Talking Catholic

Just days before the start of Holy Week, Father Robert Sinatra joined Pete and Mike for an engaging, insightful, and sometimes humorous hour. The pastor of Vineland's Saint Padre Pio Parish eloquently shared the meaning of this penitential season, the Triduum and Chrism Mass, the power of Jesus' death and resurrection, and how the Catholic Church around the world prepares for Easter. We also discuss with Fr. Rob his recent heart surgery, his experience with a relic of St. Padre Pio, and his appreciation for the Marvel and DC universes.

This week, Father Michael Romano, Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Camden, and seminarian Stephen Robbins stop by the show to talk with Mike and Pete about seminarian life, the upcoming iRace4Vocations, and how young people can discern God's call for their lives. [Recorded on March 9, 2017. Please excuse the minor sound issues on Mike's mic.]

For today's episode, Mike and Pete sit down with Rod Herrera, director of the Camden Diocese's Office of Child and Youth Protection. They discuss Rod's time discerning the Jesuits, his background as a social worker, and the importance of the USCCB's Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. They also focus on the upcoming National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, and the importance for organizations, communities and families to play an ever-present role in preventing child abuse and neglect & promoting child and family well-being. [Producers note: the sound is a little uneven on this one. Our apologies.]

Michael Jordan Laskey, Director of Life and Justice for the Diocese of Camden, is this week's guest on Talking Catholic. He shares with Pete and Mike his ministry's call to protect life at all stages; the upcoming diocesan-wide FaithFull Food Drive; and his baseball picks for the upcoming season.

This week the absolutely delightful Marianela Nunez, Latino enrollment field consultant for South Jersey Catholic Schools, joins Pete and Mike to discuss growing up in the Dominican Republic, the differences between being a Catholic in the U.S. vs. Latin America – especially as it relates to schools, and why all Catholics should be taking part in V Encuentro activities.

Fr. Chris Mann, parochial vicar at Infant Jesus Parish in Woodbury Heights, NJ, steps into the studio with Pete and Mike to discuss his South Philly roots, becoming a U.S. Marine, then a Franciscan Friar where he traveled the world as a missionary, and now a diocesan priest. [Producer note: we had some sound issues with this recording. After our regular mixer took a tumble right before taping, we needed to use an emergency mixer, which Fr. Chris JUST HAPPENED to have in the trunk of his car. Quite literately a miracle. However, we didn't compensate enough for this change in technology, which led to some background noise. We did our best to clean up the sound, but please forgive us if this is not up to your podcast standards. We're new here.]

Sheila McGirl, Associate Director of Development for the Diocese of Camden, speaks with Pete Sanchez and Mike Walsh about the current House of Charity-Bishop's Annual Appeal, growing up Irish-Catholic in Brooklyn, and her family's "Divine Storm."

Greg Coogan, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Camden, joins co-hosts Pete Sanchez and Mike Walsh to discuss how the Catholic Church is reaching out to the next generation of Catholics and Catholic leaders.