Fr. Dave Pivonka TOR, president of Franciscan University, shares insights on the vital role of personal formation for college students. He warns against over-spiritualizing struggles and highlights how human formation deficits have impacted the Church. The conversation covers modern challenges like technology's effect on mental health and the importance of community support. Fr. Pivonka emphasizes the transformation that starts within and radiates out, illustrating how hope and identity play crucial roles in spiritual growth.

Dr. Jared Staudt, Director of Content at Exodus 90, joins guest host Dr. Gerry Crete to dive into personal formation for men. They discuss the powerful role of asceticism in fostering love and growth amidst challenges posed by secularism. The conversation explores vulnerability and authenticity, highlighting how fraternity enhances spiritual development. Listeners will discover transformative practices that deepen spiritual connection and the significance of community support in personal journeys toward meaning and liberation.

Joey Pontarelli, founder of Restored, shares his compelling journey of healing from the impact of his parents' divorce. He discusses the emotional turbulence faced by teens and young adults, emphasizing the necessity of community and storytelling in recovery. Joey challenges listeners to confront their fears about love and relationships, revealing how past experiences shape self-worth. The conversation also highlights his ministry's innovative approach to support, including therapist networks and mentorship programs designed to foster resilience and personal growth.

Dr. Edward Sri, Catholic theologian co-founder of FOCUS shares with us the origin story, how young Catholic adults are starving for love and truth. He lays out how FOCUS forms their missionaries to live out the four dimensions of personal formation (human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral) in a “vision for life.” He offers a pyramid model for the integration of formation with human formation as the base, and he describes how open FOCUS is to bringing in other Catholic organizations, apostolates, and professionals to help in the formation of their missionaries and those they serve. And we discuss where FOCUS missionaries can turn when they recognize they need help. 

Jason Evert, a veteran expert in chastity education, shares insights from his extensive work with youth. He emphasizes reframing chastity positively, connecting it to love and joy. Evert advocates for early formation in chastity and discusses the challenges young people face, including addiction and societal stigma. He highlights the importance of open conversations about human sexuality within families and promotes community resources available at Chastity.com to empower youth. Personal stories serve as a beacon of hope, illustrating the transformative power of a virtuous life.

Fr. Mike Schmitz, a dynamic speaker, shares insights on the transformative power of silence in personal growth. Sr. Josephine Garrett connects human formation to pastoral focus, urging Catholics to integrate secular knowledge into faith practices. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone passionately advocates rediscovering sacred silence as a gateway to deeper spirituality. Together, they emphasize the importance of the Eucharist in nurturing virtues and fostering a holistic relationship with God, enriched by the wisdom of great thinkers like Blaise Pascal and St. Augustine.

Dr. Peter Malinoski shares some dark moments of his story of medical trauma from when he was 11 years old in 1980 with Kathryn Wessling and Gabriel Crawford from Catholic Story Groups at CatholicStoryGroups.com. Discover the power of exploring stories. Join him for this episode to discover how essential story is to your personal formation. We first discuss what a story is, review tips for writing your story, and offer recommendations for listening to a story well. 

Tim Glemkowski and Joel Stepanek share insights on personal formation at the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress, discussing transformation, preparation tips for attendees, and the incorporation of the human, intellectual, spiritual, and pastoral dimensions into the Congress experience.

Join Dr. Peter and our audience members to experience a guided meditation on your parts’ needs for integrated formation. Guided by John Paul II’s four dimensions of personal formation (human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral) you have an opportunity to see what a part of you needs. Several audience members debrief from the exercise and we all discuss with some Q&A. 

Dr. Bob Schuchts shares his expertise in personal formation, discussing the importance of love in healing, felt safety and trust, and distinguishing natural from spiritual. The podcast explores the four dimensions of formation, the integration of personal formation in therapy, and the transformative impact of his work at the John Paul II Healing Center.