relief Services. Beth and Jenn also visit with Juan Pablo Padilla and Maria Aranda from the Young Adult Engagement team. And Built on the Rock co-hosts Fr. Britto Berchmans and Sandy Labouvie interview a married couple about faith and family.  

Holy Name Cathedral Rector Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Catholic Schools superintendent Dr. Jim Rigg discuss the upcoming Annual African American heritage prayer service with Shaka Rawls, Dr. Denise Spells and Felicia Horton.  Fr. Greg and Dr. Jim also talk to a nationally recognized teacher from St. Hilary School. 

Voice of Charity co-hosts Marie Jochum and Michael Bare welcome Debra Davis and Toyia Baker into the studio to discuss clothing programs at Catholic Charities.  Clarissa Aljentera sits down with Todd Williamson and Wendy Silhavey to discuss the spiritual journey of RCIA catechumens during Lent.

Fr. Greg and Mark Teresi wrap up the broadcast week with the importance of archives in the parishes, and the 2020 Annual Catholic Appeal.

On today’s program, Ryan Lents and Corinne Woodruff from the Office of Human Dignity and Solidarity welcome Michael Rabbitt to speak about his experience with promoting racial justice in his parish and throughout the archdiocese. He will be presenting “Lynching in America: Confronting the Legacy of Racial Terror” at 7pm on Thursday, February 27 – Click here for more info. He will also be presenting at a screening of the documentary “True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality” on Tuesday, March 3 at 6pm – Click here to RSVP. Ryan and Corinne also speak to Krisanne Valliancourt Murphy, the Executive Director of Catholic Mobilizing Network. CMN works to end the use of the death penalty and transform the US. criminal justice system from punitive to restorative. They recently developed a study guide companion to the film “Just Mercy”, which is currently out in theatres nationwide. Access the study guide here.

Holy Name Cathedral Rector Fr. Greg Sakowicz and his Planning and Development Assistant Mark Teresi interview the publisher of ACTA Publications, Greg Pierce.  Fr. Greg and Mark also have the pleasure of speaking with Helen Reichert Lambin, author of “An A-Z Guide to Letting Go." 

Voice of Charity co-hosts Marie Jochum and Michael Bare welcome Jalisa Blue and Nancy Morrison into the studio to discuss Adult Day Care Centers. Ryan Lents and Corinne Woodruff from the Office of Human Dignity and Solidarity talk with Michael Rabbitt about his efforts to promote racial justice in his parish and throughout the archdiocese. On Dare to Love, Sr. Lovina Pammit visits with Sr. Joan McGlinchey, Vicar for Religious for the Archdiocese of Chicago.  And Deacons Richard Hudzik and Dave Brencic visit with Deacon Bob Puhala, the Director of the Institute for Diaconal Studies at St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary.

Holy Name Cathedral Rector Fr. Greg Sakowicz and his Planning and Development Assistant Mark Teresi interview three guests about Mary Seat of Wisdom in Park Ridge and that parish’s partnership with a priest from Zambia to establish a parish in the harsh wilderness of Africa. Voice of Charity co-hosts Marie Jochum and Michael Bare visit with Lakisha Dykes and Mary Johnson, two members of the Catholic Charities Mobile Outreach Program. And Catholic Chicago host Mark Teresi talks with Chicago Catholic Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim Rigg and Big Shoulders Fund CEO Josh Hale about an historic agreement that will help ensure the continuing mission of 30 schools for the next ten years.