
The Poco a Poco Podcast with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
Join Fr. Innocent, Fr. Angelus, Fr. Pierre Toussaint, and Fr. Mark-Mary, priests of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, each week to discuss authentic faith in today's world as they share stories and wisdom from years of prayer, community life, and work with the poor.
It all comes back to this: finding deep friendship with Jesus. Seeing him work in our lives everyday. Through topics as varied as mental health, the confessional, and NYC neighbors, the Poco A Poco Podcast is here to accompany all pilgrims as they walk step by step, little by little, poco a poco on their pilgrimage to the Father's house.
The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal are a Catholic religious order founded in the South Bronx, NY. Learn more or subscribe to their updates at www.franciscanfriars.com
Latest episodes

Apr 16, 2025 • 54min
Jubilee and Christ the High Priest
Episode 260 - Jubilee and Christ the High Priest - Series on Jesus and the Jubilee (Part 9) What if your true identity is more sacred than you ever imagined? Jesus is the High Priest, the one mediator who intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father, offering not just prayers but our wounds, our brokenness, and all of humanity's sins back to God. As His followers, we are invited to imitate and be conformed to this sacred role—offering spiritual sacrifices and living lives marked by worship, intercession, and transformation. In this episode, we dive deep into our priestly identity—a calling not reserved for a few, but extended to all who follow Christ. We explore what it means to be guardians of worship, to beautify the liturgy, and to walk with a priestly heart, especially as we enter into the profound moments of Holy Week. Join us in this episode as we talk about the characteristics of a priestly heart and how, through Jesus, we are called to reclaim our identity, not just as believers, but as guardians of what is holy. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Check out the 24-hour adoration chapel in New York https://perpetualadoration.nyc 🛒 As we dive into this Lent, check out Jesus and the Jubilee https://stpaulcenter.com/jubilee/ 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ 🛒 Check out some rosaries we made in collaboration with Chews Life https://bit.ly/chewslife-poco

Apr 9, 2025 • 53min
Jubilee and Christ the Bridegroom
Episode 259 - Jubilee and Christ the Bridegroom - Series on Jesus and the Jubilee (Part 8) Who do we belong to? God shows us that from the beginning, Adam and Eve were bride and bridegroom. There's an original identity that God holds, which is super important for the meaning of our lives as men and women, for the meaning of our lives as sons and daughters. The covenant of marriage is established in the garden as something deeply meaningful. It's like it's a commentary on what we're made for. We belong to God and to each other. As a part of our journey to restore our identities during this Jubilee year, we're diving deep into the identity of Christ as the bridegroom. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Check out the 24-hour adoration chapel in New York https://perpetualadoration.nyc 🛒 As we dive into this Lent, check out Jesus and the Jubilee https://stpaulcenter.com/jubilee/ 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ 🛒 Check out some rosaries we made in collaboration with Chews Life https://bit.ly/chewslife-poco

Apr 2, 2025 • 54min
Jubilee and Identity
Episode 258 - Jubilee and Identity - Series on Jesus and the Jubilee (Part 7) Have you ever felt disconnected from your true purpose, your true identity? If you never felt security and safety in your sonship or daughterhood, or never felt at home anywhere in the world, or never experienced the truest form of love from The Father. We want to let you know that Jesus has a personal, unique desire to restore you back to the relationship with the Father. Jesus is the person of Jubilee, and he ushers us back to restoration to the Garden, where Adam and Eve lived in perfect communion with The Father, where people knew who they were and who God was. The real invitation for the gift of this Jubilee year is to put Jesus and his heart in front of us and to live in our deepest identity as sons and daughters of the Father. In this episode, we're gonna talk about the Jubilee and our identity. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Check out the 24-hour adoration chapel in New York https://perpetualadoration.nyc 🛒 In preparation for Lent, check out Jesus and the Jubilee https://stpaulcenter.com/jubilee/ 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ 🛒 Check out some rosaries we made in collaboration with Chews Life https://bit.ly/chewslife-poco

Mar 26, 2025 • 48min
Jesus and Jubilee ft. Dr. John Bergsma
Episode 257 - Jesus and Jubilee ft. Dr. John Bergsma - Series on Jesus and the Jubilee (Part 6) What does Jesus want for us this Jubilee? This Jubilee year, Jesus extends a heartfelt invitation to us all to experience His boundless mercy, forgiveness, and love—to share in His life. Join us as we reflect on His call to renewal, reconciliation, and deeper faith. Let this sacred time be a journey of spiritual transformation and a reminder of God's grace in our lives. In this episode, together with our special guest, Dr. John Bergsma, we will bring it home and discuss Jesus and the Jubilee and what He invites us to in this consecrated time. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Check out the 24-hour adoration chapel in New York https://perpetualadoration.nyc 🛒 In preparation for Lent, check out Jesus and the Jubilee https://stpaulcenter.com/jubilee/ 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ 🛒 Check out some rosaries we made in collaboration with Chews Life https://bit.ly/chewslife-poco

Mar 19, 2025 • 48min
Patriarchs, Prophets and Jubilee ft. Dr. John Bergsma
Episode 256 - Patriarchs, Prophets and Jubilee ft. Dr. John Bergsma - Series on Jesus and the Jubilee (Part 5) What role do the prophets play in this Jubilee? The heart of the Jubilee is spiritual freedom and spiritual reconciliation, and the prophets saw that. They saw that the Jubilee is a year to recall ourselves to our fundamental relationship with God. Once again, this year, we are invited to reconcile with God and dive into this virtuous circle of reconciliation, forgiveness, and freedom so that we can be relieved of our sins and internal struggles that enslave us and ultimately express the same circle with others. God continues to send prophets to try and keep calling us back to relationship with Him. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Check out the 24-hour adoration chapel in New York https://perpetualadoration.nyc 🛒 In preparation for Lent, check out Jesus and the Jubilee https://stpaulcenter.com/jubilee/ 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ 🛒 Check out some rosaries we made in collaboration with Chews Life https://bit.ly/chewslife-poco

Mar 12, 2025 • 44min
The Exodus and Jubilee ft. Dr. John Bergsma
Dr. John Bergsma, a renowned biblical scholar, joins the discussion on the deep connections between the Exodus and Jubilee. The conversation highlights the transformative power of the Jubilee year, urging listeners to embrace forgiveness and mercy. They explore the Exodus narrative as a powerful metaphor for liberation and spiritual renewal, linking the ten plagues to divine intervention and human identity. Additionally, the role of reconciliation as a path to modern freedom is examined, inspiring a call to deepen one’s relationship with God.

Mar 5, 2025 • 43min
The Garden and Jubilee ft. Dr. John Bergsma
Episode 254 - The Garden and Jubilee ft. Dr. John Bergsma - Series on Jesus and the Jubilee (Part 3) What is restored during the Jubilee? The Jubilee reminds us that hope is available to us, a hope that we can be restored to our original state and roles as it was in the Garden of Eden before sin came into the world. In this episode, together with our special guest, Dr. John Bergsma, we will discuss the Jubilee's gift and invitation and how it relates to the reality of the Garden of Eden. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! Check out the 24-hour adoration chapel in New York https://perpetualadoration.nyc 🛒 In preparation for Lent, check out Jesus and the Jubilee https://stpaulcenter.com/jubilee/ 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ 🛒 Check out some rosaries we made in collaboration with Chews Life https://bit.ly/chewslife-poco

Feb 26, 2025 • 53min
Lent Prep: Desert Spirituality
Episode 253 - Lent Prep: Desert Spirituality Why does the desert during Lent matter? Why do we journey there every year for three weeks, alongside our brothers in faith? The desert isn't just a place of physical challenge or adventure—it's a biblical invitation to encounter God in a profound way. It’s a place where we can strip away distractions, face our vulnerabilities, and open ourselves to God's transformative presence. The desert is both a terrifying and purifying place, just as it is for Jesus. In this episode, we dive deep into the spiritual significance of the desert during the Lenten season. Join us as we explore the desert’s deep spiritual meaning, and how this sacred journey is not just for the body but also for the spirit. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ 🛒 In preparation for Lent, check out Jesus and the Jubilee https://stpaulcenter.com/jubilee/ 🛒 Check out some rosaries we made in collaboration with Chews Life https://bit.ly/chewslife-poco

21 snips
Feb 19, 2025 • 55min
Lent Prep: On Fasting
Episode 252 - Lent Prep: On Fasting What does fasting in Lent mean to you and to Jesus? Fasting from food for the sake of health benefits is good, however fasting to bring us closer in relationship with Jesus, now that's something else entirely. Fasting is also an opportunity to feel the hunger in our bodies so that God can come and fulfill our hunger in the deepest ways. In this episode, we'll dive deeper into what fasting truly means and how we can say No to ourselves, through simple sacrifices and say Yes to create more space for intimacy with Jesus. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ 🛒 In preparation for Lent, check out Jesus and the Jubilee https://stpaulcenter.com/jubilee/ 🛒 Check out some rosaries we made in collaboration with Chews Life https://bit.ly/chewslife-poco

Feb 12, 2025 • 53min
Jesus's Favorite Things: Seeing the Unseen
Episode 251 - Jesus's Favorite Things: Seeing the Unseen, Series on Jesus's Favorite Things (Part 6) How do you think Jesus sees us? Jesus's heart desires to see us, to have the unseen be seen. But he doesn't just want us to be seen as collected and consumed. Jesus likes us for us and sees us for who we are and how we want to be truly seen. This episode talks about how Jesus sees us, particularly the person or parts of our lives that are overlooked and the unseen. The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/ 🛒 In preparation for Lent, check out Jesus and the Jubilee https://stpaulcenter.com/jubilee/ 🛒 Check out some rosaries we made in collaboration with Chews Life https://bit.ly/chewslife-poco
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