He Leadeth Me

Servant of God Fr. Walter Ciszek spent 23 years in Siberian prison camps for his faith in Jesus. After being released from prison, he returned to the United States and became a renowned spiritual director. 

In this episode, Fr. Michael Wegenka joins Jessica to dive into a prayer of surrender that Fr. Ciszek wrote for one of his directees. Fr. Michael and Jess discuss:

• Fr. Ciszek's spirituality of surrender and trust in God
• The line of the prayer, "I ask the grace to accept the sadness in my heart as your will for me in this present moment." Is God's will for me to be sad?
• Fr. Ciszek's teaching on finding God in the present moment
• How you can find healing in seeking God in the present moment

Here is the text of Fr. Ciszek's prayer:

Prayer of Surrender
Lord Jesus Christ, I ask the grace to accept the sadness in my heart, as your will for me, in this moment. I offer it up, in union with your sufferings, for those who are in deepest need of your redeeming grace. I surrender myself to your Father's will and I ask you to help me to move on to the next task that you have set for me.
Spirit of Christ, help me to enter into a deeper union with you. Lead me away from dwelling on the hurt I feel:
to thoughts of charity for those who need my love,
to thoughts of compassion for those who need my care, and
to thoughts of giving to those who need my help.
As I give myself to you, help me to provide for the salvation of those who come to me in need.
May I find my healing in this giving.
May I always accept God's will.
May I find my true self by living for others in a spirit of sacrifice and suffering.
May I die more fully to myself and live more fully in you.
As I seek to surrender to the Father's will, may I come to trust that he will do everything for me.

To learn more about Fr. Ciszek, visit his League website here. 

Fr. Michael Wegenka, S.J., is a Jesuit priest from Houston, Texas. He has worked at Regis Jesuit High School as well as his alma mater, Strake Jesuit in Houson. He was ordained in 2018 and is currently working as a vocation promoter for the UCS Province of Jesuits.

In Matthew 7:1, Jesus tell us, "Do not judge, lest you shall be judged". But what does this actually mean? Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress is back in this episode to talk about judgment. Fr. Joseph-Anthony and Jess discuss:

• Is it a judgment to notice a fault in another person?
• How can you know if you are making rash judgments?
• What advice do you have for someone who is trying to overcome the sin of judging other people?

Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress is the chaplain at the University of Virginia. He is an Eastern Province Dominican friar and co-host of the Godsplaining podcast with four other Dominican friars. You can listen to Godsplaining here

How do you know if you are gossiping or simply sharing your struggles with friends? 

Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress joins Jessica today to shed light on St. Thomas Aquinas' teaching on gossip. Jessica and Fr. Joseph-Anthony discuss:

• Gossip's role in spiritual warfare
• How Aquinas breaks verbal sins or injuries into 5 categories: reviling, backbiting, tale-bearing, derision, and cursing
• Ways that you can overcome the sin of gossip in your life, including asking God to "set a guard over your lips" (Ps 141:3).

Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress is the chaplain at the University of Virginia. He is an Eastern Province Dominican friar and co-host of the Godsplaining podcast with four other Dominican friars. You can listen to Godsplaining here

In this episode, liturgical expert Chris Carstens returns to talk about the rite of baptism. Jess and Chris discuss:

• How baptism restores God's image in the soul
• Why the rite of baptism begins at the front of the church
• What is the role of Godparents?
• And much more!

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.

When leading another person to Jesus, one of the most important tasks you have is teaching that person how to pray. But how can you do this? 

FOCUS Alumna and former Senior Director of TD and RD Formation Shannon Hicks joins Jessica in this episode to talk about how to teach another person how to pray. Jess and Shannon discuss:

• How God Himself teaches each person to pray and we only accompany others while He teaches them
• The value of praying out loud with someone learning to pray
• Teaching ARRR Prayer- Acknowledge, Relate, Receive, Respond

Shannon Hicks is a wife, mother, spiritual director and a former FOCUS missionary. Shannon served in FOCUS for 15 years as a campus missionary, regional director, and a member of the formation team.

After a conversion or reversion to the Catholic faith, many people can struggle in their interactions with family members who don't share their beliefs. 

In this episode, Director of Formation Travis Todd and Director of Retreats Niru de Silva join Jessica to talk about how their conversions impacted their family relationships and their prayer lives. Travis, Niru, and Jess discuss:

• Niru's background growing up with a Buddhist family and Travis' upbringing in a devout Protestant home
• Struggles in family interactions that are common after conversions, including
  • The temptation to let intercession for your family monopolize your prayer life
  • Pressuring yourself to be perfect so that you reflect well on the Catholic faith
  • Scrupulosity about proclaiming truths of the faith to family members
• Advice for FOCUS staff and students who are navigating relationships with family members who don't share their faith

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 Director of Formation. Travis resides in Arvada, Colorado, with his wife, Rebecca, and 7 children.

Niru de Silva is a convert to Catholicism and has worked for FOCUS for 7 years. He has served FOCUS as a campus missionary, Regional Director, and now as the Director of Retreats. Niru's team brings life-changing retreats to people at over 200 FOCUS locations. Niru resides in Denver, Colorado, with his wife, Sarah, and their daughter.

Radiating Joy, a documentary about Servant of God Michelle Duppong, will be coming out in theaters on November 12th! 

In this episode, Jessica sits down with Danny Anderson, the director of the film, to talk about creating the documentary. Jess and Danny discuss:

• Before making the film, Danny knew nothing about Michelle Duppong. He shares his experience getting to know her through the testimony of her family and friends.
• Danny's favorite interviews in the film, including the Duppong family and Michelle's primary cancer doctor
• Artistic choices Danny made in the creation of the film

Danny Anderson is the Director of the documentary, "Radiating Joy: The Michelle Duppong Story." He and his wife Molli own and operate Anderson Art, a production company based in Colorado Springs where they live with their two children. Danny is a CU Boulder alum and a former FOCUS missionary.

Over the summer, many FOCUS missionaries participate in the Spiritual Exercises. After 8 days of silence and meditation, what's it like to enter back into the chaos of daily life? How can you let the graces you received on retreat bear fruit? Fr. Kevin Dyer, SJ, joins Jessica in this episode to give his advice for your spiritual life after you attend a retreat. Fr. Kevin and Jess discuss:

• Advice for people leaving a retreat in consolation, desolation, or tranquility
• Common temptations after a retreat
• Advice for integrating the graces received

Fr. Kevin Dyer, S.J., is a priest in the Society of Jesus and serves FOCUS as Senior National Chaplain. Fr. Dyer completed studies at St. Louis University and Boston College and was ordained in 2010. In 2019, he became a part-time FOCUS National Chaplain, and in 2022 he stepped into the role of Senior National Chaplain. In 2023, Fr. Dyer accepted an additional role in FOCUS as Vice President of Collegiate Outreach.  Fr. Dyer resides in Denver, Colorado.

You want to stop comparing yourself to others...but how? 

In this episode, Sr. Maria Goretti, Vocations Directress for the Carmelites of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles, join Jessica to talk about comparison. Sr. Maria Goretti and Jess discuss:

• The effects comparing yourself to others has on your relationship with Jesus
• How to stop comparing yourself to others
• The importance of having a sense of humor

Sr. Maria Goretti has been a member of the Carmelites of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles since 2010. She became the community's Vocations Directress is 2019. You can learn more about her community here.

Have you ever seen a beautiful icon and wondered what the images in it symbolize?

In this episode, Sr. Jeana Visel, OSB, joins Jessica to dive into icons. Sr. Jeana and Jessica discuss:

• How an icon is different than a normal religious painting
• The process of creating an icon
• The meaning of different colors and symbols

Sr. Jeana Visel OSB is a Benedictine sister at Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, IN.  At Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, she serves as Dean of School of Theology Programs and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Spirituality. She has an MA in Monastic Studies from St. John’s School of Theology-Seminary and a DMin in spirituality from Catholic University of America. She is the author of Icons in the Western Church: Toward a More Sacramental Encounter (Liturgical Press, 2016).

You can purchase Sr. Jeana's book here.