Practicing Catholic Show

We know here on Practicing Catholic that receiving a Catholic education is truly a gift.

The beauty of being able to pray in a classroom, the friendships and morals that are shaped around truth and love, and of course the catechesis that goes on in the classroom is certainly invaluable. But not everyone is able to easily afford to send their children to private schools, which is where our friends at the Aim Higher Foundation come in.

Joining us to share more about scholarship opportunities and the impact of financial aid was Laura Hester, Director of Scholarship Programs for the Aim Higher Foundation.

https://aimhigherfoundation.org/

Do you listen to podcasts? (We sure hope so if you’re following us here!) How about audio books? If so, you’ll want to hear all about a new way to receive and interact with Archbishop Hebda’s Pastoral Letter! Deacon Michalak and Fr. Bambanek joined us this past weekend to share more. 

Listen to the Archbishop's narration of his Pastoral Letter, You Will Be My Witnesses: Gathered and Sent from the Upper Room.

Although there are many temptations to leave our faith at home when we go off to work, we all know that’s not what the Lord desires. Roger Vasko from St. Joseph Business Guild joined us to share some helpful ways to live out the faith at work, and how you can find local Catholic businesses in our Archdiocese.  

Mary Ann Kuharski from ProLife Across America joined us with suggestions for continuing the fight for life in a post-Roe v. Wade world. We are needed now more than ever!

Donate to ProLife Across America here: https://prolifeacrossamerica.org/

What do you think of when you hear the word, “missionary?” Someone who gives up a comfortable living in the US to go and serve somewhere like the Amazon region of Peru? Well, fact is, we’re all missionaries... but first up on the show this weekend, we featured a family that’s serving the Lord in precisely that former way: in the Amazon region of Peru.

Support the Erisman Family's mission work: https://www.familymissionscompany.com/project/rterisman/ 

Have you ever considered going on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land? Maybe you’ve already been and walked in the places our Lord has walked, seen some of the sights that he might have seen, and experienced the culture of the Middle East. 

There are certainly many spiritual fruits to be gleaned from an encounter such as this, and here today to share about how you can experience it for yourself this year is Bob Swift, Director of Evangelization and Faith Formation for the Church of Saint Michael, and Co-founder of the new, local St. Gabriel Holy Lands Pilgrimages.

As we near the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we certainly celebrate the victory of it being overturned but we also recognize there’s still work to be done for a total support life throughout our country. Our own Archdiocese has a special fund dedicated to serving mothers and families facing crisis pregnancies, and it may just be a good way for you to get involved in the fight for life.  

Joining us to share more is Sonya Flomo, the Life Fund Grants Administrator serving in the Office of Marriage, Family, and Life. 

Support the Life Fund: https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=bhmGDn

2023 is a big year here in the Archdiocese. Besides ongoing opportunities to engage in Archbishop Hebda’s Pastoral Letter, there’s a big event coming to town and we’re all invited. In fact, we’re encouraged to attend. 

This weekend we spoke with one of the organizers of the Tekakwitha Conference – where we can truly encounter, pray with and learn about our Native American Catholic sisters and brothers.

Here on Practicing Catholic, we love sharing about opportunities for spiritual growth, especially for the young adults of our Archdiocese.  

Nancy Schulte, Totus Tuus Coordinator and Family and Laity Outreach Coordinator for the Archdiocesan Office of Marriage, Family and Life is with us today to share about how your college-aged kids will be able to serve as leaders this summer with the Totus Tuus program! 

We’re also joined by Martin Gawarecki, a senior at the St. John Vianney college seminary, to hear about his personal experience serving in this way.

At a time when the culture is waging a war on femininity and masculinity, it’s more important than ever to further educate ourselves on the distinct gifts that both men and women bring to the table within our Church. 

Joining us this past weekend to share about the particular gifts and attributes of lay men was Fr. Tom Wilson, pastor of All Saints and Lakeville.