Talking Catholic

This week we chat with youth and leaders involved with the week-long Summer in the City experience: Greg Coogan, Diocesan Director of youth ministry; Alicia Foreman, a member of Stockton University’s Catholic Campus Ministry; Mary Gardner, student at Camden Catholic High School; Juliana Campasso, a parishioner of Saint Joseph, Somers Point; Richard Price, of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Galloway Township; and Anthony Solari, student at Holy Spirit High School.

In the Kairos Retreat Center at Holy Spirit High School, where they are staying for the week, the guests share with hosts Mike and Pete their impactful days of the spiritual and social justice-minded immersion, which have included sleeping outside to simulate homelessness, spending time with children and elderly, and praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament in adoration.

Listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, SoundCloud or at http://www.camdendiocese.org/talkingcatholic.

This week, Mike and Pete pack their bug spray and canteens for a trip to the Roosevelt Scout Reservation in Elmer, to speak with leaders and youth of Catholic Scouting in South Jersey. 

The fun conversation featured insights from the panel on the duties of a scout, how scouting makes one self-reliant, and finding God in nature.

Joining the hosts are Father Paul Harte, Chaplain of the Catholic Scouting Committee; Joe Brennan, the Chair of the Scouting Committee; Tom Beatty, Vice-Chair of the Scouting Committee; Greg Coogan, Director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Camden; Rusty Brady, Mass Coordinator for the Scouting Committee; and Jenny and Sam Ferrara, a scout leader and scout from Bridgeton’s Troop 1098. 

To learn about the Scouting Youth Ministry in South Jersey go to:

http://www.snjcatholicscouting.org

https://www.camdendiocese.org/youth-ministries/scouting/

“Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13 

These were the opening words of the papal decree announcing the beatification of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, a fitting statement for a 20th century martyr of the church.  On his feast day, Laurie and Pete unpack the life of this friar, evangelist and soldier for Christ who made the ultimate sacrifice for his fellow man, during the Holocaust.

Mike and Pete continue their Summer Down the Shore series this week, (after an upcoming events rundown with our award-winning Talking Saints co-host Laurie Power). The duo venture out to Ocean City, and chat again with Katie Waldow, Director of Youth Ministry at Saint Damien Parish.  The delightful guest shares the fun of Vacation Bible School, the formation of her parish’s nascent young adult ministry, and life in a shore town.

Listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, SoundCloud or at http://www.camdendiocese.org/talkingcatholic

Learn more about St. Damian Parish at: https://stdamienparish.com/

Mike and Pete continue their summer at the shore, as they travel to Atlantic City and the Parish of Saint Monica to speak with organizers of the upcoming Wedding of the Sea Mass and festival. Joyce Ruffolo, festival coordinator; Jim Persenda, liturgy coordinator; and Becky Woods, marketing specialist, share the exciting details for the August 15 celebration, held on the Feast of the Assumption.

The Wedding of the Sea’s origins, and its history in Atlantic City, are discussed, and while Mike hopes for the perfect photo opportunity at the festival, Pete is curious about just what the Johnny Toss is.

For more information on the Wedding of the Sea, visit http://weddingofthesea.org/

Mike and Pete go down the shore this week, as they travel to Ocean City to soak up the sun, eat boardwalk pizza and fries, and have a nice chat with Cecilia Gallelli-Keyes, co-owner/front office manager of the Tahiti Inn. Just 50 yards from the beach and boardwalk, we chat about the family-owned and operated getaway, Cecilia regales us with stories of growing up in South Philly, her strong family bonds, and the inspiring and faithful path led by her father, who first purchased the Inn to ensure his family would always be self-sufficient.

For more information on the Tahiti Inn and the Gallelli family, visit www.tahitiinn.com or call 609-399-0130.

In his five-plus years as a left winger for the NHL’s Calgary Flames, Johnny Gaudreau, a product of Gloucester Catholic High School, has established himself as one of the league’s stars.

This week, Mike, Pete, and guest co-host John Kalitz (digital media manager for the Diocese of Camden & NHL expert), and Gloucester Catholic’s Cara Buckland sit down with “Johnny Hockey” at Dunlop’s Bar and Grill inside HollyDell Ice Arena in Sewell.

It’s a fun conversation where Gaudreau talks about coming back home to his South Jersey roots, his career so far, and his upcoming scholarship golf tournament on July 26 in Pittsgrove, which benefits Gloucester Catholic students.  

For more info on the 4th annual Johnny Gaudreau scholarship golf tournament, visit www.johnnyhockeygolf.com.

Fundraising professionals, like the Diocese of Camden’s Associate Director of Development Katie Comerford, are a rare breed. It takes a special kind of person to make a career out of serving the Church by helping people to understand the importance of their donations, whether weekly collections, annual giving opportunities and/or long-term giving plans.

Mike and Pete sit down with Katie to discuss her experiences helping Catholic communities across the country raise money, her return to her home state after years of traveling for work, and her excitement for the upcoming House of Charity campaign. And as a bonus, for the last 15 minutes, the show becomes all about Marvel movies, as Katie talks about binge-watching and her top five MCU films (warning, Avengers: Endgame spoliers).

Who is Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati? Faithful son and brother, amiable friend, avid mountaineer, social activist, and devotee of the Blessed Sacrament. Saint John Paul II called him “The Man of Eight Beatitudes.” He has been a patron of World Youth Day.

Our hosts Laurie and Pete unpack the short but powerful life of this 20th century man of Turin, Italy, and discuss how even 94 years since his passing, Frassati’s Catholic witness still inspires the young church “Verso L’alto”- To the Heights! Blessed Pier Giorgio, pray for us!

Ever wonder how Talking Saints co-host Laurie Power and the Diocese of Camden's Director of Discipleship & Leadership Donna Ottaviano-Britt stay so well versed in Catholic theology? Well they school Mike and Pete on this week’s podcast.

Donna dropped in about 13 minutes after we’d already started recording, but sheesh, what luck!

It’s possible there may have been one or two digressions, such as the Theology of Pasta and our first ever chat about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Mike and Donna sat that one out with bewildered looks on their faces.)

All-in-all, a PERFECT Independence Day weekend Catholic podcast. Have a great 4th of July. God Bless America!