Today’s topics: Peace Vigil in Brighton and Rome; Pope Francis writing letters to the editor, on the phone, and driving in the Vatican; New encyclical on poverty coming?

Summary of today’s show: Our panel of Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, and Gregory Tracy consider the news headlines of the week, including the vigils for peace held at St. John’s Seminary and in Rome; Pope Francis’ remarkable style that includes a letter to the editor of a major newspaper, calling people on the phone, and driving a car around the Vatican; reports of an upcoming encyclical on poverty; the Diocesan Financial Managers Conference held in Boston; a new gymnasium for the Teen Center at St. Peter’s in Roxbury; the Knights of Columbus’ pro-life Silver Rose touring parishes; and followup on the Day of Evangelization at an Attleboro parish.

Listen to the show:

Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott

Today’s guest(s): Gregory Tracy, managing editor of the Pilot, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston

Links from today’s show:

Some of the stories discussed on this show will be available on The Pilot’s and The Anchor’s websites on Friday morning. Please check those sites for the latest links.

Today’s topics: Brazilian Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Boston

Summary of today’s show: The community of Brazilians in the Boston area is the largest in the world outside of Brazil and the Brazilian Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Boston cares for the spiritual needs of this primarily Catholic community. Fr. Michael Harrington of the Office of Cultural Diversity; Fr. John Devin who serves the Apostolate; and Jennifer Prudencia, a young woman of Brazilian origin, join Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams to talk about this vibrant apostolate as well as the celebrations for the upcoming Feast of Our Lady of Aparecida, the patroness of Brazil.

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Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams

Today’s guest(s): Fr. Michael Harrington, Fr. John Devin, Jennifer Prudencia

Links from today’s show:

Today’s topics: Improving communication in and support for Catholic parishes

Summary of today’s show: Communicating the faith has taken many forms over the millennia and today effective Catholic parishes use every form of media available: print, broadcast, and online. Terry Poplava of Our Sunday Visitor joins Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O’Connor to discuss how OSV helps parishes improve their communication through various media and parishioners to make their support of their parishes more convenient for them and the parish through online giving.

Listen to the show:

Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O’Connor

Today’s guest(s): Terry Poplava from Our Sunday Visitor

Links from today’s show:

Today’s topics: Choosing the Right College and Affording It, Too

Summary of today’s show: College tuitions are higher than ever and students are graduating with more debt than ever, while prospects for careers are dimmer. John Zmirak, editor of “Choosing the Right College”, talks with Scot Landry about how Catholic parents should choose which colleges their children should attend, how to pay the tuition, and how to avoid the colleges that just aren’t worth it.

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Today’s host(s): Scot Landry

Today’s guest(s): John Zmirak

Links from today’s show:

Today’s topics: Seminarian Profile: Jeffrey Archer

Summary of today’s show: Jeffrey Archer was a leading a challenging and rewarding life in business consulting, managing elite teams and traveling widely, when he answered the Lord’s call to the vocation of the priesthood. A missionary trip to Haiti was the catalyst for his recognition that his heart was not satisfied and turned to God in prayer, eventually hearing His call to Blessed John XXIII National Seminary in Weston to study for the priesthood in Boston. Entering seminary, he gave up his powerful position in corporate America to turn himself over for formation and evaluation in a years-long process that, God-willing, will result in his ordination to priesthood next spring.

Listen to the show:

Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O’Connell

Today’s guest(s): Jeffrey Archer, Seminarian at Blessed John XXIII Seminary

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Today’s topics: Headlines of the Week: Immigration; Red Mass; Vatican Secretariat; Vigil for Peace

Summary of today’s show: Our usual panel of Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, Gregory Tracy, and Fr. Roger Landry consider the headlines of the week, including Cardinal Seán’s letter on immigration reform; the upcoming Red Mass of the Boston Catholic Lawyers Guild with Supreme Knight Carl Anderson; the pope’s appointment of a new Vatican Secretary of State; and his call for a global prayer and fasting vigil for peace.

Listen to the show:

Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott

Today’s guest(s): Gregory Tracy, managing editor of the Pilot, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston, and Fr. Roger Landry, pastor of St. Bernadette Parish in Fall River

Links from today’s show:

Some of the stories discussed on this show will be available on The Pilot’s and The Anchor’s websites on Friday morning. Please check those sites for the latest links.

Today’s topics: Transformed in Love Marriage Preparation Program

Summary of today’s show: Under the leadership of Cardinal Seán, Stephen and Kari Colella, along with more than 40 other contributors, have developed a brand-new marriage preparation program for Catholic couples. Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams discuss the program with the Colellas and how it is a groundbreaking new scientific and theologically sound way to prepare for lifelong marriage.

Listen to the show:

Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams

Today’s guest(s): Stephen and Kari Colella

Links from today’s show:

Today’s topics: Immigration and the American and Catholic Ideal

Summary of today’s show: As Congress returns to Washington and takes up the political football of immigration reform, Cardinal Seán has written to parishioners in Boston asking them to get involved in the debate from a moral standpoint. In addition, Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles reminds us in a lecture of the history of an America that was Hispanic-Catholic before it was Anglo-Protestant. Scot Landry, Fr. Chris O’Connor, and Fr. Chip Hines consider the words of these bishops and discuss immigration from a Catholic moral and social justic viewpoint.

Listen to the show:

Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O’Connor

Today’s guest(s): Fr. Chip Hines

Links from today’s show:

Today’s topics: Catholic Apps for Your Smartphone and Tablet

Summary of today’s show: Smartphones and tablet computers have become a large part of our lives and our faith life too. Scot Landry, Fr. Mark O’Connell, and Dom Bettinelli welcome Michael Lavigne and Allison Gingras to talk about which Catholic apps they use and how they help them to live their Catholic faith more fully. Then Allison talks about the Catholic app she’s developing, what goes into the whole process, and the unique way she’s funding its development.

Listen to the show:

Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O’Connell

Today’s guest(s): Michael Lavigne, Allison Gingras

Links from today’s show:

Today’s topics: Headlines for the Week of 8/29/13

Summary of today’s show: Our usual Thursday panel of Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, Fr. Roger Landry, and Gregory Tracy consider the headlines of the week, including Scot’s departure from the Archdiocese as Secretary for Catholic Media to head up Catholic Voices USA; a Catholic woman from Taunton who didn’t let a leg amputation prevent her from accomplishing her goals, including pilgrimage; Plymouth teens raise money for the missions with a lemonade stand; retirement of Fr. Dan Hickey; an award for the Archdiocese’s bioethicist; temporary administrator for Catholic schools; the defacing of the Try God billboards; and refutation of reports of Pope Benedict’s “mystical experience”.

Listen to the show:

Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott

Today’s guest(s): Gregory Tracy, managing editor of the Pilot, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston, and Fr. Roger Landry, pastor of St. Bernadette Parish in Fall River

Links from today’s show:

Some of the stories discussed on this show will be available on The Pilot’s and The Anchor’s websites on Friday morning. Please check those sites for the latest links.