It’s not surprising that most Catholics—especially young Catholics—don’t personally know their bishops. Sure, they might have put some oil on your forehead at confirmation and made you worry about what it would do to your acne problem (this is 100 percent hypothetical), but otherwise, you’re busy, and bishops are in charge of a zillion things and a zillion people. And even if you get to sit down with them, it’s probably in a formal setting where everyone is doing their best to look buttoned up.

Our guest this week is Mychael Schilmoeller. She works in pastoral care at St. Michael’s Church in Prior Lake, Minn., in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. She also was part of a delegation of young adults who accompanied their bishops on their “ad limina” visit to Rome to meet with Pope Francis. That means she got to spend a lot of time with her bishops. Like, jet-lagged, layover-in-the-airport kind of down time. Long Italian dinners kind of time. We talk to her about what it was like to get to accompany her bishops on this trip and how this influenced her perspective on the church. Oh, and we ask her what it was like to get her and her unborn child blessed by Pope Francis and have the scene posted on His Holiness’s Instagram.

On Signs of the Times, we look at the shifting political home of abortion in American politics and where that might leave Catholics. We also talk about how Pope Francis celebrated the first official Sunday of the Word of God and discuss the tragic death of Kobe Bryant.

This week, we also hit 3,000 members in our Facebook group for listeners! It’s a place where you can interact with hosts and the rest of the Jesuitical team, as well as other listeners. You should check it out if you haven’t yet. 

 

Links from the Show: 

Will pro-life democratic voters be courted in the 2020 primary? So far, it’s not likely.

Trump: a ‘profound honor’ to be the first president to attend March for Life

Pope Francis’ Homily for 1st Sunday of the Word of God (Full Text)

A (Complicated) Prayer for Kobe

Young adults make ‘deep dive’ into faith during ‘ad limina’ visit

Mychael’s Instagram with Pope Francis (second photo)

Inside the Vatican

 

What’s on Tap? 

Hot Toddies, to cure the common cold

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