The Big Tree

In this episode, Fr. Christopher Begg, Ordinary Professor of Biblical Studies at The Catholic University of America, The Katharine Drexel Chair in Religious Studies, and legendary biblical scholar, talks about the heroes and the anti-heroes in the Bible. 

Hosts: Deacon Anthony Ferguson (Diocese of Richmond) and Peter Bui (Diocese of Worcester)

This week, The Big Tree crew comes with an early Christmas gift: an interview with hobo missionary Meg Hunter-Kilmer about how to evangelize. The holidays often present the particular challenge of witnessing to one's faith around family members. In this episode, Meg offers practical insights on how to evangelize authentically and on what pitfalls one should be careful to avoid.

We will all face death. How do we do it like Christians? Sr. Theresa Aletheia chats with the Big Tree crew about death and how Bl. James Alberione helped inspire the Memento Mori devotional and prayer journal!

Hosts: Liam Gallagher (Diocese of Portland, ME) and Ryan Braam (Archdiocese of Washington) 

In this episode, our Twitter Mother, Sr. Helena Burns FSP, joins the Big Tree crew in discussing the important topic of "Media Literacy," the practice of virtuously engaging the media in all its facets. God created man to be in relationship with his neighbor and our devices should promote that, not destroy it. 

Also on this episode is the debut of our two newest seminarian members, Patrick O'Brien and Nick Clinton.

Hosts: Deacon Anthony Ferguson (Diocese of Richmond), Patrick O'Brien (Diocese of Rockville Centre) and Nick Clinton (Diocese of Pittsburgh)

We all have our default responses to the issue of relativism, but what happens when that's not enough? Find out in this episode where we sit down with Dr. Michael Gorman, Ordinary Professor of the School of Philosophy at The Catholic University of America, in discussing how to strategically respond to clever relativists.

Hosts: Liam Gallagher (Diocese of Portland, ME) and Luke Kirk (Diocese of Lafayette, LA)

The Big Tree Crew talks with Dr. Eileen Dombo of the National Catholic School of Social Service at Catholic University about the effects of trauma and what Dr. Dombo wishes every priest or minister would know about it.

Hosts: Gabe Bouck (Diocese of Memphis) and Seth Seaman (Diocese of Richmond)

We often hear it said: "Lead with beauty" when sharing the Gospel ...but what IS beauty? Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. brings the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas to bear on this hugely important topic for our day.

Hosts: Deacon Anthony Ferguson (Diocese of Richmond) and Liam Gallagher (Diocese of Portland, ME)

How does the spirituality of St. Thérèse apply to online media evangelization? Find out in this Treehouse episode, featuring the debut of seminarians Ryan Braam and John De Guzman to The Big Tree line-up.

Hosts: Fr. Anthony Ferguson (Diocese of Richmond, Ordained in 2020), Ryan Braam (Archdiocese of Washington) & John De Guzman (Diocese of Raleigh)

Fr. Cassidy Stinson (Diocese of Richmond, Ordained 2019) from the Big Tree shared a tweet that went viral. So, the Vici Mundum Show and The Big Tree teamed up to #BreakTheChains. Here is Fr. Cassidy's tweet which summarizes this week's episode:

"Hey. We need to talk about something.

Pornography.

I knew this before I became a priest, but now it’s become all the more clear to me that this is an absolute scourge for so, so many of us, spiritually and psychologically.

And you know what? I’m tired of it.

I’m tired of seeing so many souls caught in shame and isolation and despair.

I’m tired of the wounds it inflicts on our culture, on relationships, on families.

I’m tired of the way it makes our media, which ought to be vehicles of beauty, into cesspools of spiritual corruption.

I think we do a good job of supporting each other when we’re open about that struggle, but we can do more.

Specifically, I think we need to be praying FOR everyone currently suffering from the addictions and habits of using pornography - and for everyone caught in that industry.

So, here’s what I think we should do.

We should pray, and sacrifice, and encourage one another in working to heal these wounds.

We need to be praying *together* for this cause, because if you aren’t personally struggling with this, I promise: many of your closest friends are.

Honestly, it would be a beautiful sign of Christ’s triumph to use the media that have become an occasion of sin for so many people to offer our intentions for their healing.

I’ll be sharing my own daily prayers to #BreakTheChains of pornography, and I’d love for you to join me.

And, if you’re caught in the darkness of sin or addiction, know that we’re praying for you.

Don’t be afraid to return to Christ.

Don’t be afraid to go back to Confession.

Don’t let despair win.

The mercy of Jesus Christ is stronger than death, and it is always there for you."

Dr. Adrian Walker, translator of Pope Benedict XVI and editor of the journal Communio, joins The Big Tree to talk Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, Eschatology, Art, Philosophy, Thanos, and much more!

The question is: Are you able to fall asleep in Mordor?

Host: Deacon Anthony Ferguson (Diocese of Richmond) and Fr. Timothy Deely (Diocese of Pittsburgh, Ordained 2019)