Jesuitical

You’ve heard of the “nones.” It seems like every week there is a new book, article or survey trying to explain the increasingly large segment of millennials and Gen-Zers who check “none” when asked about their religious affiliation. Tara Isabella Burton, a theologian, author and journalist, is less interested in what these young people are leaving behind (institutional religion) than in how they are finding or making their own meaning. From Harry Potter fan forums to SoulCycle, Crossfit and witchcraft, Americans are forming niche communities that play the role traditionally filled by churches. We ask Tara about the origins of the trend, the dangers of picking and choosing our own beliefs and rituals and whether institutional religion has a chance of reaching what she calls religion “Remixers.” In Signs of the Times, Pope Francis celebrates a Mass with 100 worshippers for the centenary of St. John Paul II’s birth—the first large gathering at St. Peter’s Basilica since the coronavirus shut down churches in Italy. Next, we bring on America’s national correspondent, Michael O’Loughlin, to talk about the reopening of churches in the United States. Finally, we ask: Should Michael Jordan be a (secular) saint? Zac makes the case for hagiography in the church and the world of sports. Tell us what you think about the episode on our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and help other listeners find Jesuitical by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts. Please consider supporting the show by becoming a member of our Patreon community. Patrons get access to an exclusive newsletter written by one of your hosts each week! Links from the show: Pope Francis celebrates St. John Paul II centenary: ‘God sent his people a prophet.’ U.S. Catholic dioceses release plans for reopening churches Michael Jordan and the problem (and necessity) of hagiography Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World Why you (yes you) should care about theology What’s on tap?Old Fashioned’s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Countries around the world are fighting the Covid-19 pandemic and Vatican City State is no exception. But since the coronavirus shut down Italy in early March, Pope Francis has pointed toward the world to come...on earth. The host of America’s “Inside the Vatican” podcast, Colleen Dulle, joins Ashley, Zac and Vivian to explain what Pope Francis has done to respond to the pandemic at the Vatican while calling on humanity to collaborate in building a new world that is more equitable and sustainable. Colleen also discusses the visionary life of Madeleine Delbrêl, “the French Dorothy Day,” as she is sometimes described. Colleen is currently working on a biography of the 20th century French activist, poet, mystic and visionary of lay leadership in the Catholic Church whom she describes as “the saint for Jesuitical listeners.” We treasure the community you all have helped to build on Jesuitical’s Facebook page. Don’t hesitate to share your experience during this difficult moment in the life of our church and the world. We cannot make this show or grow this community without your support. Please consider giving through Patreon. And thank you. Links from the show:  Subscribe to “Inside the Vatican” on Spotify, Apple, Google Articles by Colleen Dulle:Who is Madeleine Delbrêl—the “French Dorothy Day” Pope Francis made venerable this weekend? Subway mysticism: How Madeleine Delbrêl transformed my commute Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For teens struggling with substance abuse and addiction, the typical pressures of high school can spill over into the realm of disastrous. Recovery high schools—with smaller class sizes, counseling and sober social activities—are designed to support students in recovery. The first recovery high school opened in 1979; today there are over 40 nationwide. But before Kolbe Academy, which opened last year in Bethlehem, Pa., none of the recovery schools were Catholic. This week we chat with the school’s (Jesuit-educated) founding principal, John Petruzzelli, about what makes Kolbe Academy unique and why he thinks it’s important for the church to be involved in supporting students in recovery. In Signs of the Times, we talk about Ashley’s feature article on Wyoming Catholic College and look at how Covid-19 has affected men and women religious and other vulnerable elderly populations. As always, thanks for listening and supporting our show. We’ll see you soon. Links from the show:  Kolbe Academy A visit to the rural Catholic college that has 171 students, 12 horses and zero textbooks Supreme Court tackles clash of Catholic schools, ex-teachers SOAR! What’s on tap? Water, carbonated (Ashley) and not (Zac).  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In every age there are a small number of Catholics who intentionally isolate themselves from society to serve God and the church through lives of “prayer and labor.”. They’re called monks. Gregory Hillis, an associate professor of theology at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky., knows one community of monks particularly well: the Cistercian monks at the Abbey of Gethsemani. In a recent essay for America, he shares some wisdom from the monks for living in solitude during a time of pandemic. Greg joins Ashley, Zac and Vivian in this bonus episode to explore the rigorous yet transforming practices of monastic life, the power of silence and letting go of a false sense of control over our lives. They also discuss the most famous monk of Gethsemani Abbey, the writer and mystic Thomas Merton. We treasure the community you all have helped to build on Jesuitical’s Facebook page. Don’t hesitate to share your experience during this difficult moment in the life of our church and the world. We cannot make this show or grow this community without your support. Please consider giving through Patreon. And thank you. Links from the show:  “We’re all monks now,” by Gregory Hillis Books by Thomas Merton referenced by Greg Hillis: "The Intimate Merton: His Life from His Journals" "New Seeds of Contemplation" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A 25-minute conversation between President Trump and hundreds of bishops and other Catholic leaders sparked an intense debate about the right way for Catholic leaders to engage in politics. While the conference call got a lot of attention, it is just one story among many affecting the church in the United States, and as the national correspondent for Crux, Chris White has to try to cover them all. We talk to Chris about how he broke the story of the conference call, what the church might look like after the coronavirus pandemic and how he understands the relationship between his identities as a “Catholic” and a “journalist.” In our weekly survey of Catholic news, we highlight the Franciscan spiritual master Richard Rohr’s cameo on “The Simpsons” and a study examining the efficacy of prayer on patients recovering from Covid-19. We also discuss the disproportionate effect that the coronavirus pandemic is having on black Americans.    Links from the show:Richard Rohr on The Simpsons Clinical Study Considers The Power Of Prayer To Combat COVID-19 U.S. Bishop Chairmen Issue Statement Urging State and National Leaders to Examine African American Communities by COVID-19 Trump says he’s ‘best president in history of the Church’ in call with Catholic leaders Chris White on Twitter What’s on tap? Margaritas (kind of) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the Covid-19 pandemic quarantined America’s editor at large, James Martin, S.J., he felt he had to offer some spiritual solace to people struggling with fear, isolation and uncertainty. So, he logged onto Facebook from his room in the America House Jesuit community and went live. Father Martin’s daily “faith sharings,” as he calls them, reach tens of thousands of people around the world who are cooped up at home because of the pandemic. They include Scripture readings and his personal reflections, scholarly commentary and live Q&A, including prayer requests. “Most of it is fun and upbeat. But in the comments from time to time you’ll see, ‘My father just died of coronavirus,’” Father Martin says. “It’s a sad time for so many people, but they’re desiring a sense of community, and that’s why so many people have tuned in.” Ashley, Zac and Vivian discuss with Father Martin how to pray in quarantine and what life is like in a small Jesuit community in Midtown Manhattan.  We treasure the community you all have helped to build on Jesuitical’s Facebook page. Don’t hesitate to share your experience during this difficult moment in the life of our church and the world. We cannot make this show or grow this community without your support. Please consider giving through Patreon. And thank you. Links from the show:  Daily faith sharing with James Martin, S.J. James Martin's weekly newsletter “The Examen”, a podcast for daily prayer hosted by James Martin, S.J. “Jesus, A Pilgrimage” by James Martin, S.J. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Father Michael Trail had administered the anointing of the sick many times in his first three years as a priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Usually, he would sit at the bedside and hold the hand of a person nearing death while family and other loved ones gathered around to pray and say goodbye. In the time of the coronavirus pandemic, the essentials of the sacrament are the same but it looks very different. As part of the archdiocese’s task force of “priest-anointers” ministering to Covid-19 patients, Father Michael must now wear a gown, mask and gloves while administering the sacrament. There is no hand-holding, and no family members are allowed in the room. We ask Father Michael about the spiritual and emotional toll of ministering to patients and families in these difficult circumstances and how he thinks about the growing calls to reopen society given the suffering he has seen up close. In Signs of the Times, we discuss the meeting between President Trump and Catholic bishops and education leaders. Plus, a look at the annual survey of the priestly class of 2020 and how the coronavirus is affecting those without stable housing.    We treasure the community you all have helped to build on Jesuitical’s Facebook page. Don’t hesitate to share your experience during this difficult moment in the life of our church and the world. We cannot make this show or grow this community without your support. Please consider giving through Patreon. And thank you. Links from the show StoriesTrump says he’s ‘best president in history of the Church’ in call with Catholic leadersCARA study on new ordinands spots trends worth watchingSeminaries must hire, involve more women, Cardinal Ouellet saysWhat will happen to people who are homeless as Covid-19 crisis continues? How you can helpCatholic Charities USA National Alliance to End Homelessness What’s on tap?Miscellaneous brews from our understocked bars Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the staff at America realized that Covid-19 could overrun the United States, the idea of drafting an original prayer was put on the table.  The responsibility fell to executive editor Kerry Weber, who was experiencing more anxiety than most about the virus, especially on the train commuting into Manhattan from New Jersey. She is pregnant with her third child. “I got to take something that was, frankly, genuine fear and channel that into...a conversation that was between me and God.” That prayer has since been translated into multiple languages and made its way into the homes and hearts of hundreds of thousands of people. Today on the show, Kerry reveals the inspiration for the prayer and discusses the joys and anxieties of journeying through pregnancy during a global pandemic (something else she’s written about). We treasure the community you all have helped to build on Jesuitical’s Facebook page. Don’t hesitate to share your experience during this difficult moment in the life of our church and the world. We cannot make this show or grow this community without your support. Please consider giving through Patreon. And thank you. Links from the show:  https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/03/02/coronavirus-prayer https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/04/09/hope-and-uncertainty-being-pregnant-during-coronavirus-pandemic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In late February, when the coronavirus still seemed like a far-off threat to many Americans, officials in West African nations began to prepare their public health response: They brought out thermometers, protective equipment and handwashing stations. When the first cases arrived in large cities, schools and airports were quickly closed. These nations did not have a large number of cases (and still don’t). What they do have is the fresh memory of the Ebola crisis that hit the region in 2014-16, taking over 11,000 lives and crippling already impoverished countries. This week, we talk with Jennifer Overton, the regional director for West Africa for Catholic Relief Services, which has decades of experience providing emergency health services in the region. We ask Jennifer what the United States can learn from the West African response, how the experience of Ebola changed the people of the most affected nations and what the role of the church is during the current pandemic.  And in Signs of the Times: Ever wonder what a day in the life of the pope would be like? We discuss “Pope Simulator,” a computer game in development that lets you influence the course of world events soft papal power and “Bless units.” Next, a Catholic school uniform company is donating face masks made with that iconic Catholic plaid to health care workers. Finally, we introduce a new recurring segment, in which we take a deep dive into the different ways vulnerable populations are experiencing the coronavirus pandemic—and what we can do to help. This week, we cover the unique hardships faced by migrants in detention centers and abroad. Let us know what you thought about the show and where you found God this week on our Facebook page. We are committed to accompanying you all during these challenging times both through this podcast and the larger Jesuitical community. If you can support our work by becoming a member of our Patreon community, we would be most grateful.    Links from the show Stories Pope Simulator promises a 'realistic' depiction of life as the Supreme Pontiff Catholic school uniform company now making, donating face masks As coronavirus spreads amid deportations, bishops call for protection of migrants Trump to Temporarily Halt Immigration Into the U.S. Amid Coronavirus Crisis Congolese archbishop highlights double challenge of Ebola and coronavirus Learn more and give Catholic Relief Services Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. Kino Border Initiative Hope Border Institute Catholic Charities USA Covid-19 Resource Center What’s on tap? “The real holy water” (a.k.a., Scotch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In early March, Patrick Gilger, S.J., boarded a plane in New York en route to Milan. He was on a research trip and going to study Italian in the historic cosmopolitan city located in Italy’s northern Lombardy region. The cross-Atlantic flight had only 12 passengers on it. When he arrived, the city had just been shuttered. Italy was on the verge of a brutal month of suffering and death at the hands of Covid-19. Outside of his window, in the otherwise empty piazza below, a group of teenagers sat casually, drinking and singing. “It feels different here,” he wrote in America, “It is as if Milan, under quarantine, has asked me to renounce the particular version of our American response to fear that I have made my own: the unceasing effort to control, to master, to define and thereby dictate what is really real and truly true. And thereby be secure.” In this bonus episode, “Father Paddy” as he’s known on the popular YouTube series “Jesuit Autocomplete,” reflects on his experience living in an epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, the humiliations (and humility!) that come with learning a new language and how his isolation has connected him to God and others. We treasure the community you all have helped to build on Jesuitical’s Facebook page. Don’t hesitate to share both the joys and challenges you experience during this difficult moment in the life of our church and the world. We cannot make this show or grow this community without your support. Please consider giving through Patreon. And thank you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices