Ever Ancient, Ever New

On today’s episode, we will be featuring a talk from our recent 2026 National Meeting by Bishop Joseph N. Perry.

Bishop Perry served as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Chicago from 1998 to 2023. Bishop Perry is a past vice-president of the board of the National Black Catholic Congress, and chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Subcommittee on African-American Affairs.

Since 2010, he has served as the diocesan postulator for the sainthood cause of Father Augustus Tolton, a former slave who became the first recognized priest of African descent in the United States.

Today, we will be listening to Bishop Perry’s talk, "Mary, Mother and Model of the Consecrated Life”.

Thank you for listening and we hope you enjoy! May God bless you.

On this week's episode, we're listening to a Facebook Live interview featuring

Sr. Teresa Maria Leis of the Sisters of the St. Francis of the Martyr St. George in Alton, IL. The Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George have been called by God to take an active part in rebuilding the Church, which was born from the heart of the crucified Christ. Flowing out of His open side, the charism entrusted to their community is to make the merciful love of Christ visible in our service. They do this through a variety of apostolic activities throughout the United States.

Sr. Teresa’s topic today is “Religious Life and Liturgy” and she is interviewed by IRL Board member, Jesse Weiler.

Thank you for listening! May God bless you and enjoy! 

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Fr. John A. Hardon's death, December 30th, 2025, the Institute on Religious Life will be launching a series of Fr. Hardon talks from our own archives!

Father Hardon entered the Society of Jesus in 1936. He authored over 200 books, including The Catholic Catechism (1975) and was a consultant for the drafting of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He wrote countless articles, conducted numerous catechetical classes for religious and lay people, developed a series of full-semester courses and was a popular speaker and retreat master as well as a spiritual director and confessor to many. He also founded the Institute on Religious Life, Marian Catechists and Eternal Life.

Father Hardon died on December 30, 2000. His cause for canonization has been opened. 

Today, we will be listening to his talk titled, "The Teaching of the Church on Vows: Chastity."

Thank you and we hope you enjoy! May God bless you!

On today’s episode, we will be featuring a talk from our recent 2026 National Meeting by Sr. Mary Eucharista Muse, who serves as the Vicar General of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Healing Love in Manchester, New Hampshire.

The Daughters of Mary Mother of Healing love seek to do the Father’s Will by adoring and serving the Sacred Heart of Jesus in imitation of Mary. They embrace the evangelical counsels and act to bring God’s Healing Love to families and individuals. They defend the dignity of human life, especially wherever the gift of life has been devalued, whether in the unborn, in children, in individuals and in families.

Sr. Mary Eucharista Muse is the author of two books: Learning to Live Again and UNPETALED and is the founder of Vita Benedicta Ministry, a ministry which offers accompaniment, spiritual direction, and formation to women who have been wounded in consecrated life

Today, we will be listening to Sr. Mary Eucharista’s talk, "To Love with the Heart of a Mother”.

Thank you for listening and we hope you enjoy! May God bless you.

On this week's episode, we're listening to a Facebook Live interview featuring Antonella Di Piazza, FKMI.

Antonella Di Piazza was born and raised in Bologna Italy, and is a perpetually professed member of Fr. Kolbe Missionaries of the lmmaculata. Antonella has been stationed in Italy, Poland, and the United States, carrying out various assignments and evangelization ministry, especially promoting Consecration to Mary according to the teachings and example of St. Maximilian Kolbe. She served as general editor for the first critical English edition of The Writings of St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe. She serves as national coordinator and director at the Ml-USA National Center.

Antonella’s topic today is “The Militia of the Immaculata” and she is interviewed by IRL Board member, Jesse Weiler.

Thank you for listening! May God bless you and enjoy! 

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Fr. John A. Hardon's death, December 30th, 2025, the Institute on Religious Life will be launching a series of Fr. Hardon talks from our own archives!

Father Hardon entered the Society of Jesus in 1936. He authored over 200 books, including The Catholic Catechism (1975) and was a consultant for the drafting of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He wrote countless articles, conducted numerous catechetical classes for religious and lay people, developed a series of full-semester courses and was a popular speaker and retreat master as well as a spiritual director and confessor to many. He also founded the Institute on Religious Life, Marian Catechists and Eternal Life.

Father Hardon died on December 30, 2000. His cause for canonization has been opened. 

Today, we will be listening to his talk titled, "Happiness Only From Doing God's Will"

Thank you and we hope you enjoy! May God bless you!

On today’s episode, we will be featuring a talk from our 2013 National Meeting by Fr. Brian Mullady, O.P.  

Fr. Mullady recently passed into eternal life on April 22, 2025. Please pray for the repose of his soul. You can read his obituary to learn more about his amazing life serving the church. 

Fr. Mullady taught at the Vita Consecrata Institute for nearly 20 years and served as the Theological advisor for the Institute on Religious Life for over 30 years. Fr. Mullady was a mission preacher and retreat master for the Dominican Friars, Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in Oakland California. He hosted a twelve-part series on Mother Angelica's EWTN television network, authored of four books and numerous articles and wrote the Answer column in Homiletic and Pastoral Review.  Fr. Mullady was also designated as an official Missionary of Mercy by Pope Francis for the Year of Mercy. 

Thank you for listening, may God bless you!

On this week's episode, we're listening to a Facebook Live interview featuring Abbot Sharbel Ewen, OSB, of Prince of Peace Benedictine Monastery in Oceanside, California.

Abbot Sharbel grew up surrounded by the values of hard work and simplicity, cultivated in a family of six children. His upbringing was deeply influenced by the rhythms of rural life, where faith and community were intertwined. In 1980, Abbot Sharbel responded to a profound spiritual calling, entering the monastery of St. Charles Priory (later renamed Prince of Peace Abbey). Ordained a priest on July 2, 1988, Abbot Sharbel’s vocation blossomed, eventually leading to his appointment as Prior in 2000.

On August 20, 2013, Abbot Sharbel was elected to lead his monastic community as Abbot. His Abbatial Blessing on October 10, 2013, marked the beginning of a new chapter of stewardship and spiritual guidance. 

Abbot Sharbel’s topic today is “How Does a Monastery Impact its Local Community?” and he is interviewed by IRL Board member, Jesse Weiler.

Thank you for listening! May God bless you and enjoy! 

o commemorate the 25th anniversary of Fr. John A. Hardon's death, December 30th, 2025, the Institute on Religious Life will be launching a series of Fr. Hardon talks from our own archives!

Father Hardon entered the Society of Jesus in 1936. He authored over 200 books, including The Catholic Catechism (1975) and was a consultant for the drafting of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He wrote countless articles, conducted numerous catechetical classes for religious and lay people, developed a series of full-semester courses and was a popular speaker and retreat master as well as a spiritual director and confessor to many. He also founded the Institute on Religious Life, Marian Catechists and Eternal Life.

Father Hardon died on December 30, 2000. His cause for canonization has been opened. 

Today, we will be listening to his talk titled, "The Way of the Cross"

Thank you and we hope you enjoy! May God bless you!

On today’s episode, we will be featuring a talk from our 2012 National Meeting by

Fr. James Kubicki, SJ, serves as a spiritual director at St. Francis de Sales Seminary in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He is a popular conference and parish mission speaker, retreat director, and the author of A Heart on Fire and A Year of Daily Offerings.

Fr. Kubicki previously served as the national director of the Apostleship of Prayer (now the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network) and as the president of St. Francis Mission on South Dakota’s Rosebud Reservation. Kubicki entered the Society of Jesus in 1971 and was ordained in 1983. He has served the Jesuits in numerous capacities including, vocations, priestly formation, and deacon and lay ministry formation.

Fr. Kubicki’s topic is “Living the Eucharist – United our Lives with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass”. Thank you for listening! May God bless you and enjoy!