On this feast of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Talking Saints hosts Laurie and Pete shared the life of this 16th and 17th century Italian Jesuit and patron of youth, whose spiritual awakening at age 7 caused him to renounce the royal courts and military prestige around him, for a higher calling. As well, the hosts discuss his rigorous prayer life, and how much asceticism is too much asceticism? Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, patron of youth and seminarians, pray for us! Listen to Talking Saints with Laurie P...
Jun 21, 2022•15 min
Believe it or not, we’re less than halfway through the global Synod process. So to give us an update, we asked Donna M. Ottaviano-Britt, director of the Diocese of Camden’s Office of Discipleship and Leadership, and facilitator of the diocesan Synod process to join us this week. Donna notes the process has already begun to bear fruit on the parish level and has given her a great deal of hope for the future of our faith. To learn more about the Synod, go to the Vatican website at https://www.syno...
Jun 20, 2022•55 min
All across the State of New Jersey, school graduations and advancements are taking place. Our own South Jersey Catholic Schools are no different, so it was time to have our annual State of the Catholic Schools episode with our beloved Dr. Bill Watson, Superintendent of the Diocese of Camden’s Office of Catholic Schools. During the episode, hosts Marianela Nunez and Mike Walsh chat with Bill about the recent Catholic high schools graduations and how our 30 schools in the diocese are maintaining t...
Jun 06, 2022•56 min
Later this month, on the Feast of Corpus Christi, all the dioceses in the United States will begin a multi-year revival focused on the Eucharist, the source and summit of our Catholic faith. The first year will be focused at the diocesan level and the following year at the parish level. Joining us on this episode to discuss what is planned in the Diocese of Camden and why it is an important opportunity for the Catholic faithful, is Father Robert Hughes, vicar general and moderator of the curia. ...
Jun 06, 2022•56 min
For years, Mater Dei Prep High School in Middletown, N.J., has been preparing students to be advocates for peace and justice through its Global Leaders Institute. Led by educator George S. Anthony, the program has offered young people the opportunity to address world dignitaries, present a student-produced video combatting hate, and offer a workshop on effective and respectful communication – all at the United Nations in New York. This week, Talking Catholic sits down with Global Leaders Institu...
May 29, 2022•56 min
As the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the “Apostle of England,” Laurie and Pete discuss Saint Augustine of Canterbury in the latest show. Learn how this 6th Century Roman monk became a model of evangelization and reconciliation in the faith, and how his life proves that good deeds can bear fruit long after they are performed. Saint Augustine of Canterbury, pray for us! Listen to Talking Saints with Laurie Power and Pete Sanchez on the Talking Catholic channel at Apple Podcasts, Google P...
May 27, 2022•16 min
While many of us watch the Russian invasion of Ukraine unfold from afar, Dina Brick, senior technical adviser for food security and markets for Catholic Relief Services, has seen the crisis firsthand. On the latest episode of Talking Catholic, Brick describes seeing families torn apart and those struggling to make ends meet during her time on the ground in neighboring Moldova. She discusses the importance of food security, how to aid Ukrainians in a way that promotes self-dignity and supports th...
May 23, 2022•55 min
At a time where Americans’ mental health rating is at a 21-year low, Talking Catholic invites two experts in the field to discuss what we can do as individuals and a society to help our friends, family – and even ourselves. Sylvia Loumeau, MSW, LCSW, director of clinical services and social work for Catholic Charities of South Jersey, and her coworker, Breigha Dale, MSW, intensive case manager for the Welfare to Work program, talk with hosts Mike Walsh and Jen Mauro about how May, Mental Health ...
May 16, 2022•56 min
On today’s episode, hosts Jen Mauro, Marianela Nunez and Mike Walsh do a news round-up of Catholic interests, including the SCOTUS leak, the restructuring of the Catholic New Service, the upcoming priest ordinations, and graduations. Then, Marianela and Mike chat with Fr. Tim Byerley and Kathy O’Callaghan, pastor of Saint Peter’s Parish and principal of St. Peter’s Elementary School in Merchantville, about how the school is continuing the celebration of Easter and how the ties between the parish...
May 09, 2022•54 min
May is the month for Brain Cancer awareness. The color ribbon is gray and on this episode hosts Mike Walsh and Kari Janisse “go Gray in May” with a beautiful guest, Diana Butkus, speaking about childhood cancer awareness and the life of her son Jaxson. Diana shares beautifully how she and her family bravely and gracefully journeyed through Jaxson’s battle with ATRT Brain Cancer. She talks about how her family & friends and their Catholic faith helped them during their journey. She also share...
May 02, 2022•55 min
“Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.” Mystic, author, church reformer, and Doctor of the Church, Saint Catherine of Siena is the focus of this month’s Talking Saints on her Feast Day today. Hosts Laurie and Pete unpack the life of this 14th century woman who remains a model today of discipleship, devotion to the Church, and love for the marginalized. Saint Catherine of Siena, Patron of Italy and defender of the papacy, pray for us! Listen to Talking Saints with Laurie Power and...
Apr 28, 2022•18 min
Looking to put your faith in action? This week, we get an in-depth look at how Catholic Relief Services helps communities on a local, national and global level – and how you can be a voice of change! First, CRS Community Engagement Manager Thomas Hollywood gives a firsthand account of how local funds help provide housing, clean water, schooling opportunities and more in areas such as Africa, Ecuador and Sudan. Then, fellow CRS Community Engagement Manager Jessica A. Morrell explains how some of ...
Apr 24, 2022•55 min
Yes, our guest this episode is Mark Wahlberg. Really. And since his movie about a priest comes out this week, we’re putting out the podcast a few days early. Our hard-working host Jen Mauro was able to sit down with him one-on-one for 12 minutes while he was in Philadelphia on a press tour for his new movie “Father Stu” (https://www.fatherstumovie.com/), which follows the life of Father Stuart Long, a boxer-turned-priest who inspired countless people during his journey from self-destruction to r...
Apr 12, 2022•55 min
This episode is a special treat as hosts Jen Mauro and Mike Walsh welcome Fr. Jason Rocks, Chancellor of the Diocese of Camden, to the show. The trio discuss Holy Week and the many opportunities it provides for Catholics to become closer to Christ by walking with Him on His journey from Palm Sunday to Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. We also discuss the uniqueness of the Chrism Mass and the recent iRace4Vocations. Listen to Talking Catholic everywhere podcasts can be found, at https://talk...
Apr 11, 2022•55 min
This week we travel to one of our favorite locations, Hammonton, NJ, to chat with Fr. David Rivera, pastor of Saint Mary of Mount Carmel Parish, as well as Lisa-Maria Lorusso and Susan Davidow, about the parish’s new initiatives, a Montessori school and their parish youth organization. The Catholic Montessori school will be the first of its kind in South Jersey, blending unique learning experiences with the Catholic faith for elementary students. To learn more about Saint Mary of Mount Carmel Pa...
Apr 04, 2022•55 min
One of our favorite guests is back on the show this week! The hardworking and delightful Katie Comerford-Rivera joins us to chat about her recent promotion, the status of the Diocese of Camden’s annual fundraising campaign - the House of Charity - and we even do a little Marvel Cinematic Universe talk to end the show. Katie is always a blast to chat with and our hosts Jen Maura and Mike Walsh loved every second of it. To learn more about the House of Charity, go to: https://camdendiocese.org/hoc...
Mar 27, 2022•55 min
Who is the “Pearl of York,” the 16th century English mother, martyr, and defender of the faith who courageously refused to compromise her Catholic ideals, and in the process evangelized not only her family, but the community around her? In this month’s Talking Saints, hosts Laurie and Pete unpack the life of Saint Margaret Clitherow, whose bones were broken, but not her spirit. As well, Laurie shares an inspiring personal story on her own introduction to this woman. Saint Margaret Clitherow, Pat...
Mar 26, 2022•15 min
As we’re midway through the Lenten season, our hosts Marianela Nunez and Mike Walsh thought it was a good time to see how religion classes are experiencing Lent during the school day. They chat with two great religion teachers in South Jersey Catholic Schools, Jeana Davi from Saint Mary’s Catholic School in Williamstown, NJ, and Ashlei Wyant from Assumption Regional Catholic School in Galloway, NJ. The duo discuss how they teach elementary school students, both little and big, about our faith us...
Mar 19, 2022•55 min
After a two-year hiatus, our favorite outdoor event on the Diocese of Camden’s calendar is back, iRace4Vocations! The annual faithraiser dedicated to supporting vocations to the priesthood and religious life returns on April 3 at Cooper River Park in Pennsauken. The event features an outdoor Mass with Bishop Dennis Sullivan and our seminarians, a sanctioned 5K run, a 1 mile walk, fun, games and food - all for FREE! Joining us to chat about the event, and the impact it had on his own vocation jou...
Mar 14, 2022•56 min
We continue our religious communities series this week with a chat about the Vincentian Congregation, a clerical society in the Syro-Malabar Church based in India with a direct lineage to the Vincentians of France founded by Saint Vincent de Paul in 1624. The Catholic faith in India can be tracked by to the Apostle Thomas who visited in 54 AD. Joining us today to talk about their community is Fr. Sanjai Devis, VC; Fr. Shaji Muttathottil, VC; and Fr. Naveen Borlakunta, VC. The trio, who now call ...
Mar 07, 2022•56 min
As Lent begins this week, our co-hosts Jen Mauro and Mike Walsh wanted to help everyone get into the spirit of the season so they invited on to the show Fr. Ed Kolla, retired priest and regular contributor to the Catholic Star Herald newspaper, and Donna Ottaviano-Britt, head of the Diocese of Camden’s Secretariat for Pastoral Outreach. The group chat about the uniqueness of Ash Wednesday and the three pillars of the Lenten season - sacrifice, prayer, alms giving - and the many forms those can t...
Feb 28, 2022•55 min
It’s a hosts-only episode this week, and Mike Walsh was surprised to learn it’s the 5th anniversary of the podcast! He and Jen Mauro chat a little about the history of the show and some news items from the week, including two New Jersey Catholic Conference legislative alerts, a Knights of Columbus team-up to help tornado victims in Kentucky and a Synod and Eucharistic Revival update. As for the 5th anniversary, we promise to do something nice for it in the near future, maybe even our first live ...
Feb 21, 2022•56 min
Much to our co-host Mike Walsh’s surprise, it’s Catholic Press Month! His far wiser co-host Jen Mauro set him straight and the two brought together a legendary grouping of Catholic journalists to chat about the vocation. Joining us today is J.D. Long-Garcia, a senior editor at America Magazine (and past-president of the Catholic Media Association); Matthew Gambino, director & general manager of Catholic Philly; and out own Catholic Star Herald staff writer (and multi-award winning podcaster)...
Feb 14, 2022•56 min
On today’s Talking Saints, hosts Laurie and Pete share the buzz on Saint Abigail, patron saint of honeybees and beekeepers. This medieval Irish saint from County Clare, Ireland, also known as Saint Gobnait, left her domestic family to find a home serving God and his people. In this episode, learn more about this saint’s literal path to holiness, and the glory of living a life worthy of eternity. Listen to Talking Saints with Laurie Power and Pete Sanchez on the Talking Catholic channel at Apple ...
Feb 11, 2022•10 min
This week we continue our occasional series on women religious by chatting with Sister Stacie Marie Gagnon of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We chat with her about her own vocation calling and the unique twists and turns it took, including long stints in Europe, the Middle East and China, before returning stateside for the moment as she’s teaching fifth-graders in Saint Michael the Archangel Regional School in Clayton, NJ. She left our hosts Kari Janisse and Mike Wa...
Feb 07, 2022•56 min
It’s one of our favorite weeks of the year, Catholic Schools Week, where we take a few days to revel in the Catholic school experience and encourage families to consider a Catholic school education for their children. Our hosts Marianela Nunez and Mike Walsh are joined by three great Catholic elementary school principals: Patti Paulsen of Holy Angels School in Woodbury, Sr. Michele DeGregorio of St. Margaret’s School in Woodbury Heights, and Kathy O’Callaghan of St. Peter’s School in Merchantvil...
Jan 30, 2022•55 min
The parish level portion of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops has completed in the Diocese of Camden, so we invited the co-chair of the diocesan efforts, Donna Ottaviano-Britt, on to the show to discuss the process so far, what the plan is for the spring, and what she would advise other dioceses who are still working through the parish process. It’s a very informative chat with our hosts Jen Mauro and Mike Walsh. [Producer’s note: Mike referenced in the episode the parish...
Jan 23, 2022•56 min
It’s bittersweet day at Talking Catholic, one of our favorite guests and colleagues is leaving Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden for bigger things. Over the last 5 years, Cristina Chillem has gone from a volunteer straight out of college to an expert grant writer and program director overseeing the Health and Wellness initiative in Salem County. She’s moving on to take the reigns of another organization in Salem County as executive director, but before she goes, Mary McCusker and Mike Walsh ...
Jan 17, 2022•56 min
With big legislative news in New Jersey having been announced today, we decided to bring you an emergency crossover Talking Catholic and Am I Not Here podcast to bring everyone up to speed on the details. Joining Am I Not Here host Tara Smith and Talking Catholic host Mike Walsh is the New Jersey Catholic Conference executive director James King and Jennifer Ruggiero, head of the Secretariat for Family and Pastoral Life for the Diocese of Metuchen. The New Jersey State Senate and General Assembl...
Jan 07, 2022•56 min
Talking Saints kicks off the New Year with a discussion on this month’s Saint, John Neumann. Hosts Laurie and Pete dive into the life of this 19th century Bohemia-born Redemptorist and American bishop, who built more than 90 churches and established the first Catholic diocesan school system in the United States. This missionary can teach all how to courageously serve the Lord, no matter where the journey takes us. Saint John Neumann, patron saint of immigrants and educators, pray for us! Listen ...
Jan 04, 2022•16 min
