Why I started this podcast and understanding my spiritual journey.

Nora is a very dedicated Catholic. She leads Bible study, is a eucharistic minister, and is a lector. Even with her dedication, she is not accepted in every Catholic community. Regardless of this, she does not waver.

Fr. Bradley constantly calls himself a "Child of God". He is the chaplain at Sheil Catholic Center at Northwestern University. He is very excited about God and being a priest. But why?

Dave just graduated with his PhD in Theology from Fordham University. You do not get any more Catholic than that; unless you are someone in religious life. But with this, Dave has battled with holiness and the Catholic church. But even with this, he continues to dedicate his life to it.

Dave references the following;

Consuming Religion by Kathryn Lofton

https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/C/bo26691939.html

Sold anywhere books are sold

The Ignatian Examen

https://www.jesuits.org/spirituality/the-ignatian-examen/

Abigail has always seen her faith as an inclusive one, she does wonder if it is inclusive based on the lack of women preachers in the Catholic church. Why does she stay?

In this episode - Abigail talks about a book

You Are the Beloved: 365 Daily Readings and Meditations for Spiritual Living: A Devotional

https://henrinouwen.org/read/you-are-the-beloved-daily-meditations-for-spiritual-living/

You can get it anywhere books are sold.

Fr. Evan Cummings is a Paulist priest. The mission of the Paulist priests is as stated: "The Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle (“The Paulist Fathers”) is a community of Catholic priests that seeks to introduce the Good News of Jesus Christ to all people, especially those beyond the Church walls, and to accompany Catholics who feel apart from the Church".

I ask Fr. Evan about his journey to the priesthood and why the Paulist Fathers.

To learn more about the Paulist Fathers, here is a link:

https://paulist.org/

Tracey has experienced many life transitions. Moving to a new city, a new job, understanding her 30s. She is figuring out a lot in life, but one common theme is that she leans on God through all of her life decisions.

In this episode, Tracey mentions Pope Francis's Dilexit nos (2024)

Here is the link:

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/20241024-enciclica-dilexit-nos.html

When we experience of loss, we constantly wonder why God would let such loss happen to us. During his experince of grief, Dany asked this question frequently, and he still ponders the question. Why is he consistent even with the questionings that comes with loss?

In this episode, I speak to Gospel about giving up everything for God. We discuss his conversion to Catholicism and why he is taking that route in his spiritual journey.

Rather than asking, "Why are they leaving?" I choose to ask, "Why stay?".