Talking Catholic

This week, Mike and Pete sit down with our friends from Catholic Charities - Kevin Hickey, Mary McCusker and Patrick Barry - to discuss the Share he Journey Initiative and the upcoming Justice for All dinner.

Mary and Patrick have both made pilgrimages to the Texas/Mexico border to see first hand the immigration concerns in that area of the county. They learned a great deal about it from Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grand Valley, who has been leading the efforts to care for immigrants as they leave federal custody. Sister Norma will also be honored at the upcoming Justice for All Dinner.

To learn more about the Share The Journey campaign, go to:

https://catholiccharitiescamden.org/stj/

To get tickets to the Justice For All Dinner on October 4th, go to:

https://catholiccharitiescamden.org/jfa2018/

Writer. Orator. Bishop. Doctor of the Church. Augustine of Hippo was all of these, but his greatest title is that of Saint. On his feast day, Laurie and Pete discuss the life of this influential 4th Century man, the son of Saint Monica, whose initial worldly ways found God’s love and grace. “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels,” he once wrote, recalling his conversion.

“Beloved Saint Augustine, you were at first wholly human-centered and attached to false teachings. Finally converted through God’s grace, you became God-centered, God-loving and God-preaching. We pray that our Lord will renew in us the spirit that inspired you. Filled by this same spirit, may we thirst after the Lord as the true source of wisdom. Amen.”

While it may be a low bar, Mike is convinced this is the best podcast we’ve ever recorded. And naturally, it’s all due to our guests, Sr. Agnes, Sr. Ann Kateri, Sr. Joseph and Sr. Chiara - collectively known as the CFRs - AKA - the women religious from the Community of Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal. It’s their second time on the podcast and they are as wonderful as ever. We chat about their first year in the community's newest convent, in Atlantic City, as well as their many initiatives - including Benedict House, the many young women who will be coming to discern the religious life with them, their seasonal evening reflections, and their street evangelization. The sisters have been a great example of living Christ’s message on Earth and in just a year have truly touched the hearts and souls of many around the diocese.

To learn more about the CFRs, go to:

http://franciscansisterscfr.com/

To attend their upcoming events, check out:

Light the Fire:

http://www.camdendiocese.org/?event=light-the-fire-night-of-prayer-praise-evangelization&event_date=2018-09-07

Women’s Silent Retreat Weekend:

http://www.camdendiocese.org/?event=catholic-womens-retreat-hosted-by-franciscan-sisters-of-the-renewal&event_date=2018-08-31

On the latest show, Mike and Pete spend a Summer evening in Atlantic City with youth who are living the Gospel call to serve others throughout the shore area. The hosts and the young church have a spirited discussion of their week in the urban beach town, faith, and the dangers of recording a podcast just before dinner (#hangry). Guests included Greg Coogan, Director of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry; Ben Gerardi, a Gloucester Catholic student from Mullica Hill; Siblings Grace and Chris McGlinchey, from Saint Simon Stock, Berlin; Chip Wimberg, from Northfield, and incoming freshman at the Catholic University of America; Dominique Visco, a Paul VI High school student from Somerdale; Cherry Hill's An Nguyen, from Most Precious Blood Parish in West Collingswood; Adam Stetser, from Gibbstown and Gloucester Catholic High School; Nneoma Ngeng from Paul VI High School and the Parish Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Lindenwold; and Our Lady of Peace Parish, Williamstown's Jared Cruz.

To learn more about the Summer in the City program go to: http://www.camdendiocese.org/youth-ministries/summer-in-the-city/.

Sister Dorothy Aloisio, Franciscan Missionary Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, has been a joyful presence in the lives of South Jersey’s Catholics for more than 50 years, whether serving in schools or in parishes throughout the Diocese of Camden. The current Pastoral Associate of Our Lady of Hope, Blackwood is this week’s guest on Talking Catholic. In a delightful discussion with hosts Mike and Pete, the good sister shares the history of her order; her work in school classrooms; and how best for young men and women to discern their vocation.

This week we’re chatting with Deacon Anthony Cioe about Man Up South Jersey, the men’s spirituality conference, with a special focus on missionary discipleship.

After 10 years in the City of Philadelphia, on Nov. 10, 2018, the conference will come to South Jersey for the first time. Deacon Anthony is shepherding this event that inspires attendees to become better husbands, better fathers, better sons, better community members… better men.

Man Up South Jersey will feature: powerful speakers, breakout sessions, confession, adoration, lunch, and Mass with Bishop Dennis Sullivan.

Speakers include Man Up founder Eustace Mita, Flyers alumnus Don Saleski, Irish singer Mark Forest, authors Brian Gail and Deacon Arnaldo Santos, and James Andrews, president of the National Association of Black Catholic Administrators

To learn more about this event, go to: http://manupsouthjersey.com/

You can read more about Man Up South Jersey here:

http://www.camdendiocese.org/the-manup-south-jersey-mens-conference-be-the-missionary-disciple-that-god-intended/

Pete and Mike take a tour of the shore this week, heading to Cape May to speak with a pair of art teachers in diocesan Catholic schools: Grace Hoffner from Saint Mary Regional School in East Vineland, and Dave Sipple from Gloucester Catholic High School. From the site of the current "Art on the Mall" exhibition showcasing student artists from around the diocese, Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, the four have an enlightening conversation about their work, inspirations, and coloring outside the lines.

Art on the Mall runs through August 16th and is open to the public.

Fr. Joseph Capella, one of South Jersey's truly kind, inspiring, and faith-filled individuals, and now the newly-named Rector of Cherry Hill’s Camden Catholic High School, joins Mike and Pete in the Vault this week. This fantastic hour includes Fr. Capella discussing his Hammonton roots; his role as an educator in South Jersey’s schools for the past 20+ years; and finding God’s grace and strength in every moment.

"Who will teach me what is most pleasing to God, that I may do it?" This was the desire of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, who is remembered by Laurie and Pete today, on her feast day. The 'Lily of the Mohawks" was born to a Mohawk father and a Christian Algonquin mother in Ossernon (upstate New York), and was baptized at the age of 20. Working at the Saint Francis Mission near Montreal, she was a model of deep prayer life and purity. She died at the age of 24 in 1680, and was canonized in 2012.

Father Adam Cichoski, Parochial Vicar of Lindenwold’s Parish Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, steps into the vault this week with Mike and Pete. Fresh off his recent trip to Lourdes and the Camino, Father Adam shares his transformative experience in France and Spain, his first year as a diocesan priest, and learning Spanish in Texas.

To learn more about Fr. Adam's trip with our seminarians, read the following Catholic Star Herald travelogues:

June 7: http://catholicstarherald.org/seminarians-on-pilgrimage-in-lourdes/

June 14: http://catholicstarherald.org/seminarians-reflect-while-on-pilgrimage/

June 21: http://catholicstarherald.org/reflections-of-seminarians-on-pilgrimage/