Conversion of St. Paul InfoFr. Jim’s Parish - St. Paul on the LakeDetails about the October pilgrimage to Austria here! (scroll down)

Fr. Jim Bilot attended Wayne State University, graduating with a bachelor’s in business administration. While working in corporate America, he felt drawn to active participation in his parish which led him to apply to Sacred Heart Major Seminary. He was ordained at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit in 1992. Fr. Jim has tirelessly served the AOD in many different capacities and locations: The Church of the Divine Child, Dearborn; St. Hugo of the Hills, Bloomfield Hills; Our Lady Queen of Peace, Harper Woods; Vocations Director for the Archdiocese of Detroit, and as Pastor of St. Paul on the Lake since 2019.

“This extraordinary commemorative volume is rich with powerful photographs and profound reflections on each step of this historic moment. You will behold the grandeur of ritual and the intimacy of prayer as the Church entrusts Herself once more to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”

Dr. Matthew Bunson is Vice President and Editorial Director of EWTN News. For the past 30 years, Dr. Bunson has been active in the area of Catholic social communications and education, including writing, editing, and teaching on a variety of topics related to Church history, the papacy, the saints and Catholic culture. He is the author or co-author of over 50 books, including: Saint Pope Paul VI, The Encyclopedia of Catholic History, The Pope Encyclopedia, We Have a Pope! Benedict XVI, The Saints Encyclopedia and various best-selling biographies.

*Unfortunately the interview was plagued with phone connection problems that saw Dr. Bunson disappear several times.

Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J., Senior Fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, is a Jesuit priest, President and Founder of Ignatius Productions, world renowned lecturer, spiritual director for over fifty Holy Land pilgrimages, and EWTN host of television and radio shows. An accomplished biblical scholar and apologist, Father Pacwa, S.J. earned his Ph.D. in the Old Testament from Vanderbilt University. He also holds a Master of Divinity and S.T.B. from the Jesuit School of Theology at Loyola University. Fr. Mitch is fluent in 12 languages!

In celebration of National Religious Freedom Day, Becket has released the seventh edition of the Religious Freedom Index, the nation’s only annual poll that tracks American opinion on religious freedom. The 2025 Index hit its highest overall score to date, demonstrating that Americans are increasingly unified in supporting religious liberty for people of all faiths. This year’s findings reveal three key trends: increased support for Americans’ freedom to bring their faith into the public square, continued backing for parents’ rights to guide their children’s education, and broad approval of Supreme Court decisions that protect religious freedom.

Derringer Dick is the Strategic Research Associate at Becket. Previously, he studied journalism with an emphasis on the classical liberal arts at Patrick Henry College, where he served as a secretary for the school’s fencing club, interned with WORLD Magazine, and freelanced for The Weatherford Democrat, publishing several articles and film reviews.

Fr. Jack is a Parochial Vicar serving at St. John the Baptist with Pastor Fr. Dan Kogut.

Fr. Jack Jobst was raised in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the 5th of 10 children. His Catholic family homeschooled, and were parishioners at Christ the King, Ann Arbor. It was during his last two years of high school that he really began to take a personal interest in his faith, rather than simply praying when he was with family or at church. During that time, he frequently went to Confession, daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration. Following high school, he entered into formation for the priesthood and graduated from St. John Vianney College Seminary in Minnesota. He continued his priestly studies at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. Fr. Jack was ordained last summer, June 16 2025, as a priest for the Diocese of Lansing with six other deacons, who were affectionately named “The Magnificent Seven” by Bishop Earl Boyea.

Fr. Carney is the author of Preparation for Total Consecration to the Holy Face of Jesus: How God Draws the Soul into the Purgative, Illuminative, and Unitive Ways and Secret of the Holy Face: The Devotion Destined to Save Society. Both available from TAN Books.

Fr. Lawrence Carney was ordained for the Diocese of Wichita in 2007. For five years, he walked the streets of US cities in cassock carrying a crucifix and a rosary in each hand in an effort to bring souls to the Catholic Church. In 2014, he was appointed as chaplain of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, where he presently serves. In 2017, he began the League of St. Martin, a pious association that prays for reverence, reparation, and reversion—the chief goals being enrollment in the Archconfraternity of the Holy Face and the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary.

Spiritus Sanctus Academy has locations in Ann Arbor and Plymouth. The schools were established by Tom Monaghan (former owner and CEO of Domino’s Pizza and Catholic philanthropist) and sponsored by the Ave Maria Foundation. They are now run by the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist.

Both location are having an Open House on Thursday, January 29th from 9am to 2pm.

Sr. Mary David is the Principal of Spiritus Sanctus Academy (Ann Arbor)

The UCFS-CALC provides comprehensive programs and services designed to empower individuals and families, including food assistance, workforce training, and community support.

Melanie Ann Duquesnel is the new president/CEO of United Community Family Services/Chaldean American Ladies of Charity.

Duquesnel brings a wealth of leadership experience and a deep passion for community empowerment to her new role. She previously served as President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern Michigan, where she led a skilled team in advancing marketplace trust, business ethics, and consumer protection. Under her leadership, the BBB strengthened opportunities for accredited businesses while serving as a neutral third party in dispute resolution, fostering accountability and trust across the region.

Click here for more information.

Their mission is to end abortion by (1) recruiting and training young people for pro-life leadership, (2) educating youth on life issues and pregnancy resources, and (3) networking young people within their communities to strengthen their impact.

They write:

We have a big vision for 2026 and plan to accelerate our impact in major ways: • Launching a new digital persuasion effort to change 25,000 additional minds on campus using video ads • Attending the March for Life in D.C. with 108 students from 19 Michigan colleges • Hosting TWO Vision Dinners (registration is open: www.protectlifemi.org/dinner) • Hosting TWO Life Advocate Intensives to mobilize hundreds of young pro-lifers • Deploying 50+ Summer Interns in southeast Michigan • Unveiling a TOTAL REVAMP of our College Program • And launching a new College Retreat to develop stronger campus groups

Trevor Polo is the Executive Director of Protect Life Michigan. He holds a degree in Political Science and Pre-Law from Michigan State University and a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, with additional graduate studies in theology, data engineering, and machine learning.

In this segment, Vanessa also shares this story from EWTN News:

The nuns who witnessed the life and death of Martin Luther King Jr.

Today’s youth are growing up in a culture where religious affiliation has been steadily declining for decades. Yet new research indicates that personal spirituality is growing increasingly common among Generation Alpha, or those born between 2010 and 2024. Insights reveal that a majority of 13-year-olds claim a religious or spiritual identity, identify as Christian and profess personal belief in a higher power. Additionally, according to recent Barna research, younger generations are the biggest drivers of why belief in Jesus is on the rise. Young people are now incorporating Jesus into every aspect of their lives, including music, as Christian and gospel music are among the fastest-growing genres in the U.S.

For 81 years, Youth For Christ (YFC,www.yfc.net) has reached young people with God’s love by walking alongside teens through pivotal circumstances in their lives. YFC believes that this moment offers a unique opportunity to share the Gospel with a generation in search of spiritual purpose and meaning.

Trent Bushnell is the Senior Advisor for Greater Lansing Youth for Christ.

In the second half of our show, due to not being able to connect with our scheduled guest, Vanessa talks about a new book by EWTN publishing: POPE LEO XIV - THE ELECTION OF A POPE IN PICTURES.