Jesuitical

Hello from Rome! Ashley and Zac are joined by their colleague Gerard O’Connell, a journalist who has covered the Vatican since 1985. They bring questions from listeners about the Synod on Synodality, which began this week: How will the discussions inside the synod hall work? How will the synod deal with internal polarization? What will determine the success of this synod? They also discuss: The changes that Pope Francis has brought to the synod, making it more open and inclusive. How to listen and remain open to the Holy Spirit. Lay involvement in the synod, especially of women and young people. Links from the Show Analysis: The synod is not Vatican III. It’s Pope Francis’ implementation of Vatican II. America’s synod coverage What’s on Tap?Falanghina (Italian white wine) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Jesuitical, Zac and Ashley are joined by Chris Hadley, S.J., to talk about the oft-overshadowed third person of the Trinity: the Holy Spirit. Father Hadley, an associate professor of systematic theology at Santa Clara University, uses his expertise in pneumatology to guide us through a great discussion about: How Catholics understand the Spirit, from biblical times to today Signs of the Holy Spirit at work in the world How Catholics can open themselves to the Holy Spirit—at the Synod and beyond In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley announce that they will travel to Rome to cover the Synod on Synodality, which is shaping up to be the biggest church event since Vatican II. Jesuitical will cover the broader themes at the synod and welcome guests from around the world to share their insight and experience. They will be recording twice a week, with some episodes exclusive to Patreon, so subscribe for all of our coverage.Links from the ShowChristopher M. Hadley, S.J.America’s synod coverage plansWhat’s on Tap?Old-Fashioneds Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Jesuitical, Zac and Ashley are talking about the migrant crisis in New York City and the work Catholics are doing to respond. They are joined by Richard Slizeski, the senior vice president for mission at Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens. They talk to him about: Migrants’ often harrowing experiences coming to the United States What’s missing in the political debates around the migrant crisis in New York How Catholic Charities’ mission and Catholic identity informs their work on the ground In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss recent revelations about what World War II-era Pope Pius XII knew about the Holocaust as it was occuring, as well as Pope Francis’ recent conversation with Bill Clinton.Links from the Show As New York’s migrant crisis makes headlines, Catholic Charities gets to work Letter Found in Vatican Archives Confirms Church Was Told About Death Camps; more info Conversation between Pope Francis and Bill Clinton What’s on Tap?Dark beer—Guinness stout, specifically Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Zac and Ashley are talking about the psychological care that seminarians (i.e., priests-in-training) receive as part of their formation. They are joined by Maribel Laguna, the founder and owner of Cor Sacrum Counseling and Consulting. They talk to Maribel about: The Catholic Church’s relationship with psychology and counseling, historically and today The unique challenges seminarians are facing The type of psychological screening that goes into the decision to accept someone into a seminary program In Signs of the Times, they discuss Pope Francis’ new pick to lead the Vatican’s doctrinal office and the best thing to go on tour in the United States this year: the relic of St. Jude’s arm.Links from the show:Pope Francis appoints Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernandez as the new head of Vatican office for doctrineSt. Jude’s arm is on tour in the US; tour scheduleBecome a member of Jesuitical’s Patreon communityInvite Jesuitical to your college, parish or community! Send us an email: jesuitical@americamedia.orgWhat’s on tap?Grapefruit Margarita  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the season premier of Jesuitical’s seventh season, Zac and Ashley talk with their friend and colleague James Martin, S.J., who is out with a brand new book, Come Forth: The Promise of Jesus's Greatest Miracle. They ask Father Martin: If Jesus actually raised Lazarus from the dead (and do Catholic have to believe it) What Mary, Martha and Lazarus can teach us about friendship And how we can all come forth into new life in our daily lives In Signs of the Times, we discuss the “DJ Priest” who made headlines at World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, and ask: Were Pope Francis’ criticisms of “reactionary” Catholics in the United States fair (or helpful)?Links from the show:The (not so) curious case of priests who DJ in the history of electronic musicPope Francis speaks out against his critics in the U.S. Catholic ChurchPope Francis’ criticisms of ‘reactionary’ U.S. Catholics are counterproductiveCome Forth: The Promise of Jesus's Greatest MiracleExclusive Excerpt: What can the story of Lazarus teach us about new life?Become a member of Jesuitical’s Patreon communityWhat’s on tap?Corpse Reviver No. 2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have a great summer bonus episode, all about baseball! To listen to the full episode, become a patron of Jesuitical!This is the first season with a pitch clock in Major League Baseball, which was implemented to try to speed up the game and appeal to younger viewers. But to some longtime baseball fans the rule change feels gimmicky and disrespectful to the grand tradition of America's pastime.If the debate sounds familiar, that's because the Catholic Church is at a similar pivotal moment in its history. Younger people are not filling the pews as previous generations have, and Catholics are grappling with how to reform itself without compromising its authentic tradition. On today's episode, two past guests and baseball fanatics return to debate the pitch clock and draw analogies between the game and the church they love. J.D. Long-Garcia is a senior editor at America and Greg Hillis runs the Aquinas Center of Theology at Emory University. You can read their takes on the pitch clock here:J.D. Long-Garcia, "The pitch clock is a travesty. The Catholic Church must learn from baseball’s mistake."Greg Hillis, "Quit Trying to ‘Fix’ Baseball" and "In Praise of the Pitch Clock"Help support the production of Jesuitical by becoming a patron! It's simple, easy, and you can listen to bonus episodes on your podcast app! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the season finale of “Jesuitical,” Zac and producer Sebastian Gomes talk with Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J., who leads the Vatican’s department for social justice and human development. (Ashley was out of the country at the time of the interview). Cardinal Czerny is also the co-author of the new book Siblings All, Sign of the Times: The Social Teaching of Pope Francis. We talk to him about: The disputed legacy of Vatican II How Pope Francis has developed the church’s social teaching How the church should relate to the outside world In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley point ahead to some stories to look out for this summer. And in As One Friend Speaks to Another, they look back at the season and the many graces it held.Links from the show:Jesuitical listener surveyLearn more about the O’Hare fellowshipVatican confirms Pope Francis will enjoy a ‘staycation’ in JulyPope Francis’ prep advice for World Youth Day: talk to your grandparents firstSiblings All, Sign of the Times: The Social Teaching of Pope Francis by Cardinal Michael Czerny and Father Christian BaroneIgnatian Wisdom Fellowship from Loyola University ChicagoSacred Heart Major Seminary’s online course "An Introduction to Spirituality”What’s on tap?Rum sunset, prepared by outgoing O’Hare fellow, Chris Parker Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Jesuitical, Ashley and Zac chat with Bryan McCarthy, who teaches philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg, and is the author of a new paper, “Christianity and Psychedelic Medicine: A Pastoral Approach.” They discuss:  What the church teaches about drugs and intoxication How psychedelic drugs are being used in therapeutic settings, and how Christians should respond Bryan’s own religious experiences while using psychedelic drugs  During Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac give initial reactions to the new working document for the Synod on Synodality and discuss a curious story involving a fake priest and serious labor violations out of California. Links from the show:  Bryan’s paper Vatican releases Synod document calling for discussion of women, LGBT Catholics, church authority and more California restaurant had fake priest hear workers’ confessions, Labor Department says Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this year, Pope Francis called most Catholic homilies “a disaster.” Well, we’re doing something about it. This week, Ashley and Zac welcome Ricardo da Silva, S.J., their colleague and the host of the brand new podcast from America Media, “Preach: The Catholic Homilies Podcast.”“Preach” releases weekly and features a diverse cast of the finest Catholic preachers. On each episode, preachers open up their hearts and minds, sharing their spiritual lives, approaches to interpreting Scripture and techniques for preparing the best homilies.Whether you’re curious about preaching methods, or you’re a preacher looking for inspiration and best practices, “Preach” is here to accompany you through the liturgical year with great homilies and conversations about them.Follow “Preach: The Catholic Homilies Podcast” on your podcast app! Or at AmericaMagazine.orgIf you know a priest, deacon or lay preacher who would benefit from “Preach,” please share it with them! And, if you want to recommend a great preacher for “Preach,” let us know here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley chat with Linda K. Wertheimer, a journalist and the author of the book Faith Ed: Teaching about Religion in an Age of Intolerance. In a recent article in The New Republic, Linda explores renewed efforts in some parts of the country to get prayer back into public schools. They discuss: Linda’s experience of being the only Jewish student in a public school with weekly Christian Bible classes The history of school prayer at the Supreme Court How to balance religious freedom and inclusion in an increasingly diverse country In Signs of the Times, the hosts give an update on Pope Francis’ recovery after his three-hour abdominal surgery and discuss the approval of what would be the first publicly funded religious charter school in the nation.Finally, Ashley reflects on her vision of heaven.Links from the show:Surgeon: Pope Francis is ‘alert’ and cracking jokes after hernia operationCatholic virtual school approved by Oklahoma board would be first religious charter in the U.S.Inside the Christian Legal Crusade to Revive School Prayer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices