Epiphany

Click here to purchase & read more about “From Playboy to Prodigal Son: A Photographer’s Journey from Emptiness to Meaning”

Prior to founding Watts of Love, Kevin Kuster spent twenty years at Playboy magazine,where he photographed some of the world’s biggest celebrities and produced award-winning images alongside Oscar-winning and Oscar-nominated Hollywood directors.

He is also the co-founder of @jjcommunity, the largest photography community on Instagram, with 541,000 followers. Today, Kevin uses all his God-given talents in photography, film, digital media, and storytelling to honor Jesus Christ. His story is one of redemption, salvation, and freedom — an inspiring journey that encourages others to confront their fears and discover true purpose and freedom in Jesus’ name.

This year, CCO is on track to have distributed a total of 1 million boxes to children in Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Haiti, Peru, the Bahamas, Honduras and Malawi, including over 130,000 last year. They are only 84,111 Boxes of Joy away.

As Cross Catholic Outreach celebrates 25 years of service and hope in 2026, the Box of Joy milestone stands as a powerful example of what can be accomplished when Catholics unite in faith to serve the poor.

Groups nationwide, including Catholic schools, parishes, Knight of Columbus councils, as well as individuals, participate every year by packing shoebox-sized boxes with small gifts such as toys and school supplies, and other treasured items such as a few treats, including hard candy, a hairbrush and coloring books. The ministry adds a rosary and ‘The Story of Jesus’ book to every box to remind children why Christmas is so special.

Michele Sagarino is the President of Cross Catholic Outreach. She has nearly three decades of experience in nonprofit leadership. After graduating from the University of Maryland, Michele answered the call on her life to begin service for various charitable organizations, including Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Gateway Community Outreach and Food For The Poor. She joined Cross Catholic Outreach in 2004, and she served as vice president for development for 15 years. Through the years, Michele has been an important leader in the organization. Her expertise and heart for service will continue to lead Cross Catholic Outreach forward with wisdom and integrity, allowing the organization and their donors to impact even more lives.

The theme of this year’s weekend retreats is “Encountering God in the Parables.” In a world filled with noise, uncertainty, and the demands of daily life, the parables of Jesus invite us to slow down, listen deeply, and discover the wisdom, mercy, and love of God. Through stories about seeds, shepherds, banquets, forgiveness, and compassion, Jesus reveals the heart of God and calls us into a deeper relationship with Him and with one another. While these familiar stories may seem simple at first, prayerful reflection on them opens new paths of understanding, healing, and hope.

Brother Igor De Bliquy is Director of the Capuchin Retreat Center. Born in South Africa and raised in Belgium, he brings a varied background that includes service in the Royal Belgian Navy and the Royal Palace Honour Guard, along with work in graphic arts and IT.

He joined the Capuchins as a postulant in 2018 and created a Franciscan spirituality app as part of his formation. He professed solemn vows at St. Bonaventure Monastery in 2023 and completed a graduate degree in spiritual direction in 2024. Br. Igor continues to work on the integration of faith and AI and has a deep interest in Franciscan and Marian theology, Eucharistic spirituality, and accompanying others in their spiritual lives.

Detroit Catholic: Capuchin Bro. Gary Wegner joins board of directors for Deo Gratias Ministries

Deo Gratias primarily serves people living on the Northeast side of Detroit, operating out of a building provided by the St. Jude Roman Catholic Mission on East Seven Mile Road. The organization’s mission is to honor the dignity of each person as they offer Christ-like hospitality to people in need. They fulfill this mission by operating a Café that serves free hot meals Monday through Friday, a Food Pantry that is open on Tuesdays and Fridays, a Community Garden, a tutoring program for children in grades 1-8 on Mondays and Wednesdays, and an art program. In addition, a Case Manager is available five days a week that provides referrals to additional community resources.

Bob Sadler is Executive Director of Deo Gratias Ministries Detroit — a Catholic nonprofit on the east side that has a daily café, food pantry, child tutoring, adult GED classes, an art room, a community garden and more! He is the first layperson to lead the organization, which was founded in 2018 by two Felician Sisters: Sister Felicity Marie Madigan and Sister Shelley Marie Jeffrey.

Brother Gary Wegner is executive director of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen.

Be The Light Gala event on Thursday, September 24 Benefits Deo Gratias Ministries Detroit

DETROIT – The annual Be The Light Gala takes place Thursday, September 24 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Felician Sisters’ Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Convent, located at 36800 Schoolcraft in Livonia adjacent to the Madonna University campus. All proceeds from the event benefit the work of Deo Gratias Ministries Detroit to combat food insecurity in northeast Detroit.

This exciting evening will feature dinner (with roast beef and chicken prepared in the Encore Catering kitchen of “Chef Bobby” Nahra), silent and live auctions, and a celebration of all the Christ-like hospitality Deo Gratias performs to make their neighborhood a better place. Former Local 4 News reporter Paula Tutman will serve as mistress of ceremonies for the event.

Be The Light tickets are $130/person and are available at www.dgmdetroit.org/events-1. $90 of your event ticket is tax deductible. Sponsorships are also still available.

Deo Gratias fulfills its mission by providing the following services:

· A Café that serves free meals Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. – three days a week, meals are provided via a partnership with the Capuchin Soup Kitchen;

· A Food Pantry that is open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that provides grocery and fresh food items to a roster of monthly guests and emergency food bags to anyone in need on weekdays;

· A Case Manager that can provide referrals to additional community resources available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through the partnership with the Capuchin Soup Kitchen;

· A Community Garden that provides vegetables and herbs used both in the Café and Food Pantry;

· A tutoring program available to children in grades 1-8 that is offered on Mondays and Wednesdays during the school year from 3 to 4:30 p.m.;

· A Library located in the Café provides a variety of free books for all ages;

· An art program is offered for children and adults during the year.

Deo Gratias addresses a growing need in an economically challenged section of the city, serving an average of 100-150 meals each day in the Cafe, translating to over 30,000 meals served in 2025. Similarly, its Pantry served 8,456 people from 3,466 households over 170,000 pounds of food in 2025.

We look back on Alexis Konja, Fr. Dave Tomaszycki, Fr. Nate Harburg, Christen Polo, Fr. Andrew Smith, Marie Miller, Sr. Rachel Benjamin, Nicole Joyce, Kathy and Paul Dobrowolski, Deacon Fred Billotto, and Hallow’s Alex Jones.

The "Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary Gala" hosted by Advocates for Faith & Freedom takes place on Thursday, September 10, 2026, starting at 5:30 PM at Saint John's Resort.

* Purpose: An elegant evening celebrating America’s 250th anniversary while raising funds to support legal battles protecting constitutional rights.

* Focus Areas: Religious liberty, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.

* Registration: Tickets and attendance details are managed directly through the Advocates For Faith & Freedom Gala Page.

Soren Nielsen is a student at the University of Utah and a Political Science Major. “I currently work as a Charity event coordinator for Advocates for Faith and Freedom where Erin Mersino works. I also just finished a 2 year mission as a missionary in Sacramento/Modesto California for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.”

Erin Mersino currently works as Vice President and Chief of Supreme Court and Appellate Litigation at Advocates for Faith and Freedom. She has argued before the Supreme Court and advocated and advocates for thousands of Americans to protect our freedoms.

American Martyr: The Stanley Rother Story is a feature-length documentary directed by Derek Watson and narrated by actor Martin Sheen. Released in theaters nationwide via Fathom Events on August 25 and 26, the film chronicles the life of priest and martyr Blessed Stanley Rother.

María Ruiz Scaperlanda is an award-winning author and journalist. She is the promoter of the canonization cause for Bl. Stanley Rother and one of the contributors featured in the movie “American Martyr: The Stanley Rother Story.”

The new podcast Stand Firm and Be Strong with Father of Mercy Wade Menezes launched August 3rd on EWTN+. This new podcast is aimed at, and intended for, men. He is especially inviting them to learn how to live and strengthen their Catholic faith, one day at a time.

This 200-day audio-only podcast grew out of the popularity of my men’s daily devotional book of the same title that was published in 2024. The book is a six-month spiritual manual for men. Each day has a different spiritual or temporal (secular) topic that is followed by three components: a Scripture quote, a saint quote and a short meditation written by me. Both the book and podcast titles are based on 1 Corinthians 16:13, wherein we read: “Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.” - Fr. Wade

Fr. Wade Menezes is a member of the Fathers of Mercy, a missionary preaching Religious Order based in Auburn, Kentucky. Fr. Wade has served as Assistant General and as Director of Vocations and Director of Seminarians for the Fathers of Mercy. He has also served as the Chaplain-in-Residence at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama. Both the Shrine and Monastery are affiliated with EWTN, the Eternal Word Television Network.

Sacred Heart to host fall conference examining the human person in today’s world

In October, Sacred Heart Major Seminary will host an academic conference examining the theme of personhood and its meaning in the age of AI and other emerging technologies, and exploring the significance of God’s unique creation in the human person.

Following last fall’s successful academic conference, “Nicaea at 1700: The First Council and the Way Together,” this fall’s conference will be titled, “What Is Man That You Are Mindful of Him? Human Nature and Person Today,” and will take place Oct. 1-3.

Speakers include Theologian Dr. Angela Franks, Philosopher Dr. David C. Schindler, Theologian Dr. Michael Waldstein and more.

Register here!

Dr. Kevin Clarke is the Dean of the Institute for Lay Ministry and Associate Professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. His research, which intersects with various theological and exegetical themes, has primarily focused upon Biblical interpretation in early Christianity, especially the Church Fathers’ spiritual exegesis of the Old Testament and readings that harmonize both Old and New, more specifically St. Maximus the Confessor and his interpretation of Scripture in the 7th century.

Vanessa elaborates on her commentary on the temperaments from last week. She also discusses St. Francis de Sales and more!

“If we want to create the careers that God intended us to have, the path he's put us on, our vocations, wherever the Lord is leading us. We will never reach our greatest potential if we don't fully understand ourselves first. We must have that self-awareness.”