Paulist Fr. Mark-David Janus joins the Paulist Deacon Affiliates for this special episode of Deacons Pod.

They speak about Fr. Mark-David's wonderful new Paulist Press book "Comfort and Joy: Christmas for the Soul." 

The book provides a reflection for each day of the season of Advent and the 12 days of Christmas.

Ordained a priest in 1979, Fr. Mark-David also is a psychologist. He recently became Publisher Emeritus of Paulist Press after serving as President and Publisher of the company for 14 years.

He also was a guest on Deacons Pod in 2023 to share details about his book "Mercy Not Sacrifice: Lenten Daily Reflections."

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s especially created to inspire and give hope to people on the “threshold of faith”: Those who are thinking about going to Church and those who are thinking about leaving Church.

Deacons Pod is hosted by the Paulist Deacon affiliates. The podcast is a production of the Paulist Fathers.

More at deaconspod.com

Maggi Van Dorn is our guest on this special episode of Deacons Pod.

She is the host of the wonderful podcast “Hark! The Stories Behind Our Favorite Christmas Carols” from America Media.

The Paulist Deacon Affiliates ask Maggi about the deep dive she takes into the history, music, and lyrics of one specific Christmas carol or hymn on each installment of "Hark!" released during Advent.

As an example, Maggi tells the deacons about the history of "O Holy Night."

Maggi shares that one of the upcoming hymns featured on "Hark!" will be "We Three Kings." The episode will include thoughts from Eric Vanden Eykel, author of "The Magi," who was a guest on Deacons Pod in December, 2022.

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s especially created to inspire and give hope to people on the “threshold of faith”: Those who are thinking about going to Church and those who are thinking about leaving Church.

Deacons Pod is hosted by the Paulist Deacon affiliates. The podcast is a production of the Paulist Fathers.

More at deaconspod.com

What is the Church for?

Does the Church have a mission? Or, does the mission have a Church?

What is your understanding of God?

Fr. Stephen Bevans, SVD, raises these questions in this week's edition of Deacons Pod.

Fr. Bevens is author of the new book "Community of Missionary Disciples: The Continuing Creation of the Church" from Orbis Books.

A professor emeritus at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Fr. Bevans is a missionary of the Society of the Divine Word.

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s especially created to inspire and give hope to people on the “threshold of faith”: Those who are thinking about going to Church and those who are thinking about leaving Church.

Deacons Pod is hosted by the Paulist Deacon affiliates. The podcast is a production of the Paulist Fathers.

More at deaconspod.com

"Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplain's Journey," a powerful new documentary film co-produced by Paulist Productions, will be in select theaters around the United States on November 8, 2024.

In this episode of Deacons Pod, the deacons speak about the film with Paulist Fr. Tom Gibbons, vice president of Paulist Productions and an executive producer of "Fighting Spirit."

The film shares the stories of multiple U.S. military chaplains who died while serving.

It is framed by the story of Justin Roberts, a former U.S. Army chaplain, as he attends the long-delayed funeral in 2021 of Servant of God Emil Kapaun, a priest and U.S. Army chaplain from Kansas, who died in 1953 as prisoner of war in North Korea.

“Fighting Spirit” was co-produced by the U.S. Army Chaplains Corps.

Actor Chris Pratt also is an executive producer on the project.

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s especially created to inspire and give hope to people on the “threshold of faith”: Those who are thinking about going to Church and those who are thinking about leaving Church.

Deacons Pod is hosted by the Paulist Deacon affiliates. The podcast is a production of the Paulist Fathers.

More at deaconspod.com

Do today's Catholic leaders have the knowledge and understanding to help people become disciples of Jesus Christ?

Do parish leaders have the empathy and relationship-building skills to create a culture of welcome?

Those are two of the questions raised in this episode of Deacons Pod featuring an interview with Dan Pierson of Grand Rapids, MI.

After decades of work in religious education, Dan established Faith Alive Books.

During the interview, Dan shares details about Faith Alive Books' two new short books "A Joyful Journey with Pope Francis: Exploring Twelve Pivotal Documents" and "Exploring Vatican II Treasures: Actors, Events, Insights." Both were written by Maryknoll Fr. James Kroeger.

Dan also speaks about the work of Gerard Straub, the author and former television producer who leads the Santa Chiara Children’s Center in Haiti. Gerard was featured in a 2023 Deacons Pod episode.

Dan is active at the Catholic Information Center and a parishioner at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew, both of which are served by the Paulist Fathers in Grand Rapids.

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s especially created to inspire and give hope to people on the “threshold of faith”: Those who are thinking about going to Church and those who are thinking about leaving Church.

Deacons Pod is hosted by the Paulist Deacon affiliates. The podcast is a production of the Paulist Fathers.

More at deaconspod.com

The Paulist Deacon Affiliates speak with Dr. Steven Millies, author of the new Paulist Press book "A Consistent Ethic of Life: Navigating Catholic Engagement with U.S. Politics."

Dr. Millies directs The Bernardin Center at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

On September 26, 2024, Dr. Millies gave a presentation on the Consistent Ethic of Life at Old St. Mary's Church, which is served by the Paulist Fathers in Chicago.

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s especially created to inspire and give hope to people on the “threshold of faith”: Those who are thinking about going to Church and those who are thinking about leaving Church.

Deacons Pod is hosted by the Paulist Deacon affiliates. The podcast is a production of the Paulist Fathers.

More at deaconspod.com

Is the emotion of fear abused in politics, advertising, and other parts of life?

What is the difference between natural fears and unnatural fears?

Can fear be narcissistic?

Can fear be transformational?

Is hope the antidote to fear?

These are some of the questions posed by the Paulist Deacon Affiliates to Fr. Dan Horan, OFM, in this fascinating installment of Deacons Pod.

Fr. Dan is author of the new Paulist Press book "Fear and Faith: Hope and Wholeness in a Fractured World."

A Franciscan Friar, he also is director of the Center for the Study of Spirituality at St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN, and co-host of The Francis Effect podcast.

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s especially created to inspire and give hope to people on the “threshold of faith”: Those who are thinking about going to Church and those who are thinking about leaving Church.

Deacons Pod is hosted by the Paulist Deacon affiliates. The podcast is a production of the Paulist Fathers.

More at deaconspod.com

In this rebroadcast of a 2022 episode of Deacons Pod, the deacons speak with Kevin Tuerff, the real-life “Kevin T.” portrayed in the Broadway musical “Come From Away” about the thousands of airplane passengers stranded in Gander, Newfoundland, on September 11, 2001.

Kevin also is author of the book "Channel of Peace: Stranded in Gander on 9/11" and founder of Pay It Forward 9/11, an initiative that encourages people to carry out acts of kindness.

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s especially created to inspire and give hope to people on the “threshold of faith”: Those who are thinking about going to Church and those who are thinking about leaving Church.

Deacons Pod is hosted by the Paulist Deacon affiliates. The podcast is a production of the Paulist Fathers.

More at deaconspod.com

It is often in unlikely individuals and places that we discover God's transforming love.

That is a premise of "Why God?: Stories to Inspire Faith," the new Paulist Press book from Fr. Richard Leonard, a Jesuit priest, author, and film critic from Australia.

Deacon Patrick Murphy-Racey speaks with Fr. Richard in this great new episode of Deacons Pod.

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s especially created to inspire and give hope to people on the “threshold of faith”: Those who are thinking about going to Church and those who are thinking about leaving Church.

Deacons Pod is hosted by the Paulist Deacon affiliates. The podcast is a production of the Paulist Fathers.

More at deaconspod.com

When a Catholic leaves their parish, should we call them and ask "why"?

Should departing parishioners be asked to complete marketing-style exit surveys?

Is the abuse crisis a factor for those leaving the Church?

These are just some questions posed to Diane Blair in this episode of Deacons Pod.

Diane recently served as Director of Pastoral Life at Holy Name of Jesus Church in New Orleans. Prior to that, she worked for 14 years in various roles at Loyola University New Orleans.

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Deacons Pod is a podcast for everyone. But, it’s especially created to inspire and give hope to people on the “threshold of faith”: Those who are thinking about going to Church and those who are thinking about leaving Church.

Deacons Pod is hosted by the Paulist Deacon affiliates. The podcast is a production of the Paulist Fathers.

More at deaconspod.com