Friar Side Chats

Christmastime. It always promises good food and relaxation and great family time. After we check the box for Christmas Mass of course... But is that really what it’s all about? In this episode, explore with us some of the ways we’ve domesticated the holiday and take away some fresh ideas for keeping Jesus at the center of it all - even amidst the hustle and bustle and messiness of the season. Are you ready to take a proactive approach to Christmas?

We've often heard that the Eucharist is at the heart of Catholic life, but sometimes the deeper details and explanations are left out or just assumed. Well, we've got you covered as we break down just why the Eucharist is so important and how it can change your life - if you let it. From the technicolor nose of bomb-sniffing dogs to Fr. Mike's thoughts on Fortnite, this episode brings the mystery of the Eucharist to an understandable, relatable level.

We've all seen the #selfcare and #selflove tags on social media, but how good are we *really* at loving and caring for ourselves? Are we even thinking about it through the best lens? Whether you're a bubble-bather like Emma or a chocoholic like Fr. Mike, we could all stand to think a little more deeply about self care!

Retreats come in all varieties, from forty days alone in the desert to a weekend outing to the beach to an afternoon set aside on campus. No matter the style you prefer--and they’re all great!--there’s no denying that retreats bring huge benefits for our spiritual lives. (Let's be real: if Jesus needed retreats, the we *definitely* do.) If you’ve ever wondered how to find the right fit, been curious about the purpose of and basis for retreats, or wanted to know how to make the most out of an upcoming retreat, we've got you covered.

It’s not easy to talk about, but it's important for us as Catholics to acknowledge the sexual assault crisis that the Church is facing right now. In this episode of Friar Side Chats, Emma and Father Mike welcome Father Tim Kulbicki, calling in from Rome, as he helps us break down what the Church is doing to respond to the issues within the clergy, how we got here in the first place, and how we can mold our response to the situation with a Franciscan spirit.

Reading Scripture can seem like a task of… well, Biblical proportions: where to start, what do I need to know beforehand, do I need to memorize stuff? In reality, it can be much more like a conversation with God - a way for Him to shed light on the truth of our faith and give advice on how to live and love day-to-day. In this Friar Side Chat, Emma and Fr. Mike share tips on getting started and explore the truth that scripture isn’t about how many passages you can memorize or how many books you’ve read, but about asking, “What is God saying to me through this?”

We all know how to set up plans for our classes, the extracurriculars that will get us into med/law/business/grad school, our fitness and health goals, etc. But do we apply that same strategic, goal-setting mindset to our spiritual life? What might happen if we did? Fr. Mike's CEO side comes out strong (and inspiring!) in this episode all about thinking strategically about spiritual goals.

Pope Francis recently released an awesome apostolic exhortation on the call to holiness. But it's not your average to-be-expected pep talk. Papa Francesco gives us incredible inspiration for how to strive for holiness in our modern, everyday lives. Let's dig in!

Text, Tweet, or Insta? Whatever your poison, many of us often use emojis to give our message a pop of color or help us better communicate how we feel. Because sometimes words just aren’t enough. Join us as we seek God in the everyday, dive into the underlying roots of our love for all things 😇🙌😍, and explore Fr. Mike's dream "emojis".

The World Cup has been dominating the news across the world, with what seems to be entire countries stopping everything to watch their national team play. What would happen if we approached our Catholic faith with the same kind of excitement and team spirit? (Bonus: You get to uncover Fr. Mike’s “recommendations” for improving the sport…)