Episode 93 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh.

Thanks for listening to Messy Jesus Business! We're taking our summer break after this episode. Look for new interviews in your podcast feed starting in late September 2025.

In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with Mary Kay McDermott about following the lead of the Spirit, Catholic Worker, intentional community, works of mercy, co-creation, singing into the liminal, the healing power of community song and dance, and more.

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"My great joy is to lead dances where five-year-olds and seventy-five-year-olds are all dancing together with big smiles on their faces, and looking each other in the eye and breathing together and feeling some synchronicity in their movements."

-Mary Kay McDermott

Mary Kay McDermott

Find Mary Kay McDermott's Substack here.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Mary Kay has been a part of the Catholic Worker movement for the last 25 years. She has co-founded several CW intentional communities including the one where she and her family currently live, St. Isidore Catholic Worker Farm in SW WI. Over the past 10 years she has become passionate about and cultivated the skills for building community through dance, song, and movement that is accessible and inclusive for all. As an American folk dance leader/caller she enjoys leading contra, circle, and square dances that unite people of all ages and abilities. She leads a community singing group that sings joyful, diverse, easy-to-memorize songs in a no practice, no performance experience that boosts energy and enlivens spirits. In addition, Mary Kay teaches mindful movement yoga classes that blend breath and movement, and encourage relaxation and inner peace. In all of her modalities, Mary Kay’s overarching goal is to cultivate experiences where people feel a deeper connection to body, mind, spirit, and community.

MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. 

Produced and edited by Colin Wambsgans.

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Episode 92 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh.

In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with Sr. Dr. Chero Chuma about privilege, racism, surrender, discomfort, mental health and homelessness, human dignity, radical hospitality, burnout, therapy, and messiness.

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"We are called to go beyond what we know or what we think our capacity is, knowing that within us...God who then created us will provide what we need."

-Sr. Dr. Chero Chuma

Sr. Dr. Chero Chuma

Find Sr. Dr. Chero Chuma's congregation at csjp.org.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Sister Chero Chuma, CSJP, DNP, is a Sister of Saint Joseph of Peace and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Sr. Chero is the Director for Vocations in the USA and has been involved in the healthcare field for over 22 years. She continues to serve as a per diem psychiatric provider at Seattle’s Crisis Solutions Center where she diagnoses and treats people with mental illness. Sr. Chero is a University of Washington graduate with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and a WWAMI AHEC Scholar. She is also a Seattle University graduate with a dual bachelor’s degree in nursing and theology and religious studies. She uses her education and experiences to educate many on matters of faith and mental health.

MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. 

Produced and edited by Colin Wambsgans.

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Episode 91 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh.

In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with Michael Poffenberger about activism, contemplation, interiority, right relationships and the true self, vulnerability and control, transformation, wholeness, and much more.

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"Transformation happens not because of our force of will to change ourselves. It happens because of our capacity to witness ourselves with honesty in prayer and then be healed by God."

-Michael Poffenberger

Michael Poffenberger

ABOUT THE GUEST

Michael Poffenberger holds the tension of the and. As the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC)’s executive director since 2014, Michael sees CAC as uniquely positioned to support inner work for those seeking to build a more just and humane world. A graduate of Notre Dame, Michael served previously as the executive director of Resolve, where he worked alongside religious and civil society leaders to build peace and aid war-affected communities in Central and East Africa, and co-founded the Crisis Tracker. He believes that transforming consciousness can solve many of today’s challenges, and seeking that truth in his own life led him to the work of CAC. Michael lives this mission beyond CAC as the board chair for Invisible Children, in supporting movements for peace and collective liberation, and as a dad to his daughter Madeleine. In his contemplative practice, he asks himself, “What can the world look like when love is awakened?” That’s the vision he holds for all touched by CAC— that love is both who we are and where we are going.

MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. 

Produced and edited by Colin Wambsgans.

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Episode 90 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh.

(We had some issues with Elena's microphone during recording, our apologies! -Colin)

In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with Elena Segura about Evangelicalism, conversion, social justice, the radicalness of Mass, immigration reform, silence, and more.

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A transcript of the show is available.

"Evangelization is just being who you are."

-Elena Segura

Learn more about Elena Segura's work here, and join her in saying a rosary every Wednesday during Lent for immigration reform.

Elena Segura

ABOUT THE GUEST

Elena Segura leads a national initiative of the Archdiocese of Chicago to develop and implement Pastoral Migratoria, which she founded in 2008 as an immigrant-led ministry for service, justice, and accompaniment in parish communities. Pastoral Migratoria is based in the methodology of Aparecida, whose main architect was (now) Pope Francis. Chicago area participants include 200 Hispanic lay leaders across 40 Hispanic parishes. The Dioceses of Stockton (CA) and Kansas City–Saint Joseph (MO) launched their pilot programs last year. Ten dioceses interested in starting this ministry took part in the inaugural Instituto Pastoral Migratoria in Chicago in July 2018. The goal is to create a national network. Since the 2005 inception of the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform, Elena directed the archdiocese’s local Immigration Ministry, facilitating formation of pioneering networks of 200 priests, 54 religious orders, and immigration liaisons in 124 native-born congregations. Elena began her career organizing grassroots responses to problems facing her community in rural Peru.

MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. 

Produced and edited by Colin Wambsgans.

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A Special Episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh.

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After chatting with Lisa Hendey at RE Congress, Sister Julia had impromptu short interviews with some Congress attendees who passed by the FSPA booth. We heard a few of these voices last week, and this mini special episode has six more.

Sister Julia and Doctor Peter Jones

You'll hear from Robert Ellsberg, Andrea (from Ontario, California), Dr. Peter Jones, Janice England, Father Tony Ricard, and Sister Rose Elsbernd, FSPA.

Check out our archive of podcasts here!

MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. 

Produced and edited by Colin Wambsgans.

Email us at [email protected]

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Episode 89 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh.

This special episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast was recorded live at RE Congress 2025. In this episode, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with Lisa M. Hendey about CatholicMom.com, blogging and podcasting, unconditional love, the importance of questions, the Chime Travelers, belonging and hospitality, and more.

We also hear mini interviews with Mariana Lacouture, Anthony Deosdade, and Emilia Sury. Look for an episode featuring more mini interviews from RE Congress in the coming weeks!

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A transcript of the show is available.

When we really, authentically say, 'Yes, God, I'm giving you my life,' fasten your seatbelts because you will not believe the places that you will be taken and what will happen."

-Lisa M. Hendey

Lisa M. Hendey

ABOUT THE GUEST

Lisa M. Hendey is the founder of CatholicMom.com and the bestselling author of I'm A Saint in the Making, among other books. She has journeyed around the globe to hear and share messages of hope and encouragement. Her Chime Travelers series for kids is read and studied worldwide in homes, schools, and churches. A frequent TV and radio guest, Lisa also hosts podcasts and speaks internationally on faith, family, evangelization and technology topics. She has traveled worldwide with non-profits to support their humanitarian missions. Lisa and Greg Hendey worship and live their story in Los Angeles, CA.

MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. 

Produced and edited by Colin Wambsgans.

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Episode 88 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh.

In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with Rev. Ricky Manalo, CSP, about faith and culture, vocation, liturgical music, what worship is, AI, what it means to be human, and polarization and unity.

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A transcript of the show is available.

 I define [worship] as any kind of response that we might have to something or someone holy....worship could take place anywhere. It could take place when I'm going for a walk in Manhattan or I'm in the subway and I notice someone who's in need of help."

-Rev. Ricky Manalo, CSP

Rev. Ricky Manalo, CSP

ABOUT THE GUEST

Rev. Ricky Manalo, CSP, Ph.D. is a Paulist priest, a composer, theologian, and author. He is the recipient of the 2020 Distinguished Catholic Music Composer of the Year Award by the Association of Catholic Publishers, and the 2018 Pastoral Musician of the Year Award by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. He studied composition and piano at the Manhattan School of Music, theology at the Washington Theological Union (WTU), and liturgy, culture, and sociology at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU), Berkeley, CA. Currently, he is serving as Chairperson of the Paulist Initiative on Polarization.

MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. 

Produced and edited by Colin Wambsgans.

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Episode 87 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh.

In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with Dr. Ann Garrido about having difficult conversations, discerning truth, and trust.

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A transcript of the show can be found here.

I think what is essential for bridging difference is that both persons have a deep, deep commitment to truth, to trying to pursue what's true. So if both people in the conversation, regardless of how different they are, are entering into the conversation trying to figure out what's true and willing to renegotiate what they hold at any particular point in time if they figure out what's more true, I think the conversation always has the potential of going places. 

-Dr. Ann Garrido

Dr. Ann Garrido

ABOUT THE GUEST

Ann Garrido is associate professor of homiletics at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri, where she previously directed the school’s Doctorate of Ministry in Preaching program. She is the author of multiple books, including the award-winning Redeeming Administration, Redeeming Conflict, and Let’s Talk About Truth. Her newest book is Redeeming Power. She travels nationally and internationally helping communities talk about the topics they find toughest to talk about—conversations that always involve questions of truth. She lives with her husband outside Atlanta, Georgia.

MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. 

Produced and edited by Colin Wambsgans.

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Episode 86 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh.

In the return of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with Fr. James Martin, SJ about his vocation, the raising of Lazarus, pilgrimages and Jesus' parables, and Fr. Martin's experience at the Synod.

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A transcript of the show can be found here.

Oftentimes people think [a call to vocation] really needs to be this kind of dramatic, you know, falling on your knees and having this light from heaven, you know, like Saul on the way to Damascus... But I think that the more common way that it happens is that it's an understanding a desire that is within you that that is a holy desire, to be coming from God.

-Fr. James Martin, SJ

Fr. James Martin, SJ

ABOUT THE GUEST

Father James Martin, SJ, is a Jesuit priest, editor at large of America, consulter to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication and author of many books, including the New York Times bestseller Jesus: A Pilgrimage and The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything. He is the founder of Outreach, a Catholic news and opinion site for LGBTQ Catholics. Father Martin's latest book, Come Forth will be released in paperback February 2025.

MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. 

Produced and edited by Colin Wambsgans.

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A Contemplation Episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh.

Join Sister Julia in a special edition of Messy Jesus Business podcast as she reflects on what the darkness can teach us in Advent.

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With this episode, we're beginning our winter break. We'll see you again in late January! From all of us here, thank you so much for listening. Have a blessed Advent, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

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MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. 

Produced, edited, and original music by Colin Wambsgans.

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