Epiphany

Chuck Gaidica is an author, keynote speaker, podcast, and radio host. Many people may know Chuck from his national and local radio and television work in Michigan spanning over four decades. He has multiple Emmy awards and was awarded the prestigious Silver Circle Award for broadcast excellence by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. After retiring from fulltime television news and radio, Chuck served on staff at two churches before returning to the Catholic Church. He also worked as a leader of various efforts to bring business, media, churches, and non-profits together as “forces for good”.

Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers – known around the world as the “Dynamic Deacon” – is one of the most sought-after speakers in the Church today. He is a powerful and passionate evangelist and preacher, whose no-nonsense approach to living and proclaiming the Catholic faith will challenge and inspire those who hear him. He is the host of several series on EWTN including Beacon of Truth and is the author of several books, including Our Life of Service: The Handbook for Catholic Deacons, Behold the Man: A Catholic Vision of Male Spirituality, and Building a Civilization of Love: A Catholic Response to Racism

Father Joshua Fons was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After hearing the call to the priesthood, he studied for his Bachelors in Philosophy and Catholic Studies at St. John Vianney College Seminary, and has a Masters in Divinity from Sacred Heart Major Seminary as well as a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology for the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. He spent 4 years as a full-time missionary with FOCUS, evangelizing and discipling college athletes. He was ordained a priest in 2024, and now is the Parochial Vicar of St. Patrick Parish in Brighton, MI.

Jeff and Ahlam Kassab have been married for 35 years and are blessed with two children. Their marriage is centered on Christ and rooted in sacrificial love, which shapes the way they serve other couples. They provide marriage preparation and ongoing mentorship, especially for those who may be struggling. Jeff holds a master’s degree in Catholic Theology from Sacred Heart Major Seminary and is deeply formed in Scripture and Catholic apologetics, having given numerous lectures and presentations on the faith.

Father Patrick Setto is a priest of the Chaldean Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle in Detroit. Father Patrick’s ministry beautifully weaves together faith, healing, and beauty. Through his pastoral work, he has a special passion for marriage ministry and inner healing, helping people experience restoration, deeper relationships, and freedom in Christ. Alongside his priestly ministry, he also shares the Gospel through sacred art and music, using beauty as a doorway into prayer, reflection, and a deeper encounter with God’s presence.

Dr. Greg Popcak is a fellow of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and the chair of the Marriage and Family Studies Concentration in the Master of Pastoral Studies program at Holy Apostles College and Seminary. He also holds teaching positions on the psychology and graduate theology faculties at Franciscan University of Steubenville.Lisa Popcak is a Certified Family Life Coach, a Lactation Consultant, and professional educator with specializations in learning styles and early childhood development, adoption, and attachment. They have been married 27 years and are the parents of three children. She and Dr. Greg are popular guests on many Catholic radio and television programs and their work has been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, Ladies Home Journal, NPR, USA Radio Network, FoxNews, and many other outlets.

Dr. Elizabeth Lev is an American-born art historian with the good fortune to live and work in Rome. After finishing her studies at the University of Chicago in 1989, Elizabeth moved to Northern Italy to do her graduate work at the University of Bologna. Shortly after her decision to reside in Rome in 1997, Elizabeth began giving tours for a small cultural association and in 2001 passed the licensing exam for guides. She serves as a faculty member teaching Art History at Duquesne University’s Italian campus and has since joined the teaching staff at the Pontifical University of the Angelicum in Rome. She is the author of many articles and books including How Catholic Art Saved the Faith: The Triumph of Beauty and Truth in Counter-Reformation Art and The Silent Knight: A History of St. Joseph as Depicted in Art. Learn more about her work at lizlevtours.com

On January 30, the 195th birthday of Adele Brice, Bishop David L. Ricken, the 12th Bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay, promulgated a decree officially opening the cause for the canonization of Adele Brice and naming her a Servant of God.

Sainthood cause formally opened for Northwoods catechist of ‘this wild country’

Adele Brice

Fr. Tony Stephens is a native of Angelus, Kansas, and earned a B.A. in Theology from Christendom College. Discerning a call to religious life and the priesthood, he joined the Fathers of Mercy in 2000. In 2001, Fr. Tony studied for the priesthood at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, and received his Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained a priest in 2005 and he served for two years as the assistant pastor of a parish church.

In 2007, Fr. Tony was assigned to begin traveling and preaching parish retreats, also known as “parish missions”. His travels have taken him all over North American and to Australia. From 2009-2015, he served as the Vocations Director and Student Master for the community. In August of 2015, he joined the formation faculty at the Mt. St. Mary’s of the West in Cincinnati, OH, where he worked as the Vice Rector and Director of Formation until the Spring of 2021. After completing a six-year term at the seminary, he rejoined the Fathers of Mercy mission band as a traveling mission preacher. He now serves as Rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, appointed in 2024.

Daniel joins Vanessa each month to look at important stories that have been featured on the Detroit Catholic website.

Daniel Meloy – News Reporter for the Detroit Catholic

We look over these stories today:

https://www.detroitcatholic.com/news/newlyweds-give-pope-leo-icon-of-blessed-solanus-casey-he-gives-them-a-blessing

https://www.detroitcatholic.com/news/austin-catholic-students-gift-third-grader-prosthetic-arm-just-in-time-for-christmas

https://www.detroitcatholic.com/news/jerusalem-patriarch-pens-letter-of-thanks-to-detroits-faithful-for-generous-gift

https://www.detroitcatholic.com/news/as-moderator-of-the-curia-fr-birney-aims-to-help-chancery-better-serve-parishes

https://www.detroitcatholic.com/news/st-augustine-students-work-as-the-hands-and-feet-of-jesus-during-service-project

https://www.detroitcatholic.com/news/teenagers-encouraged-to-be-not-afraid-embrace-their-faith-at-rise-conference

https://www.detroitcatholic.com/news/priests-gather-to-begin-discernment-on-archdiocesan-restructuring-pastorate-models

Admission is free! The Rosary begins at 6:30 pm and Shannon will start at 7:00.Click here for more.

Her book, “The Way of the Rosary: A Journey with Mary Through Scripture, Liturgy, and Life” is from Ascension Press.

Shannon Wendt is the founder and CEO of Chews Life. She and her husband Zach have been married for nearly 20 years, run 3+ small businesses and homeschool their eight children in West Michigan. Shannon has spoken to audiences around the world sharing the story of her journey through grief and depression into healing through the power of The Rosary. She shares hope and also practical ways to live a well integrated life, to become who you were created to be so that you can set the world on fire!

With smartphone usage and addiction running rampant, Real Life Catholic invites you to put down your phone this Lent to offer prayers and sacrifice to support the renewal of the next generation of Catholics. Matt Paolelli tells Vanessa about it today.

Click here for more details.

Matt Paolelli is a Catholic marketing leader and writer serving as Vice President of Marketing at Real Life Catholic, where he helps shape and grow evangelization initiatives and faith-formation events. Matt is also a seasoned communicator whose essays and reflections on faith and family have appeared in U.S. Catholic and other outlets. Paolelli lives near Chicago with his wife and their four children and draws on his deep experience in storytelling, digital strategy, and Catholic ministry to advance joyful engagement with the Gospel.

Vanessa began this segment reading from the:MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIVFOR THE 60TH WORLD DAY OF SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS