Jesuitical

It’s no secret that the priesthood in the United States is aging, quickly. But what if part of the solution to the priest shortage is actually ordaining more older priests? Deacon Steve Kramer thinks the church should get serious about late-in-life vocations—recruiting men in the 40s, 50s or even 60s who have had another career, who maybe have been married and lost their spouse, for the priesthood. On the other hand, he thinks we should be encouraging men in their 30s and 40s to consider becoming a deacon—a vocation usually associated with more “mature” gentlemen.

During National Vocation Awareness week, we ask Deacon Steve about the growing role of deacons in the U.S. church, his experience joining the diaconate in his 30s (and with four young kids!) and what questions someone discerning a call to the priesthood or diaconate should ask themselves.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley talk with Colleen Dulle, the host of America Media’s “Inside the Vatican” podcast, about French Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, the former head of the French bishops’ conference who admitted to abusing a 14-year-old girl 35 years ago. They ask: Have reforms aimed at combatting clerical sexual abuse really brought accountability to the highest levels of the church?

Links from the show:

French cardinal admits to abusing teen girl 35 years ago

Report: 330,000 child victims of sex abuse in France’s Catholic Church

Pope Francis issues new rules for accountability and response to allegations of sexual abuse

Pennsylvania report documents over 1,000 victims of priest abuse

Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick laicized by Pope Francis

Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology

People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States

What’s on tap?

Barolo 

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In many parishes across the United States, churches are closing, there’s a shortage of priests and many younger Catholics are leaving the faith. That has forced some dioceses to "cluster" parishes, a process that asks communities to tighten budgets, share resources and, in many cases, share priests. One such parish cluster sits in the small city of Antigo, Wis., where the local pastor, the Rev. Joel Sember, is about to incorporate a fourth church into his three-parish cluster.

Today, Ashley and Zac welcome Jim McDermott, S.J., and Sebastian Gomes to discuss Part Two of America Media’s new, groundbreaking documentary, “People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States.” Is parish clustering a longterm solution or a bandaid fix to a much deeper crisis in the U.S. church?

Watch “People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States”

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What does it mean to be a mystic in the modern age? Many of us think of mysticism as something for spiritual masters who lock themselves away from the world in monasteries and convents and dedicate their lives to constant prayer. But we are all called to a close and yes mystical relationship with God and to lead lives of contemplation. And today's guest, Kelly Deutsch, wants to help people do just that.

After entering a convent, Kelly came down with an illness that left her bedridden for 18 months—and spurred great spiritual desolation and growth. She went on to found Wanderlust, a center for contemplative formation, which provides podcasts, courses and other spiritual resources to those hunger for a closer union with the divine.

And in Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss a new report on clergy burnout and the at-times deceptive ways Catholic political groups try to sway voters.

Links from the show

New study of priests shows a distrust of bishops, fears of false sex abuse allegations and widespread burnout

‘The Catholic Church is always politically nonpartisan’: Arizona bishops warn voters of groups claiming to represent the church

Spiritual Wanderlust

People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States

What’s on tap?

Seltzer Water with Lime

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Catholic parishes are growing quickly in the Southwest, and that’s raising important questions for the U.S. church: How are Anglo and Latino communities integrating on the ground? Why aren’t Latinos adequately represented in parish, diocesan and national church structures? Ashley and Zac welcome Jim McDermott, S.J., and Sebastian Gomes to discuss Part One of America Media’s new, groundbreaking documentary, “People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States.” The film begins in the suburbs of Phoenix, Ariz., where one parish built a second church to accommodate the new families joining the parish on an almost daily basis.

Watch "People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States"

Stay tuned to the Jesuitical feed for more bonus episodes on the film!

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To get in the sPoOkY spirit, this week’s episode of Jesuitical is getting a little macabre. Zac and Ashley are joined by Candida Moss, a columnist for the Daily Beast and the Edward Cadbury Professor of Theology at University of Birmingham. We talk to Professor Moss about how the church and the culture’s understanding of hell has changed over the centuries, what some sure signs of demonic possession are, and why the church teaches what it does about cremation and burial practices. 

After the conversation with Candida Moss, stick around for a special new episode of “Voting Catholic,” which is out with a brand new season ahead of the midterm elections.

Links from the show: 

The church forbids ‘human composting’ at death. But what about ‘green’ burials?

When Did Satan Go From Inmate to Warden?

Why Did the Catholic Church Ban the Spreading of Ashes?

Listen to the Voting Catholic podcast from America

What’s on tap?

Moscow Mule

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Podcast episodes and YouTube videos featuring Father Michael Schmitz rack up thousands, even millions, of views. His latest project, “The Bible in a Year,” has even made it to the top of the Apple Podcast charts since it debuted in 2021. But for students at the University of Minnesota Duluth, Father Mike isn’t just another celebrity priest. He’s their chaplain.

This week, we talk to Father Mike about the big questions Catholics (and non-Catholics) on campus are asking today, the challenges and opportunities of ministering at a big state school and how he balances life in the public eye and being present to his students.

And in Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley chat with Colleen Dulle about Inside the Vatican’s latest deep dive into the synod on synodality. The global church has just finished up the listening phase of the synod and reports from at least 112 of the 114 bishops’ conferences around the world are in. What have we learned so far from this yearlong consultation? And what comes next?

Topics:

04:10 - Colleen Dulle of "Inside the Vatican" breaks down the Synod on Synodality at the end of phase one

14:55 - A day in the life of Fr. Mike Schmitz

20:55 - The joys and challenges of doing campus ministry on a secular university campus

32:53 - How 'The Bible in a Year' project changed Fr. Mike's engagement with Scripture

42:07 - How Fr. Mike balances being a celebrity priest and a chaplain to his students

Links from the show:

Podcast: Synod reports from all over the world are in. What happens next?

The Bible in a Year podcast

Watch America’s new documentary, People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States

What’s on tap?

An IPA that was not made in Father Mike’s brother’s brewery

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Most Catholics these days don’t think there is a conflict between the theory of evolution and their faith. But it’s harder to wrap our heads around the idea that we’re still evolving—and that God might be, too. This week, we talk with Sister Ilia Delio, a theologian who thinks we can’t separate the evolving nature of our universe and consciousness from our faith. We ask Sister Delio what it’s like to work at the cutting edge of theology, where rapidly changing technology and artificial intelligence might be taking us as a species, and what that means for the church.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss the still-open questions about the legacy and implementation of the Second Vatican Council, which opened 60 years ago this week. Did the council fail? What would success look like, and what would the church look like today if Vatican II hadn’t happened?

Links from the show:

Did Vatican II fail? Are we allowed to ask the question?

Pope Francis marks 60th anniversary of Vatican II by warning against worldly ‘progressivism’ and backward-looking ‘traditionalism’

The Emergent Christ, Ilia Delio

People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States

What’s on tap?

Pinot Noir 

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This week, Ashley and Zac are joined by Father Thomas Joseph White, O.P., of the all-Dominican bluegrass group, The Hillbilly Thomists. They discuss what the Order of Preachers could teach the wider church about preaching, liturgically appropriate music as well as The Hillbilly Thomists new album, Holy Ghost Power. 

During Signs of the Times, America’s national correspondent, Michael O’Loughlin, discusses a shakeup at the Newman Center at The Ohio State University. 

Links from the Show: 

Holy Ghost Power (Spotify)

Who owns the Newman Center? Shake-up at Ohio State highlights the tension between students and older parishioners

Pope Francis: The devil knows the passwords to our heart. We must know them too.

What’s on tap? 

High Screamer: 2 oz. bourbon, 1 oz. Cointreau, 0.5 oz simple syrup, 1/2 of a lime, juiced. Best served on ice.

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Zac and Ashley are unpacking from their recent pilgrimage to Italy. So, they're bringing back an interview from 2021 with the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Arturo Sosa, S.J. Behind the mic, Ashley is joined by Colleen Dulle, host of America Media's "Inside the Vatican" podcast to discuss with Fr. Sosa his relationship with Pope Francis (another Jesuit!) and how he interprets the pope's reforming agenda. They also discuss how the Jesuits are increasing their collaboration with women around the world.

Links:

Read the transcript of this interview here

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Does it seem like the economic deck is stacked against young people today? Inflation, debt, the cost of living and an overvalued housing market can be soul-crushing to younger generations trying to get on their feet and start their lives. The feelings of helplessness and isolation are not lost on Pope Francis, who is calling young Catholics working to transform economic systems to Assisi, Italy, this week. It’s the first ever in-person meeting of The Economy of Francesco!

Elizabeth Garlow, an American economist and new mom, will be there, and she joins Zac and Ashley on the podcast to discuss why the current system is failing young people. She’s convinced that it is not enough to tweak the current system; a bold reimagining is necessary. And with the help of Pope Francis, these young Catholics are moving to the frontlines of the movement.

Links from the show: 

Wondrium

The Economy of Francesco

Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future, by Pope Francis and Austen Ivereigh

Anna Rowlands on Catholic Social Teaching

Humanizing the Economy: Co-operatives in the Age of Capital, by John Restakis

Francesco Collaborative

What’s on tap?

Oberon Ale from Bell’s Brewery

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