He Leadeth Me

What if the key to deepening our faith isn't just surrender, but wrestling with God?

In this episode, Fr. Andrew Dickinson and Josh Burks return to talk about Jesus' Agony in the Garden. Fr. Andrew, Josh, and Jess discuss:

• Parallels between Jesus' Agony in the Garden and the patriarch Jacob wrestling with God through the night
• How Jesus' prayer in the Agony in the Garden can inform our own prayer when we are suffering
• Spiritual advice for those who find themselves wrestling with God

Father Andrew Dickinson is a priest of the Diocese of Sioux Falls. Ordained in 2006 he has served in the diocese in various capacities, including 11 years as the director of the Pius XII Newman Center serving the campus of South Dakota State University where he had the privilege of working with FOCUS missionaries those 11 years. Father Andrew currently serves as the pastor of 4 parishes in the diocese aided by 2 priests and one deacon. He also serves his Bishop as a Vicar General. If he has a FOCUS claim to fame it is through his brother, who was in the original bible study led by Dr. Sri in the 1990s. 

Joshua Burks is an Associate Teacher at The Emmaus Institute for Biblical Studies in Lincoln, NE. He teaches primarily on New Testament texts and themes, but enjoys any opportunity to bring clarity and conviction to engaging with Christ in the Scriptures. Previous to his time teaching, Joshua spent four years as a missionary and Team Director with FOCUS at South Dakota State University. Next to love of God is his love for his wife, Elizabeth, and their four rambunctious boys. 

In this episode, Fr. Andrew Dickinson and Josh Burks, the hosts of the FAD and Dad podcast, return to unveil theological elements in the Biblical accounts of the Last Supper.

Jess, Fr. Andrew, and Josh discuss:

• The 4 cups of a Passover meal and how we see them in the Last Supper
• Jesus washing the disciples feet and the tradition of the washing of the feet in the Holy Thursday Mass
• Jesus' deep desire for unity in His Church and His High Priestly Prayer

Father Andrew Dickinson is a priest of the Diocese of Sioux Falls. Ordained in 2006 he has served in the diocese in various capacities, including 11 years as the director of the Pius XII Newman Center serving the campus of South Dakota State University where he had the privilege of working with FOCUS missionaries those 11 years. Father Andrew currently serves as the pastor of 4 parishes in the diocese aided by 2 priests and one deacon. He also serves his Bishop as a Vicar General. If he has a FOCUS claim to fame it is through his brother, who was in the original bible study led by Dr. Sri in the 1990s. 

Joshua Burks is an Associate Teacher at The Emmaus Institute for Biblical Studies in Lincoln, NE. He teaches primarily on New Testament texts and themes, but enjoys any opportunity to bring clarity and conviction to engaging with Christ in the Scriptures. Previous to his time teaching, Joshua spent four years as a missionary and Team Director with FOCUS at South Dakota State University. Next to love of God is his love for his wife, Elizabeth, and their four rambunctious boys. 

Ash Wednesday is upon us! In this episode, liturgical expert Chris Carsten returns to shed light on the Ash Wednesday liturgy. Jess and Chris discuss:

• Why Ash Wednesday is one of the most highly attended Masses of the year
• How the Church teaches us about the end goal of Lent through the prayers of the Ash Wednesday Mass
• Why ashes?
• Chris' advice for listeners to enter more deeply into Lent this year
• Chris' book, "A Devotional Journey into the Easter Mystery"

You can check out Chris' book here: A Devotional Journey into the Easter Mystery

Chris Carstens is the Director of Worship in the Diocese of La Crosse, a visiting faculty member of the Liturgical Institute at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL, and the Editor of Adoremus Bulletin. Chris lives in Soldiers Grove, WI, with his wife and children.

How can you have your best Lent ever? 

In this episode, FOCUS national chaplain Fr. Doug Grandon joins Jessica to share his advice on how to make the most out of this Lent. Fr. Doug and Jess discuss:

• Making the most out of Lenten fasting
• The power of art and silence in enhancing your Lent
• How to avoid a spirit of self-reliance in your Lenten sacrifices

Fr. Doug Grandon is a priest of the Archdiocese of Denver and a FOCUS National Chaplain.

You can check out other episodes with Fr. Doug here:

Adventures of an Undercover Missionary in Communist Yugoslavia

A Married Catholic Priest?

Accompanying someone into the Church is a great privilege, but what does it actually look like to walk with them well? 

In this episode, FOCUS staff and converts Travis Todd and Amber Cybulski join Jessica to talk about their experiences of conversion and how we can accompany someone entering the Church well. Travis, Amber, and Jess discuss:

• The most helpful things in OCIA and outside of it that prepared Travis and Amber to enter the Church
• Challenges that they had as they completed OCIA
• The experience of the Easter Vigil from the convert's perspective
• Advice for those accompanying someone entering the Church this Easter

Travis Todd is a convert to Catholicism and has worked for FOCUS for 18 years. Travis served 9 years as a campus missionary and team director before accepting a role at the FOCUS Denver Support Center. He currently serves as Senior Director of Formation. Travis resides in Arvada, Colorado, with his wife, Rebecca, and 7 children.

After converting to Catholicism in college, Amber worked as a middle school and high school teacher covering subjects such as Latin, Spanish, Salvation History, Logic, and Calculus. She left everything to join FOCUS in 2014, serving as a campus missionary and team director before joining the Formation Department in 2019. She's currently served as the Director of New Staff Training and resides in Toledo, OH with her husband, Steven, and 3, almost 4 children. 

"Jesus, I surrender myself to You, take care of everything!" 

This phrase is the daily prayer of the famous Surrender Novena. In this episode, Fr. John Ezratty joins Jessica to talk about the power of this novena. Fr. John and Jess discuss:

• How Jesus revealed the Surrender Novena to Servant of God Don Dolindo Ruotolo
• The difference between surrender and resignation or despair in the spiritual life
• How to be truly surrendered to the will of God

Fr. John Ignatius Ezratty is a priest with the Archdiocese of Denver. He is also a popular speaker at SEEK and a former FOCUS national chaplain.
 
 If you would like to listen to Fr. Ezratty's talks at SEEK, you can find them here: seekreplay.com

"You're doing what?" is a common response when students tell their parents that they want to become FOCUS missionaries. Parents can feel hesitant about this decision, as they wonder, "Will you make enough money fundraising to support yourself? Is this a good step for your career?"

In this episode, FOCUS Regional Director Kallin Hill and her father John Zehren join Jessica to talk about a parent's perspective on their son or daughter's call to FOCUS. Kallin, John, and Jess discuss:

• John speaks of his initial hesitation to Kallin's call to FOCUS, and how God's grace and conversations with Kallin overcame this hesitation.
• Kallin talks about how her time with FOCUS helped her to accomplish the personal and career goals her Dad had for her
• Kallin and John give advice on the best ways to approach parents and give them the news that you are called to become a FOCUS missionary.

After serving FOCUS for 4 years on campus, Kallin Hill became a Regional Director in the South Area overseeing schools in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. She has been with FOCUS for 8 years. Kallin is married to Stephen Hill, a fellow FOCUS employee.

John Zehren is a businessman, proud father, and adamant supporter of FOCUS.

One of the greatest griefs a person can experience is losing a loved one to suicide. 

Studies indicate that 85% of people in the United States will personally know someone who has committed suicide during their lifetimes. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. How can we pray through the pain of a loved one committing suicide?

In this episode, FOCUS staff Travis Todd and Levi Rash join Jessica to talk about surviving a loved one's suicide. Travis, Levi, and Jess discuss:

• Travis and Levi's own personal experiences of living through a family member's suicide
• Common struggles people experience after a loved one's suicide, including wondering if they could have done more to prevent it
• Church teaching regarding suicide
• What helped Travis and Levi to pray during the painful time after the suicide
• Travis and Levi's advice for those who are grieving a loved one's suicide

You can purchase Fr. Chris Alar's book, "After Suicide: There's Hope for Them and For You" here.

Travis Todd
Travis Todd is a convert to Catholicism and has worked for FOCUS for 18 years. Travis served 9 years as a campus missionary and team director before accepting a role at the FOCUS Denver Support Center. He currently serves as Sr. Director of Formation. Travis resides in Arvada, Colorado, with his wife, Rebecca, and 7 children.

Check out other He Leadeth Me episodes featuring Travis here:

Conversion and the Drama of Family Relationships
Finding God in Daily Work: What's It Like to Work at the DSC?

Levi Rash
Levi Rash graduated from the University of Missouri - Kansas City and joined FOCUS in 2011. He served as a campus missionary, Team Director, and is currently a Senior Regional Director serving the West Area. This is his 14th year with FOCUS as a staff member. Levi has been married to Stef, a FOCUS alum, for over 8 years and they have 3 daughters. Levi's family resides in Lincoln, Nebraska. 

Dominican friar Fr. James Brent is back to talk about his devotion to praying to the Holy Spirit under the title, "Spirit of Truth". Fr. James and Jess discuss:

• How praying to the Spirit of Truth led to the downfall of communism in Europe
• What invoking the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth could do for our country
• How you can grow in your devotion to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth

Be sure to check out Fr. James' new book, "The Father's House: Discovering Our Home in the Trinity" here and his podcast Contemplata here.

Fr. James Brent, O.P., is a priest in the St. Joseph Province Dominican Friars. He is a professor at the Dominican House of Studies and a popular retreat master and preacher.

In reading the Scriptures, there can be some passages that trouble modern readers, like the accounts of the wars the Israelites undertook against people living in the Promised Land. 

In this episode, Fr. Andrew Dickinson and Josh Burks from the FAD & Dad podcast sit down with Jess to shed some light on these Scripture passes. Fr. Andrew, Josh, and Jess discuss:

• Did God command genocide when he commanded the Israelites to wage war and put all the inhabitants of the cities to death?
• What about the account of Hagar's encounter with God? Did God command her to return to her abuser?
• What advice do you have for people who are reading these Scripture accounts?
• What did the Church Fathers say about these passages?

You can check out the FAD & DAD podcast here

Father Andrew Dickinson is a priest of the Diocese of Sioux Falls. Ordained in 2006 he has served in the diocese in various capacities, including 11 years as the director of the Pius XII Newman Center serving the campus of South Dakota State University where he had the privilege of working with FOCUS missionaries those 11 years. Father Andrew currently serves as the pastor of 4 parishes in the diocese aided by 2 priests and one deacon. He also serves his Bishop as a Vicar General. If he has a FOCUS claim to fame it is through his brother, who was in the original bible study led by Dr. Sri in the 1990s. 

Joshua Burks is an Associate Teacher at The Emmaus Institute for Biblical Studies in Lincoln, NE. He teaches primarily on New Testament texts and themes, but enjoys any opportunity to bring clarity and conviction to engaging with Christ in the Scriptures. Previous to his time teaching, Joshua spent four years as a missionary and Team Director with FOCUS at South Dakota State University. Next to love of God is his love for his wife, Elizabeth, and their three rambunctious boys.