Ever Ancient, Ever New

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

Bishop Robert F. Vasa, a native of the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, serves as the sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Santa Rosa. After obtaining his B.A. from St. Thomas Seminary College in Denver, CO, Bishop Vasa obtained a Master of Divinity from the Holy Trinity Seminary of the University of Dallas. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1976 in Lincoln, NE and subsequently spent two years pursuing post-graduate studies in canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. After serving in several capacities for the Diocese of Lincoln, he was ordained to the episcopate in 2000 in Baker, OR. Bishop Vasa was appointed coadjutor bishop of Santa Rosa, CA in 2010 and succeeded to the bishopric in 2011. He also served as Present on the IRL’s Board of Directors for many years.  His journey of faith and leadership has been marked by a deep commitment to the Church and the people he serves.

Bishop Vasa’s topic today is “What is the Consecrated Life” and he 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 part three of a talk he gave titled, “Introduction To Principles and Practice of Prayer”.

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 by Dr. Scott Hahn. 

Dr. Hahn received his Bachelor of Arts degree with a triple-major in Theology, Philosophy and Economics from Grove City College, PA,  his Masters of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and his Ph.D. in Biblical Theology from Marquette University. He was ordained in 1982 at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Fairfax, VA, but resigned his ministry to enter the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil in 1986.

He began teaching at Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1990, where he now holds the Father Michael Scanlan, T.O.R., Chair of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization. An exceptionally popular speaker and teacher, Dr. Hahn has spoken nationally and internationally on a wide variety of topics related to Scripture and Catholic theology. His talks have been effective in helping thousands embrace the faith. 

Dr. Scott’s talk is titled, " How to Get the Most Out of Mass". Thank you for listening! May God bless you and enjoy! 

On this week's episode, we're listening to a Facebook Live interview featuring Dr. John Olesnavage.  A lifelong devout Catholic, John Olesnavage spent twenty-five years as a case worker in the human service field, working with criminal offenders, addicts, and the mentally ill. At forty-seven, he returned to school to pursue his dream of becoming a psychologist. John is a clinical psychologist, teacher, guide and activator who can inspire you to discover your Powerful Questions and create your legacy. John formed the My Powerful Question Institute in 2014.

Dr. Olesnavage’s topic today is “Your most Powerful Question” and he 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 part two of a talk he gave titled, “Introduction To Principles and Practice of Prayer”.

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

On today’s episode, we will be featuring a talk from our 2007 National Meeting by Sr. M. Stephania Newell 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. M. Stephania Newell’s talk is titled, What is my Vocation - Prayer of Discernment. 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 Sister Rita Marie, SsEW with the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word in Irondale, Alabama.  

The Sister Servants of the Eternal Word is a public association of the faithful begun by Mother Mary Gabriel Long in 1987. The community is contemplative-active, committed to evangelization through catechesis and retreats, according to the ideals of St. Francis and St. Dominic who rebuilt the Church in truth and charity. The Sister Servants run Casa Maria Retreat House and also participate in family catechesis, Sacramental preparation, and other catechetical missions throughout the diocese and beyond. They teach “spiritual things spiritually” (1 Cor 2:13) by witnessing to the Truth and Love of God, in imitation of St. Dominic and St. Francis.

Sister Rita Marie’s topic today is “The Pilgrimage to Lourdes and the Immaculate Conception” 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 part one of a talk he gave titled, “Introduction To Principles and Practice of Prayer”.

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

On today’s episode, we will be featuring a talk from our 2007 National Meeting by Msgr. Charles Mangan.

Msgr. Mangan is from the Diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is a faculty member at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD. Ordained a priest in 1989, he has served as an official in the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in Rome and director of his diocese's Office of the Marian Apostolate.

Msgr. Mangan’s talk is titled, Sacred Liturgy as Foretaste of Heavenly Prayer. Thank you for listening! May God bless you and enjoy! 

On this week's episode, we're listening to a Facebook Live interview featuringFr. Matthias of the Immaculate Heart, OCD of the Discalced Carmelite Friars of the California-Arizona Province.

The Discalced Carmelite Friars seek to respond to Christ's call by combining the contemplative spirit with the active apostolate. As Carmelite brothers and priests, they serve the Church in various ministries. They staff three parishes, a retreat house, a house of prayer, an Institute of Spirituality, and a mission in Uganda, Africa. They are also involved in spiritual direction, hospital chaplaincy, prison ministry, and spiritual assistance to Carmelite Nuns and Carmelite Seculars.

Fr. Matthias’ topic today is “Your Prayer Life: Navigating Meditation into Contemplation” and he is interviewed by IRL Board member, Jesse Weiler.

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