This episode has been published and can be heard everywhere your podcast is available.

Closed on Sunday is a United Catholic Youth and Young Adult podcast. We discuss religion, culture, and current events in the Church with a focus on experiences of the younger generation.

In episode sixteen: Joel Ortiz speaks with Joshua Smyser DeLeon about his personal experience with Catholicism along with critical issues facing the Church. Smyser-DeLeon has worked for the Archdiocese of Chicago as a Youth Minister, a coordinator of youth and young adult communication, and a Director of Totus Tuus. He attended DePaul University for his undergraduate and masters studies earning both a Bachelors of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and a Masters in Public Relations and Advertising. Smyser-DeLeon is most notable for his work creating Paseo Media and the Paseo Podcast which covers stories from and by the Puerto Rican community. 

For more from Joshua Smyser-DeLeon:

Twitter: @jsdeleon

Featured Articles: DePaul College of Communication

Paseo Podcast: Paseomedia.org

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Have any topics you'd like us to discuss? Or any questions you'd like us to answer? Email: [email protected] and we'll make sure to get to them in the next episode!

This episode has been published and can be heard everywhere your podcast is available.

Closed on Sunday is a United Catholic Youth Adult podcast. We discuss religion, culture, and current events in the Church with a focus on experiences of the younger generation.

In episode fifteen: Vanessa Barajas, Robin Vincent, and James Holzier-Chuckas speak with Bishop John Stowe of Lexington Kentucky about his experience in the church and with LGBTQ+ advocacy, discrimination, and visibility in the Catholic Church. Bishop Stowe is one of many bishops who signed the Tyler Clementi GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE statement. As the third Bishop ordained in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington Kentucky, Bishop Stowe advocates for LGBTQ+ inclusion and protection in the Catholic Church. 

For more from Bishop Stowe: 

Twitter: @BpStowe

Featured Articles: National Catholic Reporter 

follow us:

Instagram: @ClosedOnSunday

FaceBook: unitedcatholicym

TikTok: @unitedcatholicym

Have any topics you'd like us to discuss? Or any questions you'd like us to answer? Email: [email protected] and we'll make sure to get to them in the next episode!

This episode has been published and can be heard everywhere your podcast is available.

Closed on Sunday is a United Catholic Youth Ministry podcast. We discuss religion, culture, and current events in the Church with a focus on experiences of the younger generation.

In episode fourteen: "" Vanessa changes it up! Conducting three interviews, Vanessa explores catholic education from middle school to college with the help of Dr. Cinnamon, the principle at Pope John XXIII; Ronabel, a Loyola University Graduate; And Joel, a current student at Loyola University Chicago (and editor for the Closed on Sunday Podcast).  

Follow us:

Instagram: @unitedcatholicym 

FaceBook: unitedcatholicym

TikTok: @unitedcatholicym

Have any topics you'd like us to discuss? Or any questions you'd like us to answer? Email: [email protected] and we'll make sure to get to them in the next episode!

This episode has been published and can be heard everywhere your podcast is available.

Closed on Sunday is a United Catholic Youth Ministry podcast. We discuss religion, culture, and current events in the Church with a focus on experiences of the younger generation. 

In episode thirteen: "Answering the Internet’s Questions about Spirituality and Philosophy" the crew answers commonly asked spiritual questions reflecting on everything from why there is suffering in the world to what does it mean to be fully present in the moment. 

To look at some of the questions we answered, look here

Spiritual Questions

Follow us:

Instagram: @unitedcatholicym 

FaceBook: unitedcatholicym

TikTok: @unitedcatholicym

Have any topics you'd like us to discuss? Or any questions you'd like us to answer? Email: [email protected] and we'll make sure to get to them in the next episode!

This episode has been published and can be heard everywhere your podcast is available.

Closed on Sunday is a United Catholic Youth Ministry podcast. We discuss religion, culture, and current events in the Church with a focus on experiences of the younger generation.

In episode twelve: "New Season New Me! A Special Year One Anniversary Episode" the crew discusses their experiences after completing one year of the podcast with guest James Holzier Chuckas. 

Follow us:

Instagram: @unitedcatholicym 

FaceBook: unitedcatholicym

TikTok: @unitedcatholicym

Have any topics you'd like us to discuss? Or any questions you'd like us to answer? Email: [email protected] and we'll make sure to get to them in the next episode!

Closed on Sunday is a United Catholic Youth Ministry podcast. We discuss religion, culture, and current events in the Church with a focus on experiences of the younger generation.

In episode eleven: "College and Life After Graduating High School" the crew discusses their experiences after graduating high school, going to college, and more!

Follow us:

Instagram: @unitedcatholicym 

FaceBook: unitedcatholicym

TikTok: @unitedcatholicym

Have any topics you'd like us to discuss? Or any questions you'd like us to answer? Email: [email protected] and we'll make sure to get to them in the next episode!

Closed on Sunday is a United Catholic Youth Ministry podcast. We discuss  religion, culture, and current events in the Church with a focus on  experiences of the younger generation.

In episode ten: "National Stress Awareness Month" we the crew discusses their experiences with stress, some methods they use to help manage, and more!

Follow us:

Instagram: @unitedcatholicym 

FaceBook: unitedcatholicym

TikTok: @unitedcatholicym

Have any topics you'd like us to discuss? Or any questions you'd like   us to answer? Email: [email protected] and we'll make sure to get to   them in the next episode!

Closed on Sunday is a United Catholic Youth Ministry podcast. We discuss religion, culture, and current events in the Church with a focus on experiences of the younger generation.

In episode nine: "Women's History Month, Feminist Theology, and Experiences in Academia" we sit down with special guests Dr. Brecht, Carolina Perez Palacios to talk about Feminist Theology and their experiences in Academia, followed by a reflection and breakdown by the UCYM podcast team.

Follow us:

Instagram: @unitedcatholicym 

FaceBook: unitedcatholicym

TikTok: @unitedcatholicym

Have any topics you'd like us to discuss? Or any questions you'd like  us to answer? Email: [email protected] and we'll make sure to get to  them in the next episode!

Closed on Sunday is a United Catholic Youth Ministry podcast. We discuss religion, culture, and current events in the Church with a focus on experiences of the younger generation.

In episode eight: "Black History Month, Fr. Augustus Tolton, and Local Black Catholic Initiatives" we sit down with special guests Bishop Joseph N. Perry, Samuel Carlson, and Yvonne Smith to discuss Black History Month through a Catholic lens, the historical figure that is Fr. Augustus Tolton, and Black Catholic local initiatives that folks can attend in the greater Chicagoland area and Evanston. Enjoy! 

Follow us:

Instagram: @unitedcatholicym 

FaceBook: unitedcatholicym

TikTok: @unitedcatholicym

Have any topics you'd like us to discuss? Or any questions you'd like  us to answer? Email: [email protected] and we'll make sure to get to  them in the next episode!

Closed on Sunday is a United Catholic Youth Ministry podcast. We discuss religion, culture, and current events in the Church with a focus on  experiences of the younger generation.

In episode seven: "Saint Valentine, Valentines Day, and the History Behind It" we discuss the Saint Valentine himself, what the Holiday means in today's context, and the history behind it all. 

Follow us:

Instagram: @unitedcatholicym 

FaceBook: unitedcatholicym

TikTok: @unitedcatholicym

Have any topics you'd like us to discuss? Or any questions you'd like us to answer? Email: [email protected] and we'll make sure to get to them in the next episode!