Universal Voices/Voces Universales

Luisa de Poo, es directora del Secretariado de Vida, Caridad y Justicia y de la Oficina de Vida, Matrimonio y Familia de la Diócesis de Austin. Tiene una maestría en teología de la Universidad de St. Mary en San Antonio, además de estudios en Consejería Pastoral Católica y en Teología del Cuerpo. También es psicóloga clínica titulada en México, con especialización en terapia de juego.

A lo largo de su trayectoria, Luisa ha dedicado gran parte de su trabajo a promover y fortalecer la vida, el matrimonio y la familia, con especial atención a las comunidades hispanas y de diversos orígenes culturales. En reconocimiento a su experiencia y compromiso, en 2019 el arzobispo Joseph Naumann la nombró consultora del Comité de Actividades Pro-Vida de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Estados Unidos (USCCB por sus siglas en inglés). En 2025, el obispo Michael Thomas la ratificó en el cargo.

The Family: Where Love Comes to Life

Luisa de Poo serves as Director of the Secretariat for Life, Charity, and Justice and the Office of Life, Marriage, and Family for the Diocese of Austin. She holds a master’s degree in Theology from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, along with additional studies in Catholic Pastoral Counseling and Theology of the Body. She is also a licensed clinical psychologist in Mexico, specializing in Play Therapy.

Throughout her career, Luisa has dedicated much of her work to promoting and strengthening life, marriage, and family, with a special focus on Hispanic communities and people from diverse cultural backgrounds. In recognition of her experience and commitment, Archbishop Joseph Naumann appointed her as a consultant to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities in 2019. In 2025, Bishop Michael Thomas reaffirmed her appointment to this role.

Season 8 of Universal Voices is back with an all new mini-series. This season we explore how different folks within the Universal Church are experiencing community within the Body of Christ. In this episode, Alissa welcomes her husband Junior to the podcast. The two talk of how the experience of joining the Marriage Preparation Team at their parish pushed Alissa to dream big about how the Church could support married folks beyond preparation for the Sacrament. Listen in to hear:

• Alissa talk about one thing that makes Junior, Junior.
• Junior talk about one thing that makes Alissa, Alissa.
• "I didn't need a lot to give a lot."
• The joy of preparing engaged couples for the Sacrament of Marriage.
• What it could look like if every parish in the U.S. offered 3 marriage check-ins every single year.
• The three check-in topics Junior and Alissa would pick if they were designing the program. 
• The Among the Pots and Pans Resource.

Find out more about Among the Pots and Pans here. 

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Junior Molina is an educator, coach and the absolute love of Alissa Molina's life. She thinks he the best dad, friend, and husband on the planet. He has served his parishes in multiple ways throughout the years including as an acolyte, a lector, a catechist, and a youth ministry volunteer. Within his school communities, he has formed and mentored thousands of student-athletes as a deeply dedicated, skilled, and knowledgeable coach. Under his leadership and care, his players learn so much more than basketball, football, track, soccer or baseball--they learn the value of showing up, self-confidence, responsibility, hard work, perseverance and being part of a team.  

Joanna Arellano-González, orgullosamente mexicoestadounidense, es del barrio La Villita en la zona sur de Chicago. Como cofundadora y directora de capacitación y formación de la Coalición para Liderazgo Espiritual y Público  (CSPL, por sus siglas en inglés), impulsa una transformación espiritual a través de la organización de base. Cuenta con una maestría en espiritualidad cristiana de la Universidad de Fordham, con especialización en dirección espiritual.

Sus ensayos, reflexiones y artículos han aparecido en diversas publicaciones católicas y sobre justicia social, entre ellas «Give Us This Day» y el «Center for Action and Contemplation». También ha colaborado como predicadora invitada en «Catholic Women Preach». Actualmente está escribiendo una serie sobre el Jesús histórico.

Joanna  comparte sobre: 

• Su vida de joven, su formación 
• El camino a, y en la acción social y a favor de la justicia
• Su visión de la fe y su papel transformador para comunidades en lucha

Para conocer más sobre Joanna, búscala en Instagram: @csplaction y Facebook @csplaction

Show Notes (English)

A life of struggle with the community

Joanna Arellano-González, a proud Mexican-American, is from the Little Village neighborhood in Chicago’s South Side. As co-founder and director of training and education at the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL), she promotes spiritual transformation through grassroots organizing. She holds a master’s degree in Christian spirituality from Fordham University, specializing in spiritual direction.

Her essays, reflections, and articles have appeared in various Catholic and social justice publications, including “Give Us This Day” and the “Center for Action and Contemplation.” She has also served as a guest preacher for “Catholic Women Preach.” She is currently writing a series on the historical Jesus.

Joanna shares about:

• Her life as a young person and her formation
• Her journey toward—and within—social action and the fight for justice
• Her vision of faith and its transformative role for communities in struggle

To learn more about Joanna, find her on Instagram: @csplaaction and Facebook: @csplaction

In this episode of Universal Voices Alissa welcomes Alysse Gear, longtime co-editor of Common Horizon, for a special conversation. Common Horizon is From Here Media's deep dive into Catholic Social Teaching and the pair talk about some exciting news regarding the beloved project. 

Susi Torrico 

Susana "Susi" Torrico nació y creció en el noroeste de Indiana antes de mudarse al sur de California a los 19 años, junto con sus padres y su hermana, para estar más cerca de su familia materna. Como madre de un hijo de 20 años con autismo, se ha convertido en una firme defensora de los niños y jóvenes con discapacidades del desarrollo, alentando a las familias a buscar el apoyo y los recursos que necesitan.

Católica comprometida, Susi participa activamente en su parroquia y tiene una profunda pasión por hacer de la Iglesia un lugar más acogedor para las personas con discapacidad intelectual y del desarrollo. Después de conocer SPRED a través de una colega, participó en la formación de SPRED ofrecida por la Arquidiócesis de Chicago en agosto de 2024.

SPRED (Desarrollo Religioso Especial, por sus siglas en inglés) es un programa parroquial que ayuda a niños, jóvenes y adultos con discapacidades intelectuales y del desarrollo a crecer en su fe. A través de una relación personal con catequistas capacitados, los participantes experimentan un profundo sentido de pertenencia y se integran plenamente a la vida, la liturgia y los sacramentos de la Iglesia Católica.

Para conocer más sobre este programa, haz clic aquí: SPRED. 

Show Notes (English)

A Church for All

Susi Torrico

Susana "Susi" Torrico was born and raised in Northwest Indiana before moving to Southern California at the age of 19 with her parents and sister to be closer to her mother's side of the family. As the mother of a 20-year-old son with autism, she has become a dedicated advocate for children and young adults with developmental disabilities, encouraging families to seek the support and resources they need.

A committed Catholic, Susi is actively involved in her parish and has a deep passion for making the Church more welcoming to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After learning about SPRED through a colleague, she participated in SPRED formation offered by the Archdiocese of Chicago in August 2024.

Please be advised: This episode references child loss.

Season 8 of Universal Voices is back with an all new mini-series. This season we explore how different folks within the Universal Church are experiencing community within the Body of Christ. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Monica Garcia to the podcast. The two women talk of Stephen, Monica's beloved son, their family, and their parish community. They enter into sacred conversation around the loss of a child, walking in and with grief and love that persists. They also talk about:

• Parenting teens and young adults.
• Being a dreamer and a servant.
• Having a hungry heart as a Christian
• Stephen as firecracker and as guiding light.
• Grief for each person in a family.
• How the Garcia's parish showed up in their grief, and why.
• Intentionally grieving as family.
• Red Bird Ministries.

Find out more about Red Bird Ministries here.

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Monica Garcia is a Catholic convert, wife, mother of seven, and grandmother of one from Abilene, Texas, whose faith has been deeply shaped by life’s joys and its sorrows.  She is the director of clinical education in speech-language pathology at a private university.  A self-proclaimed enneagram 3, she makes sure to keep her free time full with as many hobbies as possible, including reading, a side photography gig, and journaling. Deeply rooted in her parish community, Monica is passionate about service to the Church and helping others intentionally weave their faith into everyday life.

Universal Voices is back with an all new mini-series. This season we explore how different folks within the Universal Church are experiencing community within the Body of Christ. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Katie Holler and Viridiana Herrera of The Dorothea Project. The Dorothea Project is a community of Catholic women formed by Catholic Social Teaching, called to speak truth and defend human dignity. The three women spend time talking about the beauty and power of women coming together to act and move in the defense of human dignity. They also chat about:

• Motherhood.
• The power of belonging and connection.
• Vidi's gift of gab.   :)
• The Holy Spirit present in connection between persons. 
• The longing to be seen, known and safe.
• How The Dorothea Project began.
• CST as a best kept secret.
• The beauty and variety of gifts, talents and backgrounds of the women that are drawn into The Dorothea Project. 
• "On Earth As it is in Heaven. 
• The beauty of CST being rooted in the tenets of the Catholic faith and The Gospel.
• Women Leading.

Find out more about The Dorothea Project here or find them on Instagram here.

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Katie Holler is, in no particular order, a community organizer, a wife, a mom, and a Gilmore Girls enthusiast. She currently organizes moms for universal childcare and founded The Dorothea Project to organize Catholic women to take action in defense of human dignity rooted in Catholic Social Teaching. She also teaches social work part time at Franciscan University. In her very limited free time, Katie likes baking, listening to podcasts, and dreaming of a more just society. 

Viridiana Herrera Solis is a catechist and Catholic Youth Minister in Bakersfield, California. She has a background in tech and data, but is currently pursuing a degree in Speech Language Pathology. Within the Dorothea Project, Viridiana serves on the Intercessory Prayer Team and Social Media Team. In her spare time she loves to write, make candles, create small sculptures, and create prayerful retreats for her friends.

Alfredo Flores nació en Cancún, Quintana Roo, donde creció rodeado de una familia y de una formación que lo guiaron por el camino del servicio. Más tarde, se mudó a la Ciudad de México y, gracias a la influencia de los salesianos, creció y maduró en la fe cristiana. Es licenciado en marketing, una carrera que le ha permitido desarrollar habilidades organizativas, comunicativas y de liderazgo a través de diversas organizaciones de servicio en su parroquia. En ellas ha encontrado comunidad y sanación para su depresión. 

Puedes encontrarlo en Facebook, @AlfredoFloresH, e Instagram, @Alfredofh. 

Alfredo Flores

 Healing and Serving in Community 

Alfredo Flores was born in Cancún in the state of Quintana Roo, where he grew up surrounded by a family and a formation that guided him along the path of service. Later, he moved to Mexico City and, through the influence of the Salesians, grew in his Christian faith. He holds a bachelor's degree in marketing, a career that has allowed him to develop organizational, communication, and leadership skills through various service organizations at his parish. Through them, he has found community, but also healing for depression. 

You can find him at: Facebook, @AlfredoFloresH, and Instagram, @Alfredofh.

Universal Voices is back with an all new mini-series. This season we explore how different folks within the Universal Church are experiencing community within the Body of Christ. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Karina Breceda. Alissa and Karina discuss Fr. Rick Thomas whose case for canonization was recently opened. Fr. Rick was a central figure in Karina's life and she credits him for leading her to the work with migrants that she now does. The two chat about the rich community Fr. Thomas shepherded and how his model of prayer, joy, obedience, and service left a lasting impression. In this episode you'll also hear the two talk about:

• The blessing of place.
• The multiplication of Christmas Dinner.
• The miracle of a dump that becomes a "city on a hill."
• Being crazy for Jesus.
• The only thing that makes sense.
• Fr. Thomas' prophetic witness in creating a youth center.
• Being the 2025 version of the work of the Gospel.
• Being one day saints like Father Thomas.

The video we reference (in which Father Thomas is interviewed about Christmas Dinner can be found here or by searching "The Glory of God" - Juarez Full Length on Youtube. 

Karina Breceda is a Fronteriza activist and cross-border advocate focusing on pro-life migrant work. She is Co-Founder and Director of Stela and Casa Maris, shelters located on both sides of the US/MX international border serving pregnant women and children seeking refuge. 

Nuestro presentador, Juan Carlos Hernández, regresa esta séptima temporada con más entrevistas en español. 

Emmanuel Simental, abogado de profesión y nacido en el seno de una familia católica que le inculcó la fe y su amor por la Iglesia llevándolo a servir en diversos ministerios como monaguillo, catequista y coordinador, además de fomentar su formación en círculos de apologética y doctrina social y diplomados en diversas materias como Sagradas Escrituras, Música Sagrada y Derecho Canónico. Su vida de fe, la espiritualidad ignaciana y la búsqueda de una vida más saludable lo llevaron a fundar dos proyectos: Biciclub Católico, un grupo ciclista con enfoque espiritual, y Bici sin Fronteras, una iniciativa solidaria que dona bicicletas a quienes más las necesitan. 

Encuéntralo en Instagram @biciclub.catolico.

Growing a Catholic Community on Wheels 

Our host, Juan Carlos Hernández, returns this seventh season with more interviews in Spanish. 

Emmanuel Simental, a lawyer by profession, was born into a Catholic family that instilled in him a faith and love for the Church, leading him to serve in various ministries as an altar boy, catechist, and coordinator, as well as encouraging his formation in circles of apologetics and social doctrine and diplomas in various subjects such as Sacred Scriptures, Sacred Music, and Canon Law. His life of faith, Ignatian spirituality, and search for a healthier lifestyle led him to found two projects: Biciclub Católico, a cycling group with a spiritual focus, and Bici sin Fronteras, a charitable initiative that donates bicycles to those who need them most. 

Find him on Instagram @biciclub.catolico.

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