Afleveringen
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This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are live at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a conversation with Eric Sundrup, S.J., who provides spiritual direction (or spiritual violence, depending on who you ask) for the podcast. The hosts and Eric share their own experiences discerning their paths as young adults and offer insights from Jesuit spirituality to young people navigating big life questions.
They discuss:
The need for community and friends you can be vulnerable with while discerning
How consolation and desolation can guide discernment
Advice for young people discerning their path
During Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley are joined by Stuart Wilson-Smith, C.S.P., the Catholic chaplain at the University of California, Los Angeles, to discuss the recent student protests taking place on campus. Father Stu describes the scene on U.C.L.A.’s campus, how the Catholic center offered support and spaces for interfaith dialogue to students, and where he saw God amid the protests.
Links from the show:
UCLA’s Catholic chaplain: The world saw scenes of violence at campus protests. Here’s what they didn’t see.
Learn more about the Paulists
What’s on tap?
Kentucky Bourbon from the Neeley Family Distillery
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Ryan Burge set out to learn how many Catholics agree with church teachings on three key pro-life issues: abortion, euthanasia and the death penalty. The answer? Fewer than 1 percent. This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are joined by Ryan, an associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University and the author of the “Graphs about Religion” Substack, to discuss his findings on the beliefs of American Catholics today.
They discuss:
Trends in Catholic opinion on pro-life issues.
How faith-based beliefs and secular politics interact in our polarized society.
The role of data in understanding religious trends and effectively communicating church teaching.
In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss the eucharistic pilgrimages taking place ahead of July’s National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. They also cover the controversial commencement speech given by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker at Benedictine College.
Links from the show:
Cafeteria Catholicism?
Planning to join up with the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage? Here’s what you need to know.
Harrison Butker’s commencement speech and the danger of a Catholic ‘dead traditionalism’
Young U.S. Catholics want more orthodoxy. That doesn’t mean they reject Vatican II.
Podcast: When Catholic doctrine can change—and when it can’t
What’s on tap?
Carajillos (2 parts cold brew, 2 parts Licor 43)
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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This week on Jesuitical, Zac and Ashley are joined by Andrea Von Kampen, a singer-songwriter and friend of the show. Hailing from Lincoln, Neb., Andrea discusses her new album, “Sister Moon.” (For those keeping track at home, yes, that is a St. Francis of Assisi reference.) Recorded at Union Pool in Brooklyn, N.Y., they share a wide-ranging conversation touching on spirituality, live music, the environment and more.
They discuss:
The spiritual and environmental influences on “Sister Moon”
How Andrea writes about important issues without being preachy
The joys and challenges of touring as a singer-songwriter, especially post-Covid
In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley cover the ins and outs of the recent synod meeting of parish priests at the Vatican. They also discuss a “home blessing challenge” in Cincinnati, then close out by talking about the Catholics who recently received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from a fellow Catholic, President Joe Biden.
Links from the Show
Sister Moon
Andrea Von Kampen's website
Parish priests had a synod meeting with the Vatican. But will they be included in October’s assembly?
Cincinnati priests compete to meet parishioners in home blessing challenge
Jesuit Father Gregory Boyle and Nancy Pelosi to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Francesco: A Pope Francis Documentary
What’s on tap?
Nine Pin Hard Cider
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This week on Jesuitical, Zac and Ashley share their conversation with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on the role of a church in a polarized society. As the Archbishop of Washington, D.C., “the epicenter of division,” Cardinal Gregory has devoted himself to bringing people together across vast political and faith-based differences, lending profound insight (and humor!) to this live conversation, which was hosted by Georgetown University’s Catholic Social Thought and Public Life and Leadership Roundtable.
They discuss:
Cardinal Gregory’s conversion as a boy and life as a priest
Watching people come together through the synod, from diocesan meetings to the universal session in Rome
The cardinal’s advice for young people who feel disengaged from politics
During Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley are joined by one of Jesuitical’s assistant producers, Delaney Coyne, to break down a recent debacle surrounding an A.I. priest. They cover the laicization of Catholic Answers’ “Father Justin” and discuss the kind of insights this technology can—and can’t—provide.
Want to advertise your school, ministry program, book or anything else on Jesuitical? Send us an email at [email protected]
Links from the show
The real lesson behind the ‘Father Justin’ AI priest debacle.
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Few events inspire a media spectacle quite like the election of a pope. The white smoke, cardinals locked in the Sistine Chapel, secret ballots and ancient rules—it’s catnip for secular and Catholic journalists alike. But how did these customs evolve—and how might they change in the future?
To find out, Zac and Ashley talk with Miles Pattenden, a historian, expert in the history of papal conclaves and the author of Electing the Pope in Early Modern Italy, 1450-1700.
They discuss:
How the election of popes evolved from St. Peter to today
The role of the Holy Spirit—and politicking—inside conclaves
And whether the secrecy of conclaves can survive in a modern world that prizes transparency
In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss a new Justice Department investigation into last year’s leaked F.B.I. memo about the potential domestic threat posed by “traditional Catholics.” Plus, in a talk about forgiveness, a Michigan bishop called on Catholics not to “hate” politicians like Joe Biden—and then called the president stupid.
Want to advertise your school, ministry program, book or anything else on Jesuitical? Send us an email at [email protected]
Links from the show:
No Bias Found in F.B.I. Report on Catholic Extremists
Biden ‘doesn't understand the Catholic faith,’ bishop says: ‘I’m not angry at him, he’s just stupid’
Electing the Pope in Early Modern Italy, 1450-1700, by Miles Pattenden
MilesPattenden.com
What’s on tap?
Amaro Spritz
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This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are joined by Megan Nix, the author of Remedies for Sorrow: An Extraordinary Child, a Secret Kept from Pregnant Women, and a Mother's Pursuit of the Truth. The memoir details Megan’s journey after her daughter, Anna, contracted a little-known but relatively common congenital disease, cytomegalovirus, or CMV, during Megan’s pregnancy.
They discuss:
Megan’s experience of her daughter’s diagnosis and the lack of awareness and support surrounding CMV
The tension of loving Anna as she is and wanting to improve her quality of life
How St. Thomas Aquinas’s five remedies for sorrow helped Megan understand the joys and sorrows of raising a child with disabilities
In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley talk about a recent proposal out of Baltimore that would cut the number of parishes from 61 to 21. They also cover an imposter priest wreaking havoc throughout the New York area and Pope Francis’ plans to reinstate Pope Benedict XVI’s former secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, as an apostolic nuncio.
What’s on tap?
A mojito (with fresh mint!)
Links from the show:
Baltimore archdiocese proposes cutting 61 parishes to 21 in the city
Imposter Priest Who Robbed Catholic Churches Nationwide Arrested in California
After public rift, Francis restores Benedict XVI’s former secretary to Vatican service
Remedies for Sorrow: An Extraordinary Child, a Secret Kept from Pregnant Women, and a Mother's Pursuit of the Truth
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This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are joined by Amir Hussain, a theology professor at Loyola Marymount University. Amir shares his insights about navigating life as a Muslim teaching theology at a Catholic university, prompting a conversation ranging from the imperative and blessings of interfaith dialogue to life without a cell phone.
They also cover:
Amir’s experience completing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius
The history and diversity of Muslims in the United States
Finding common ground and sharing experiences with people of different faiths
In Signs of the Times, Jesuitical’s producer, Sebastian Gomes, and “Inside the Vatican” host Colleen Dulle join Ashley to break down “Dignitas Infinita,” the recent declaration from the Vatican covering issues surrounding human dignity like gender theory, human trafficking, surrogacy and more.
What’s on tap?
Boulevardier
Links from the show:
New Vatican doc ‘Dignitas Infinita’: What it says on gender theory, surrogacy, poverty and more
Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell discuss Dignitas Infinita on “Inside the Vatican”
What meeting John Wooden taught a Muslim theologian about Jesuit education
Muslims and the Making of America
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On Aug. 19, 2014, the world watched in horror as the American journalist James Foley read a script prepared for him by ISIS terrorists, who filmed him from an unknown location in the Syrian desert. Mr. Foley, who had been in ISIS captivity for almost two years, was then beheaded by his captors. That is how Diane Foley learned that her son, who had been kidnapped in Libya on a previous reporting trip, would not be coming home this time.
In the new book, American Mother, Diane teams up with Colum McCann, an award-winning and international best-selling author, to tell her and her son’s story. Both authors join Zac and Ashley this week for a powerful conversation about grief, forgiveness and perseverance.
They discuss:
How Diane’s son James discovered his vocation as a journalist
Why Diane decided to meet with one of her son’s killers
How her Catholic faith sustained her through James’s years of captivity and after his death
In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss a new book of interviews with Pope Francis, in which he discusses his relationship with Pope Benedict XVI and the conclave that elected him and his predecessor. Plus, Cardinal Wilton Gregory calls President Biden a “cafeteria Catholic” during an appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Easter Sunday, and the Society of Jesus releases a strongly worded statement on the war in Gaza.
Links from the show:
Pope Francis opens up about Benedict XVI, past conclaves and more in new book
Important U.S. cardinal says Biden is a ‘cafeteria Catholic’
‘We cannot be silent’: A statement from the Jesuits on Gaza
American Mother, by Colum McCann with Diane Foley
Bonus episodes available now through Patreon:
The quirky history of papal conclaves
Cardinal Gregory on young people, politics and becoming a listening church
Live show!
If you live in the Cincinnati area, you’re invited to join Zac, Ashley and Father Eric Sundrup (Jesuitical’s spiritual director) for a live show at Xavier University, on Tuesday, April 9, 6:30-7:30 pm. The event will be held in the Conatan Board Room in Schmidt Hall and will be followed by Mass.
What’s on tap?
Cielo prosecco, a.k.a, Easter Bubbly
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Although “Jesuitical” is often recorded over drinks, longtime listeners know that the hosts abstain from alcohol during Lent, which means there’s no better time to welcome Derek Brown to the show. He’s an award-winning mixologist, the founder of Positive Damage Inc., and an expert on no- and low-alcohol cocktails and mindful drinking. Derek joins Zac and Ashley for an enlightening conversation about drinking, its place in our culture and evaluating its place in our lives.
They discuss:
Derek’s journey from award-winning bartender to mindful drinking advocate—and how his faith informed that decision
Why it seems like so many people today are re-evaluating their relationship with alcohol
Tips for taking a more mindful approach to drinking
Links from the Show
Confessions of a Catholic Bartender
Derek’s Positive Damage substack
What’s on tap?
Pinch hitters (0% ABV—it’s still Lent!)
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It’s an election year, and like it or not, the race is heating up, so “Jesuitical” went to Washington, D.C., to hear from an expert about the state of play. A long-time friend of the show, N.P.R.’s Scott Detrow, is the weekend host of “All Things Considered” and a co-host of the podcasts “Consider This” and “Trump’s Trials,” N.P.R.’s weekly recap of the former president’s multiple court cases. He joins Zac and Ashley for a refreshing conversation about politics and faith as we gear up for November’s election.
They discuss:
Joe Biden and Donald Trump, who both recently clinched their respective parties’ nominations
The ethics of covering politics in today’s polarized climate
The role of religion in U.S. politics
In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley cover the diplomatic dust-up caused by the pope’s recent comments about the war in Ukraine before moving into a conversation about Francis’ 11th anniversary of his election, which was on March 13. The hosts talk about continued criticism of Pope Francis, as well as their own opinions about Francis’ papacy.
Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. And if you’d like Zac and Ashley to come to your city, send us an email at [email protected].
March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with the award-winning TV newscaster Carol Costello. 7:30 p.m. PST in LMU’s Life Science Auditorium. All are welcome!
Links from the show:
After backlash, Vatican clarifies Pope Francis’ call for Ukraine to have ‘courage of the white flag’
Spanish bishop rebukes priests who joked about wishing pope goes to heaven soon
Attacking Pope Francis, anonymous cardinal seeks to curb the influence of his papacy
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The Oscars are this Sunday, so Zac and Ashley welcome John Dougherty, the moderator of America’s Catholic Movie Club, to unpack the state of play—and the Catholic themes—in some of this year’s Best Picture nominees. John, who is also the director of campus ministry at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia, is an expert in finding God in all films. He guides the hosts through a fun-filled conversation on the best stories and performances of 2023.
John, Zac and Ashley discuss:
- How movies can help us to better understand ourselves and our culture
- Thoughts on Best Picture nominees like “Barbie,” “Oppenheimer,” “The Holdovers,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and more (plus, Zac gives his pick for St. Ignatius Film of the Year)
- Predictions and hopes for this year’s Oscar winners
In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s recent lawsuits against Catholic migrant shelters, Church Militant’s announcement that they will cease operations in April after losing a defamation lawsuit and Pope Francis’ announcement that he will wash the feet of inmates at a women’s prison on Holy Thursday.
Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. And if you’d like Zac and Ashley to come to your city, send us an email at [email protected].
March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with the award-winning TV newscaster Carol Costello. 7:30 p.m. PST in LMU’s Life Science Auditorium. All are welcome!
Links from the show:
John Dougherty’s writing
The return of the Catholic Movie Club: Why going to the movies is a sacred act
Hard truths, Catholics and women in Hollywood: takeaways from this year’s Oscar noms
Catholic charities and religious freedom are under fire at the border
Church Militant will cease publication in April after losing defamation suit
Pope Francis to do Holy Thursday feet washing at women’s prison
Support Jesuitical on Patreon
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It’s the question every college senior dreads when they’re back home for Christmas break: What are you going to do after graduation? At a live recording of Jesuitical at Loyola University Chicago, Zac and Ashley talk with Paddy Gilger, S.J., about how students (and the rest of us) can use the tools of Ignatian discernment when making more life decisions.
They discuss:
Whether college is a bubble—and if that is a good or bad thing
How they saw God working in their lives as they made the leap from college to careers
The importance of doing discernment in community
Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. And if you’d like Zac and Ashley to come to your city, send us an email at [email protected].
March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with American TV Newscaster Carol Costello. Time and venue TBD.
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This week on Jesuitical, Zac and Ashley welcome Meg Kissinger, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of While You Were Out: An Intimate Family Portrait of Mental Illness in an Era of Silence. Meg’s memoir employs her journalistic skills to tell a tale of a Catholic family navigating mental illness. It serves as a great foundation for a profound, personal conversation about faith, tragedy, and trusting in an institution even when people in it have failed you.
They discuss:
Meg’s family’s experience with mental illness and suicide
The evolution of the church’s pastoral care for those impacted by suicide
How community life can help us to have better conversations about mental health
In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss the recent news that the prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Archives, Archbishop Sergio Pagano, is retiring—and dishing Vatican secrets on the way out. They then cover the recent controversy over the funeral of activist Cecilia Gentili, which was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York last week.
If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.
What’s on tap?
Coffee—it’s still Lent!
Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. And if you’d like Zac and Ashley to come to your city, send us an email at [email protected]
Feb. 28: Crystal City Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA Live interview with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on “A Listening Church in a Divided Nation” from 7-8 p.m. Reception to follow from 8-9 p.m. Please RSVP here.
March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with American TV Newscaster Carol Costello. Time and venue TBD.
Links from the show:
When my siblings died by suicide, the church failed us. Now, it’s finally listening.
The keeper of the Vatican’s secrets is retiring. Here’s what he wants you to know.
Cardinal Dolan on St. Pat’s funeral for transgender activist: ‘I think our cathedral acted extraordinarily well’
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To ring in the Lenten season, “Jesuitical” is talking Exodus 90, a 90-day ascetic spiritual practice for men centered around three pillars: prayer, fasting and fraternity. Terence Sweeney, an assistant teaching professor in the Honors Program and Humanities Department at Villanova University, joins Zac and Ashley to chat about the hugely popular program—why people love it, what it leaves out and what Catholics who don’t participate can learn from it.
They discuss:
- The absence of communal Lenten practices in today’s church and how Exodus 90 tries to fill that void
- Exodus 90’s shortcomings and the dangers of spiritual meritocracy in ascetic practice
- What all Catholics can take from Exodus 90 this Lent
In this week’s Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley are joined by Christine Lenahan, one of America’s O’Hare Fellows. They discuss controversial depictions of Christ, from the “He Gets Us” Super Bowl ads and a new painting of Jesus that caused quite an uproar in Seville, Spain.
What’s on tap?
Water. Happy Lent.
Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. And if you’d like Zac and Ashley to come to your city, send us an email at [email protected]
Feb. 28: Crystal City Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA Live interview with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on “A Listening Church in a Divided Nation” from 7-8 p.m. Reception to follow from 8-9 p.m. Please RSVP here.
March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with American TV Newscaster Carol Costello. Time and venue TBD.
Links from the show:
- Fasting, praying and working out: What ‘Exodus 90’ gets right—and wrong—about asceticism for men
- Controversial artistic depictions of Jesus are nothing new
- In defense of the ‘He Gets Us’ Super Bowl ads
- 101 Things To Give Up For Lent
- Terence Sweeney's podcast episode, "A Medieval Anti-racist"
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If you’re still Catholic, there are presumably things you love about the church. But it can be tempting to focus on the negatives: the scandals, the boring homilies, the lackluster music. This week, Zac and Ashley are doing something a little different: talking about why they love the church with Bishop Donald Hying of Madison, Wis. at a special live recording at St. Thomas Aquinas parish, they discuss:
- How Bishop Hying’s love for the church changed when he became a bishop
- The saints, the sacraments and the Catholic imagination
- How to balance love and hard truths in pastoral work
In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss a street artist known for his paintings of Pope Francis (and who now has the Vatican’s official stamp of approval) and a new document from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith that reminds priests that when it comes to administering the sacraments, they need to stick to the script.
Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. And if you’d like Zac and Ashley to come to your city, send us an email at [email protected]
Feb. 28: Crystal City Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA Live interview with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on “A Listening Church in a Divided Nation” from 7-8 p.m. Reception to follow from 8-9 p.m. Please RSVP here.
March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with American TV Newscaster Carol Costello. Time and venue TBD.
Links from the show:
- Street artist of ‘Super Pope’ fame gets official Vatican stamp of approval
- Vatican to priests: Stick to the script for Sacraments
- Bishop Hying: Why I Love the Church
What’s on tap?
Fernet Branca on ice
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This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are joined by Matthew Cressler, a scholar of Catholicism and race. Matthew created “Bad Catholics, Good Trouble,” a webcomic series about anti-racism and struggles for justice across American Catholic history, which frames an enlightening discussion about racial justice in the Catholic Church.
They discuss:
- Institutional and individual Catholic responses to the civil rights movement
- The history of white supremacy in American Catholicism
- What it means to be a “good” or “bad” Catholic in the face of injustice
In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss allegations of sexual misconduct against Quebec’s Cardinal Archbishop Gérald Lacroix; a summit in Rome that brought together pairs of Catholic and Anglican bishops from 27 countries; and Martin Scorsese’s latest meeting with Pope Francis.
Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. And if you’d like Zac and Ashley to come to your parish, diocese, center or school, send us an email at [email protected]
Feb. 28: Crystal City Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA Live interview with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on “A Listening Church in a Divided Nation” from 7-8 p.m. Reception to follow from 8-9 p.m. Please RSVP here.
March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with American TV Newscaster Carol Costello. Time and venue TBD.
Drink:
Old Fashioneds
Links from the show:
- Bad Catholics, Good Trouble
- Anglican, Catholic bishops travel, pray, work together
- Québec’s Cardinal Lacroix, named in sex abuse lawsuit, will temporarily step aside from duties
- Martin Scorsese Meets Pope Francis, Announces Film About Jesus
- The Joan and Bill Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage at Loyola University Chicago
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Amy-Jill “AJ” Levine, a Jewish scholar of the New Testament and author of The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus, sits down with Zac and Ashley at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, an Anglican Cathedral in New York City. It’s a dynamic interfaith conversation in an ecumenical setting, and AJ helps break open Jesus’ Jewish identity and context for the hosts.
They discuss:
AJ’s Jewish upbringing in Massachusetts and how she became interested in studying the New Testament
Common anti-Jewish tropes and misconceptions in New Testament interpretation
How interfaith dialogue can help Catholics and Jews better understand each other and ourselves
And a final reminder that the deadline to apply to the O’Hare Fellowship is fast approaching. O’Hare Fellows spend a year living in New York City and working at America’s offices in midtown, where they will generate content for America’s multiple platforms: print, web, digital, social media and events. If you or someone you know might be interested in the O’Hare Fellowship, the final deadline to apply is February 1, 2024. Apply here!
Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. Please email us if you plan to attend any of the events below at, [email protected]
Feb. 28: Crystal City Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA Live interview with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on “A Listening Church in a Divided Nation” from 7-8 p.m. Reception to follow from 8-9 p.m. Please RSVP here.
March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with American TV Newscaster Carol Costello. Time and venue TBD.
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On December 18, the Vatican’s doctrinal office released “Fiducia Supplicans,” a declaration that allowed priests to give simple or pastoral blessings to couples in irregular situations, including those in same-sex relationships. This week on “Jesuitical,” Father Alex Santora, pastor of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph parish in Hoboken, N.J., joins Zac and Ashley to explain how “Fiducia Supplicans” is being received in his parish.
They discuss:
- Father Santora’s reaction to “Fiducia Supplicans” and how he plans to discuss the declaration and enflesh it in his parish
- Taking a pastoral approach to complicated situations and accompanying people even when you have to tell them “no”
- The importance of listening in pastoral ministry
In an infernal Signs of the Times segment, Zac and Ashley cover Pope Francis’ recent comments that he hopes hell is empty, the subsequent criticisms from some Catholics, and why an empty hell might not be such a crazy idea, even if it’s not a dogma of faith. They also dive into a recent poll from Gallup on Pope Francis’ approval ratings in the U.S. (it is an election year, after all) and explore how our country’s ideological divides might impact our view of the pontiff.
After the interview, Ashley and Zac welcome another one of Jesuitical’s assistant producers, Delaney Coyne, to share about her experience as an O’Hare Fellow at America. She talks about how her love for social justice led her to apply to the fellowship, the work she does at America and finding God in disagreement. If you or someone you know might be interested in the O’Hare Fellowship the final deadline to apply is February 1, 2024. Apply here!
Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. Please email us if you plan to attend any of the events below at, [email protected]
Jan 22: Vintage Brewing Company (Madison West) from 7-9 pm. Meet and greet with Zac and Ashley, over drinks! Location: 674 South Whitney Way, Madison, WI 53711
Jan. 23: St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Madison, Wisconsin. Mass at 5:30 pm followed by a live interview with Bishop Donald Hying on “Why we love the church” from 6:30-8:30pm.
Jan. 25: Loyola University Chicago (Ignatius House) in Chicago, IL. Live discussion with Patrick Gilger, S.J. on, “What the hell should I do with my life?: God, discernment and vocation outside the college bubble” from 7-9 p.m. Student Mass to follow at 9pm (Note: This event has limited capacity. Please RSVP to [email protected])
Feb. 28: Crystal City Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA Live interview with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on “A Listening Church in a Divided Nation” from 7-8 p.m. Reception to follow from 8-9 p.m. Please RSVP here.
March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with American TV Newscaster Carol Costello. Time and venue TBD.
Links from the show:
- The Editors: Vatican document on same-sex blessings does not confuse church teaching—it deepens it
- Pope Francis says he hopes hell is ‘empty’
- 58% of Americans, 77% of U.S. Catholics View Pope Favorably
What’s on tap?
White Claws
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This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley welcome John Martens, a professor of theology and director of the Centre for Christian Engagement at St. Mark’s College at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver to shine a light on the Bible passages that have shaped Pope Francis’ papacy.
They discuss:
- How the Call of Matthew and the Parable of the Good Samaritan shape the pope’s view of a church that is a “field hospital” for sinners
- Debates over the connection between justice, truth and mercy
- Criticisms of Pope Francis’ approach, especially in the U.S. Church
In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley cover a Vatican official’s recent call to reconsider mandatory priestly celibacy in the church. They also discuss Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, the head of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, who has come under fire for a book he wrote 25 years ago on spirituality and sensuality. And after the interview they welcome another friend to share about his faith: Michael O’Brien, one of America’s O’Hare Fellows who helps produce “Jesuitical.” He shares what drew him to the fellowship and how his post-grad year at America has enriched his faith. If you or someone you know might be interested in the O’Hare Fellowship the final deadline to apply is February 1, 2024. Apply here!
Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. Please email us if you plan to attend any of the events below at, [email protected]
Jan 22: Vintage Brewing Company (Madison West) from 7-9 pm. Meet and greet with Zac and Ashley, over drinks! Location: 674 South Whitney Way, Madison, WI 53711
Jan. 23: St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Madison, Wisconsin. Mass at 5:30 pm followed by a live interview with Bishop Donald Hying on “Why we love the church” from 6:30-8:30pm.
Jan. 25: Loyola University Chicago (Ignatius House) in Chicago, IL. Live discussion with Patrick Gilger, S.J. on, “What the heck should I do with my life?: God, discernment and vocation outside the college bubble” from 7-9 p.m. Student Mass to follow at 9pm (Note: This event has limited capacity. Please RSVP to [email protected])
Feb. 28: Crystal City Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA Live interview with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on “A Listening Church in a Divided Nation” from 7-8 p.m. Reception to follow from 8-9 p.m. Please RSVP here.
March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with American TV Newscaster Carol Costello. Time and venue TBD.
Links from the Show
Pope Francis’ focus on the Bible and mercy—and why so many Catholics are uncomfortable with it
Apply to the O’Hare Fellowship
RSVP to our event in Arlington, Virginia!
What’s on Tap?
New Fangled
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Christmas is a time for traditions. From the quirky to the classic, every family has a favorite holiday movie, dish or custom. This week on Jesuitical, Zac and Ashley talk to four of their colleagues about their Advent and Christmas traditions—some old, some aspirational, some completely made up but all filled with the joy and anticipation of the season.
This is Jesuitical’s last episode of 2023—unless you become a member of the Patreon community. Next week, members will get a bonus mail-bag episode in their feeds. Zac and Ashley answer listener questions about the synod, the future of the parish and more. Sign up today!
Links from the show:
The perfect imperfections of the Nativity pageant, by Heather Trotta, vice president for advancement
What my mother’s Advent gift tradition taught me about the true meaning of giving, by Molly Cahill, associate editor
A (Midwestern) discussion about Advent traditions, by Joe Hoover, S.J., poetry editor
I love my Advent wreath. I just keep forgetting to light it, by Kerry Weber, executive editor
What’s on tap?
Prosecco with pomegranate seeds…and eggnog with orange Fanta
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