Today’s topics: World Youth Day Rio Reflections Summary of today’s show: A month after World Youth Day in Rio gathered 3 million young people — including 170 from the Archdiocese of Boston — with Pope Francis, Scot Landry is joined by the team that organized the Boston pilgrimage — Fr. Matt Williams, Stephen Colella, Kathy Stebbins, Danielle Olsen, and George Martell — to reflect on their experience both for themselves and for the young people they led. They also discussed how this World Youth Day was different from those of Pope Benedict and of Pope John Paul II; how World Youth Day is an immersion course for the pilgrims in their faith; and how Cardinal Seán was received by all the pilgrims from around the world. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams Today’s guest(s): Stephen Colella, Kathy Stebbins, Danielle Olsen Links from today’s show: All of George Martell’s photos from World Youth Day, Rio World Youth Day Boston to Rio 2013

Today’s topics: Pope Francis on Looking to the Present and Future through the Emmaus Story Summary of today’s show: When Pope Francis visited Rio de Janeiro during World youth Day, he gave many addresses and had so many appearances, that some of the most important could easily have been overlooked. Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O’Connor discussed one of them: The Holy Father’s meeting with the bishops of Brazil on July 28. Pope Francis addresses the reality of people having abandoned the Church because they think she can no longer offer them anything of value and what they need the Church to aspire to be; how the Church safeguards truth and beauty and keeps the Gospel in order to pass them on to each new generation; and the Church’s right to freedom to proclaim the Gospel. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O’Connor Links from today’s show: Apostolic Journey to Rio De Janeiro on the Occasion of the Xxviii World Youth Day: Meeting With the Bishops of Brazil

Today’s topics: Iraqi Catholics in Boston Summary of today’s show: The Archdiocese of Boston is incredibly diverse with Catholics with origins all over the world. Scot Landry is joined by Sermed Ashkouri and his wife, Aseel Alber; and Feras Michael and his wife, Sema Ashkouri, to talk about their experience practicing their Catholic faith as members of the Syriac Catholic rite of the Church; the founding of Our Lady of Mesopotamia Syriac Catholic Mission in Newton, where they worship; the challenges of having Mass one Saturday per month with a priest who has to travel from Pennsylvania; the effort to rebuild lives in a new country and to maintain their customs and traditions of their cultures. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry Today’s guest(s): Sermed Ashkouri and his wife Aseel Alber; Feras Michael and his wife Sema Ashkouri; Christopher Kelley Links from today’s show: Our Lady of Mesopotamia Syriac Catholic Mission in Newton, Facebook Group Office of Outreach and Cultural Diversity, “Iraqi Exaltation of the Holy Cross”

Today’s topics: Celebration of the Priesthood Summary of today’s show: For the fifth year, the Celebration of the Priesthood dinner will be held on September 26 to allow the people they serve to honor the priests of the Archdiocese of Boston for their lifetime of sacrifice and to support the Clergy Funds that provide for the retirement and health care costs. Fr. Ed Condon, a senior priest of the archdiocese, and Michael and Janet Dailey, co-chairs of the committee organizing the celebration, join Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O’Connell to discuss the Clergy Funds and the needs that our priests, especially our senior priests—who are often still active enough to make “retired” an inaccurate label—and priests with health needs, are living with. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O’Connell Today’s guest(s): Fr. Ed Condon, Michael and Janet Dailey Links from today’s show: Program #0470 for Friday, February 15, 2013: Andrea Ponzone Celebration of the Priesthood The Clergy Funds

Today’s topics: News Headlines of the Week: Pastor gives kidney; Evangelization key to pastoral plan; Pope resigned after mystical experience? Summary of today’s show: Our panel of Scot Landry, Gregory Tracy, and Susan Abbott review the big news headlines of the week, including a Virginia pastor who donated his kidney to a parishioner; focus on evangelization in Disciples in Mission pastoral plan; did Pope Benedict resign after having a “mystical experience”?; the Obama administration considering ending Vatican ambassadorship. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes 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: The Anchor The Pilot 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. “Virginia man receives kidney from pastor, says he owes priest his life”, Catholic News Service “Evangelization described as key in Boston parish restructuring”, CNA/National Catholic Register Report: Benedict XVI Resigned After ‘Mystical Experience’, National Catholic Register “Obama Administration Mulled Ending Holy See Ambassadorship”, NewsMax “Pope to consecrate world to Mary’s Immaculate Heart”, Catholic News Agency

Today’s topics: Catholic Music for the New Evangelization Summary of today’s show: Matt Maher, Ike Ndolo, and Tori Harris are among the foremost and up-and-coming Catholic contemporary musicians today and they joined Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams to talk about the role of music in the lives of Christians and how music serves the New Evangelization. Matt also discussed how he came to be the lone musician at the altar with Pope Francis during adoration at World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro. Plus live music performances from all our guests in our studio! Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams Today’s guest(s): Matt Maher, Ike Ndolo, Tori Harris Links from today’s show: Tori Harris Matt Maher Ike Ndolo Songs Performed on the Show: Matt Maher: Lord, I Need You Matt Maher: All the People Said Amen Tori Harris: Face to Face Ike Ndolo: Land of the Rising Sun

Today’s topics: Evangelization Trainers Summary of today’s show: As part of the Archdiocese of Boston’s ambitious pastoral plan called “Disciples in Mission”, parishes will receive special training to become centers of the new evangelization. As our guests Michael Lavigne and the archdiocese’s new evangelization trainers, Donald Smith and Amber Loosbrock, explain, this is an unprecedented on a scale that has never been seen in other dioceses, helping parishes to learn how to be better at welcoming people, to become intentional disciples, to be willing to share the Good News of Jesus Christ both to strangers and to those we know who have left the practice of their faith. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O’Connor Today’s guest(s): Michael Lavigne, Donald Smith, and Amber Loosbrock Links from today’s show: Disciples in Mission Office of the Episcopal Vicar for the New Evangelization “Rebuilt: Awakening the Faithful, Reaching the Lost, and Making Church Matter” “Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus”

Today’s topics: Latest Bioethics News: Three-Parent IVF; HHS Mandate Update; Transplant Denied Based on Character Summary of today’s show: M.C. Sullivan returns to discuss the latest issues in Catholic bioethics, including a controversial proposal in Britain to allow “three-parent” in vitro fertilization; differing responses by the Catholic Health Association and the US bishops to the latest US Health and Human Services mandate related to the Affordable Care Act; an attempt to change the public policy on who may make a blood donation, particularly with regard to homosexuals; and an initial denial of a heart transplant to a Georgia teen based on his character and behaviors. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry Today’s guest(s): M.C. Sullivan Links from today’s show: HHS Final Rule Still Requires Action In Congress, By Courts, Says Cardinal Dolan “Catholic Health Association ‘Pleased’ With HHS Mandate Rule”, National Catholic Register “Britain plans world’s first go-ahead for ‘3-parent’ IVF babies”, Reuters “Anthony Stokes, Dying Georgia Teen, Denied Heart Transplant Due To Low Grades, Legal Troubles, Family Says (UPDATE, VIDEO)”, Huffington Post “Warren demands feds lift ban on blood donations from gay men”, Boston Globe Program #0540 for Monday, July 8, 2013: Catholic bioethics

Today’s topics: Retrospective on Dr. Mary Grassa O’Neill’s tenure as Catholic Schools superintendent Summary of today’s show: As she ends her five-year tenure as the first lay superintendent of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Boston, Dr. Mary Grassa O’Neill and part of her leadership team join Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O’Connell to reflect on the changes that they have shepherded in Catholic schools, including transparency, financial strengthening, increased marketing, improved relationships with the local schools, and most importantly improved outcomes for all students in Catholic schools. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O’Connell Today’s guest(s): Dr. Mary Grassa O’Neill, Jim Walsh, Chris Flieger, Joseph Arangio from the Catholic Schools Office of the Archdiocese of Boston Links from today’s show: Catholic Schools - Archdiocese of Boston Readings for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 18, 2013

Today’s topics: News Headlines for the Week ending 8/15/13 Summary of today’s show: Our usual Thursday panel of Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, Gregory Tracy, and Fr. Roger Landry considered the headlines of the week, including a nautical Marian procession; a new abbot for Glastonbury Abbey; anniversaries for LaSallette Shrine and for the Festival of Three Saints; Youth Days in Lawrence; and a “mystery priest” identified. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes 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: The Anchor The Pilot 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. St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Hull Glastonbury Abbey LaSalette Shrine, Attleboro “Mystery priest in Missouri rescue comes forward”, Catholic News Agency, 8/12/13 “Pope spending vacation season visiting, planning”, CNA/EWTN News, 8/9/13 “His Holiness, the soccer fan, asks players to be real role models”, Catholic News Service, 8/13/13 “Before Pope’s election, conclave warned of Europe’s waning faith”, CNA/EWTN News, 8/8/13 Help for the Future of the Church, Fr. Roger Landry, The Anchor, August 16, 2013 List of Retreat Centers as found on BostonCatholic.org