Catholic Review Radio

In this episode of Catholic Review Radio, Father J. Collin Poston shares his deeply personal journey through severe illness, faith and recovery. His story highlights how attentiveness, faith, and community support can transform suffering into a source of strength and hope for others.

Christopher Gunty, associate publisher and editor of Catholic Review Media, talked with Father Poston about his life-saving surgery and the importance of faith and prayer during critical health crises. He also discusses the power of the sacrament of the sick, experienced multiple times, as a source of divine strength and how his faith deepened through suffering and his new compassion for parishioners facing difficulties. Father Poston thanked his staff at St. Bartholomew Parish in Manchester, Md., for how they upheld the community in his absence. His brush with serious illness helped him learn about being present to others and recognizing hidden crosses in everyday life

As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Archbishop William E. Lori is inviting Catholics and all people of goodwill to reflect on the relationship between faith, civic life and the common good. In this episode of Catholic Review Radio, we share excerpts from the first installment of Archbishop Lori’s new podcast series, "In Charity and Truth," inspired by his pastoral letter, "In Charity and Truth: Toward a Renewed Political Culture."

Archbishop Lori is joined by Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York for a wide-ranging conversation about the Catholic Church’s role in American history and its continuing contribution to democracy. Drawing on the examples of Archbishop John Carroll and Cardinal James Gibbons, Cardinal Dolan reflects on how Catholics have balanced faithful citizenship with religious conviction. The discussion also explores the importance of history as a teacher, the Church’s commitment to welcoming immigrants, the role of bishops in fostering civil discourse, and how the practice of synodality can model respectful listening and dialogue in a divided society.

Together, the two church leaders offer a hopeful vision for renewing civic friendship through truth, charity and mutual respect.

Host: Archbishop William E. Lori

Guest: Cardinal Timothy Dolan

News: George Matysek Jr.

Narrator and producer: Christopher Gunty

In this episode of Catholic Review Radio, Christopher Gunty explores with Taylor Black the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, its cultural and ethical impacts, and the Catholic perspective on technology. Black is director of AI and Venture Ecosystems at Microsoft. Discover how AI is shaping society, the importance of human dignity, and what the future holds.

The conversation talks about the significance of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas in the context of AI and technological shifts. Other key topics are the balance between technological advancement and environmental sustainability and the role of AI in developing nations and concerns around inequality.

Black also discusses the ethical considerations and the importance of maintaining human relationships in the age of AI, and makes some predictions for the next few years in AI development and its societal integration.

Host: Christopher Gunty

Guest: Taylor Black, Microsoft and Catholic University of America

News announcer: George Matysek Jr.

Producer: Christopher Gunty

Copyright © 2026, Catholic Review Media

Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with a fascinating look at the often-overlooked Catholic roots of the nation on Catholic Review Radio. Host Rita Bittner speaks with Dr. Dennis Castillo, professor of Church history at St. Mary’s Seminary, to explore how a small but influential Catholic community helped shape the founding of the United States.

From the remarkable story of Charles Carroll – the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence – to the quest for religious freedom that inspired many Catholics to support independence, this episode uncovers key contributions that defy their minority status at the time. Castillo also highlights the pivotal role of Maryland, early struggles against anti-Catholic laws, and the establishment of the first U.S. diocese in Baltimore under Bishop John Carroll.

The conversation covers surprising moments of Catholic influence, including how missionary leadership in the Midwest helped secure American territory. The podcast offers rich historical insight into faith, freedom, and the fragile beginnings of a nation and a summary of U.S. history, Catholic heritage and the enduring meaning of independence.

Host: Rita Buettner

Guest: Dr. Dennis Castillo, St. Mary's Seminary

Producer: Christopher Gunty

Copyright © 2026, Catholic Review Media

Covering the Vatican and the popes full time brings opportunities to share information about the Church with readers all around the world. Carol Glatz, Rome Bureau chief for Catholic News Service, has been working in that field for more than two decades, covering four popes. In this episode of Catholic Review radio, Glatz sat down with Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty for a wide-ranging discussion on the joys and hardships of covering such an important news beat.

She shares insights on Pope Leo’s first year and how he differs from previous popes. Her trips with popes have taken her all around the world, but she recalls one of the most memorable incidents when Pope Benedict XVI had a spider crawling on him. Glatz also talks about a new project for CNS Rome, a podcast available in audio and video, called Vatican Access, and about plans for what’s next for the bureau.

Host: Christopher Gunty

Guest: Carol Glatz

Video: Mitzy Deras

Producer: Christopher Gunty

Copyright © 2026 Catholic Review Media

On Father's Day, Rita Buettner speaks with Deacon Keith Chase, a permanent deacon at Our Lady of the Fields in Millersville, and his son, Deacon Andrew Chase, a transitional deacon preparing for priestly ordination in 2027. The father and son reflect on their faith journeys, from Deacon Keith’s unexpected call to the diaconate while praying the rosary to his son's experience growing up in a family deeply rooted in parish service. They share memories of parish life, the influence of a parent’s witness and the unique bond created by serving the Church in different vocations. The conversation explores discernment, family support and the joy of watching God’s call unfold across generations.

Host: Rita Buettner

Guests: Deacon Keith Chase and Deacon Andrew Chase

News Break: George Matysek Jr.

Producer: George Matysek Jr.

Copyright © 2026, Catholic Review Media

An outreach program at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore is changing lives on city streets.

George Matysek speaks with two missionaries from Source of All Hope — Erin Kelter and seminarian Daniel Otto — about their work accompanying people experiencing homelessness. Rather than acting as social workers, they build genuine friendships, offering presence, prayer and the simple dignity of being seen and known by name.

Later, Father Brendan Fitzgerald, rector of the Baltimore Basilica, joins the conversation to discuss the program's growth, including a $2 million grant and interest from other dioceses hoping to replicate the model. Father Fitzgerald explains what makes Source of All Hope distinctive: it is rooted in a parish, making it a mission for the whole community.

Host: George P. Matysek Jr.

Guests: Erin Kelter, Daniel Otto, Father Brendan Fitzgerald

News Report: Kevin J. Parks

Producer: George P. Matysek Jr.

Copyright © 2026, Catholic Review Media

Host Rita Buettner speaks with Christopher Wesley, executive director of Marathon Youth Ministry, about faith, family and raising the next generation of Catholics. Drawing on more than two decades of youth ministry experience, Wesley discusses how parishes can help young people find belonging, purpose and identity, while encouraging parents to build strong faith-centered communities around their families. Wesley also shares insights on the vital role fathers and other trusted adults play in nurturing faith, the challenges facing lay ministers and the importance of creating welcoming parishes for young people.

Host: Rita Buettner

Guest: Christopher Wesley, Marathon Youth Ministry

News Anchor: Kevin J. Parks

Producer: George Matysek Jr.

Bishop Adam J. Parker, auxiliary bishop of Baltimore, returns for another installment of Catholic Review Radio's popular "Ask a Bishop" series. In this episode, Bishop Parker takes on a wide range of listener questions gathered from Catholic events across the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

He offers practical advice for college students on peer-to-peer evangelization, guidance on approaching friends struggling with underage drinking and tips for defending the Catholic faith with confidence and humility. A father of a seminarian asks how to encourage vocations — and Bishop Parker's answer is both personal and pastoral. Other topics include whether Catholics should kiss the bishop's ring, what drives Bishop Parker's ministry and what he does on a day off (hint: pack your hiking boots).

Host: George Matysek Jr.

Guest: Bishop Adam J. Parker

Producer: George Matysek Jr.

In the early years of the Catholic Church in the United States, few figures were as unlikely — or as fascinating — as Prince Demetrius Augustin Gallitzin. Born into Russian nobility with Catherine the Great as his godmother, Gallitzin became a Catholic priest on the American frontier, earning the title "Apostle of the Alleghenies."

Catherine O’Donnell, a historian at Arizona State University, joins host George Matysek to discuss the extraordinary life of one of the most fascinating figures in the early U.S. Catholic Church.

Gallitzin arrived in Baltimore in the late 18th century and came under the guidance of Bishop John Carroll, the first Catholic bishop in the United States. After serving briefly at St. Joseph in Taneytown, he ministered in even more remote areas of rural Pennsylvania.

O’Donnell discusses Gallitzin’s unusual upbringing, his difficult relationship with his strong-willed mother and the deep faith that drew him to the priesthood. The conversation also explores his tensions with Bishop Carroll, his efforts to build a distinctly Catholic community in frontier America and his writings defending the faith.

Guest: Catherine O'Donnell

Host: George P. Matysek Jr.

Producer: George P. Matysek Jr.

Copyright © 2026 Catholic Review Media