City on a Hill: Kansas City

For our last episode of Season 4: 

Fr. Mattingly sits down with Rey Wilkinson, where Rey shares about making his way back to the Catholic Church through the graces of great communities in Kansas City. Rey was raised Catholic by his grandma and mom, though he sparingly went to Mass. Upon graduating college, he moved to Kansas City and through a few invitations got connected with a good community of young adults. 

Rey attributes the his reversion to the Church through the intentionality of the communities that he found in Kansas City, friendships that centered on a pursuit of holiness... rather than the current secular trend! Rey's radical openness to say yes to invitations, which allowed Rey to encounter Christ through community. (Matthew 18:30, "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”)

Show Notes: 

- Mir House of Prayer (St. Joseph): 24-hour adoration chapel 

- Morning Glory Ministries: a local ministry for homeless 

- Saint Paul's Outreach: young adult community 

- Young Catholic Professionals: Kansas City Chapter 

Justin & Kaylene Brown sit down with Fr. Mattingly, to share of their individual testimonies which coincide in a mutual conversion to the fullness of the Catholic Church. Justin grew up in a small town, with a lively Catholic Church, but Justin notes that there seemed to be a general sense of culture over faithfulness. Kaylene grew up in a home with one Catholic parent and one non-Catholic parent. 

Justin and Kaylene had their own experiences and encounters with the Lord prior to meeting one another - confirmation retreats, Teens Encounter Christ, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and more. Their story culminates in meeting one another (hint: on St. Patrick's Day while in college). From this point, Kaylene began to experience healing from her brokenness and eating disorder while dating Justin. Justin allow Kaylene to be a source of truth in his life, which led to a full belief in Catholicism. Tune in to hear how their pursuit of sainthood continued in marriage. 

Miss Catherine Kluempers hailed from Atchison, KS to sit down with Fr. Mattingly and Taylor Furrer. This episode is steeped with goldmines of truth and encouragement in learning to more clearly hear the Father's voice in prayer! Catherine started off with a story of when she was in kindergarten. When asked what she would want to be when she grew up, she answered 'Saint Catherine of the Rainbow' spreading joy wherever she goes. And it is true that she does so! 

Catherine shares of her realization of how important prayer is, that without daily prayer we lack a necessary piece of our relationship with the Lord. She notes the perseverance it took to cultivate the habit of prayer - through reading good books and conversing good friends. Catherine notes that in Time for God, she read that the devil will stop at nothing to distract us from prayer... and that alone ought to prove how important prayer alone is! 

Show notes: 

- Time for God 

- Catherine's music 

- Reform Wellness 

Madi Abbott shares of her humble beginnings on a farm in Oklahoma, learning to love the simplicity of life. Before too long, she fell into the allure of secular success and desire to be the best in all she did. At the beginning of high school, a broken foot led to being benched for the season... and Madi shares that one by one, her idols were smashed! 

Through life experiences, Madi has learned that the Lord did not need to create her... but He did, and continues to give gift after gift in her life! Madi reflects that in the midst of the day to day, it can be easy to allow suffering to distract us and detract from the gifts we receive... but suffering can be embraced as a gift, too! A true conversion that her broken foot allowed her to embrace suffering and allow her idols to be smashed - that she might live life more fully. 

Esteban Rubio sits down with Father Mattingly to share of his conversion from a protestant to Catholic in his recent past. After growing up in Houston and moving to Kansas City to attend a Bible School, his mind opened up to receive answers he was seeking. ​​​​​​​​

Through his formation in Bible School, he began asking some big questions and seeing robust answers: Who is Jesus Christ, What defines the Trinity, What is the Church. Which led him to entering into the Catholic Church in 2019. Esteban shares of his first experiences with the Sacraments as a Catholic.

Miss Samantha sits down with Fr. Mattingly and Taylor Furrer, to share how in childhood she experienced, first, and intellectual conversion. Having been raised Catholic, she was exposed to transcendental media and had a great love of reading. Moving from high school to college, she experienced her first realm of temptation - having a lot of choices to make on her own for the first time. 

Through her time at Purdue University, Sam experienced conversion on many levels. She was recruited to join the swim team, which provided opportunities for growth in humility, some genuine friendships, and, most importantly, that she is lovable despite all that she does - she is lovable just by her being! 

Nick and Maddie Occhiogrosso, both transplants from the Northeast, sit down with Fr. Mattingly to share their stories of conversion. 

Maddie recalls never really doubting her faith in Jesus, even from childhood, attributed to a nurturing beginning and firm family foundation. Nick, too, grew up in a family rooted in the Catholic Church... though he shares of his overcoming of the vice of pride. Together they speak to their dating relationship and the temptations they faced, and the very radical steps they took to preserve the chastity and sanctity of the nature of their relationship! 

Now residing in Kansas City with their six kids, speak to living a simple, low-tech life and how that allows a sense of silence. Both Nick & Maddie share their personal pursuits of holiness, but how it naturally spills over into their family life overall. But don't fret, the episode rounds out with sharing the craziness of family life! 

Show Notes: 

Christendom College 

How to Profit from your Faults by Joseph Tissot

Allie Freese vulnerably shares of her conversion, which took place over time and included a conversion of the heart and then the head. Allie's conversion of heart stemmed from accepting that she struggles with depression and had to work to love herself when it seemed most difficult. Allie has a unique perspective, having had personal experience, but is now studying to become a counselor! 

Allie's conversion of head soon followed with newfound free time when COVID-19 struck, as she dove into understanding the inner-workings of her being and how the Lord created her with a unique dignity of being a woman! Allie now works at a local ministry for the homeless, and through her own conversion has a heart for honoring the dignity of each soul she encounters! 

Show Notes: 

Dreams by the Cranberries 

Fr. Chad Ripperger 

Essays on Women by Edith Stein 

Morning Glory Ministries 

Michael Collins hangs out with Fr. Mattingly and shares about his life story, from having been raised Catholic to needing to develop Faith in Jesus and the Church for himself. 

At the very end of college, Michael shares that for about one year he did not identify as Catholic. Michael shares some deep reflection on the top three reasons why he strayed from the Faith, but notes that good friendship saved him. Michael shares how he and friends continue to band together and pursue the Lord together, specifically through reading scripture together! 

Michael is overall upbeat and positive, a friend you'd want to have! In fact, you can attend his Small Get-Together, Frozen Fellowship, every Monday this summer. Frozen Fellowship is quite literally building friends over ice cream! The perfect summer event :) 

Show notes: 

- Frozen Fellowship

Fr. Mattingly sits down behind the voice of the City on a Hill Podcast intro & outro - Seth Slayman and his wife, Tori. They welcomed their first baby boy, John, just a few weeks prior to this podcast release! 

Seth shares about his conversion over time, which led him toward the vocation of marriage with Tori. While Tori shares how she experienced a conversion over time, which now allows her to see the daily opportunities each day to grow in holiness. 

Show Notes: 

Frequent Confession by Benedict Baur

Jordan Peterson