We welcome back Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Rector Fr. Adam Cichoski this week to chat about his role this year as padrino - a great honor from Camden’s Puerto Rican community - of the Parada San Juan Bautista in Camden, NJ, what life has been like as rector of the bishop’s church for the past two years, and his devotion to World War II and Korean War Army Chaplain Fr. Emil Kapaun, who was declared a Servant of God by Pope John Paul II in 1993. To learn more about Camden’s upcoming Pa...
Jun 17, 2024•56 min
Human beings are built for stories – and have been since the time of the greatest of all faith storytellers: Jesus. He told stories that were able to draw in diverse crowds with different points of view. In a similar way, every person’s story – every witness – is the most important thing one can share with another person. Join hosts Mike Walsh and Jen Mauro on this week’s episode of “Talking Catholic,” as Dr. Lee DelleMonache, diocesan director of religious education, and fan-favorite Donna Otta...
Jun 10, 2024•55 min
“O Lord, you have been our refuge in all generations.” Bishop, evangelist, and saint, Boniface, the “Apostle of Germany,” is the subject of the latest Talking Saints on his feast day, June 5. Hosts Laurie and Pete unravel the life of this 8thcentury Benedictine monk, who reformed the Church and converted thousands across Europe, and could have quite possibly started the tradition of the Christmas tree. Saint Boniface, patron of brewers and tailors, pray for us! Listen to Talking Saints with Laur...
Jun 05, 2024•20 min
The intersection of science in faith is often thought to be contentious, however, for Catholic scientists it’s actually considered a fertile ground for discussion and support. Joining us this week is the president of the Society of Catholic Scientists, Stephen Barr, Ph.D. The professor emeritus of physics at the University of Delaware is a founding member of the society that now boasts more than 2,000 members. Dr. Barr discusses with our hosts Jen Mauro and Mike Walsh why the society was formed,...
Jun 03, 2024•55 min
It’s been a festive May for the Catholic faithful of South Jersey. In addition to ordaining two transitional deacons and a new priest, the Diocese of Camden has been blessed with its first coadjutor bishop! On May 21, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Joseph Williams as coadjutor bishop of the diocese who will succeed Bishop Dennis Sullivan when he retires on his 80th birthday, March 17, 2025. But what is a coadjutor bishop and why is he here? To help answer those questions and others, we brought in...
May 27, 2024•56 min
Co-hosts Marianela Nunez and Mike Bress took the podcast on the road this week to the Port-O-Call Hotel in Ocean City to talk with Catholics School principals at their annual end-of-the-year retreat, which included an extra special surprise guest… the world famous Phillie Phanatic! Patti Paulsen, Holy Angels Catholic School, Woodbury; Elizabeth Mariani, Sacred Heart School, Camden; and Tom Iacovone, Gloucester Catholic High School, Gloucester City; hopped on the podcast to share their takeaways ...
May 20, 2024•56 min
Jubilee 2025 is fast approaching (it will open on Christmas Eve 2024). The jubilee is a great religious event that takes place every 25 years and features the opening of Holy Doors, pilgrimages, a focus on reconciliation, and a commitment to serve God with joy. In preparation for the jubilee year, Pope Francis marked 2024 as a Year of Prayer and published a pastoral resource called “Teach us to Pray.” To highlight the Year of Prayer and this great resource, our Joyful Disciples host Donna Ottavi...
May 12, 2024•56 min
The spring sports season is in full swing for elementary and high schools across the Diocese of Camden, which means it is time to check in with Catholic Star Herald sports reporter Mark Zimmaro. Co-hosts Jen Mauro and Mike Bress join forces once again to talk with Mark about team outlooks across various spring sports including baseball, softball, track and field, and boys and girls lacrosse. They also discuss Mark’s ability to balance family – with two children now! – while covering area high sc...
May 06, 2024•56 min
It’s a “two-for-one” special on today’s Talking Saints, as Laurie and Pete explore the lives and examples of Saints Philip and James, apostles and martyrs of Jesus. Learn why they share a feast on May 3; how Philip’s curiosity led to a crucial Church teaching; and why James is known as “the Less.” Saints Philip and James, pray for us! Listen to Talking Saints with Laurie Power and Pete Sanchez on the Talking Catholic channel at Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Alexa or...
May 03, 2024•21 min
It’s another laughter-filled episode of Talking Catholic, as co-hosts Jen Mauro and Mike Walsh welcome a new guest to the show: Deacon Dean Johnson, who serves in Church of the Holy Family, Sewell. First, Deacon Dean shares what he learned during his time in the diaconate program – both educationally and spiritually. “The more I got to know about the Church, the more I fell in love with her,” he says. He goes on to share how the diaconate is a way of life – one full of joy, patience, listening a...
Apr 28, 2024•55 min
Naming Saint George the Patron of England, King Edward III referred to him as “the most invincible athlete of Christ.” This 4th century soldier and martyr, indeed, was strong and untiring in his witness, inspiring others to put their faith in the one true God. In the latest Talking Saints, Laurie and Pete remember this his feast day, and share the life of this “dragonslayer” who continues to give courage to all fighting the spiritual battle. Saint George, patron saint of soldiers, archers, and f...
Apr 23, 2024•17 min
Technology plays a huge role in our everyday lives, including how we choose, and enroll into, Catholic schools. Co-hosts Marianela Nunez and Michael Bress brought in colleagues Robin Parrish and Jeff Stoddard from the education technology company FACTS (https://factsmgt.com) to discuss the impact that technology has had on schools and for inquiring parents. Filled with excellent tips, tricks and best practices, the group talked about the latest trends in enrollment, how to construct the best web...
Apr 22, 2024•58 min
“How do we be Church together?” Such is among the topics “Talking Catholic” tackles in this week’s episode with guests Michael Canaris and Maureen H. O’Connell. Discussing all things synodal, Canaris – longtime columnist for the Catholic Star Herald and associate professor of theology at Loyola University Chicago’s Institute of Pastoral Studies – and O’Connell, author and professor of Christian Ethics in the Department of Religion and Theology at La Salle University in Philadelphia, talk about h...
Apr 15, 2024•56 min
This week, Kari and Mike have a great Holy Week wrap-up conversation, speak with one of the newest members of the Catholic Church, and review the excellent new movie “Cabrini” with guest reviewers Fr. John Rossi, pastor of Saint Bridget University Parish, Candice Rauchfuss and Sam Brown. Our guests really get into the nuts and bolts of the new movie about Mother Cabrini and how they came away very pleased with its nuance. Cabrini is now playing in select theaters across the country. Listen to Ta...
Apr 08, 2024•56 min
We’ve come to Holy Week, the most unique and opportunity-laden time period on the Catholic calendar. Jen and Mike sat down with Fr. Stephen Robbins, Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Camden to discuss many of the nuances of the Holy Week Masses and services. It’s a really great conversation with Fr. Robbins dropping golden nuggets of information and wisdom throughout the episode! Listen to Talking Catholic everywhere podcasts can be found, at https://talking...
Mar 25, 2024•56 min
It’s been a while since we’ve chatted with our college friends. So, with the spring semester halfway finished, we welcome back prodigal host and Rowan University Catholic Campus Ministry director Kari Janisse (https://www.stbridgetup.org/rowan-catholic-campus-ministry) and her Stockton University Newman Club counterpart Brittany Shields (https://www.stocktonccm.com). To give us what a day in the life of a college student looks like and how Catholic campus ministries can be a refuge for students ...
Mar 17, 2024•56 min
Catholic School principals are involved in every aspect of running their school. Recently, we had the opportunity to sit down with three of the newer elementary school principals in the Diocese of Camden – Sr. Santa Theresa, St. Teresa Regional School, Runnemede; Elizabeth Mariani, Sacred Heart School, Camden; and Ramona Bregatta, Our Lady Star of the Sea Regional School, Atlantic City. The trio talked about the journey to their current role, the uniqueness of the job, and the highs and lows sin...
Mar 11, 2024•56 min
“Do good for yourself, by doing good for others.” The action-packed, self-sacrificial life of Saint John of God is chronicled in the latest Talking Saints. The story of March’s saint has it all- drama, chivalry, high adventure, and the ultimate conversion. Listen to Laurie and Pete’s conversation on this inspiring servant of the poor, sick, and abandoned now! Listen to Talking Saints with Laurie Power and Pete Sanchez on the Talking Catholic channel at Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitc...
Mar 08, 2024•21 min
This week we welcome on to the show Mark Berchem, founder of NET Ministries and well-known Catholic speaker, to chat about the upcoming Step Up Day for Men and Dads event he is co-presenting with Manuel Huerta. Also joining us are our colleagues from the Diocese of Camden’s pastoral wing, Andrés Arango and Dr. Michael Sims. Our guests showcase what attendees to the free event on March 16th in Vineland will witness and why it’s imperative men make time to focus on their family life. For more info...
Mar 03, 2024•56 min
For the past four years, a seasonal homeless shelter has operated in Atlantic City that is like no other in the history of the resort town. The Saint Joseph Winter Shelter at Quaremba Hall on the campus of Saint Michael Church (the Parish of Saint Monica) in the city’s Ducktown area has been the newest outlet for the charisms of the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal. Joining us on the show today to discuss the shelter, the amazing work of the volunteers who support it, and the nature of the reli...
Feb 25, 2024•56 min
It’s Catholic Press Month so we decided to bring in a few heavy hitters, Gretchen Crowe, Editor in Chief of OSV News and Jennifer Brinker, Reporter for the St. Louis Review. These two are media veterans with decades of experience who also sit on the board of directors for the Catholic Media Association, where Gretchen currently serves as president. The duo chat with hosts Jen Mauro and Mike Walsh about their vocation journeys, their desire to find and cultivate the next generation of Catholic jo...
Feb 19, 2024•55 min
This week, Jen Mauro and the Diocese of Camden’s Vocations Advisory Board had the pleasure of touring Saint Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, NY, also know as Dunwoodie, to learn more about how the school has introduced the propaedeutic stage to their seminarian program. Including a walk through of the great facility, the VOAB group were able to sit down with seminarians currently in this new intense beginning stage of seminary that was only recently rolled out in the United States after the announc...
Feb 12, 2024•56 min
Your hosts Jen Mauro and Mike Walsh had a busy week, so busy they couldn’t land a guest. However, they didn’t want you to miss out on all the happenings so they decided to do a recap show that included some information on Catholic Press Month, how Catholic Schools Week went, the upcoming Valentine’s Day/Ash Wednesday convergence, the proper way to build a PB&J sandwich, the mystery of saintly relics, and how our humble Catholic Star Herald newspaper has been providing global Catholic news to...
Feb 04, 2024•55 min
This week we welcome back Michael Sims, Th.D, for a chat about his upcoming pre-Lenten reflection series titled “Why we do what we do as Catholics” to be held at Saint Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Marmora on February 1 & 8. This series is one of several events Dr. Sims is helping coordinate throughout South Jersey over the next several months. Side note: we also do a deep dive on the benefit of journaling. To learn more about Dr. Sims’ upcoming reflection series, go to: https://www.saintmaxkol...
Jan 29, 2024•56 min
"Have faith and keep up your courage." As Talking Saints kicks off a new year, Laurie and Pete unpack the life of Saint Angela Merici, a 16th century virgin and foundress. This devout young woman, called by God to establish the Company of St. Ursula, devoted her life to the education of young women and the care of the poor. On her feast day, may we follow her example in caring for those God has placed in our lives. Saint Angela Merici, pray for us! Listen to Talking Saints with Laurie Power and ...
Jan 27, 2024•19 min
The Diocese of Camden’s Office of Catholic Education recently welcomed its newest staff member, Sarah Kerins, Ph.D., Assistant Superintendent for School Services. On this week’s episode, host Marianela Nunez and co-host Michael Bress talk with Sarah about her journey through Catholic education as a teacher, principal, and most recently, Director of Enrollment and Marketing for the Diocese of Allentown as well as her own Catholic faith journey. The group also discusses Sarah’s decision to join th...
Jan 22, 2024•57 min
We bring in two favorites this week to talk about the next phase of the Synod and clarify some of Mike’s comments from last episode regarding what happens when a new bishop is named to a diocese. Fr. Jason Rocks and Donna Ottaviano-Britt bring their wealth of knowledge to educate Jen and Mike on these unique elements of Catholicism. Listen to Talking Catholic everywhere podcasts can be found, at https://talking.catholicstarherald.org/show/talking-catholic, or catch us on Domestic Church Media ra...
Jan 14, 2024•56 min
We start off the New Year with a great chat with three South Jersey Catholic authors - historical novelist Laura Quinn, poet Nicole Rollender, and spiritual resource writer Domenic Scarcella. Each of them have recent publications that either draw on or are focused on the Catholic faith. It’s a great conversation regarding the writing process and what draws them to the art form of the written word. Learn more about our quests and their works go to www.lauraquinnwrites.com, www.nicolemrollender.co...
Jan 07, 2024•54 min
The role of the Director of Catholic Identity is a very special one at the high schools in the Diocese of Camden. The priests that hold these positions are not only spiritual directors for the student body, but are often seen as advisor, counselors or someone to talk to when a student is having a rough day. On this episode of Talking Catholic, host Marianela Nunez and co-host Michael Bress speak with two Directors of Catholic Identity, Fr. Stephen Robbins from Camden Catholic High School and Fr....
Jan 02, 2024•55 min
“I am ready to die for my Lord, that in my blood the Church may obtain liberty and peace.” Saint Thomas Becket, 12th century Chancellor of England and Archbishop of Canterbury, held much power in life, but after his martyrdom in his own Cathedral, he ascended to even greater glory. In this month’s Talking Saints, hosts Laurie and Pete trade stories of his life and friendship, and later conflict, with King Henry II, and his staunch faith that challenges us to ask ourselves: who will we serve, God...
Dec 28, 2023•21 min
