In this episode of WCAT Radio and TV Presents, Jennifer Thomas interviews Patrick O'Hearn on the upcoming Pilgrimage of Hope.

About the Pilgrimage:

Journey with us on this custom "Little Flower" pilgrimage as we explore the life of the beloved saint, St. Thérèse of Lisieux. This pilgrimage to France offers you an unforgettable experience in the country that has long been known as the "Eldest daughter of the Church." Here you will be fully immersed in the land of castles, cathedrals, and culinary arts. You will experience first-hand the delight of seeing the Sanctuary of Lourdes, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, and the Arc de Triomphe. You will pray in Gothic cathedrals, see Medieval monasteries, encounter incorrupt saints, and taste unsurpassed wines. Join us on this once-in-a-lifetime experience that will make you always want to return to France!

About Patrick O'Hearn:

Patrick O'Hearn is a devout Catholic, husband, and father. He is an author, speaker, and content creator. He is the Director of Ministry Expansion at Stewardship: A Mission of Faith. He once served as TAN Books' acquisitions editor for two years. He grew up in the Midwest and spent close to three years in a Benedictine Monastery before discerning the call to marriage. He graduated with a master's in education from Franciscan University of Steubenville and a bachelor's in marketing from St. Ambrose University.

https://stcharlespilgrimages.com/ohearn-france

In this rich and wide-ranging conversation, host Jennifer Thomas sits down with Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, founder of En Route Books & Media and WCAT Radio & TV, to explore the surprising, faith-driven path that brought both apostolates into existence. From Dominican spirituality to the origins of a publishing house, from radio evangelization to global collaborations, this episode offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at a ministry whose mission is to “promote the Catholic spiritual journey through quality Catholic programming.”

Episode Highlights• Becoming a Lay Dominican: Sebastian shares the story of discovering the Dominican Order through a CD from the Rosary Center, learning that study itself can be an act of prayer. His journey includes:• Founding En Route Books & Media: What started as one collaborative book between Sebastian and Catholic philosopher Dr. Ronda Chervin grew into a thriving publishing apostolate with 700+ books.• Birth of WCAT Radio: Sebastian recounts how a course collaboration, a colleague’s vision for Catholic broadcasting, and a desire to amplify authors’ voices led to WCAT Radio’s launch on October 1, 2016• Global Collaborations & Creative Partnerships: The interview explores Sebastian’s diverse collaborations with Catholic thinkers, artists, scholars, and educators• A Surprising Past Life: In one of the episode’s most unexpected moments, Sebastian reveals that before academia, he was an evil wrestling manager for the Global Wrestling Federation in Dallas.• The Heart of the Apostolate: Throughout the conversation, Sebastian returns to the core Dominican mission: preaching the Gospel wherever people gather—physically or digitally. His work with En Route and WCAT is a living expression of this vocation.
Referenced Individuals & Works

• Dr. Ronda Chervin – co-creator of Catholic Realism
• St. Thomas Aquinas – Summa Theologiae, prayer before study
• Richard Dawkins – The God Delusion
• Timothy Schmalz – Angels Unawares, Dante Sculptures
• Daniel Fitzpatrick – translator for the Dante project
• Father Brian Mullady, O.P., Father Tom McDermott, O.P. – Dominican influences
• HelpDanteHelpItaly.com – COVID ministry initiative
• En Route Books & Media – Catholic publishing apostolate
• WCAT Radio & TV – global Catholic broadcasting ministry

Connect with Dr. Sebastian Mahfood

• En Route Books & Media: https://enroutebooksandmedia.com
• WCAT Radio: https://wcatradio.com

In this inaugural episode of WCAT Radio and TV Presents, Jennifer Thomas interviews Dr. Peter Kreeft on his book The Mystery of Joy.

Joy: we look for it, long for it, and spend our lives chasing it. Yet do we really know what it is? Is it a feeling, a state of mind, or a reward for success? Do we know where to find it? The more we seek it, the more it eludes us.

Yet joy is real. “Joy”, writes philosopher Peter Kreeft, “is a mystery. It is bigger than we are.” Joy’s secret, however, is that it cannot be reached or found but only given. True joy is God Himself, who, giving Himself, takes us outside ourselves, across valleys of loss and mountains of triumph.

This lucid, witty reflection on the true nature of joy convinces us, page after page, that while sorrow is inevitable, joy is very, very near at hand. “It’s scandalously simple,” Kreeft reveals. “There’s no method; you just do it.” To “do” joy, we must let go of all fake happiness, all false gods. We must return, over and over, to the one true Joy, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Drawing from the wisdom of C. S. Lewis and Saint Thomas Aquinas, this instant classic by self-proclaimed curmudgeon Peter Kreeft walks us through the long, beautiful task of surrendering to deep joy, the chief work of any life worth living.

https://ignatius.com/the-mystery-of-joy-mjoyp/