The Catholic Cafe

Do you remember the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector who climbed a tree to see Jesus? Most of us vaguely remember the story, but might have missed the significance of his climbing the sycamore tree and, ultimately, the challenge it poses for us in our modern world. Join Deacon Jeff and Tom in the Luxurious Corner Booth as they show us ways in which we can climb trees for Jesus as well...and why we should do it!

Sometimes when we do the things we feel are right, especially when we feel we are following God's plan for our lives, we experience pain, affliction, friction and sadness. The Church calls this redemptive suffering. But, it's still hard. Join Deacon Jeff and Tom in the Luxurious Corner Booth as they answer an email from Amy who is going through RCIA and is experiencing great difficulty in reconciling her parents' lack of support with her need to honor them and respect them (while still discerning God's call that she be on this journey). Sometimes (in fact, usually) conversion is painful.

Have you ever attended an Episcopal Installation? It is truly a sight to behold. Join Deacon Jeff, his wife Bess and their youngest, Mary Regina, as they recount their recent participation in the Episcopal Installation of The Most Reverend Martin D. Holley as the Fifth Bishop of Memphis!

Have you ever noticed that some of the most blessed moments in our lives tend to be the ones we didn't plan and orchestrate? That's the way the Holy Spirit works in our lives, and as the crew at The Catholic Cafe point out, how He has always worked in the world. Join Deacon Jeff, Tom and Deacon's wife Bess as they discuss the movement of the Spirit in their lives as God interrupts our day to day concerns in order to bless us and those we encounter.

Have you ever thought about how we tend to segment our lives? We like to separate our work life from our Church life from our family life. What would it look like if we connected all those areas of our life so that our faith interacted and affected each environment we entered? Join Deacon Jeff and Tom as they welcome Alanna Boudreau, a talented young singer/songwriter in the secular world who also happens to a good Catholic girl, to the Luxurious Corner Booth.

We've all heard it said that the youth are the future of the Church. But, how can the youth or the Church have a future if the culture of the world continues to act against God's plan? Join Deacon Jeff and Tom as they welcome Jimmy Mitchell, a young singer/songwriter, speaker, evangelist and serial Catholic entrepreneur, to the Luxurious Corner Booth to discuss how through God's grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, young people are evangelizing the culture around them and sharing the Good News of Jesus with everyone they meet.

Are you a Catholic looking to deepen your faith and learn more about your Church? Where do you go? What can you do? Have you thought about going to RCIA? But, I'm already Catholic! you say. Well, join Deacon Jeff and Tom in the Luxurious Corner Booth as they discuss the benefits that many good and faithful Catholics receive when they attend RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) classes at their local parish.

Do you pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious? You may not realize that there are as many as 10,000 young men and women who have said yes to God, but have student loans that are preventing them for following through. Join Deacon Jeff and Tom as they welcome Bill Lemire from the Laboure Society to the Luxurious Corner Booth to discuss how this group helps these future priests, sisters and brothers become the vocation miracle God has called them to be.

Have you ever told someone you'd pray for them...and then life happened (job, kids, distractions) and you forgot to do it? It happens to a lot of other folks as well. Even Deacon Jeff has had trouble following through with promised prayers - until he made some changes in the way he prayed. Join Deacon Jeff and Tom in the Luxurious Corner Booth as they discuss some quick and easy ways to make your prayers more purposeful and follow through with your promise to pray.

Have you ever wondered if there was a list of simple things that pretty much any Catholic family could do that would help them stay rooted in their faith on their journey through life? Not hard, complex and multi-faceted things...but simple and easy-to-accomplish things. Join Deacon Jeff and Tom in the Luxurious Corner Booth as they present one of their famous top ten lists: ten simple things you can do which will help to ensure that your kids grow up - and stay - Catholic!