AMDG: A Jesuit Podcast

From Refugee to Celebrity Chef with Lidia Bastianich Oct 30, 2024

When the celebrity chef and restauranter Lidia Bastianich was just a few months old, the city her Italian family lived in was assigned to Yugoslavia as part of the reorganization of Europe after World War II. Her family became exiles without a proper homeland. Eventually, her family fled to Italy, where they lived in a refugee camp for two years. With the help of the Catholic Church, her family was resettled in the United States in 1958. It is her own family history and her own close personal connection with the Society of Jesus that prompted Lidia to join the board of the Jesuit Refugee Service USA recently. The mission of Jesuit Refugee Service is to accompany, serve and advocate for the rights of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons. Founded by Jesuit superior general Fr. Pedro Arrupe in 1980, in direct response to the humanitarian crisis of Vietnamese refugees, JRS today works in 58 countries worldwide to meet the educational, health and social needs of refugees. Lidia is most well known for Italian cooking, which she has shared with the world in almost 20 cookbooks, several restaurants and a handful of extremely popular cooking shows on PBS. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked her about her career and how her family’s moving story led her to where she is today. They also talked about the unique and mysterious power of a shared meal, plus differences between Italian and Italian-American cooking and how the US at its best is a place where cultures from around the world can come, encounter each other and grow in harmony. Lidia also gave Mike a few tips for his own cooking! She is a delightful storyteller and an insightful conversation partner and we know you’ll love getting to know her in this extended interview format. Lidia Bastianich: https://lidiasitaly.com/ Jesuit Refugee Service USA: https://www.jrsusa.org/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Why Faith Leads Us to Lobby Lawmakers with Tom Mulloy Oct 23, 2024

From the Jesuit Media Lab, this is AMDG. I’m Mike Jordan Laskey. Today’s episode is the fourth and final one in our series on faith and politics leading up to the 2024 presidential election here in the U.S. Our guest is the Jesuit Conference’s very own Tom Mulloy, who serves as our director of government relations. Sometimes people are surprised to find out that we have a director of government relations and that our Office of Justice and Ecology spends the majority of its time here in Washington meeting with lawmakers and others in power, trying to influence laws and policies. Tom is a lobbyist, essentially, but you have to think about that word differently in this case. Instead of lobbying on behalf of big oil or a tech behemoth like Google, Tom works alongside other faith groups and NGOs to advocate for a more just and peaceful world. He brings the voices and experiences of the huge Jesuit network to the halls of power in order to humanize issues ranging from immigration to tax policy to indigenous housing. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Tom to share how he got into this work and why his faith calls him to bring Gospel values to Capitol Hill. They also talked about how all of us can be informed, faith-filled advocates on behalf of justice. Because the work of politics is not just about elections. It’s about making sure those we elect pursue the common good. The Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology: https://www.jesuits.org/our-work/justice-and-ecology/oje/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Go Yankees. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit M

What’s a Journalist To Do When We Can’t Even Agree on the Facts? with Scott Detrow Oct 16, 2024

For the third episode of our pre-election series, we’re going to focus on the role of the media in a democracy. Our guest is Scott Detrow, a veteran radio journalist and a host of NPR’s flagship show All Things Considered. You can usually find Scott hosting the weekend editions of the show on Saturday and Sunday, but this month he’s filling in on the weekday afternoon broadcast. He’s also a host of the Consider This podcast. Scott joined NPR in 2015, and he spent eight years covering national politics. He covered two presidential campaigns, Congress and the White House. Before NPR, Scott was a statehouse reporter in California and Pennsylvania for NPR member stations. He's also Jesuit educated twice over -- an alum of Marquette University High School in Milwaukee and Fordham University in New York. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked him on the show recently to discuss the state of the news media today, which is just as caught up in the challenges of polarization as the Catholic Church is. We wanted to get his take on the state of journalism today and even just to get back to basics: What is the news media for in a democracy? Why is mistrust of media so high these days? Are there any signs of hope out there? And you can trust Scott on this stuff because he’s thoughtful, hard-working and a great old-fashioned journalist. He wants to tell stories that matter to communities, not to spout his own opinions about the latest hot topic of the day. Because he’s not a pundit, this podcast might be the only time you get to hear him share his thoughts on the media landscape today and why journalism is worth fighting for. Scott Detrow: https://www.npr.org/people/444796749/scott-detrow AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

In Faith-Filled Pursuit of Better Politics with Nichole Flores Oct 09, 2024

This is the second in our series on faith and politics leading up to the 2024 presidential election here in the United States. Our guest is Dr. Nichole Flores, one of the most exciting young theologians around. Nichole is an associate professor of religious studies at the University of Virginia, and completed her doctoral study in theological ethics at Boston College. It was tricky to decide what to talk to her about because her work covers so many topics: Her research in practical ethics addresses issues of democracy, migration, family, gender, economics, race and ethnicity, and ecology. She talked with host Mike Jordan Laskey about her background and topics like polarization, faith and politics within the various Hispanic communities in the US, and how we might try to seek out spaces in our daily lives that are not just echo chambers of our own views. It was a wide-ranging discussion and it’s fascinating to see how Nichole brings her intellectual interests together with the very practical day-to-day stuff of family and community living. Dr. Nichole Flores: https://religiousstudies.as.virginia.edu/nichole-m-flores Nichole’s writing at America Magazine: https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/nichole-m-flores AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Meet the Lieutenant Governor Who Quit Politics to Become a Jesuit with Cyrus Habib, SJ Oct 02, 2024

It’s October, which means the presidential election here in the US is next month. So here on AMDG we are going to take old that rule about never discussing religion or politics in polite company and throw it in the Potomac River. Our four episodes this month will all cover faith and politics in a variety of ways. We know you don’t come here for political news and analysis, so we won’t be talking about the ins and outs of the election or really all that much about the election itself. Instead, we’re hoping to go deeper into why politics might matter to people of faith in the first place. Our series of guests all come at questions about this stuff from different angles. We’re getting started on today’s episode with the only American Jesuit who served as a state’s lieutenant governor before entering the Society of Jesus. (We didn’t actually look that fact up, but we’re sure it’s true.) Cyrus Habib, SJ, is a Jesuit in the stage of formation called regency. When he entered the Jesuits in 2020, Cyrus had been serving as the State of Washington’s Lieutenant Governor for three years. An extremely successful and popular politician, it was quite possible Cyrus would’ve eventually become the governor of the state. But he gave up his political career for a Jesuit vocation. And these are just two chapters of Cyrus’ incredible life story: the son of Iranian immigrants to the United States, Cyrus lost his eyesight to cancer as an eight-year-old kid. After graduating from Columbia University in 2003, he studied English literature as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University then earned a law degree at Yale. He practiced law in Washington State from 2009 until 2017, and during that time was elected to the Washington House of Representatives. It’s safe to say he surprised a lot of people when he walked away from politics to enter the Society. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Cyrus about his story and his vocation. They also talked about the value of politics and what from the Church’s tradition we might be able to offer the country to help heal our partisan divides. Cyrus Habib, SJ, on his decision to join the Jesuits in America Magazine: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/03/19/lieutenant-governor-cyrus-habib-why-i-am-giving-elected-office-and-joining-jesuits AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

God Walks with His People: Santos & Noehlia Sep 29, 2024

Santos and Noehlia worked with Jesuits in Nicaragua; when the government began to attack the Church, they had to flee. This audio reflection is part of a series marking the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Over the course of six episodes, we invite you to join migrants in solidarity and prayer. Find supplemental resources for reflection and action here: https://sites.ignatiansolidarity.net/world-refugee-day-website

God Walks with His People: Fr. Sudzer & Matthew Sep 27, 2024

Fr. Sudzer and Matthew support migrants at the Jesuit parish in Miami. They both have family members who’ve migrated. This audio reflection is part of a series marking the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Over the course of six episodes, we invite you to join migrants in solidarity and prayer. Find supplemental resources for reflection and action here: https://sites.ignatiansolidarity.net/world-refugee-day-website

Three Stories: Rock Music for Toddlers, Existential Writer's Block and Imaginary Baseball Sep 25, 2024

Today’s episode is different from anything we’ve ever done. Instead of an interview, we have three audio pieces about what you could call the spirituality of everyday life. What are the things we do to find meaning and purpose within the daily grind? First, host Mike Jordan Laskey tells you about his “kindie rock” band, Down By The Bagel. Then, New York-based writer Kaitlin Campbell shares “You Can Do This,” a story about a big case of writer’s block and her prayer for God to just show her a sign already. Finally, Steve Givens, an author and spiritual director from St. Louis, has a piece about how an imaginary baseball game he played as a kid shaped his spiritual life in ways he only would come to realize decades later. If you’d like to submit us your own proposal for some creative work, check out our pitch guide at JesuitMediaLab.org. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Samson: One of the Bible’s Strangest Stories with Mahri Leonard-Fleckman Sep 18, 2024

Sometimes on this show, host Mike Jordan Laskey has topic in mind he’d like to cover and then he goes and finds someone great to talk about it. Other times, he knows he wants to talk to a specific person because they’re brilliant and Mike doesn’t really care what the topic is. Whatever the guest wants to discuss will be interesting. Today’s episode is this latter type of show. Dr. Mahri Leonard-Fleckman teaches at the College of the Holy Cross, where she’s an associate professor in the Departments of Religious Studies and Classics. She’s an Old Testament scholar, and first came on the show about four years ago to talk about the Book of Ecclesiastes and King David. Mike wrote her recently and asked what’s fascinating her these days. And that’s how we have come to have an episode about Samson, that strong guy with the long hair from the Book of Judges. Mahri has been researching the history of Samson, how this bizarre Biblical character came to be and how interpretations about him have shifted through centuries. Mahri’s research has way deeper concerns than the surface-level story of Samson – she uses the story to reflect on the nature of Biblical biography writ large. Where do these larger-than-life characters come from and what do they mean? How do cultures receive and interpret sacred texts over generations? After hearing form Mahri, you won’t think about Samson the same way ever again. Mahri Leonard-Fleckman, Ph.D.: https://www.holycross.edu/academics/programs/religious-studies/faculty/mahri-leonard-fleckman Mahri’s “Ponder: Contemplative Bible Study”: https://litpress.org/Products/PONDERSET/Ponder-Complete-Set?srsltid=AfmBOopdlMpTTpBbZ-ug-XsSwHtMz-zSQYcBLkw3BBr6-h8AcDpI1Szl World Day of Migrants and Refugees Audio Reflection Series: https://sites.ignatiansolidarity.net/world-refugee-day-website AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Does AI Make You Less Human? This Philosopher Has Answers Sep 11, 2024

Think back to the early days of ChatGPT and generative AI. It was a topic discussed on seemingly every podcast and countless news segments. Nearly every one of them started those segments with some elaborate introduction about the risks and opportunities that the new technology posed, how the way we communicate with one another would be irrevocably changed, how we would no longer be able to differentiate the writing of humans from that of computers. And then, to conclude the intro, the host would say something along the lines of, “Bet you didn’t realize everything I just said was written by ChatGPT.” Don’t worry—we didn’t do that here. All that clunky writing is your host's. But for a second, you were unsure. Even now, you might be wondering if you can trust us, if you can take us at our word. And that, our guest today says, is a problem. Dr. Joseph Vukov is an associate professor of philosophy and the associate director of the Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage at Loyola University Chicago. His latest book—and the topic of today’s podcast—is called “Staying Human in an Era of Artificial Intelligence.” Joe points to this erosion of trust as just one of the threats AI poses to our ability to stay human. But he doesn’t stop there. Throughout our conversation, he takes on this idea that just because AI can write something that sounds vaguely human doesn’t at all mean it’s eroding the building blocks of our humanity. All the same, as people of faith responding to the signs of the times, continuing to reflect on AI and its inevitable role in our present and future is important. And that’s what we do today. It’s a fun conversation. If you want to learn more about Joe and his work, visit josephvukov.com and check out the links below. Get his book: https://www.amazon.com/Staying-Human-Era-Artificial-Intelligence/dp/1565485998 Learn about his course: https://www.scienceforhumans.com/

Transforming Lives Behind and Beyond Prison Walls with Fr. Zach Presutti, SJ Sep 04, 2024

There aren’t that many times in the Gospels when Jesus tells his disciples how they might act if they’re hoping to get to heaven one day. When Jesus does indeed get that direct, it’s probably a smart idea to pay attention. And probably the most famous example of this sort of Jesus talk comes in the 25th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel. It’s the Last Judgment story, the one about the sheep and the goats. Jesus tells his friends that whenever they feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick or visit the prisoner, they are caring for Christ himself. He makes a radical one-to-one identification with people who suffering and oppressed. Perhaps the most challenging category of person listed in Matthew 25 is the prisoner. Because Jesus doesn’t just say you can find him in unjustly held prisoners. He just says prisoners. If you want to see Christ, he seems to be saying, look into the eyes of someone on death row. That’s a privileged place to find Jesus, important enough to make it into this dramatic story in the Gospel. Our criminal justice system is certainly not set up to treat prisoners as if they were reflections of the Lord’s face. But our guest today is the founder of a Catholic organization that’s working hard to make world a bit closer to God’s dream for it. Fr. Zach Presutti is a Jesuit priest and the founder and executive director of the Thrive For Life Prison Project. In 2017, before his ordination to the priesthood, Zach founded Thrive For Life with a mission to transform lives both behind and beyond prison walls. In jails and prisons, Thrive For Life offers thousands of men and women in New York and Wisconsin retreats and spiritual direction rooted in Ignatian spirituality. On the outside, the organization is growing a network of houses of study for returning citizens to live in community while receiving holistic support services. Recently, Fr. Zach was nominated as one of three finalists for the prestigious Opus Prize, hosted this year at Santa Clara University. The Opus Prize is given to recognize unsung heroes, anywhere in the world and from a variety of faith traditions, solving today’s most persistent social problems. All Opus finalists receive gifts of $100,000, with the winner receiving $1 million. When host Mike Jordan Laskey spoke with Fr. Zach recently, he asked him to share the story of how Thrive For Life got started and why he thinks it has grown and thrived the way it has. Fr. Zach shared his reflections on working in prison ministry and why he finds it to be such an enlivening mission. While he’s a humble guy who deflects praise and is always quick to lift up members of Thrive For Life’s team and network, we couldn’t help but be struck by Fr. Zach’s passion, energy and vision. We think you’ll enjoy getting to know him a bit. Thrive For Life: https://thriveforlife.org/ The Opus Prize: https://www.scu.edu/news-and-events/press-releases/2024/july-2024/santa-clara-university-announces-opus-prize-finalists.html AMDG is a product of the Jesuit Media Lab, a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Why This Journalist Profiled a Jesuit for The New Yorker with Jack Herrera Aug 28, 2024

A couple of weeks ago, The New Yorker magazine published a fabulous profile of a Jesuit priest: Fr. Brian Strassburger, SJ, who lives in a Jesuit community that’s serving migrants on the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas and the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The piece went deep into Fr. Brian’s vocation story and how he wound up at the border as his first assignment after ordination to the priesthood. The article is also theologically rich, politically astute and paints a vivid picture of the harsh reality the migrants the Jesuits accompany are facing every day. The author of the story is a freelance reporter named Jack Herrera whose work on immigration, among other topics, has appeared in places like The Atlantic and the Los Angeles Times. Jack is our guest today. In reporting the story, Jack spent hours and hours with Fr. Brian and his fellow Jesuits in their ministry. Host Mike Jordan Laskey wanted to know what Jack learned from his experience: What most surprised him as he accompanied the Jesuits on both sides of the border? What stories and research got left on the cutting room floor? How did the project come to be in the first place, and why was The New Yorker interested? If you have read the story already, we hope this conversation will be a helpful supplement to what made it onto the page. If you haven’t read the story yet, we can’t recommend it highly enough. “The Betrayal of American Border Policy”: https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/the-betrayal-of-american-border-policy Jack Herrera: https://x.com/jherrerx Del Camino Jesuit Border Ministries, where Fr. Brian serves: https://www.jesuitscentralsouthern.org/our-work/del-camino/ How Jesuits Accompany Today’s Holy Families on the Border: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85U1B3zECU4 www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

The Surprising History of Jesuit Colleges with Michael T. Rizzi Aug 21, 2024

The end of the summer and the beginning of fall means many of us will be returning to school in one form or another. Teachers, students, bus drivers, cafeteria workers—it’s all about to begin again. It’s a time of excitement and maybe a little apprehension. I’ll wager a bet that a few listeners are familiar with a particular type of school. It may be your alma mater; it might be your place of employment. It might just be where you send your tuition. I’ll bet when you visit this school, there are signs with funny Latin words: cura personalis, magis, agere contra and so on. Of course I’m talking about Jesuit schools. And whether or not you’ll be setting foot on one in the coming weeks, I think you’re going to like today’s episode. Because our guest, Dr. Michael T. Rizzi, is about to take us on a brisk tour through the vast and compelling history of Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States. Dr. Rizzi is the director of student affairs at the University of Pittsburgh. He’s written an incredible book aptly called “Jesuit Colleges and Universities in the United States: A History.” In it, he tells the story of this particular kind of school, how it has developed and what it has meant to the history of the U.S. We’re introduced to not only a cast of characters but every Jesuit college past and present. It’s a history with more than a few surprises. And it may just make you appreciate your own Jesuit school that much more. If you’d like to pick up a copy of Dr. Rizzi’s book, visit this link: https://www.amazon.com/Jesuit-Colleges-Universities-United-States/dp/0813236169

A Conversation About Racism and the Spiritual Exercises Aug 14, 2024

This is a conversation about racism and the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola. Put more precisely, this is a conversation about how the Spiritual Exercises might better form us to understand and push back against the repercussions of racism in America. The question that frames this conversation is one that comes from the global Society of Jesus. At the last General Congregation—GC 36—when Jesuits from around the world gathered to elect a new superior general and examine the most pressing issues facing our world today, this question was raised: Why do the Exercises not change us as deeply as we should hope? In short, how does injustice and racism and violent persist, even after so many of us have made the Exercises? The Exercises, after all, are meant to change our hearts and minds, to help us better understand God and who God desires that we be with and through community. This question is at the heat of a new book from Liturgical Press. It’s called “Praying for Freedom: Racism and Ignatian Spirituality in America.” It’s a collection of essays and reflections that attempt to wrestle with this question and try to envision how we might build a more just and compassionate society. We have three guests today. Dr. Laurie Cassidy, the editor of the anthology, currently teaches in the Christian Spirituality program at Creighton University. She is an award-winning author and editor, and has been engaged in the ministry of spiritual direction for more than 30 years. Our two other guests, Elise Gower and Justin White, both contributed chapters to this book, both reflecting on their own experiences of a retreat called “The God of Us All: Praying with Black Spirituality.” They both share with us personal and powerful insights into their own prayer life. Elise has an extensive background in Ignatian spirituality, higher education and leadership, having served as associate director of Contemplative Leaders in Action—a formation program for young adults—and at Loyola University Maryland in the offices of Campus Ministry and the Center for Community Service and Justice, and more. Justin White has a long career in Jesuit education, having taught theology for 8 years at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Baltimore and having held several roles at Loyola Blakefield, most recently as a counselor for middle school students. If you have ever prayed through the Spiritual Exercises or if that’s something you hope to do, this conversation will add a helpful frame to your prayer and challenge you to examine those places in our lives where we are resistant to God’s love—those places where we are not free. Our prayer today is one of freedom—as we begin this conversation, let us pray that we all may recognize those places of unfreedom in our lives, and take the necessary steps to step beyond those obstacles. https://litpress.org/Products/6791/Praying-for-Freedom

Catholic Ethics, Transhumanism & Star Trek: A Conversation with Dr. Jason Eberl Aug 07, 2024

Today’s topic is one straight out of science fiction. We’re talking about transhumanism—which, as you’ll soon learn, is very much a real thing with very real ethical implications. That’s why Dr. Jason Eberl, professor and director of the Albert Gnaegi Center for Health Care Ethics at Saint Louis University, is here to share his insights and expertise. Transhumanism, at its core, is about modifying the human body. As Dr. Eberl will explain, that can be as simple as taking some sort of drug to help focus your mind during a late-night study session. But it can also imply something much more—think of a cyborg from Star Trek. And we do—think about Star Trek, I mean. Dr. Eberl is an expert fan, having written and edited countless essays, articles, book chapters and more investigating the philosophical side of some of our favorite pop culture franchises. It’s a helpful way to engage a tricky, complex topic like transhumanism. As Dr. Eberl says, it gives us distance to game out ethical scenarios that are both uncomfortable and necessary to making good decisions. We do that in today’s conversation, too. While we may arrive at few answers, Dr. Eberl lays out a variety of outcomes that transhumanism—in all its varied forms—might lead to. Some are good; some, less so. But as you’ll see, these aren’t just hypothetical issues for the next Star Trek series; these are issues that can have very tangible impacts in our daily lives and relationships. This conversation brings in insights from everyone from Mr. Spock to St. Thomas Aquinas, and helps us better understand what it means to be embodied. Ultimately, as Dr. Eberl lays out, it’s because of our limitations, our imperfections as humans, that we are able to find happiness. That sounds counterintuitive, but I think by the end of today’s episode, you might begin to see why. Want to check out some of Jason Eberl’s prolific works? SLU Faculty Page: https://www.slu.edu/arts-and-sciences/bioethics/faculty/eberl-jason.php "Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy:" https://www.amazon.com/Battlestar-Galactica-Philosophy-Knowledge-Begins/dp/1405178140/ "The Ultimate Star Wars and Philosophy:" https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Star-Wars-Philosophy-Blackwell/dp/1119038065/ "Star Trek and Philosophy:" https://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Philosophy-Popular-Culture-ebook/dp/B003S3RL8U

Celebrate Ignatius' Feast by Celebrating Jesuit History Jul 31, 2024

Today, July 31, we celebrate the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Happy feast day! We'll wager a guess that if you’re a listener of this podcast, then today’s saint needs no introduction. You know about the cannonball, the pilgrimage, the Spiritual Exercises and the founding of the Society of Jesus. Ignatius’ story, told year after year, might even begin to feel a bit dry. That’s why we're excited about today’s interview. Our guest takes a fresh approach to this well-known history. We’re looking at the story of Ignatius and the Jesuits not from a chronological perspective but from a thematic one. Claudio Ferlan is an Italian historian and was a fellow at Boston College’s Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies. His time at BC has led to the publication of a new book titled “The Jesuits: A Thematic History.” What are these themes? We explore the historical development and importance of the Ignatian identity, of the role of mission work in the Society, of the Jesuit’s unique way of proceeding and of the inevitable conflicts that Jesuits have found themselves engaged in. We think you’ll find this to be a brisk, fascinating tour of Jesuit history. And if you do like this conversation or just have an interest in Jesuit history, then pick up a copy of “The Jesuits: A Thematic History” here: https://jesuitsources.bc.edu/the-jesuits-a-thematic-history/

Why So Many Scholars Love Bernard Lonergan, SJ with Jonathan Heaps Jul 24, 2024

There is a list of Jesuit giants through history you hear over and over. That list starts with Saint Ignatius and his companions, of course, then includes to other Jesuit saints and blesseds to more modern Jesuits who are often called by just one name: Rahner. Hopkins. De Lubac. Teilhard. Arrupe. Dulles. Ellacuria. Bergoglio. And today’s episode is about one more on this list: Lonergan. Bernard Lonergan was a Canadian Jesuit philosopher and theologian who lived from 1904 to 1984. And to be honest, his work is intimidating. He was pretty clearly a genius and wrote volumes on volumes of work on topics like epistemology, the philosophy of science, economic and political theory, and so much more. His most significant work is a 1957 book called “Insight: A Study of Human Understanding.” Whatever Lonergan was up to during his life was so important that there are scores of scholars who devote their careers today to studying and responding to his work. Today’s guest is one of these scholars: Jonathan Heaps is the director of the Bernard J. Lonergan Institute at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, and the author of the recent book The Ambiguity of Being: Lonergan and the Problems of the Supernatural. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Jonathan to introduce Lonergan to us and explain why there is this whole cottage industry around Lonergan’s thought and why he’s still important today. Jon did a great job translating some of Lonergan’s big ideas into language even Mike could understand. We think you’ll enjoy the chance to get this accessible introduction to one of the most influential North American Jesuits ever. Jonathan Heaps: https://www.jonathanheaps.com/ Lonergan Institute: https://www.shu.edu/lonergan/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

How One Gen X Theology Professor Teaches Gen Z with Scott Moringiello Jul 17, 2024

A few weeks ago, our guest was the sociologist of religion Tricia Bruce, who talked about what we know about the state of the American Catholic Church today. On this episode, host Mike Jordan Laskey is pursuing the same questions but from a different angle. Our guest is Scott Moringiello, and he’s an associate professor of Catholic Studies at DePaul University in Chicago. In that role, he teaches a rather large course called Introduction to Catholicism, which he has taught multiple times. Over the years, he has taught hundreds of Gen Z kids from all sorts of religious backgrounds about the foundational basics of the Catholic faith. He’s gotten to learn about the students’ own experiences with faith and what energizes them or keeps them distant. Scott was also an academic mentor of Mike’s almost 20 years ago. He was a graduate assistant in a phenomenal liberal arts seminar Mike took, which he still considers the greatest intellectual experience of his life. One way you can tell the power of that class is the fact Scott and Mike are still friends all this time later. So they talked a bit about what made that class so incredible and how it informed Scott’s own approach to education. They also discussed some of his Scott’s mentors from Regis High School in New York City, his Jesuit alma mater that’s still near and dear to his heart. Finally, Mike also asked Scott the role of the liberal arts and college education in the world of ChatGPT. They had a wide-ranging conversation that feels a bit like old friends getting together over a meal or a libation. Scott Moringiello: https://las.depaul.edu/academics/catholic-studies/faculty/Pages/Scott-Moringiello.aspx AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Swimming From Regis Jesuit to Olympic Gold with Missy Franklin Jul 10, 2024

In honor of the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris, we’re thrilled to welcome the swimmer and five-time Olympic medalist Missy Franklin onto the podcast. Maybe you remember Missy taking the Olympics by storm back in 2012 at the age of 17. What you might now know, though, is that Missy was a student at Regis Jesuit High School in Denver, Colorado during that Olympic run. She went back and graduated the year after her historic performance. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Missy how the school community supported her during those wild weeks and months. She couldn’t have been happier to talk about Regis Jesuit and how the school stood by her and welcomed her back to class as her whole, genuine self – and not just a newly minted celebrity. Missy described finding her faith at Regis Jesuit, as she did not come from a religious background, and she shared stories from her time at school and what she’s been up to during her retirement from competitive swimming. After the conversation with Missy, you’ll hear a piece written and read by Gretchen Kessler, one of Missy’s mentors at Regis Jesuit and the first principal of the school’s girls division. Regis Jesuit is the only Jesuit high school in the U.S. or Canada – and we think maybe in the world – that educates both young men and women but does so in distinctive, separate divisions. While students come together for extracurricular activities and other events, their core instruction is in single-sex classrooms. It’s a unique model that got its start in Denver 20 years ago. Gretchen retired from her role in recent years, but she still works at the school in alumni relations. It’s fascinating to hear her reflect on starting something new and bold two decades ago. It was an experiment that worked and has turned out hundreds of high-quality alumni like Missy Franklin herself. Missy Franklin: https://www.missyfranklin.com/ Regis Jesuit High School: https://www.regisjesuit.com/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Our theme music by Kevin Laskey. Also featured in this episode is "These Moments Live," by Abstract Aprils, licensed through Audiio.com. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

How Beauty Heals at the Homeboy Art Academy with Fabian Debora Jul 03, 2024

Most of our listeners have surely at least heard of Homeboy Industries, which is the largest gang intervention, rehab and re-entry program in the world. Founded in Los Angeles by the Jesuit priest Fr. Greg Boyle in 1988, Homeboy works with about 10,000 former gang members each year in dozens of different ways, from job training to tattoo removal to wraparound case management services. Fr. Greg recently received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his pioneering work in this area. One of Homeboy’s initiatives that host Mike Jordan Laskey just learned about recently is the Homeboy Art Academy, which engages at-risk youth and adults in diverse forms of art as tools for healing and transformation. The art academy is the brainchild of today’s guest -- Fabian Debora, an accomplished visual artist and a former gang member himself. Fabian’s story is so powerful – full of trauma and despair and hope and beauty and community. Unlike most episodes of AMDG, this one isn’t a classic interview. We’re just going to let Fabian share his story with you. You don’t want to miss it. Fabian Debora: https://www.fabiandebora.com/ LA Times profile of Fabian in conjunction with his “Cara de Vago” exhibition: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-03-15/fabian-debora-wants-you-to-see-the-light-of-gang-life-homeboy-industries Homeboy Art Academy: https://homeboyindustries.org/services/art-academy/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. AMDG theme music by Kevin Laskey. Other music in this episode includes “Cool Math” by AstroMouse, “Coastin” by CTrox, “Fat Cloud” by Marscott and “Dawn” by Nicolas G, licensed through Audiio.com. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

The Holy Spirit Provides with Holy Trinity's Migrant Familia Jun 26, 2024

"The Holy Spirit provides." This is one of the central mantras of the Migrant Familia program at Holy Trinity Jesuit Parish. Based in Washington, DC, the parish's Familia provides crucial support to newly arrived migrants and asylum seekers, helping them find housing, apply for work permits, enroll in school, and receive medical care. More than provide services, however, the Familia program creates, well, a family for migrants who come to the U.S.—often without resources, friends, or family of their own. On today's episode, I talk with the coordinator of the Familia program, Ashley Klick, and two of its graduates, Julien Patrick Tete Wabo and Miguel Flores. Both fled political persecution in Cameroon and Nicaragua, respectively. They came to the U.S. alone, and through their own determination and the accompaniment of Holy Trinity, they have built new lives. They spoke candidly about the hardship of migrating, but they also shared their love and admiration for one another—and for the Familia as a whole. I found it to be a really touching conversation, and I hope you do too. ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Learn more about Holy Trinity's Migrant Familia: https://trinity.org/social-justice/migrants-refugees Find out how the Jesuits across the U.S. and Canada accompany migrants: https://www.jesuits.org/our-work/justice-and-ecology/migration-and-immigration/ This episode was recorded, edited and produced by MegAnne Liebsch.

How Communication Technology Transforms Cultures with Fr. Paul Soukup, SJ Jun 19, 2024

The internet, wherever we access it, is so much of our lives now. Being online isn’t some alternate reality different from our real lives. The internet is real life. But what is that doing to our brains and our souls? How are the mini computers in our pockets affecting our lives, whether we’re using them for listening to great Jesuit podcasts or mindlessly scrolling through Instagram? What is our technology doing to our ability to, say, pay attention to the person in front of us? Or to read something long and dense? Or to be be bored? Or to pray? Host Mike Jordan Laskey has been growing more curious about these questions over the past few years, and it has led him to learn more about a discipline within the study of communications called “media ecology.” Media ecology is all about the environment that our ways of sending and receiving information create. The printing press affected all elements of culture in countless way; same thing for the radio and photograph and television and computer and smartphone. And one of the leading scholars working in media ecology today, especially at the subject area’s intersection with religion, is a Jesuit priest named Fr. Paul Soukup, and he’s today’s guest. Fr. Soukup is a professor of communication at Santa Clara University in California, where he teaches and writes on these topics. Some of his book titles are helpful introductions to his areas of interest: “Communication and Theology”; “Christian Communication”; “Media, Culture and Catholicism”; and “Out of Eden: 7 Ways God Restores Blocked Communication.” Mike asked Fr. Soukup to orient us to the world of media ecology and how he sees our media environment today affecting our individual and communal lives. They also discussed the media ecology of theology and how information technology development through the ages has affected the ways the church does its thinking and praying. More about Fr. Soukup: https://www.scu.edu/cas/communication/faculty-and-staff/paul-soukup-sj/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

What We Know About Today's Church (And How We Know It) with Tricia Bruce Jun 12, 2024

We presume listeners to this podcast are interested in the state of the Catholic Church in North America. But if you stop to think about what you know about the church, or how you think you know what you now, you might realize your picture is incomplete. Maybe we parrot popular talking points about polarization or disaffiliation or frustrations with this or that church teaching. But so many of perspectives come from sitting where we sit – our age, race, class, gender, geography, political and ecclesial preferences, and so on. And because the Church is so diverse and multifaceted, we need to expand my vision if we want to more fully understand the complexity of our community today. Dr. Tricia Bruce is a perfect conversation partner to help broaden our perspective. Dr. Bruce is a sociologist of religion with expertise in U.S. Catholicism, and has studied and written about topics like polarization in the church, the landscape of Catholic parishes in America, and American attitudes toward abortion. She has numbers and stories from surveys and focus groups and interviews that help give her a wide, deep view of the U.S. Catholic Church that’s so much Dr. Bruce’s award-winning work has appeared in publications like The Wall Street Journal and Time Magazine. She keeps extremely busy in several concurrent positions: She is Director of Springtide Research Institute; faculty fellow of the University of Southern California’s Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies; President-Elect of the Association for the Sociology of Religion; and Consultant to the Vatican’s General Secretariat of the Synod. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked her about how the sociology of religion is done, and what topics she is most curious about these days. They talked about polarization, interesting trends religion researchers are noticing, and what she might want to tell high-level decision makers in the church about what she is learning. Dr. Tricia Bruce: https://triciabruce.com/ Associated Press article referenced in the conversation: https://apnews.com/article/catholic-church-shift-orthodoxy-tradition-7638fa2013a593f8cb07483ffc8ed487 AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Learning from the Martyrs Alfred Delp, SJ, and Edith Stein with Fr. Peter Nguyen, SJ Jun 05, 2024

Of all the saints and heroes of the faith we have in our Catholic tradition, it can be difficult to spiritually connect with martyrs. Maybe that’s part of the point of martyrs, to trouble us a bit in a holy way, to remind us that sometimes faith in Christ can mean literally laying down one’s life for one’s friends. The martyrs invite us to reflect on the depth of my own faith commitments, and whether we’d share their steadfast courage if we were in their shoes. Does faith come first in my life, or only when it’s convenient? Today’s guest is the perfect person to ask about Christian martyrdom and what we might learn from the stories and witness of individual martyrs. Fr. Peter Nguyen, SJ, is a theologian and a scholar of Christian martyrdom, and he has devoted much of his career learning and writing about martyrs. A Jesuit priest who spent this past academic year at Marquette University as the Reverend Francis C. Wade, SJ, Chair, Fr. Nguyen spoke to host Mike Jordan Laskey recently about two martyrs who gave their lives during World War II: Fr. Alfred Delp, SJ, and Edith Stein, who is also known as St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. Both Delp and Stein died as part of the resistance to Nazi Germany. Fr. Nguyen thinks it is worthwhile to engage with their legacies today, even as the details of their lives might challenge us and make us uncomfortable. Learn more about Fr. Nguyen: https://www.creighton.edu/campus-directory/nguyen-peter His book on Alfred Delp: https://www.amazon.com/Against-Titans-Theology-Martyrdom-Alfred/dp/1978704771 AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Pathway to Priesthood: How to be a Jesuit Priest in Secular Society Jun 03, 2024

Welcome to “Pathway to Priesthood”—a limited audio series from the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. In these conversations, host Eric Clayton talks with Jesuits who are in the final days of preparing for ordination to the priesthood. They reflect back on their vocation stories and experience of Jesuit formation, and wrestle with some of the biggest questions surrounding priestly ordination. On this, our final episode — at least for now — we’re reflecting on what it means to be a Jesuit in a secular society. And to help round out this series, we have three Jesuit guests: C-Y Kao, Brendan Coffey and Brendan Gottschall. For all of us, Jesuit or not, questions of living our faith in the modern age are important — and we get to the heart of them in today’s conversation. C-Y was born and raised in Catholic family in Taiwan. He has a background in diplomacy and foreign service. He first met the Jesuits through the Christian Life Community in Taiwan, and then again through his studies at Georgetown University. Brendan Coffey, a native of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, met the Jesuits at St. Joseph’s Prep School in Philadelphia and again at Fordham University in the Bronx. Brendan Gottschall, from South Jersey, was formed by both the Augustinians and the Jesuits at St. Augustine Prep and Georgetown University, respectively. And yes, it was entirely by accident that we invited two Jesuits from Jersey named Brendan to be on the same episode. As you listen to their stories and reflections, we invite you to consider whether you or someone you know might be interested in discerning a call to Jesuit life. If so, head over to beajesuit.org. We also invite you to keep in prayer these and all of our Jesuits preparing for ordination. Ordinations will take place in the United States on June 8 and in Canada on June 15.

Making Catholic Films for Atheists with Eric Groth May 29, 2024

If you’re as interested in Catholicism and the arts as we are here at AMDG, you might also have been excited to see that a new movie about Flannery O’Connor’s writing and life is now playing nationwide. The movie is called “Wildcat,” directed and written by Ethan Hawke and starring his daughter Maya Hawke, who plays both Flannery and a range of characters who appear in the author’s stories. The movie blends traditional biopic narrative with detours into brief adaptations of O’Connor’s stories, bringing the author’s churning life alive in a moving, provocative way. The film was the younger Hawke’s idea, who first read O’Connor while in high school. The father/daughter team assembled an incredible cast of folks including Laura Linney and Liam Neeson, and we cannot recommend it to you highly enough. Today’s guest was also intimately involved in the birth of the film. His name is Eric Groth, and he served as one of “Wildcat”’s executive producers. Eric’s background is in producing Catholic films, including the 2018 movie “Paul, the Apostle of Christ.” He initially found his way into filmmaking sort of by accident, looking to use the medium to reach teenagers during his career in Catholic youth ministry in the 1990s. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Eric about why and how he got involved in “Wildcat” and what it was like to work with Ethan and Maya Hawke. They also talked about Eric’s own vision of the intersection of faith and creativity and why, in his words, he likes to make “Catholic movies for atheists.” It was a fascinating conversation and we can’t wait to see what Eric works on next. More about Eric Groth: https://www.osvtalks.com/talks/producing-catholic-films-for-atheists/ “Wildcat” trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2WxoPxP_lQ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Pathway to Priesthood: Answering Tough Questions May 27, 2024

Welcome to “Pathway to Priesthood”—a limited audio series from the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. In these conversations, host Eric Clayton talks with Jesuits who are in the final days of preparing for ordination to the priesthood. They reflect back on their vocation stories and experience of Jesuit formation, and wrestle with some of the biggest questions surrounding priestly ordination. On this episode, we’re asking tough questions—literally. In our church and in our world, we’re surrounded by questions that make us uncomfortable, by hot-button issues and ideological divides. Like it or not, this is the world, this is the church, that our newly ordained Jesuits are stepping into. In fact, they’ve been in it all their lives. But now, they engage the world and the church as priests. Our two Jesuit guests for this episode are Tom Elitz and returning champion, Christopher Alt. If you listened to our second episode of this limited series, you already know Christopher. He was raised in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He attended the University of San Diego and, later, Boston College. It was there that he met the Jesuits, though it would be a number of years before he took the leap and entered. Tom was born in Philadelphia but grew up in Cinnaminson, New Jersey. He met the Jesuits as an undergraduate student at St. Joseph’s University. Before entering the Society, he worked as a financial analyst and internal auditor at Johnson & Johnson. Tough questions are inevitable in any vocation. Our hope is that today’s episode will give you some tools for reflecting on ways to approach them. As you listen to their stories and reflections, I invite you to consider whether you or someone you know might be interested in discerning a call to Jesuit life. If so, head over to beajesuit.org.

The Surprising History of Humility with Christopher Bellitto May 22, 2024

It’s graduation season, which means it’s commencement address season. Host Mike Jordan Laskey did a quick Google search for “most common words in graduation speeches,” and the top hit provided this list – which doesn’t include prepositions or other super-common words: 1. Life 2. Make 3. People 4. World 5. Yourself 6. Success 7. Generation 8. Human There are certainly exceptions, but the standard commencement address is all about YOU, the graduates, and what YOU will do with YOUR immense gifts to find incredible success or change the world. Here’s some stuff you don’t typically hear: You’re not any more special than anyone else; no achievements are really yours alone; you’re going to die someday. In other words, there’s not much humility this time of year – not among most graduates and certainly not among those select few invited to give graduates advice. My guest today thinks the world could use a lot more humility. Dr. Christopher Bellitto is a professor of history at Kean University in New Jersey and a frequent media commentator on Catholicism. His latest book from Georgetown University Press is titled “Humility: The Secret History of a Lost Virtue,” which is incredibly readable, fascinating and even fun. It traces the concept of humility through millennia, going back to Socrates in ancient Greece – when humility wasn’t always seen as a good thing – up through teachings from Judaism, Islam and Christianity and into the Enlightenment and all the way up into our modern context. Mike asked Chris why he decided to write the book, and what he learned about the history of humility. They also talked a bit about St. Ignatius of Loyola, who had his own complex relationship with humility. Chris is one of my the best conversationalists around and Mike had a lot of fun digging into this underappreciated, under-practiced virtue. Chris' book: https://press.georgetown.edu/Book/Humility More about Chris: https://sites.google.com/a/kean.edu/christopher-m-bellitto-ph-d/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Pathway to Priesthood: How Am I Accompanied? May 20, 2024

Welcome to “Pathway to Priesthood”—a limited audio series from the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. In these conversations, host Eric Clayton talks with Jesuits who are in the final days of preparing for ordination to the priesthood. They reflect back on their vocation stories and experience of Jesuit formation, and wrestle with some of the biggest questions surrounding priestly ordination. On this episode, we’re talking about accompaniment. We’re asking the question: Who makes up the community that walks with a Jesuit? To reflect on these questions and more, we have two Jesuits: Patrick Hyland and Joe Dickan. Joe is from Long Beach, California and Patrick is from Cleveland, Ohio. Both men have traveled abroad as part of their formation and have been greatly affected by these international experiences they’ve had—Patrick in Spain and Joe in Lebanon. These experiences have given them insight into Jesuit community at the international level. In today’s conversation, you’ll hear what it’s like to live in such communities and you’ll be reminded again of how important a personal life of prayer is—whether or not you’re a Jesuit. As you listen to their stories and reflections, I invite you to consider whether you or someone you know might be interested in discerning a call to Jesuit life. If so, head over to beajesuit.org.

This Jesuit's on Fire: A Pentecost Story May 15, 2024

This year marks 10 years since Fr. Paul Shelton, SJ, was ordained a priest. As a result, he's been feeling a bit reflective, nostalgic even. He's been thinking about the very first Mass he ever celebrated. But not for the reason you think. Today's episode of "AMDG: A Jesuit Podcast" is a fun one. In it, we hear from a variety of voices, a variety of perspectives on what actually happened at Paul's first Mass. Because it was anything but ordinary. It was Pentecost. And a Jesuit caught fire. This is the story of that day.

Pathway to Priesthood: How Do I Know I'm Ready? May 13, 2024

Welcome to “Pathway to Priesthood”—a limited audio series from the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. In these conversations, host Eric Clayton talks with Jesuits who are in the final days of preparing for ordination to the priesthood. They reflect back on their vocation stories and experience of Jesuit formation, and wrestle with some of the biggest questions surrounding priestly ordination. On this episode, they dive into one of those all-important Ignatian concepts: Discernment. The two Jesuit guests—Mike Tedone and Christopher Alt—talk about how they employed the tools of discernment in their own vocations. One of the most important questions any of us can ask when we stand at the cusp of a major vocational decision is this: How do I know I’m ready? Well, discernment helps us wrestle with that question; and, that question takes center stage today. Christopher was raised in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He attended the University of San Diego and, later, Boston College. It was there that he met the Jesuits, though it would be a number of years before he took the leap and entered. Mike grew up in Orange County, California. After a volunteer experience with Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Micronesia, he, too, eventually found himself at Boston College where friendships with Jesuit scholastics convinced him that he could become one himself. As you’ll hear, both men had to ask hard questions of themselves and of God about their vocation. While there may be few if any quick answers, Christopher and Mike share with us how they went about discovering the right answers for their lives. As you listen to their stories and reflections, I invite you to consider whether you or someone you know might be interested in discerning a call to Jesuit life. If so, head over to beajesuit.org.

How Catholic Charities Lives the Gospel with Kerry Robinson May 08, 2024

If you made a list of the best things about the Catholic Church in the United States, Catholic Charities USA would be in that list’s very top tier. A network of 168 local agencies based in dioceses throughout the country, Catholic Charities served more than 15 million of our at-risk neighbors last year alone. They serve people without homes, those who are unemployed or underemployed, children who are hungry or malnourished, elderly persons who are isolated, vulnerable migrants and refugees on the move, families recovering from natural disasters, pregnant women and new mothers in need, and persons with disabilities who have inadequate care. All together, the work of Catholic Charities makes up one of the largest networks of humanitarian aid in the nation. Today’s guest is Kerry Robinson, the president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA. If Catholic Charities is in the top tier of American Catholic endeavors, Kerry is in the top tier of American Catholic leaders. She’s dynamic, passionate, faith-filled and extremely smart. And she’s the second-ever woman and second layperson to lead the network. Before joining Catholic Charities, Kerry spent almost two decades working with a group called Leadership Roundtable, which she helped to found in 2005. Leadership Roundtable helps the church develop and implement best management practices to build accountable and transparent leadership culture. Kerry’s entire career has been dedicated to strengthening the church, and her experience and vision helped prepare her to lead this massive network. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked her about what she has learned in her first year on the job, plus how Catholic Charities is responding to the extremely challenging conditions facing migrants and asylum seekers arriving in the US in the hopes of providing safety and opportunity for their families. She also shared some favorite stories and things she has learned from traveling all over the country visiting Catholic Charities agencies and how her Jesuit education at Georgetown University helped set her on her life path. Learn more about Kerry Robinson: https://stories.catholiccharitiesusa.org/introducing-kerry-alys-robinson/ Catholic Charities USA: https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/ Catholic Charities staffers facing rising threats: https://religionnews.com/2024/03/22/threats-to-catholic-charities-staffers-increase-amid-rightwing-anti-migrant-campaign/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Pathway to Priesthood: Why Religious Life? May 06, 2024

Welcome to “Pathway to Priesthood”—a limited audio series from the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States in which host Eric Clayton talks with Jesuits who are in the final days of preparing for priestly ordination. Hear Jesuits reflect back on their vocation stories and experience of formation, all while wrestling with some of the biggest questions surrounding priestly ordination. On this episode, we’re asking a basic question: Why even consider religious life? And what actually is it? To reflect on these questions and more, we have two Jesuits: Michael Mohr and Brook Stacey. Michael was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He has a background in teaching, and has spent the last couple of years of his formation studying at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Brook grew up in Toronto, Ontario. Though his undergraduate studies were in geology, he has more recently completed a master’s degree in psychospiritual studies. Both men have had the opportunity to live in a variety of places throughout the formation, and they both come at this question of religious life from very different perspectives. But at the end of the day, they both have found great consolation as members of the Society of Jesus. As you listen to their stories and reflections, consider whether you or someone you know might be interested in discerning a call to Jesuit life. If so, head over to beajesuit.org.

English version: Reynaldo Domínguez's Deadly Fight to Care for Creation May 02, 2024

In 60-plus years of life, Reynaldo Domínguez has never heard someone say, "I live without water and I live in peace." Water is fundamental to a healthy and peaceful life, he says. Yet for Reynaldo and his community in Guapinol, Honduras, access to clean water has become a deadly fight that has killed two of his brothers and sent him and his family into hiding. The conflict started in 2018 when the Honduran company Inversiones Los Pinares, backed by international investors, began to dig out a road through the mountains deep inside the protected National Park Carlos Escaleras. As they began they began digging an open-pit iron ore mine, harmful sediments filled the Guapinol River, the source of water for many of the surrounding communities. Reynaldo and his community quickly organized to push back against this illegal and life-threatening environmental disaster. Things quickly turned deadly. Many of Reynaldo's fellow activists have been jailed, even more have been forced to migrate, and several have lost their lives in the fight to protect the land for future generations. Reynaldo joined us from an undisclosed location to tell us about what's happening in Guapinol. This episode was recorded in Spanish. Listen to the original here: https://soundcloud.com/jesuitconference/reynaldo-spanish-mixdown-v2-240118?si=f61e75f956234a7fa9f55ddf0ebaf2ca&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing Learn more about our partners Radio Progreso: https://www.radioprogresohn.net/ Learn more about SHARE Foundation: http://www.share-elsalvador.org/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++ This podcast was edited and produced by Harrison Hanvey and MegAnne Liebsch. Jose Artiga, executive director of the SHARE Foundation, provided English language dubbing. Original theme music by Kevin Laskey. Photo by Photo by Roberto Palomo.

Versión en español: La lucha mortal de Reynaldo Domínguez para el cuidado de la creación May 01, 2024

En más de 60 años de vida, Reynaldo Domínguez nunca ha oído a nadie decir: "Vivo sin agua y vivo tranquilo". El agua es fundamental para una vida sana y en paz, nos afirma. Sin embargo, para Reynaldo y su comunidad en Guapinol, Honduras, el acceso al agua potable se ha convertido en una lucha mortal que ha matado a dos de sus hermanos y lo ha enviado a él y a su familia a la clandestinidad. El conflicto comenzó en 2018 cuando la empresa hondureña Inversiones Los Pinares, respaldada por inversores internacionales, empezó a excavar una carretera a través de las montañas en lo más profundo del Parque Nacional protegido Carlos Escaleras. Cuando empezaron a excavar una mina de hierro a cielo abierto, sedimentos dañinos llenaron el río Guapinol, fuente de agua para muchas de las comunidades de los alrededores. Reynaldo y su comunidad se organizaron rápidamente para oponerse a este desastre medioambiental ilegal y peligroso. La situación no tardó en volverse mortal. Muchos de los compañeros activistas de Reynaldo han sido encarcelados, otros se han visto obligados a emigrar y varios han perdido la vida en la lucha por proteger la tierra para las generaciones futuras. Reynaldo se unió a nosotros desde un lugar desconocido para contarnos lo que está sucediendo en Guapinol. Escucha el episodio en ingles: https://soundcloud.com/jesuitconference/english-version-reynaldo-dominguezs-deadly-fight-to-care-for-creation?si=e8902d693fc34f6ca1fe8a1329b4b0ea&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing Más información sobre nuestros socios de Radio Progreso: https://www.radioprogresohn.net/ Más información sobre la Fundación SHARE: http://www.share-elsalvador.org/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Este podcast fue editado y producido por Harrison Hanvey y MegAnne Liebsch. José Artiga, director ejecutivo de la Fundación SHARE, se encargó del doblaje al inglés. Tema musical original de Kevin Laskey. Fotografía de Roberto Palomo.

Grace, Attention and Beauty with Marilynne Robinson Apr 24, 2024

The American essayist and novelist Marilynne Robinson may not be Catholic, but her writing reveals a deeply sacramental imagination. Through five books of fiction and dozens of essays, Robinson trains her readers in the art of spiritual attention. Where is God’s grace operating in nature and in the ordinary ways humans love, disappoint and forgive one other? In her essay “Psalm 8” she writes, “I have spent my life watching not to see beyond the world,” but “merely to see, great mystery, what is plainly before my eyes… With all due respect to heaven, the scene of miracle is here, among us.” Robinson is best known for her novel “Gilead,” which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2005. It has three sequels, each installment following a different protagonist in the fictitious Iowa town. The last of those, “Jack” (2020), traces the wanderings of a Prodigal Son who has difficulty recognizing a place in his family, church, and hometown. We all know a Jack or two, and Robinson helps us understand their plights with empathy. In March 2024, she released a new book, "Reading Genesis," which is a long meditation on the first book of Hebrew Scripture. She defamiliarizes old stories that we thought we understood – of Adam and Eve, of Cain and Abel, of Abraham and Sarah. She challenges easy clichés – Old Testament God: bad! Jesus: good! – to show us how God’s faithfulness to humanity starts right there…in the beginning. Which is why today’s interview with guest host Fr. Joe Simmons, SJ, starts with Genesis, and branches out into philosophy, science, poetry and fiction, and back to theology. Fr. Simmons, who wrote his doctoral dissertation on the work of Robinson and Virginia Woolf, even talks with our guest on Ignatius Loyola and his contemporary, John Calvin – and the miseries of studying in 16th-century Paris! – which made Fr. Simmons laugh out loud. You won’t want to miss that. More about Marilynne Robinson: https://us.macmillan.com/author/marilynnerobinson "Reading Genesis": https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Genesis-Marilynne-Robinson/dp/0374299404 More about Fr. Joe Simmons, SJ: https://www.marquette.edu/theology/directory/joseph-simmons.php AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

How Poetry and Prose Change Lives with Gary Jansen Apr 17, 2024

In honor of National Poetry Month - which is currently underway during April 2024 - author and editor Gary Jansen returns to the podcast to talk about his latest book, "Meditations at Midnight: Poetry and Prose." Gary lives at the intersection of faith and art. He’s worked in publishing a long time—both at secular publishing houses editing Catholic authors, and now at Loyola Press, acquiring and mentoring authors that are writing for a Catholic publisher. Gary is an author himself; he’s been on this podcast before talking about his ghost-ridden memoir, “Holy Ghosts,” and his self-help book called “MicroShifts.” In 2023, he won the Christopher Award for the children’s book “Remember Us With Smiles,” that he co-wrote with his wife. And those are just a few of his books. He’s back today to talk about his latest book and to reflect on the lasting impact that good writing can have on our souls. If you want to learn more about Gary, visit garyjansen.com.

The Story Behind Flannery O'Connor's New Novel with Jessica Hooten Wilson Apr 10, 2024

You might be familiar with the American Catholic novelist, Flannery O’Connor. You might have read her short stories in a class, maybe “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” or “Everything That Rises Must Converge,” to name a few. You might have even read one of her novels, an essay or two or some of her letters. You might know that she spent much of her relatively short life in Georgia. And, if you know her work well, then you also know that she died in 1964. And so, you might be really surprised to learn that she published her third novel, “Why Do the Heathen Rage?” earlier this year. Well, to be clear, the renowned O’Connor scholar and Fletcher Jones Endowed Chair of Great Books at Pepperdine University and today’s guest, Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson did. Dr. Wilson has been working on this project—uncovering O’Connor’s notes and drafts—for several years now. And the final result is quite stunning: While the book isn’t really a full and final novel—O’Connor died before she could finish it—what Jessica Hooten Wilson gives us is a literary excavation of Flannery’s life, legacy and the story that might have been. Now, if you are familiar with O’Connor, you likely are also familiar with recent discourse about her thoughts and writing on race. Dr. Wilson does not shy away from addressing this sordid legacy head-on. In reflecting on this final, unfinished novel, Dr. Wilson notes that we really see Flannery coming up against her own limitations in understanding race in the American South. And yet, we also see her struggling to reconcile the clear racism of her day with her own Catholic faith. It’s not an easy conversation, but Dr. Wilson walks us through with care and grace. If you are interested in learning more about her work, visit jessicahootenwilson.com and be sure to pick up your copy of “Flannery O’Connor’s Why Do the Heaten Rage? A Behind-the-Scenes Look at a Work in Progress,” now available from Brazos Press.

From Video Game Designer to Jesuit with Shane Liesegang, SJ Apr 03, 2024

There’s an old saying in Jesuit circles: If you’ve met one Jesuit, you’ve met one Jesuit. A fun list to make is all the different careers guys had before joining the Society of Jesus. We have actors and comedians, doctors and lawyers, astronomers and one former lieutenant governor. Shane Liesegang, SJ, today’s guest, is the only Jesuit host Mike Jordan Laskey has ever met who was a video game developer. Before entering the Jesuits in 2015, Shane worked for over a decade in video game development for several different studios. He worked on hugely popular games like the Fallout Series and Skyrim. Shane was living his dream. But then he felt called to something more. Today, Shane is a Jesuit scholastic studying Theology at Boston College’s Clough School of Theology and Ministry. He didn’t leave his entire gaming life behind when he entered the Jesuits, though. In fact, one of Shane’s former employers, a hugely influential studio called Bethesda Game Studios, brought him back into the fold to work on a game called Starfield that was released in 2023. In this deeply complex space exploration game, the studio wanted to create a fictional religion that certain characters in the game would profess. So they asked Shane to write this religion’s core texts, which are featured in several places in the game. Shane argues that creating video games is an art form. The combination of visual aesthetics, interactivity and storytelling, not to mention the incredibly detailed and vast universes game developers make, all combine to elevate video games to something more than a mere time waster. If you’re skeptical about this claim, let Shane try to convince you in this conversation. Shane also talked about his unique vocation story and how game design is not dissimilar from Ignatian imaginative prayer in some crucial ways. This was an utterly fascinating conversation and we think you’ll really enjoy meeting Shane, whether you love video games or not. Clip from the game that features the religion Shane wrote: https://youtu.be/hrPhQSP7no8?si=Fig5KmRuQjozJ_w_&t=93 Learn more about Shane: https://shaneliesegang.com/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Founding and Growing the Cristo Rey Network of Schools with Fr. John Foley, SJ Mar 27, 2024

Fr. John P. Foley, SJ, spent 34 years as a missionary in Peru -- a full career in most lines of work. But then, in 1995, he was missioned back to the United States to start a high school for Latino students from low-income backgrounds in Chicago. Despite immense challenges -- like not knowing where the school would be even at the press conference announcing there would be a new school -- Cristo Rey Jesuit High School was founded in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood in 1996. Centered on an innovative corporate work study model, through which students spend a day a week working with partner companies, low-income students were able to access a high-quality Catholic prep school education. The idea spread like wildfire and the Cristo Rey Network was born, which today includes 39 schools around the country. Fr. Foley led the network after eight years as the first school's president. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Fr. Foley to share the stories of those early days and how they found such incredible success despite the odds. Learn more about the Cristo Rey Network: https://www.cristoreynetwork.org/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Leading Creighton University in a Secular Age with Fr. Daniel Hendrickson, SJ Mar 20, 2024

While Fr. Daniel Hendrickson, SJ, president of Creighton University, is excited for both his women's and men's basketball teams' March Madness journeys, today’s episode isn’t about basketball at all. (Well, it makes an appearance for a couple minutes at the end.) It’s about the roles of Jesuit colleges and universities in our world today. Host Mike Jordan Laskey spoke with Fr. Hendrickson a couple months ago about his book “Jesuit Higher Education in a Secular Age,” which explores how Jesuit education can help students create meaningful connections in our highly self-centered, transactional era. Mike asked Fr. Hendrickson about the book’s primary intellectual influence, the peerless contemporary philosopher Charles Taylor. They also talked about the history of Jesuit education and how its vision of educating the whole person stands in contrast to the epidemic of siloed academic departments. Fr. Hendrickson is an incredibly thoughtful leader and it was a lot of fun to pick his brain about the past, present and future of Jesuit higher ed. More about Fr. Hendrickson: https://www.creighton.edu/leadership/president/presidents-biography His book: https://www.amazon.com/Jesuit-Higher-Education-Secular-Age/dp/1647122333 AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Making the Jesuit App “Pray As You Go” with Emma Holland Mar 13, 2024

Ever since the Jesuits in the United Kingdom launched the daily prayer project “Pray As You Go” (PAYG) in 2006, the creative team behind the resource has shared fabulous audio prayer programs that are spiritually nourishing in their beauty and simplicity. Each day combines music, Scripture from the lectionary, and short spoken prayer prompts that always invite you to reflect on the Scripture in a new way. PAYG will slow you down and invite genuine contemplation, making it so different from almost any other smartphone app or podcast program out there. Hundreds of thousands of people around the world love PAYG, especially here in North America – maybe you’re one of them. For years, host Mike Jordan Laskey – a huge fan of PAYG – has been curious about the team behind the app. How does an episode come together? What inspired the format and why does it work so well? How do they want to grow? So Mike invited Emma Holland onto the show, who serves as PAYG’s director. She has worked for the Jesuits in the UK for almost a decade and has advanced from an audio producer to the leader of the project. Mike asked Emma to take us behind the scenes of PAYG and to share what she loves about her work. It was such a fun conversation and if you haven’t prayed with PAYG before, we really hope you’ll give it a try. You can find it in your smartphone’s app store or download daily episodes using your podcast player of choice. Pray As You Go: https://pray-as-you-go.org/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

How Fr. Walter Ciszek, SJ, Found God in Soviet Captivity with Jim Keane Mar 06, 2024

The basic details of Father Walter Ciszek life sound like a movie: An American Jesuit priest ministering in Eastern Europe around the time of World War II, he was arrested by the Soviet Union and falsely accused of being a Vatican spy. He spent time in a KGB prison and more than a decade in Siberian labor camps. His family and his Jesuit brothers back in the U.S. assumed he was dead. During his captivity, Fr. Ciszek secretly heard confessions, celebrated Mass, baptized, comforted the sick, and ministered to the dying. His unwavering faith sustained him through solitary confinement, torture, and violent interrogations. The John F. Kennedy administration negotiated his release, and he returned to the United States in 1963. In the years following his release, Fr. Ciszek wrote two books, “With God in Russia” and “He Leadeth Me.” The latter book, a spiritual memoir, shot up to the very top of Amazon’s bestseller list recently, decades after its publication. Why? The extremely popular Catholic prayer app Hallow, which just ran a Super Bowl commercial a few weeks ago, picked “He Leadeth Me” to anchor their Lenten prayer program this year. It’s safe to assume thousands of folks are meeting Fr. Ciszek for the first time. So we thought we’d take the chance to introduce him to AMDG listeners, too. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Jim Keane to come on the show to talk about Fr. Ciszek and his legacy. Jim is a senior editor at America Media, where he oversees the book reviews, literary essays, the Catholic Book Club and the "Faith and Reason" section. Jim is a fantastic writer and storyteller and he has written several great pieces on Fr. Ciszek over the years. So Mike asked Jim to share some of his favorite Fr. Ciszek stories and reflect on why the biggest Catholic smartphone app around might have picked “He Leadeth Me” to read this Lent. America Media's coverage of Fr. Walter Ciszek: https://www.americamagazine.org/issue/100/return-russia https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2017/06/08/little-known-story-behind-father-walter-ciszeks-god-russia https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2024/02/16/walter-ciszek-soviet-prison-247340 https://www.americamagazine.org/issue/article/chained-free https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2022/05/10/cbc-column-walter-ciszek-242962 AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Learning to Love Lent Through Music with Margaret Felice Feb 28, 2024

When you hear the word “Lent,” what is the first thing you think of? Maybe it’s purple or giving up social media or chocolate. Or maybe it’s trying to build better prayer habits or abstaining from meat on Fridays. Or famous Lenten Scripture passages like the Transfiguration. For Margaret Felice, today's guest, one thing that’s always near the top of her mind when it comes to Lent is music. Margaret is a professional singer and liturgical musician with an absolutely stunning voice. She’s also a terrific writer and a first-year doctoral student in theology at Boston College’s Clough School of Theology and Ministry. She taught religion and directed a liturgical choir at Boston College High School for 18 years. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Margaret to pick two of her favorite Lenten hymns that we could discuss. She picked “Again We Keep This Solemn Fast” and “Were You There.” And as a totally surprising gift, Margaret went ahead and recorded herself singing both these hymns along with accompanist Chris Rakovec on piano. We’ll include excepts from both hymns in the episode. Margaret and Mike also talked about the role of the Lenten season without our spiritual lives, and what opportunities this yearly observance gives us to grow in faith, hope and love. Margaret Felice: https://margaretfelice.com/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Synodality: Embracing Tension, Staying at the Table with Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, SJ Feb 21, 2024

Today's guest has an incredible amount of experience of the truly "catholic," global nature of the church. Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, SJ, today serves as the dean of the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University. This school is one of the two Jesuit “theologates” in the United States, which means it’s a place where Jesuits in formation from all over the world pursue theology studies alongside lay students. Before arriving at JST last August, Fr. Orobator spent seven years as the president of the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar, leading the Jesuits on the continent where the order is growing fastest. A theologian originally from Nigeria with a doctorate from the United Kingdom who specializes in ecclesiology, the study of the Church, he is the author of a number of books, including “Theology Brewed in an African Pot” and “The Pope and the Pandemic: Lessons in Leadership in a Time of Crisis.” In the first few months of his tenure at the JST, Pope Francis invited Fr. Orobator to attend the Synod on Synodality in Rome, where he was a voting member. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked him about that experience, about synodality at work in the Church in Africa, and what his goals are for his leadership at JST. You’ll see from his thoughtfulness and deep faith on display in this conversation why Fr. Orobator has been tapped for big leadership roles within the Society of Jesus and beyond over and over again. Learn more about Fr. Orobator: https://www.scu.edu/jst/about/faculty/orobator.html AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Get to Know Pierre Teilhard de Chardin with Sr. Kathy Duffy, SSJ, Ph.D. Feb 14, 2024

Even though the French paleontologist and theologian Pierre Teilhard de Chardin died in 1955, it feels like his work is still being discussed and debated in theological circles all the time. There are numerous associations and publications dedicated solely to exploring Teilhard’s huge body of work. He made it back into the news this past fall when Pope Francis described him as “often misunderstood” during a Mass in Mongolia. Host Mike Jordan Laskey reached out to one of the foremost Teilhard experts in the United States, Sister Kathy Duffy, SSJ, to learn more about this fascinating Jesuits. Sr. Kathy is a Sister of St. Joseph of Philadelphia and the president of the of the American Teilhard Association. She’s also Professor Emerita of Physics at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, where she directs the Institute for Religion and Science. She has written two books on Teilhard, including, most recently, “Teilhard’s Struggle: Embracing the Work of Evolution” (Orbis). Sr. Kathy also guides retreats on topics related to Teilhard’s life and work. Mike asked Sr. Kathy to introduce him to Teilhard’s life and thought. Why does he continue to be so interesting to so many people today? And why is he controversial? Sr. Kathy talked about the relationship between faith and science, some key biographical moments in Teilhard’s life that shaped his theology, and where readers new to his work might want to start. American Teilhard Association: https://teilharddechardin.org/ Sr. Kathy Duffy, SSJ, Ph.D.: https://www.chc.edu/faculty/kathleen-duffy www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus jesuitmedialab.org/

Solidarity and Service in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps with Tom Chabolla Feb 07, 2024

For more than 60 years, the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) has been a pioneer in the service landscape. With over 100 volunteers each year and over 12,000 alumni, they are one of the largest lay, Catholic, full-time volunteer programs in the world. JVC gives young adults the opportunity to engage in service and solidarity with local communities, rooted in the values of spirituality, simple living, community and social justice. Host Mike Jordan Laskey recently spoke with JVC’s president, Tom Chabolla, who has served in the role since 2018. Tom has more than 30 years working in faith-based and community-development organizations and he brings a wealth of expertise to the role. Mike asked Tom about what inspires him in his work, plus how he and his team navigated the pandemic. They also talked about the challenges JVC and other similar organizations are facing today and how they’re responding. This conversation is the second part of a two-week series on full-time volunteer programs in the Ignatian family. Be sure to listen to last week’s conversation between my colleague Eric Clayton and Mary McGinnity, president and CEO of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, which typically works with volunteers quite a bit older than JVs, folks who have spent decades in career and family life. Jesuit Volunteer Corps: https://www.jesuitvolunteers.org/ About Tom Chabolla: https://www.jesuitvolunteers.org/jvc-news/meet-tom-chabolla-jvc-s-new-president-jvc-is-proud-to-welcome-tom-at-the-helm-of-the-organization-starting-november-1 www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus jesuitmedialab.org/

Service Never Stops: Talking Ignatian Volunteers with Mary McGinnity Jan 31, 2024

In the final meditation of the Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius of Loyola reminds us “that love ought to manifest itself in deeds rather than in words.” We are called to love and serve in all things. And so, it’s hardly a surprise that in the 500 or so years since Ignatius wrote those words, countless service organizations have grown and flourished within the Ignatian tradition. Over the course of the next two weeks, we’re going to explore two of those organizations. Today, we’re talking about the Ignatian Volunteer Corps with President and CEO of IVC, Mary McGinnity. Mary has more than 30 years of experience in leadership positions in education, faith formation, pastoral counseling, parish ministry and faith-based non-profit social justice and service organizations. She’s a graduate of the College of Holy Cross and served as a Jesuit Volunteer. Most importantly, Mary is passionate about integrating service and justice. Today’s host Eric Clayton has had the privilege of traveling to a number of IVC communities and meeting countless Ignatian volunteers. These are remarkable women and men who bring to their service experience a whole career worth of knowledge, insights, skills and networks. And they offer all of these invaluable resources to local nonprofits, bolstering the capacity of communities to respond to some of the most pressing needs of our time. What’s more, IVC is a lay-led organization that is empowering lay leaders. In many ways, IVC is helping all of us envision what it means to be Church — especially as we all try to live the ongoing lessons of the Synod on Synodality. If you’re interested in learning more about IVC, visit IVCUSA.org.

Beauty, Leadership and the Mystery of God with Fr. Leo O'Donovan, SJ Jan 24, 2024

It’s hard to know where to start an interview with Jesuit Fr. Leo O’Donovan. At 89 years old, Fr. O’Donovan’s could boast a hefty list of accomplishments and accolades—though he’s not much interested in bragging. A theologian by training, he studied under the prominent Jesuit Fr. Karl Rahner in Munich, where O’Donovan’s own body of work would eventually earn him The Knight Commanders Cross of the Order of Merit, with Star, of the Federal Republic of Germany. For over a decade, Fr. O’Donovan served as president of Georgetown University. He also served on the board of the Walt Disney Company and the National Council on the Arts. Through his many leadership positions, he has become friends with global leaders such as German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright, and President Joe Biden—to name a few. Contrary to what his impressive CV might imply, Fr. O’Donovan is easy to talk to. He’s an eager storyteller, drawn to engaging people, whether that be his first-grade teacher, a Dominican nun, or his mentor Karl Rahner. For the last eight years, Fr. O’Donovan has served as the director of mission for the Jesuit Refugee Service in the U.S, a position which he calls “an incredible privilege.” Our conversation covers all this and more. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Learn more about the Jesuit Refugee Service at jrsusa.org This episode was produced and edited by MegAnne Liebsch

How the Jesuit Prison Education Network is Changing Lives with Fr. Tom Curran, SJ Jan 17, 2024

Have you ever met someone so passionate about something that you just couldn’t help getting excited about it, too? That was host Mike Jordan Laskey's experience when he first met Fr. Tom Curran, SJ, today's guest. Fr. Curran, who served as the president of Rockhurst University in Kansas City for 16 years, is now the coordinator of the Jesuit Prison Education Network (JPEN). Through participation in JPEN, nine different Jesuit institutes of higher learning offer college courses and degree programs -- taught by their own college/university professors -- at correctional facilities around the country. The programs are open to both those who are incarcerated and prison staff members, and Fr. Curran has some incredible stories about how the programs have changed the students and teachers lives and even the cultures of the correctional facilities themselves. In the conversation, Fr. Curran describes some of the ways our criminal justice system is dehumanizing and how prison education is a prophetic statement against that reality. He also talks about how Ignatian spirituality inspires his work and shared some of the most powerful stories from the JPEN programs. Subscribe to the JPEN email newsletter: https://jesuitscentralsouthern.us21.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=7e1f684649378603a3b6af1a0&id=6aee2e3285 AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus https://jesuitmedialab.org/

Still Following Yonder Stars with Br. Bob Macke, SJ Jan 10, 2024

This past weekend, we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany, when the three magi followed yonder star to God’s perfect light (to paraphrase the old song). By gazing at the stars, people from near and far we’re drawn to Christ—a reminder that, woven into the very fabric of the universe, God reveals Godself, guiding us deeper into God’s mystery and an encounter with Christ. What was true more than 2,000 years ago remains true today. Stars, meteorites, planets, the mysteries of space still speak to us of God and God’s dream for creation. And the Society of Jesus continues to be on the forefront of discerning God in the stars. More than 30 asteroids have been named for Jesuits. There are a similar number of craters on the moon bearing Jesuit names. And based on the work of today’s guest, it’s entirely possible that the Society of Jesus might find itself with a few more astral namesakes in the not-so-distant future. Br. Bob Macke, SJ, is one of the world’s foremost experts in the study of meteorites. And his work has been instrumental in OSIRIS-REx mission, a recent NASA mission that might reveal new insight into the earliest moments of the solar system. Today, he talks to us about his work, his vocation and what he hopes to learn as he continues to comb through space—that final frontier. Br. Bob studied physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Washington University in St. Louis, before entering the Society of Jesus in 2001. Between 2011 and 2013 he studied theology at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, during which time he also constructed a new ideal-gas pycnometer for measuring meteorite densities. Br. Macke joined the Vatican Observatory in July 2013, where he studies meteorite physical properties in the observatory’s meteorite laboratory. In August 2014, Br. Macke became the curator of the Vatican collection of 1200 meteorite specimens.

An Ignatian Spiritual Boost to Start 2024 with Christopher Collins, SJ Jan 03, 2024

Happy New Year! And welcome to the first episode of AMDG of 2024. Each January, to kick off a new year, we like to delve into aspects of Ignatian spirituality that might be particularly useful as we think about forming better habits and growing deeper in our relationship with God over the next 12 months. After all, Ignatian spirituality is all about discovering who God dreams we might be by better understanding the person God already knows we are—and already loves. This year is no different. We’re excited to welcome Jesuit priest, Fr. Christopher Collins, to the show today. Fr. Collins is the Vice President for Mission at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. He’s the author of several books, most recently “Habits of Freedom: 5 Ignatian Tools for Clearing Your Mind and Resting Daily in the Lord” from Ave Maria Press. It’s this book we discuss today. An important story from Scripture that Fr. Collins returns to again and again in his book—and in our conversation—is that of the Baptism of Jesus, which we celebrate on January 8. It’s an important day not only in the life of Jesus but also in our own spiritual journeys. The challenge, as Fr. Collins articulates, is to hear those words of God the Father to Jesus spoken also to us. Do we see ourselves as the beloved of God? We should! Because remembering that essential piece of our identity can make all the difference as we begin a new year. Pick up your copy of Fr. Collins' book here: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/habits-of-freedom

Ignatius of Loyola, Comic Book Hero with Tyler Button of Tapestry Comics Dec 27, 2023

If you’re a long-time listener of this podcast—and certainly if you’re a graduate of Jesuit education—then you likely know a thing or two about the story of St. Ignatius of Loyola. You know about his courtly life, the cannonball, the conversion, the books he read while bedridden, his pilgrimage and the cave and the founding of the Society of Jesus. You probably can rattle plot points off just like that. But have you ever taken time to really immerse yourself in the story? To imagine what Ignatius said to his fellow soldiers? To picture the scene of the early companions gathered before the pope? In short, have you painted in the sketch of Ignatius’ life so that the colors leap from the page? Today’s guest, Tyler Button, certainly has—in more ways than one. A former special education teacher, Tyler is now the founder of Tapestry Comics, a publisher that focuses on making historical narratives exciting and accessible to readers of all ages, but especially high school students. His past projects have featured William the Conqueror and Joan of Arc. But in turning to the life and legacy of Ignatius of Loyola—and imagining himself in the scenes he was portraying—Tyler discovered the practical power of Ignatian spirituality. In today’s conversation, we unpack what it means to tell the story of Ignatius across a new medium—and why it matters for the Ignatian family today. If you’re interested in learning more about Tyler’s work or getting a copy of his book, “The Greater Glory: The Story of Ignatius Loyola,” you can contact him https://www.tapestrycomics.com/contact.

10 Great Christmas Characters with Shannon Evans and Cameron Bellm Dec 20, 2023

It's an AMDG Christmas jamboree: our first-ever five-person episode. Friends of the pod (and awesome writers/retreat leaders) Shannon Evans and Cameron Bellm join AMDG's three co-hosts Mike Jordan Laskey, Eric Clayton and MegAnne Liebsch for a draft of Christmas characters. The conversation is raucous, overstuffed, reflective, spiritual, a little melancholic, mostly fun -- kind of like the whole Christmas season overall. The appearance of Shannon and Cameron is also a teaser for our new project, the Jesuit Media Lab, which gathers, forms and unleashes Ignatian creators. See how you can get involved at jesuitmedialab.org. Merry Christmas from AMDG and everyone at the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

What You Need to Know About the Life of Jesus this Christmas with Andrea Tornielli Dec 13, 2023

“There is no faith without an encounter, because faith is a personal encounter with Jesus,” Pope Francis writes. He goes on: “One of the things that helps us when we have the Gospels before our eyes is to imagine those encounters with Jesus—recreate them, look at him ourselves, meet him ourselves. In the Gospels, to look and to see are two very important verbs. So let us approach the episodes in the life of Jesus with eyes filled with contemplation.” This is a brief excerpt from the introduction to the new book “The Life of Jesus” by veteran Vatican reporter and current editorial director of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, Andrea Tornielli. Andrea is today’s guest. And as you’ll quickly learn, in his work and his writing, he lives out Pope Francis’ words. His new book isn’t just a retelling of the Gospel. It’s an experience. It’s an invitation to immerse ourselves in the story, to use our imagination and bring to life the words of Scripture. We hear, too, throughout his book the teachings of Pope Francis. In short, this book is a compilation of biblical text, imaginative prayer and papal insights. It’s very Ignatian. And, as Pope Francis reminds us, we are challenged to approach these key episodes in the life of Jesus with contemplative spirit. And we’re approaching one of those key moments now: Christmas, the Incarnation. In the conversation today, Andrea pulls from his book and his own personal prayer life to help us as we journey through these remaining Advent days and prepare anew for Christ. If you’d like to learn more about “The Life of Christ” and pick up a copy, visit the Loyola Press online store: https://store.loyolapress.com/the-life-of-jesus

How to Be Religious with Phil Christman Dec 06, 2023

From the Jesuits of Canada and the United States, this is AMDG. I’m Mike Jordan Laskey. Sometimes, people wonder how we pick guests for the show. We tell them the Jesuit network is so huge that we’ll never run out of interesting conversation partners. Sometimes, though, we come across someone outside of a Jesuit context whose work we love and who we wish we could ask on the show. If only they had a Jesuit connection! But then in some rare occasions, when we look into this great person who’s not connected to the Jesuits, we discover they do indeed have a connection! That was the case with today’s guest, the author and University of Michigan professor Phil Christman. Phil is the author of two great books of essays, which are titled “How to Be Normal” and “Midwestern Futures.” He also writes a Substack newsletter called “The Tourist” and contributes frequently to “Commonweal.” And, we just found out that he got his master’s degree at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There’s the Jesuit connection we needed! Phil’s essays are funny, sharp, clear, complex and always original. He weaves together elements of memoir, theology, pop culture and literary criticism and more. Host Mike Jordan Laskey’s most common reaction when reading Phil Christman, beyond marveling at his curiosity and his mastery of the essay form, is to sit back and think, “Well, I’ve never thought about that topic in that way before.” One of Mike’s favorite essays of Phil’s is from his book “How to Be Normal,” and it’s titled “How to Be Religious.” An observant Christian in a largely secular milieu, Phil writes about faith in an incredibly compelling way. Phil and Mike talked about the essay and the nature of religious faith. They also discussed teaching English composition in the age of ChatGPT, and why Phil left Twitter after years of being an active user. Phil’s Substack: https://philipchristman.substack.com/ Phil’s books: https://beltpublishing.com/blogs/authors/phil-christman AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Telling Old Stories in New Ways This Advent with Joe Durepos Nov 29, 2023

This coming Sunday, December 3, is the first Sunday of Advent and the start of a whole new Church Year. These days leading up to Christmas and beyond can feel overwhelming: spiritually, emotionally, all of it. So, it’s tempting to say, Haven’t we already done this? What more do I have to learn from these stories? I’m going to sit this one out. Today’s guest, Joe Durepos, is a story expert. He’s worked in publishing for more the four decades: as a bookseller, a sales rep, a literary agent and an acquisitions editor. He helped launch Fr. Jim Martin’s bestselling book, My Life with the Saints, and Mother Teresa’s No Greater Love. He’s worked with countless other incredible authors, including Becky Eldredge, Fr. Richard Rohr, Chris Lowney, Joy Loverde and many more. He retired from Loyola Press in 2018 and was inducted into the Association of Catholic Publishers Hall of Fame in 2019. Now, he spends his time coaching writers through his own agency, Durepos Literary. But Joe doesn’t just read and edit authors; he’s an author himself. And his new work, 2024: A Book of Grace-Filled Days, is the antidote we need to the complacency we might find ourselves in during this season of Advent. Joe shares with us what it was like to prayerfully write a whole year’s worth of reflections, what he learned for his own spiritual life and what we might learn, too, as a result. Today, as you listen to Joe share about his own prayer journey, I invite you to consider your own. What might you add during these Advent days? How might the Spirit be inviting you to prepare anew for the coming of Christ? One suggestion: Sign up for our daily Advent reflections. Just head over to Jesuits.org/advent. And while you’re cruising around the internet, pick up a copy of Joe’s book—I’ve linked to it in the episode description, as well as info on Durepos Literary. Just a note on today’s episode: We recorded last week, November 21, so when Joe mentions the readings of the day, that’s the day in question. Sign up for our Advent reflections: https://jesuits.org/advent Learn more about Joe’s current work: https://www.dureposliterary.com/ Get a copy of 2024: A Book of Grace-Filled Days: https://store.loyolapress.com/2024-a-book-of-grace-filled-days?quantity=1

Give Thanks the Ignatian Way with Mark Thibodeaux, SJ Nov 22, 2023

This week in the United States, we celebrate Thanksgiving. It’s a holiday in which we’re invited to cultivate a disposition of gratitude. What are we thankful for? Who are we thankful for? How can we be gifts to others? Gratitude is a foundational disposition in Ignatian spirituality. Ignatius wanted us to know that our God is a giver of good gifts, a God who delights in us for the gift that we already are—and for the giftedness we have yet to share with the world. From that place, that spiritual sense of self, we go out to do God’s good work. Today’s guest is Jesuit priest Mark Thibodeaux. He’s the pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in New Orleans and a prolific writer on all things Ignatian. He’s something of an expert on that foundational Ignatian prayer of gratitude: the examen. Fr. Thibodeaux has been praying the examen for a long time, and today we talk about how and why the examen is such a versatile prayer. There are examens to ferret out racism and examens to combat climate change and examens to help us better understand the mission of our Jesuit institutions. But at the end of the day, the examen is about gratitude. Without it, everything goes south. So, today, we talk about prayer, spirituality and gratitude. Check out our compilation of examen prayers: https://www.jesuits.org/spirituality/the-ignatian-examen/ Get a copy of Fr. Mark's book, "Reimagining the Ignatian Examen:" https://store.loyolapress.com/reimagining-the-ignatian-examen

Practicing Synodality Through Art with Jen Norton and Allison Beyer Nov 15, 2023

At the end of October, about 1900 people arrived at a massive hotel in Washington, DC, for the 26th annual Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice, which is sponsored by the Ignatian Solidarity Network. Most of the attendees were students from Jesuit high schools and colleges, gathered for three days of prayer, encounter, Catholic social teaching education and political action. Like always, the energy at this year’s teach-in was palpable. There were great keynote speakers and informative workshops on topics like the war in Israel and Gaza and the legacy of Jesuit slaveholding. One new element of the teach-in, though, was a temporary art gallery assembled right outside the main hall. Organized through a joint project of the organizations Catholic Artist Connection and Discerning Deacons, the exhibit showed off the work of dozens of artists who had participated in three-month process of prayer and dialogue in response to the ongoing Synod on Synodality. The artists created paintings and sculptures and wrote poems in response to their experience. As host Mike Jordan Laskey walked around the gallery, one enormous canvas caught his eye: It’s a brightly colorful painting of Jesus titled “But Who Do You Say That I Am?” Jesus looks out at the viewer, gesturing toward us, inviting us to answer the question ourselves. Surrounding him on the canvas are some of Christ’s ancient titles: Bread of Life, Good Shepherd. The painter of the work is a California-based artist named Jen Norton, and she’s one of today’s guests. Our other guest is Allison Beyer, who was the Art & Synodality program coordinator. Mike asked them both about the project and why they think art is such a powerful force for healing in our divided church and world. Check out the virtual Art & Synodality gallery: https://catholicartistconnection.com/artandsynodality-virtual See more of Jen Norton’s work: https://www.jennortonartstudio.com/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

The History of the Jesuits in the United States (Part 2) with Fr. David Collins, SJ Nov 08, 2023

Today’s episode is the second part of host Mike Jordan Laskey's conversation with Fr. David Collins, SJ, about his fabulous new book “The Jesuits in the United States: A Concise History.” If you didn’t hear the first part of the interview, you might want to go back to last week’s episode and catch up. On today’s show, we focus mostly on American Jesuit history from the 20th and 21st centuries. Fr. Collins is an associate professor in the Department of History at Georgetown University, where he’s also the Haub Director of Catholic Studies. “The Jesuits in the United States: A Concise History”: www.amazon.com/Jesuits-United-St…ory/dp/1647123488 Fr. David Collins, SJ: gufaculty360.georgetown.edu/s/contact/0…vid-collins AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

The History of the Jesuits in the United States (Part 1) with Fr. David Collins, SJ Nov 01, 2023

“The history of America cannot be told without the history of religion, the history of American religion cannot be told without the history of Catholicism, and history of Catholicism in America cannot be told without the history of the Jesuits in America.” That’s the beginning of the dust jacket text for the new book “The Jesuits in the United States: A Concise History” by Fr. David J. Collins, SJ, published by Georgetown University Press. Fr. Collins is an associate professor in the Department of History at Georgetown University, where he’s also the Haub Director of Catholic Studies. It’s incredible how you can learn about America and the Society of Jesus in just 175 pages of Fr. Collins’ clear and engaging prose. If you have any interest at all in the Jesuits in the U.S., then we can’t recommend this book highly enough. Starting in 1566, the book traces the activity and growth of the Jesuits throughout America, highlighting key figures, landmark events, and important stories like the history of Jesuit slaveholding. When host Mike Jordan Laskey started the interview, hey thought they’d make it through the book in one episode, but there’s so much richness to cover that we’re splitting up the conversation into two parts. Today, we’re covering the 16th century up through the U.S. Civil War. Next week, you’ll hear their discussion about more modern Jesuit history. “The Jesuits in the United States: A Concise History”: https://www.amazon.com/Jesuits-United-States-Concise-History/dp/1647123488 Fr. David Collins, SJ: https://gufaculty360.georgetown.edu/s/contact/00336000014RZf9AAG/david-collins AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Faith and Politics with Senator Tim Kaine Oct 25, 2023

Decades before Virginia Senator Tim Kaine ran for vice president in 2016, he spent a year ministering alongside Jesuits in the country of Honduras. That experience changed his life forever. Even though Senator Kaine was in Honduras back in 1980 and 1981, he still talks about his time there as if he got back just yesterday. It was the experience in Honduras that exposed him to the horrors of poverty and led him to pursue a career in public interest law and then in politics. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Senator Kaine about his time in Honduras and how his faith informs his public service. After the conversation with Senator Kaine, stick around for more context on the Jesuits and Honduras. Harrison Hanvey, who works at the Jesuit Conference’s Office of Justice and Ecology, just got back from a trip to Honduras, where he was part of a delegation marking the 40th anniversary of the disappearance and death of the American Jesuit missionary Fr. Guadalupe Carney. Harrison’s stories provide some helpful context to Senator Kaine’s experience. Learn about Senator Kaine’s time in Honduras: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/03/us/politics/tim-kaine-honduras-jesuit.html?unlocked_article_code=1.5Ew.8Wj2.VBV-AGA2I3Eg&smid=url-share Learn about Fr. Guadalupe Carney, SJ: https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2023/09/20/james-carney-jesuit-revolutionary-honduras-martyr-246126 AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

An Ignatian Approach to Mary Oct 18, 2023

If you’ve ever been intimidated by Ignatian spirituality, today’s guest will put you at ease. In fact, Fr. Michael Hansen is determined to make the Ignatian exercises accessible to as many people as possible. Why? It’s simple: He knows that God is at work, whether you’re doing the full thirty day retreat or just a one-off reflection. Host Eric Clayton has been intrigued by Mick’s work for a while. In fact, longtime listeners will remember when he came on our podcast a few years ago. He talked about the First Spiritual Exercises. Mick wrote a book by the same name. But it’s also a shorthand for what Ignatius meant in the 18th Annotation of the full Spiritual Exercises. Both Mick and Ignatius want people to be able to access the riches of Ignatian spirituality, even if you don’t have thirty days to sit at a retreat center. Today, Mick brings us up to date on that work. But he also introduces us to a monthlong initiative he’s been steering that invites us to contemplate the many Marian devotions of Ignatus of Loyola. Mick and the Jesuits in Australia have produced a beautiful collection of short meditations that pair a Marian image—perhaps a statue that Ignatius would have seen in his childhood or a painting that hung in his room—with guided prayers to help us more intentionally journey through this month of Mary. If you’ve ever wanted to know what Ignatian contemplation of the Blessed Mothers looks like, this is the episode for you. Learn more about the First Spiritual Exercises: https://jesuit.org.au/ignatian-spirituality/first-spiritual-exercises/ Check out the Marian reflections and get on Mick’s mailing list: https://us10.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=75fd6f8cf8deaab17d0961da5&id=3f175b637a

From Prison in Nicaragua to Exile in the U.S. with Juan Sebastián Chamorro Oct 11, 2023

If you have followed Jesuit-related headlines over the past few months, you might have heard about the situation in Nicaragua. In August, the government of dictator Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, closed the Jesuit-run University of Central America in the capital city of Managua. They confiscated the property, too, including the Jesuit residence there. While these developments have captured the attention of the Society of Jesus globally, they are just one part of a much larger trend of repression in Nicaragua. To learn more about the context, host Mike Jordan Laskey spoke recently with Juan Sebastián Chamorro. An economist by trade who ran for president of Nicaragua against Ortega in 2021, knowing full well the election would not be free and fair, Juan was arrested by the police in the middle of the night in June 2021. He would go on to spend 20 months behind bars as a political prisoner, separated from his wife and daughter. Last February, Juan was one of 222 political prisoners from the country who was freed and put on a plane to the United States. Nicaragua has revoked his citizenship, and Juan now lives here in exile with his family. This academic year, he is serving as a visiting fellow at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at the University of Notre Dame. In the conversation, Juan described the context and background of the repression in Nicaragua. He also talked about the experience of his arrest, imprisonment and exile to the United States. Juan also has had a lifelong connection to the Jesuits and spoke of how his faith supported him during his incredible hardship. Juan is a member of one of the most prominent families devoted to public service in the modern history of Nicaragua – his aunt was the first female president of the country and his cousin Christiana was imprisoned at the same time Juan was. His commitment to carrying on his family’s legacy despite the risks, not to mention his impassioned defense of democracy in his beloved home country, made this conversation one of the most moving interviews in the history of AMDG. If you would like to learn more about how to support the Jesuits, students and faculty connected to the University of Central America, visit Jesuits.org/nicaragua. Learn more about Juan: https://kellogg.nd.edu/juan-sebasti%C3%A1n-chamorro AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Meet the Jesuit University Student Voting at the Synod with Julia Osęka Oct 04, 2023

You may have heard that the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops is meeting all month long in Rome. This is just the latest stage of the years-long Synod on Synodality, which included listening sessions in parishes and other Catholic ministry settings all over the world. Participants will be discussing issues connected to communion, participation and the mission of the church. One thing that makes this synod different from all the others that came before it is that this is the first time that laypeople – including women – are participating as voting members. And one of those laypeople is Julia Osęka, and she’s today’s guest. Julia is a physics and theology major at Saint Joseph’s University, the Jesuit college in Philadelphia. Originally from a small town in Poland, the story of how Julia came to represent North America and young adults at the synod is an incredible one. Julia got involved in a synod initiative that united the Catholic universities and Newman centers from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, a collaborative effort that was unique in the country. From there, thanks to her deep faith, thoughtful disposition and ability to listen intently and generously, Julia was selected to participate in the continental stage of the synod, and then finally chosen to participate in Rome. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked her what it was like to find out she was going to the synod, and how she’s navigating missing a month’s worth of classes. They also talked about her background and how she found herself at Saint Joe’s in the first place. When you listen to the conversation, you’ll be able to tell how impressive and faith-filled Julia is. It’s so great that she’s representing young adults, Jesuit higher ed and all of us from North America at the synod. Along with this episode, we are publishing an article by one of Julia’s campus ministers at St. Joe’s, Beth Ford McNamee. In the piece, Beth describes the synod process in Philadelphia that eventually led to Julia’s participation in Rome. You can read that piece at Jesuits.org. Learn more about Julia: https://www.sju.edu/news/pope-francis-appoints-julia-oseka-25-delegate-universal-assembly-rome-marking-first-time AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Why This Standup Comedian Became a Jesuit Priest with Fr. Jake Martin, SJ Sep 27, 2023

Here’s a list of famous comedians who all have at least one thing in common that’s relevant to this podcast: Bob Newhart, Bill Murray, Bob Hope, Chris Farley, George Carlin, Amy Poehler, Conan O’Brien, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Dan Aykroyd, John Leguizamo, John Candy, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Jim Gaffigan, Janeane Garofalo and John Mulaney. Did you guess? They all have a Catholic background in some way or other. Some were raised Catholic and left the church, some are still practicing Catholics today or practiced throughout their lives, and Bob Hope was a famous convert to Catholicism thanks to his devout wife Dolores. Why are so many Catholics, including a bunch of Jesuit high school and college alumni, comedians? What is it about the faith that leads performers down this road? Today’s guest is uniquely qualified to reflect on this question. Fr. Jake Martin, SJ, is a Jesuit priest. He’s also a standup comedian with a deep background in theater, improv comedy and the study of film. After completing his Ph.D. in film studies at Trinity College Dublin earlier this year, Fr. Jake is now teaching film at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He also writes about culture for America magazine. And it was a recent piece on the Catholic comedian Jim Gaffigan that led host Mike Jordan Laskey to reach out for this interview. Jim Gaffigan, an alum of Georgetown University, has never been shy about including his Catholicism in his standup comedy performances, but his most recent special, titled “Dark Pale,” takes the religiosity to a whole new level. There’s a whole segment in the performance when Gaffigan just tells the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Juan Diego. There’s no big punchline or payoff. He just tells the story, in his own clever way. But it felt like it could’ve been a homily, or at least a talk at a parish mission. Mike asked Fr. Jake about Gaffigan and for Fr. Jake’s own theories about why there are so many Jesuit-educated, Catholic comedians out there. They also talked about Fr. Jake’s own background as a performer and how he integrates his identities as priest in comedian into a single, unified person. Read Fr. Jake Martin, SJ: https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/jake-martin AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Finding God in All Films with John Dougherty Sep 20, 2023

If you’ve had any encounter with Jesuits or Ignatian spirituality, you know the whole thing rests on the simple yet radical idea that God is to be found in all things. And films — stories — are an obvious place to look for God. Stories reflect who we are as people; they point the way toward where we might yet go. We can all point to our favorite “religious” film, right? ("The Mission," "Of Gods and Men," "Calvary"...) But what about movies that are less obviously religious? That seems almost entirely bereft of any spirituality? Today’s topic—and guest—will provide some answers. John Dougherty has been working in Jesuit schools for more than a decade. He knows a thing or two about finding God in all things—and helping others do the same. As a writer, he’s penned many an essay at the intersection of faith, pop culture, parenting and spirituality. That’s why America Magazine asked him to helm the weekly “Catholic Movie Club” column. You can learn more about John at johndocwrites.com. And follow along at the Catholic Movie Club: https://www.americamagazine.org/section/catholic-movie-club

Reckoning with Catholic Slaveholding with Fr. Chris Kellerman, SJ Sep 13, 2023

Fr. Chris Kellerman, SJ, is the author of "All Oppression Shall Cease: A History of Slavery, Abolitionism, and the Catholic Church" (Orbis, 2022), which provides a rigorously researched, era-by-era history of the Catholic Church’s teachings and actions related to slavery. The book gives a detailed account of the Church’s slaveholding past while issuing a call for the Church to take the necessary steps to reconcile with its history. Fr. Kellerman is also the brand-new Secretary of Justice and Ecology for the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. He talked with his colleague and guest host MegAnne Liebsch about the book and the Office of Justice and Ecology's advocacy work on a wide range of pressing social issues. Fr. Kellerman's book: https://www.amazon.com/All-Oppression-Shall-Cease-Abolitionism/dp/1626984891 Sign up for the Office of Justice and Ecology's newsletter and action alerts: https://jesuits.org/advocate AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Why Inter-Spiritual Trialogue is a Better Approach to Sharing Across Faiths Sep 06, 2023

Many weeks ago, host Eric Clayton visited a coastal town in Kenya called Malindi — and the Jesuit community that lives there. It’s a new community, only about five or so years old, and it’s been tasked with carrying out the legacy of St. Francis Xavier who visited that very place many, many years ago. Xavier — the great missionary — spent only a few days on that shore. But while there, he engaged in interreligious dialogue, meeting with and learning from the local Muslim communities. The bishop of Malindi has asked the Jesuits of today to return and continue that work. Fr. Thomas Aquino Deshi Ramadhani, or just Deshi for short, is the Jesuit who has been tasked with leading these efforts. Originally from Indonesia, he’s accustomed to building community with Muslims and those of other faiths. He’s also a writer—an author of many books—and a retreat director. When Eric was with him, he was preparing to give a retreat on the enneagram and Ignatian spirituality. Today’s conversation is very rich. It touches of course on interreligious dialogue—and why Deshi prefers to call it inter-spiritual trialogue—and about how the enneagram influences the writing life. Deshi dives deep into his own spiritual background and shares with us countless nuggets of spiritual wisdom. But one thing that is worth highlighting is that the fruits of this conversation reflect the nature of our global Catholic faith: an Indonesian and an American meeting in Kenya and bound together by the Ignatian tradition and our desire to live out the Gospel. Deshi’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Thomas-Ramadhani/author/B093C9SQ4D?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true Video on Malindi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir2KffiLgUY Video on Xavier’s Chapel in Malindi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocY0kWWxfcw&t=4s Vocation Story on an American Jesuit in Africa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm_g0ernKSI&t=6s

Why Commitment Will Change the World with Pete Davis Aug 30, 2023

Conventional wisdom would have us keep our options open. Don’t commit until you have to—and even then, always have a backup plan. The world’s a big place with lots of choices, and you deserve your crack at all of them. That might be conventional wisdom. But our guest today, Pete Davis, firmly disagrees. In fact, he wrote a whole book about it. It’s called “Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in an Age of Infinite Browsing.” And in it, Pete lays out not only why committing ourselves to something greater can give our lives more meaning and purpose, but why commitment can lead us to becoming more engaged and effective citizens of our world. Pete is a civic advocate from Falls Church, Virginia, and a graduate of Harvard Law School where his graduation speech, “A Counterculture of Commitment” went viral. As he says in our interview, his passion isn’t just commitment; his passion is deepening American solidarity and democracy. To that end, he cofounded the Democracy Policy Network, and travels the country promoting projects and initiatives that build up local democratic institutions—thus giving more people more power over their political and civic lives. As you listen to Pete talk, you’ll note that the principles of Catholic social teaching and Ignatian spirituality are never far from his mind. Pete gives us a masterclass in how to translate the Ignatian tradition into political engagement—and how to do so with joy. You can learn more about Pete and his work at petedavis.org. And check out the film Pete mentions at the end of the conversation here: https://putnamdoc.com/

What Does Healthy Masculinity Look Like? with Christine Emba Aug 23, 2023

If you spend any time on social media, you might have seen Washington Post columnist Christine Emba’s big essay earlier this summer. It’s headlined “Men are lost. Here’s a map out of the wilderness.” Every so often there’s a piece about contemporary masculinity that pops up, but Christine’s piece was so widely read. The essay takes on the challenges men face in American society today with nuance, clarity and incredible depth. Christine really is a fabulously smart writer and reporter, which you’ll know if you read any of her columns or her book “Rethinking Sex: A Provocation,” which came out last year. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Christine about the crises men are facing, the ultra-conservative voices that have become quote-unquote “manfluencers,” and what she sees as key ingredients to cultivating healthier masculinity. As Christine is a convert to Catholicism, Mike also asked her what she thought about how celibate clergy in particular might model masculinity, and what advice she might offer from her research to people raising or forming young men. “Men are lost” essay (unlocked): https://wapo.st/47AwiZq Follow-up piece (unlocked): https://wapo.st/3YAzeBj Christine's book: https://www.amazon.com/Rethinking-Sex-Provocation-Christine-Emba/dp/0593087569/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1692621051&sr=8-1 AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Discover Your Inner Artist Spirit with Chris Pramuk Aug 16, 2023

Today's host, Eric A. Clayton, encountered today’s guest’s professional title before he met the man himself. Eric was told to chase down the person who held the “Chair of Ignatian Thought and Imagination” at Regis University—and he was not disappointed. Dr. Chris Pramuk is said chair. He’s also an associate professor of religious studies. His interests focus on the intersection of faith, creativity and justice, and the conversation reflects this multitude. Chris and Eric jump from Thomas Merton to the musical tradition of the Black Catholic Church to Buddhism to Joni Mitchell. Woven throughout the conversation is a clear thread of Ignatian spirituality—and an invitation to each of us to discover the artist spirit alive within ourselves. Chris has written six books, including the two we discuss in this episode: Hope Sings, So Beautiful: Graced Encounters Across the Color Line and The Artist Alive: Explorations in Music, Art and Theology. He’s also written two award-winning studies on Thomas Merton. Learn more about Chris, his work and his books at the links below. The Artist Alive — https://www.amazon.com/Artist-Alive-Explorations-Music-Theology/dp/1599828383 Hope Sings, So Beautiful — https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Sings-So-Beautiful-Encounters/dp/0814682103 https://www.regis.edu/academics/faculty-finder/faculty/chris-pramuk

Less Than Half of U.S. Latinos are Catholic. How Can the Church Respond? with Hosffman Ospino Aug 09, 2023

You can’t talk about the Catholic Church in the United States without talking about Latino Catholics. About half of the Catholic population in the United States is Latino, which includes U.S.-born Hispanics and about the one million Latino immigrants who arrive here each year. And very few people if any know more about U.S. Latino Catholicism than Professor Hosffman Ospino, an associate professor of Hispanic Ministry and Religious Education and the chair of the Department of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry at Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry. Professor Ospino has led numerous research studies on Latino Catholics, including a brand-new report called “Ministry with Young Hispanic Catholics: Towards a Recipe for Growth and Success.” He’s also an expert on evangelization and pastoral ministry. It’s rare to find someone who’s so strong in sociological research and theology. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Professor Ospino about current trends in U.S. Latino Catholicism and about what he learned in his recent study. They talked about the decreasing number of U.S. Latinos who identify as Catholic, which is a fact of deep concern to him and calls for fresh ministry approaches. His passion for ministry and his sharp intelligence come through every second of this interview. Learn more about Dr. Ospino and read his newest research: https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/stm/faculty/faculty-directory/hosffman-ospino.html Article referenced in the episode: https://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.php?ID=194657 AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

A Summer Retreat with the Four Female Doctors of the Church Aug 02, 2023

As we turn the corner into the second half of summer, you might be wondering to yourself: When do I get a chance to rest and recharge? It’s been nothing but go, go, go. If that sounds like your summer days, then today’s episode is a treat. Spiritual director and award-winning author Vinita Hampton Wright returns to the pod to talk about her newest book from Ave Maria Press, “Set the World on Fire: A 4-Week Personal Retreat with the Female Doctors of the Church.” These four women are your guides into a new understanding of who you are – and who God is to you. Vinita’s book is a retreat, one you can make on your own or in community. And don’t let the mention of 4 weeks concern you – there’s no set timeline. You can pray with these four women as the Spirit inspires. Today’s conversation is a great introduction not only to Vinita’s book, but to the experience of God at work in our world – both in the past and present – that these four doctors of the Church challenge us to be alert to. Take time to savor Vinita’s insights, let the Spirit speak to you through them. And if you’re interested in learning more about her book or her other work, check out the link below. https://www.amazon.com/Set-World-Fire-Personal-Retreat/dp/1646801016

Inside the Unique Ministry of Jesuit Procurators with Fr. Victor Cancino, SJ Jul 26, 2023

The Society of Jesus’ 71st Congregation of Procurators, which was held in Loyola, Spain. Over 100 Jesuits gathered for the congregation, one from each province in the world plus Jesuit Superior General Fr. Arturo Soca and his assistants. So what exactly is a Congregation of Procurators? It sounds like old-fashioned Church speak. A brief explanation: There are two types of big global congregations the Society of Jesus holds. The first and more famous type is called a General Congregation, in which a new superior general is typically elected. There have been only 36 of these meetings since the founding of the order in 1540. All the way back at the second General Congregation in 1565, the delegates decided that more frequent meetings were needed. This led to the Congregation of Procurators, whose main technical function is to decide if a General Congregation should be called via a simple “yes or no” vote. Only very rarely do the procurators vote “yes.” But it’s a unique opportunity for Jesuits to gather and reflect on the state of the Society within today’s world. While the gathering itself lasted two weeks in Spain, the work of the procurators takes over a year. Once elected by his respective province, each procurator travels throughout his province and speaks to as many Jesuits as possible. The point is to develop a sort of “state of the Society” perspective from your own corner of the world. The procurators submit their reports to the Superior General, who in turn crafts a document on the state of the global society called De Statu Societatis. This document will be published and publicly available soon. Today’s guest is Fr. Victor Cancino, who was the procurator from the USA West province. Fr. Cancino lives on the Flathead Indian Reservation in western Montana and is the pastor-delegate for St. Ignatius Mission. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked him about the gathering itself plus what he learned while traveling throughout the West province, which stretches from Alaska to Hawaii to the US -Mexico border in Arizona. It was fascinating to hear his insider’s take on the whole process – a reminder that we are part of a church whose name means “universal.” Learn more about the Congregation of Procurators: https://www.jesuits.org/stories/jesuits-gather-for-71st-congregation-of-procurators-in-loyola-spain/ Read Fr. Cancino's articles at America magazine: https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/victor-cancino-sj AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Why Media Literacy Is A Gospel Value with Sr. Rose Pacatte, FSP Jul 19, 2023

Sr. Rose Pacatte was the keynote speaker at the 2023 Catholic Media Conference. She talked about how artificial intelligence and the spiritual life intersect, how social media can — and cannot — spread the Gospel, and how we’re all called to media literacy as part of our lives as Christians. Today, Sr. Rose joins us to reflect on all these things: AI, Threads, pop culture, media literacy and her own vocation at the intersection of media and religious life. Sr. Rose, a member of the Daughters of St. Paul, is an award-winning author and the founding director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies in Los Angeles. And if you like what she has to say, if you find yourself intrigued and wanting to go deeper, Sr. Rose invites you to check out the advanced certificate in media literacy that the Pauline Center for Media Studies is offering, staring July 30 2023. Here's the link: https://media.pauline.org/certificate And here's more information on World Communications Day at the papal messages: https://www.comunicazione.va/en/giornata-mondiale-comunicazioni-sociali.html Photo Credit: OSV News photo/Bob Roller

Growing Closer to God Through Sacred Art with John Herreid Jul 12, 2023

John Herreid is the creative mind behind a new publication from Ignatius Press called “The Catholic Home Gallery.” This stunning volume is made up of 18 works of art by contemporary Catholic artists, each of which is removable from the book and suitable for framing. The images are accompanied by short essays on the artist and their work. John is a graphic designer for Ignatius Press and a talented artist in his own right. He’s also a passionate student of art history and deeply faith filled. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked him about how the Home Gallery came to be, and what trends he’s noticing in Catholic sacred art today. They also talked about the intersection of beauty and faith more broadly. Whether you’re a lover of sacred art or just curious about how art can help you grow closer to God, you’ll really enjoy John’s reflections. The Catholic Home Gallery: https://ignatius.com/catholic-home-gallery-chgx/ A sneak peak inside the volume: https://files.ignatius.com/Flipbooks/CHGX/index.html?_ga=2.158954554.1473659349.1689086078-1735304729.1683906951 AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Why We Need More Feminist Prayers with Shannon K. Evans Jul 05, 2023

What makes a prayer “feminist?” Shannon Evans — author, retreat facilitator, and the spirituality and culture editor at National Catholic Reporter — is back on the pod today to reflect on exactly that question. She has a great new book out, a compilation of prayers, called “Feminist Prayers for My Daughter: Powerful Petitions for Every Stage of Her Life.” And let me assure you, this book is for everyone. Not only does it provide spiritual accompaniment, but also demands that we ask questions like: What would the Psalms have sounded like if they’d been written by women? What life experiences do we need to better integrate and lift up in our prayer? What images and understandings of God do we need now, in this moment, to better deepen our relationship with our Creator? Shannon shares her reflections on these questions, as well as insight into her own writing journey — and some hot takes mystics and why they’ll be the topic of her next book. A brief warning: There is mention of sexual abuse around minute 15 of this episode. No details are given, and the context is Shannon’s own surprise about the power of her book’s prayers in very challenging situations. We invite you to check out the show notes to find links to Shannon’s website, books and Substack. Get Shannon's book: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/466175 Visit Shannon's site: https://www.shannonkevans.com/ Sign up for her Substack: https://shannonkevans.substack.com/?utm_source=homepage_recommendations&utm_campaign=1424232 Check out her IG: https://www.instagram.com/shannonkevans/

The Story Behind the New Synod Working Document with Professor Anna Rowlands Jun 28, 2023

A vivid definition of the Catholic Church is attributed to the literary giant James Joyce: Catholic means “here comes everybody.” Never in recent history has that felt more accurate than during the current Synod on Synodality. Lots of AMDG listeners have been active in the synod, participating in this global process of spiritual conversation and consultation. The synod comprises several stages, from the listening sessions in local churches all the way to the upcoming gatherings of the Synod of Bishops in Rome in October 2023 and 2024. For the first time ever, about 20% of the voting members of the synod will be made up of lay women and men. And last week, the General Secretariat of the Synod in Rome published a 60-page document called the “Instrumentum Laboris,” which will be the basis of the work of the Synod fathers and mothers when they gather. Unlike previous Synods, this Instrumentum Laboris is not a document to be amended and approved, but a series of questions on key topics related to communion, mission and participation in the church. The document itself is an incarnation of synodality, which makes space for all participants to be heard. One of the Synod team members who collaborated on this working document is Professor Anna Rowlands, today’s guest. Anna holds the St. Hilda Chair in Catholic Social Thought and Practice at Durham University in the United Kingdom. She is a political theologian who works at the intersection of political and social theory and Christian theology. Anna is the author of an acclaimed book on Catholic Social Teaching titled “Towards a Politics of Communion: Catholic Social Teaching in Dark Times,” which was published in 2021. Anna is one of the few people on Earth who have read pretty much every word submitted to Rome from the church all over the world, so she brings an incredible wealth of experience and a truly global perspective to the conversation. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked her how the working document was shaped and for her take on the key themes that animate it. It is fascinating to hear what most surprised her as she took in such a enormous volume of testimony from every continent. We hope Anna’s reflections will be a useful introduction for you and that you’ll have the chance to read and pray with the working document, maybe even in spiritual conversation with people in your own local community. Read the working document: https://www.synod.va/en/news/instrumentum-laboris-a-document-of-the-whole-church.html Learn more about Professor Rowlands: https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/anna-rowlands/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Henri de Lubac, SJ: From Censored to Sainthood? with Rev. Dr. Jordan Hillebert Jun 21, 2023

This past April, French bishops voted to open the sainthood cause of 20th century Jesuit theologian Henri de Lubac. If you had a time machine and went back to the 1950s and told Fr. de Lubac this news, he probably wouldn’t believe you. In those years, the church was so nervous about de Lubac’s scholarship that he was prevented from teaching theology and his books were removed from Jesuit libraries. He experienced a rehabilitation within his own lifetime and was even named a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 1983. Host Mike Jordan Laskey has heard de Lubac’s name many times over the years, both for this theological controversy and even more importantly for the immense impact his work had on the Second Vatican Council and today’s church. But he knew pretty much nothing about him, so he invited the Rev. Dr. Jordan Hillebert on the show today to get him up to speed. Jordan Hillebert is an Anglican priest, a theologian and tutor at St Padarn’s Institute in Cardiff, Wales. He was born and raised in the United States and moved to Scotland in 2011 to pursue a PhD in theology at the University of St Andrews. His research interests include systematic theology, modern Christian thought and the theology of Henri de Lubac, whose work he has edited and authored several books on. His most recent book is called “Henri de Lubac and the Drama of Human Existence.” Mike asked Jordan to get all of us nonexperts acquainted with de Lubac’s life and work, and he did an amazing job. Jordan is clearly so intimately familiar with this great Jesuit. Jordan also shared a bit about his own vocation story and what his experience has been like as an Anglican studying a modern Roman Catholic theologian. Jordan’s book: https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268108571/henri-de-lubac-and-the-drama-of-human-existence/ Follow Jordan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JordanHillebert www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

How Young Adults’ Faith is Defying Classic Categories with Ellen Koneck Jun 14, 2023

There are so many theories about why young adults are leaving the Catholic Church today. Maybe our parishes aren’t welcoming enough, or maybe they’re watering down the faith. Maybe young people are being asked to do too much to be part of the community. Or maybe they’re not being asked to do enough. Maybe they’re angry at the church’s positions on social issues. Or maybe they just drift away because they don’t find anything relevant at church. It can be challenging to offer grand, sweeping theories about young adults and the church because we’re talking about millions of people. Young adults aren’t monolithic. But there is some good quantitative and qualitative data we can work with, and today’s guest is uniquely equipped to offer some compelling arguments. Ellen Koneck is the executive director of Commonweal Magazine, the venerable Catholic journal of opinion that celebrates its 100th birthday next year. She’s an incredibly insightful writer with experience in pastoral ministry, making her an astute observer of the reasons her fellow young adults slip out the church door. She also took over her role at Commonweal after working as head writer at the Springtide Research Institute, which does some of the best statistical work on young people and the church you can find anywhere. Ellen combined her wealth of experiences and observations into a talk she gave this past April for the Catholic Common Ground Initiative in Chicago. Ellen and host Mike Jordan Laskey recently had a wide-ranging conversation on why church membership is a bad metric for measuring youth involvement in faith, why the problem of polarization might not be as crucial to address as alienation, and how Commonweal is trying to reach a new generation of readers. Watch Ellen’s talk here (starts at 30:50): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6E54YDSdEY&t=4s Commonweal: https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/ Springtide Research Institute: https://www.springtideresearch.org/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Meet the New Leader of the Church’s Global Aid Network with Alistair Dutton Jun 07, 2023

If you were going to make a list of the most inspiring things the Catholic Church is doing in the world, the work of Caritas Internationalis would be right there near the top. Caritas is a global confederation of Catholic charities working to alleviate poverty, promote social justice and advocate for the rights of the marginalized. With members organizations spread across about 200 countries and territories, Caritas is one of the biggest humanitarian networks in the world. Here in the US, the Caritas-affiliated organizations you’ve probably heard of are Catholic Charities, which serves people domestically, and Catholic Relief Services, which works overseas. In Canada, the Caritas organization is called Development and Peace. Today’s guest is the brand-new secretary general of Caritas, Alistair Dutton. He was just sworn in last week and elected a few weeks before that. Alistair had been serving as the director of Caritas’ agency in Scotland, which is called SCIAF. He will take over leadership of Caritas at a pivotal time. Last year, Pope Francis removed Caritas’ top leaders due at least in part to low staff morale. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Alistair what he hopes to do in his first weeks and months as secretary general to help promote healing within the organization. Alistair also discussed the work of SCIAF and some of the most inspiring humanitarian projects he has seen around the world, plus why Catholics ought to care about challenges those on the margins are facing both at home and abroad. Finally, as Alistair was a Jesuit himself for five years, he talked about how his formation in Ignatian spirituality influenced his life path and inspires him today. Learn more about Alistair and his election: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2023-05/alistair-dutton-elected-new-secretary-general-caritas.html Caritas Internationalis: https://www.caritas.org/ SCIAF: https://www.sciaf.org.uk/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

More Jesuit Saints Not Named Ignatius with Casey Beaumier, SJ May 31, 2023

There’s always the temptation for religious orders to lionize their founder. To point to a single person and say, “There! That’s the way to live the Christian life! Just do what they did.” Despite the number of parishes and programs and centers named for Ignatius of Loyola, the man himself was pretty resolute on the need to have your own experience of God. His experience was exactly that: his experience. The unique way God was at work in his life. Ignatian spirituality and the Spiritual Exercises are gifts to us so that we can come to encounter God in our own way. So, we can look to Ignatius himself for inspiration. But as we should expect, the Ignatian tradition – and the Society of Jesus – has a vast array of diverse and fascinating figures. Saints and blessed, examples we can look to from the very first days of the Society to the present. Look to Ignatius, yes, but look also to the countless other sources of inspiration for living the Christian life. To help us do exactly this, the Institute for Advanced Jesuits Studies at Boston College has published a new, wonderful book: “Jesuit Saints and Blesseds: Spiritual Profiles.” The book traces the history of the Society through the lens of its holy people and is a companion for us as we explore our own paths to holiness. Back again on the podcast to talk about the book and Jesuit saints is Fr. Casey Beaumier, a Jesuit and the director of the Institute for Advanced Jesuits Studies. The conversation spans such important topics from which Jesuit saints are most inspirational in sustaining one’s vocation to which Jesuit saints most deserve an academic building named after them. (Hint: The answer is Joseph Pignatelli, and if you want to read up on him, there’s a link below where we’ve also included a link to the book and the Institute.) Learn about Joseph Pignatelli, SJ: https://www.jesuits.org/stories/what-joseph-pignatelli-sj-teaches-us-about-living-in-isolation/ Buy the book: https://jesuitsources.bc.edu/jesuit-saints-and-blesseds-spiritual-profiles/ About the Institute: https://www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/centers/iajs.html

What You've Never Considered About Jesus with Joe Tetlow, SJ May 24, 2023

Often in the story of St. Ignatius of Loyola, we zero in on the “cannonball moment.” It’s the instant in Ignatius’ story when everything changes—even if the would-be saint hasn’t yet fully realized it. But even more important than that war wound is the eleven months that follow, that long, tedious period of recovery and reflection and reading. It’s then that Ignatius encounters a book on Jesus Christ, and through that book, the God of Jesus Christ, the God who had been loving him all along—and speaking to him through his desires and experiences. That’s the moment in the Ignatian tradition that best frames today’s conversation. Our guest is Jesuit Fr. Joe Tetlow, currently the director of Montserrat Jesuit Retreat House in Lake Dallas, TX and the author of the new book, “Considering Jesus: The Human Experience of the Redeemer.” The title speaks for itself. Fr. Tetlow’s book is an opportunity to pray with Jesus’ own experiences, to see how those experiences speak to and inspire us. You’ll hear, too, how Fr. Tetlow’s own experiences shape his writing and retreat work—and can guide us in our own daily lives. You can get your own copy of Fr. Tetlow’s new book—or one of his many others—by checking out the links below. https://store.loyolapress.com/considering-jesus https://store.loyolapress.com/you-have-called-me-by-my-name https://store.loyolapress.com/always-discerning

Why Catholics Should Watch TV’s “Lodge 49” with Creator Jim Gavin May 17, 2023

“Lodge 49,” a comedy-drama TV series that ran on the channel AMC for two seasons, is about an ex-surfer named Dud (Wyatt Russell) who’s drifting through life after the loss of his father and the closing of his family’s pool supply store. He stumbles into a rundown old fraternal lodge belonging to a group called the Order of the Lynx. (Think of the freemasons or the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.) At the Lodge, he meets a luminous knight of the order named Ernie (Brent Jennings) who’s also a plumbing salesman. Ernie welcomes the much younger Dud with open arms. And so begins host Mike Jordan Laskey’s favorite onscreen friendship in television history, these two guys of wildly different backgrounds and personalities hanging out and having some truly wild adventures together. Because running alongside this story of friendship and community in the face of economic downturn and social erosion is the mysterious legend of the Order of the Lynx itself, which is centered on some sort of alchemical philosophy that may or may not be true. Mix all of its ingredients together and “Lodge 49” is one of the strangest, most beautiful works of art you can find on television or anywhere else. The wildly original creative mind behind “Lodge 49” is Jim Gavin, today’s guest. A writer, Gavin published an acclaimed collection of short stories called “Middle Men” in 2013 before making the transition to TV. Gavin grew up in an observant Catholic family and went to Catholic school all the way through his college years at the Jesuit Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Both the show and the book are shot through with Gavin’s Catholic imagination, calling to mind work by other Catholic and lapsed-Catholic authors like Walker Percy, Don DeLillo, and George Saunders as we meet wounded characters searching for meaning and mercy. Mike asked Jim about his Catholic background and its influence on his work. They also talked about the current writers’ strike in Hollywood, which Jim is participating in. Watch “Lodge 49” on Hulu: https://www.hulu.com/series/lodge-49-5061e151-c887-4e29-9e13-c1b48e392123 Read “Middle Men”: https://www.amazon.com/Middle-Men-Stories-Jim-Gavin/dp/1451649347 AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Centering Women’s Leadership in the Church with Phyllis Zagano May 10, 2023

As you probably know, the global Catholic Church is in the middle of a three-year synod process on the topic of synodality. The synod has featured thousands of listening sessions with the faithful all over the world, the biggest consultation process in the history of the church. Maybe you’ve been involved in one or more of these meetings yourself. One of the key themes that has emerged again and again in the reports on these meetings is women’s leadership in the church. Here’s how the document synthesizing the synod process in the United States puts it: “…there was recognition for the centrality of women’s unparalleled contributions to the life of the Church, particularly in local communities. There was a desire for stronger leadership, discernment, and decision-making roles for women – both lay and religious – in their parishes and communities. ‘People mentioned a variety of ways in which women could exercise leadership, including preaching and ordination as deacon or priest. Ordination for women emerged not primarily as a solution to the problem of the priest shortage, but as a matter of justice.’” And if you’re going to reflect on women’s leadership in the church, you just have to talk to Dr. Phyllis Zagano. Dr. Zagano is a scholar based at Hofstra University in New York and is one of the world’s leading authorities on the past and present of women’s leadership in the Catholic church. Host Mike Jordan Laskey invited her on the show to talk about her new book, titled “Just Church: Catholic Social Teaching, Synodality, and Women,” which was just published by Paulist Press. They discussed the history of women serving as deacons in the Catholic Church, plus some ways the church might better empower women today. Learn more about Dr. Zagano: https://sites.hofstra.edu/phyllis-zagano/ Her new book: https://www.amazon.com/Just-Church-Catholic-Teaching-Synodality/dp/0809156539 AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

ChatGPT, Social Media and Our Souls with L.M. Sacasas May 03, 2023

Most of us probably don’t stop to reflect on our use of technology and how the devices and apps we use affect our lives and society as a whole. What is it doing to our brains and our souls that we reach for our smartphones mindlessly hundreds of times a day? What do we say on social media that I wouldn’t say in real life, and how does our behavior online make the world better – or, more likely, worse? Today’s guest, L.M. Sacasas, is an incredible thinker and writer who has devoted his career to asking big questions of our technology and what it’s doing to our communal life and individual lives. Sacasas has a great Substack newsletter called “The Convivial Society” that is host Mike Jordan Laskey’s favorite thing to read these days. Sacasas has this amazing ability to read and absorb scholars from the past like Marshall McLuhan, Neil Postman, Hannah Arendt and the Jesuit literary theorist Walter Ong and apply their arguments to our very different media environment today. In this conversation, Sacasas shares his thoughts on AI chat-bots like ChatGPT and Microsoft’s new Bing and Google Bard. He and Mike also talk about social media and smartphones and artificial light and time and what countercultural roles faith communities might play in offering venues for incarnational, authentic community. Subscribe to “The Convivial Society”: https://theconvivialsociety.substack.com/ Read L.M. Sacasas on Fr. Walter Ong, SJ: https://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/the-inescapable-town-square Listen to L.M. Sacasas’ interview on the Ezra Klein Show: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/03/podcasts/transcript-ezra-klein-interviews-lm-sacasas.html AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Special Episode: The Jesuit Border Podcast Welcomes Fr. Jim Martin, SJ Apr 26, 2023

In 2021, two Jesuits who had just been ordained priests were missioned to serve migrant communities on the U.S.-Mexico border in Brownsville, Texas. Soon after they arrived, Father Brian Strassburger and Father Louie Hotop agreed that there were so many incredible people and stories they were encountering that they just had to share them with the world through a podcast. They asked our communications team at the Jesuit Conference for help producing it, and the result has been one of the most inspiring podcast series you’ll ever hear. It's called the Jesuit Border Podcast and we are thrilled to be featuring one of their recent episodes here on our AMDG feed. In this episode, Fr. Louie and Fr. Brian shift from interviewers to interviewees. Asking the questions this time around is the great Jesuit author Fr. Jim Martin, who leads Louie and Brian through an Ignatian examen of their ministry in Brownsville over the past two years. It’s a fabulous interview with so much vulnerability and insight. Be sure to subscribe to the Jesuit Border Podcast wherever you listen. Jesuit Border Podcast, plus study guides: https://thejesuitpost.org/2021/11/the-jesuit-border-podcast/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

For the Love of God, Read! with Jessica Hooten Wilson Apr 19, 2023

For many of you listening, the idea of spiritual reading is probably a familiar concept. You might have a book or two on your bedside that you pray with each night: something on the lives of the saints or new insights into old spiritual practices. Next to that pile of spiritual books might be a bible, and each day you read a passage, slowly, prayerfully. It's not hard to look for the Holy Spirit at work in books you find in the spirituality section of your local bookstore. But what about in the other sections: fiction, sci-fi, romance and memoir? Is the Holy Spirit at work in those books, too? Our guest today, Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson, says yes – to a degree. Her newest book, “Reading for the Love of God: How to Read as a Spiritual Practice,” challenges us to look at all our reading through the lens of spirituality. How is God inviting us deeper into our vocation, deeper into the mysteries of creation through the texts we spend our time with? Jessica is the inaugural Visiting Scholar of Liberal Arts at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. She previously taught at the University of Dallas. She’s the author of several other books that explore this topic of saints, sinners and texts — both those considered holy and those less so. She speaks around the world on topics as varied as Russian novelists, Catholic thinkers and our topic today: a Christian approach to reading. As you listen to this conversation and reflect on your own reading habits, consider Ignatius of Loyola. He, too, provides us with a helpful approach to reading. Recall that during his recovery from his cannonball wound, he wanted to read books on knights and courtly romance. Instead, he was given what we would consider spiritual reading: a book on saints and one on the life of Christ. God spoke to Ignatius in part through these texts; they were pivotal to his conversion. Even so, Ignatius goes on to insist that God is to be found in all things — not only the spiritual and religious texts but every aspect of life. How might you approach your own reading through this Ignatian lens? What might God reveal? Learn more about Jessica's work at her website: https://jessicahootenwilson.com/ And check out her new book: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/reading-for-the-love-of-god/407190

Fr. Ed Dowling, SJ: AA's Spiritual Sponsor with Dawn Eden Goldstein Apr 12, 2023

Fr. Ed Dowling is a Jesuit priest you might never have heard of before. After hearing his story, you might find yourself wondering how this holy man isn’t more renowned. Thanks to a new book by Dawn Eden Goldstein, Fr. Ed is finally getting his due. Goldstein is the author of “Father Ed: The Story of Bill W’s Spiritual Sponsor,” which is the first biography of Father Edward Dowling, SJ, a Jesuit from St. Louis who became a close friend and spiritual mentor to Bill Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. Although not an alcoholic himself, Fr. Ed had a deep understanding of the twelve-step program and its spiritual principles. He helped Bill Wilson overcome his depression and deepen his relationship with God. He also devoted his ministry to helping people in recovery from various addictions and afflictions, as well as promoting social justice and ecumenism. The book is based on extensive research and interviews Dawn conducted with people who knew Fr. Ed and Bill Wilson. It reveals the remarkable story of how these two men from different backgrounds and faiths forged a bond that changed their lives and the lives of millions of others. It also shows how Fr. Ed’s Jesuit spirituality influenced the development of AA and its legacy. Father Ed is an essential read for anyone interested in the history and spirituality of Alcoholics Anonymous, the role of Jesuits in American culture, and the power of friendship and grace in overcoming personal struggles. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Dawn to share some of the most fascinating things she learned about Fr. Ed, and how his ministry might inform the church’s work with those in recovery today. Read an exclusive excerpt from the book about the time Bill W. met the St. Louis Jesuits at Jesuits.org/dowling. Dawn’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Father-Ed-Story-Spiritual-Sponsor/dp/1626984867 Follow Dawn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DawnofMercy AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Embodied Ritual and Radical Solidarity with Susan Bigelow Reynolds Apr 05, 2023

When Susan Bigelow Reynolds was studying theology in grad school at Boston College, she saw an advertisement for free housing at St. Mary of the Angels Church in the Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood. In exchange for the place to live, she’d have to provide a few hours of parish work per week. That seemed like a good deal, so she moved right in. Little did she know that her decision would come to shape her academic focus, lead to six years of ethnographic research in the parish, and bring about the publication of her incredible new book, which is titled “People Get Ready: Ritual, Solidarity, and Lived Ecclesiology in Catholic Roxbury.” Throughout her research, both during her time living at the parish and in the years since, Susan explored how a diverse community of Black, Caribbean, Latin American and Euro-American Catholics at St. Mary of the Angels Church have constructed rituals of solidarity as a way of building bridges across difference. She argues for a retrieval of Vatican II’s notion of ecclesial solidarity as a basis for the mission of the local church in an age of migration, displacement and change. Susan’s book is a must-read for a few reasons. For one, it’s a beautifully written volume that combines memoir, theology and ethnography in a fascinating yet accessible way. Further, “People Get Ready” is essential for anyone interested in American urban Catholicism at all, especially in light of the challenges and opportunities posed by cultural diversity, social justice issues and parish mergers and closures. Finally, the story of this parish community is a powerful testament to how ritual can foster friendship, power, peace and survival amid suffering and marginality. “People Get Ready”: https://www.amazon.com/People-Get-Ready-Solidarity-Ecclesiology/dp/1531502016 Learn more about Susan: https://candler.emory.edu/faculty/profiles/reynolds-susan.html Read Susan in Commonweal: https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/ways-of-the-cross AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

The Passion Like You've Never Heard it Before with J.J. Wright Mar 29, 2023

There’s nothing better than the Easter Triduum – from the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday through the bitter, heavy celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday to the unparalleled drama of the Easter fire and baptizing new Christians at the Vigil on Saturday night. The one big danger this time of year: We’ve heard the stories of Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection so many times now that it’s easy for them to go in one ear and out the other. To paraphrase the words of T.S. Eliot, we might have the experience but miss the meaning. Sometimes, approaching a familiar story like the Passion in a new way can make all the difference. And today’s guest has just released a new musical project that does just that. J.J. Wright is a composer, pianist and director of the Notre Dame Folk Choir. This Lent season, J.J. and the Folk Choir, in collaboration with professional musicians, writers and producers, released “The Passion.” The project is a 95-minute, fully--staged production that depicts the disciples on Holy Saturday as they retell the events of Jesus’ last days, from the anointing at Bethany to Golgotha. Using contemporary musical forms to get into the story in a new way really made host Mike Jordan Laskey pray and reflect with the Passion narratives with new depth and attention. Now Notre Dame isn’t a Jesuit university, of course, but the project is an extremely powerful example of Ignatian imaginative prayer: The work does a great job of really bringing you into the scene yourself. Mike asked J.J. about how the work came to be and how putting together something so huge and ambitious affected the way J.J. hears the Passion story himself. You’ll hear some of the music included in the episode during our conversation. You can also find and listen to “The Passion” wherever you get music, including services like Spotify. Learn more about J.J. Wright: https://jjwrightmusic.com/ Learn more about the Notre Dame Folk Choir: https://folkchoir.nd.edu/ Learn more about “The Passion”: https://news.nd.edu/news/notre-dame-folk-choir-to-release-new-album-on-christs-passion-on-ash-wednesday/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Saint Joseph University: A Beacon of Hope in Lebanon with Fr. Salim Daccache, SJ Mar 22, 2023

One of the most interesting Jesuit universities in the world is Saint Joseph University in Beirut, Lebanon. Founded in 1875, Saint Joseph is the only Jesuit university in the Arab World. On its incredibly impressive list of alumni are seven presidents of Lebanon. The former Superior General of the Jesuits, Fr. Peter Hans Kolvenbach, earned his doctorate there and then joined the faculty. Saint Joseph has a medical and a law school and five total campuses in all in the capital city. In the middle of a religiously diverse country, it brings together 12,000 students from all backgrounds, including large communities of both Christian and Muslim students. As they carry out their essential mission, Saint Joseph is facing unimaginable challenges due to multiple intertwined crises plaguing the country of Lebanon right now. On August 4, 2020, a historically powerful explosion at the Port of Beirut killed over 200 people and left about 300,000 homeless. All five of Saint Joseph’s campuses were damaged by the blast. This instability worsened an already-dire economic crisis. A few weeks ago, host Mike Jordan Laskey talked to the university’s president, Fr. Salim Daccache, SJ, about the university and how it’s responding to today’s challenges. Fr. Daccache has led Saint Joseph’s since 2012 and earned his undergraduate degree there in 1973. A scholar and an experienced administrator, Fr. Daccache has such a clear passion for the school and is dedicated to doing whatever he can to support students, faculty and staff. Against this backdrop, the university is asking for donations in support of scholarships. Our listeners in the United States can make tax-deductible donations via a PayPal link on our website, which you can find at https://www.jesuits.org/stories/the-only-jesuit-university-in-the-arab-world-needs-our-help/. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Jesuit March Madness with Coach Keith Urgo Mar 15, 2023

Here in the American Jesuit universe, we’re in two parallel holy seasons at the same time: Lent and March Madness. Nine Jesuit teams between the women’s and men’s tournaments are in the Big Dance this year, and you can read all about them on our website at Jesuits.org/basketball. Today’s guest didn’t quite make it to the NCAA tournament this year, but he led one of the biggest success stories in all of college basketball this season. And this was his first year as a head coach at any level. Keith Urgo is the head coach of the Fordham Rams men’s team – and the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year. Fordham put up a record of 25 wins and 8 losses this season; the last time Fordham won this many games in a season was all the way back in 1991. Coach Urgo has deep Jesuit roots: He went to Gonzaga College High School in Washington, DC, then played basketball and lacrosse at Fairfield University. After college, he spent time working with a nonprofit organization called PeacePlayers, which uses basketball to bring people together in some of the most divided countries on Earth. He’s a fascinating guy and you’ll want to keep your eye on him in future years. In the second half of the show, we’re re-running one of our favorite basketball segments we’ve ever done here on the show. A couple years ago, host Mike Jordan Laskey talked to the author John Gasaway, who writes on college hoops for ESPN and wrote a book on Catholic college basketball called “Miracles on the Hardwood.” At the end of that conversation, John and Mike took turns drafting the greatest men’s players in Jesuit basketball history, building fantasy teams who will only ever compete against each other in our imaginations. Don’t forget to root for Creighton, Marquette, Gonzaga, Saint Louis University, Holy Cross and Xavier this week. Learn more about PeacePlayers: https://peaceplayers.org/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Pope Francis' 10 Years of Leadership with Austen Ivereigh Mar 08, 2023

Ten years ago, on March 13, 2013, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected Pope. Do you remember those first hours and days? We found out he was from Argentina, the first Pope from the Global South. Then we heard his name would be Francis the First…or maybe just Francis? Then we saw him step to the window above St. Peter’s Square, looking fairly calm but probably also a bit overwhelmed, and he asked the pilgrims thronging below to pray for him before he offered his first papal blessing. He seemed humble and warm. Then there were other stories of his humility: he checked himself out of the hotel he’d been staying in. He celebrated his first Holy Thursday Mass washing the feet of inmates at a prison. Since then, it’s an understatement to say it’s been quite a decade for the church and the world. Host Mike Jordan Laskey wanted to reflect on the first 10 years of Francis’ papacy. What have the major themes been? How has the church changed – and not changed? Where might we be headed? Today’s guest today is perhaps the most qualified person to talk about these questions in the English-speaking world. Austen Ivereigh is a journalist, author and commentator who has written two books about Pope Francis: “The Great Reformer” and “Wounded Shepherd.” He also collaborated with the Pope himself on a book called “Let Us Dream”, which charts a path forward from the Covid pandemic. In this conversation, Austen offers his characteristically sharp insight on everything Pope Francis; few people on the planet have such a strong understanding of the Holy Father’s heart and mind. Learn more about Austen: https://www.austeni.org/ His America Magazine piece on the 10-year anniversary: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2023/02/16/francis-revolution-decade-244685 AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Two Best Picture Nominees Catholics Should See with Alissa Wilkinson Mar 01, 2023

The Academy Awards are coming up March 12th, so we wanted to recommend a couple of Oscar-nominated movies that fans of the podcast might enjoy. And there was one person host Mike Jordan Laskey was hoping to interview for this episode: his favorite film critic of all time, Alissa Wilkinson from the website Vox, where she’s the senior culture writer. Nobody writes on the intersections of cinema and theology and spirituality like Alissa does. Over and over again, she finds angles that no other critics see. Alissa writes essays that are profound, funny, moving, and eminently readable. She joined Mike to talk about two Best Picture nominees: “Women Talking” and “The Banshees of Inisherin.” Alissa talked about both films and what makes them especially compelling for a Catholic audience. She also discussed what goes into the art of criticism more broadly, and what she thinks about the current trend of religious communities depicted on the big screen. Alissa on "Women Talking": https://www.vox.com/culture/23345084/women-talking-review-tiff-augustine Alissa on "The Banshees of Inisherin": https://www.vox.com/culture/23413305/banshees-inisherin-review-history-civil-war Alissa's newsletter: https://wilkinson.substack.com/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Why You Should Meet Fr. Clarence Rivers Feb 22, 2023

You may have never heard the name Fr. Clarence Rivers before today. Fr. Rivers was a renown composer and liturgist, among other things, and he was helping people better understand—better see themselves—in the liturgy long before the Second Vatican Council made such actions the norm. Fr. Rivers was also the first Black priest ordained in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, and his own heritage and lived experience greatly informed his approach to the liturgy and to his own priestly ministry. But Fr. Rivers is slowly being lost to the relentless march of time. His legacy is interwoven in so much of how we understand Catholic liturgy today, and yet his name is far from our lips. Fortunately, our guests today—Emily Strand and Eric Styles—host their own podcast, and it’s called Meet Father Rivers. Emily has taught religion at the collegiate level for more than 15 years, and currently does so at Mt. Carmel College in Ohio. She is the author of two books on Catholicism and has published several essays on religious and literary themes in popular culture in peer-reviewed publications. Emily is also a life-long Church musician, serving her parish as a cantor, accompanist and ensemble director, and serving the National Association of Pastoral Musicians as Chair of the Forum on Communication. Eric Styles has served as the Rector of Carroll Hall, an intentional undergraduate residential community at the University of Notre Dame, since 2016. He holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati and Loyola University Chicago. Eric worked as a Parish Liturgy Coordinator at Saint Benedict the African Catholic Church in Chicago and as a House Manager for the Theatre School of DePaul University. He spent time discerning the call to religious life with the Society of Jesus, though eventually discovered that was not where God was inviting him to be. Eric remains active in the performing arts as a collaborator with Afro House, a Baltimore based music driven performance art ensemble. Eric writes about theology, liturgy, and contemporary culture. Both of our guests are passionate about the liturgy, deeply inspired by the legacy of Fr. Rivers and determined to help form the imagination of people of faith today. Listen to the podcast, "Meet Father Rivers:" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-father-rivers/id1590237311 Learn more about Emily: https://emilystrand.liturgyandlife.com/ Photo courtesy of "Catholic Telegraph" (Cincinnati)

Christ's Inclusive Definition of "Neighbor" with Bill O'Keefe Feb 15, 2023

Lent is just around the corner, and there are so many vivid symbols of this liturgical season. You’ve got ashes and palms and purple stuff everywhere. No Alleluias, no Glorias, no meat at the Friday fish fry. One of the best Lenten symbols is the CRS Rice Bowl, those little cardboard boxes we fill with cash to support the work of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) overseas. It’s easy to grab a Rice Bowl, fill it up, turn it in without thinking twice about where our money is going. Today’s guest can help us fill in the gaps and learn about the incredible work going on in about 100 countries around in the world on behalf of Catholics in the United States. Bill O’Keefe is CRS’ Executive Vice President for Mission and Mobilization. He oversees the agency’s efforts to build a movement of Catholics and others of good will to support CRS’ global mission and build action-oriented global solidarity with poor, vulnerable, and marginalized people around the world. These efforts include lobbying Congress and the Administration on a range of foreign policy issues and engaging U.S. Catholics in public campaigns to change U.S. foreign policy in ways that promote justice and reduce poverty overseas. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Bill to share some of the most inspiring things he’s seen CRS working on around the world, and how our faith inspires us to care for all who are suffering, no matter what country they live in. In the days since they recorded their conversation, we have all seen the unimaginable destruction from the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. You can visit crs.org to see how CRS and their partners are responding to the incredible amount of need in those countries. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Uncovering the History of Native Boarding Schools with Researcher Nick Lewis Feb 08, 2023

On this week’s AMDG, host MegAnne Liebsch talks to historian Nicholas Lewis about his research into the history of Jesuit-run boarding schools for Indigenous children. These schools were part of a larger U.S. government attempt to assimilate Indigenous peoples into white European culture from the 1820s to as late as the 1970s. Indigenous families were compelled to send their children to boarding schools, effectively stripping children of their language, culture and community. Jesuit leadership in the U.S. knew that Jesuits administered a number of such schools, but accounts varied as to how many, where they were located, and for how long. So in January of 2022, Nick was hired to examine the archives and identify some of these basic facts. His research has confirmed 24 mission locations where the Jesuits ran a boarding school for Native children, a full list of which can be found on our website and is linked below. We invited Nick on the podcast to discuss his findings and give us a broad overview of this history. ***Warning: This episode deals with trauma, as well as mentions of physical and sexual abuse. Take care while listening.*** Further resources: Our website: www.jesuits.org/native-boarding-schools Full list of Jesuit-run school locations: https://www.jesuits.org/press-release/list/ Report on boarding school funding: https://inthesetimes.com/article/catholic-church-mission-schools-investigation-treaty-ojibwe-native-people Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition: https://boardingschoolhealing.org/ Truth and healing efforts at Red Cloud Indian School: https://www.redcloudschool.org/pages/truth-and-healing Education for Extinction David Wallace Adams: https://kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700629602/ Converting the Rosebud by Harvey Markowitz: https://www.oupress.com/9780806159850/converting-the-rosebud/ Boarding School Seasons by Brenda Child: https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/9780803214804/ Churches and the Indian Schools by Francis Paul Prucha: https://www.amazon.com/Churches-Indian-Schools-1888-1912-Francis/dp/0803236573

How to Overcome Polarization With Amy Uelmen Feb 01, 2023

One of the big challenges in higher education today is polarization in the classroom, which of course reflects the polarization of the country at large. Professors like Dr. Amy Uelmen are trying to figure out how to encourage their students to speak and listen to each other across divides on complex social issues where there are no easy answers. Amy is a professor at the Georgetown Law Center, where she’s also a special assistant to the dean and the director of mission and ministry. Just in case that’s not enough to keep her busy, Amy is also a Senior Research Fellow at the Berkley Center on Religion, Peace and World Affairs. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked her about her work at the intersections of faith, morality and law, and also to see if they could tease out some tips that those of us who aren’t in law school could use when trying to connect with people we disagree with on thorny issues. Amy is also a member of the Focolare Movement, a lay ecclesial movement and international organization founded in Italy by Chiara Lubich in 1943. Focolare is centered on Christ’s prayer from the Gospel “that they all may be one,” so it’s clear to see how Amy’s faith life is leading directly to her research and work in the classroom. Learn more about Amy: https://www.law.georgetown.edu/faculty/amelia-j-uelmen/ Essay on dialogue after the January 6 riot: https://canopyforum.org/2021/01/13/whither-dialogue-after-the-capitol-riot/ Learn more about Focolare: https://www.focolare.org/en/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

Building Bridges Between Jews and Catholics With Philip Cunningham and Adam Gregerman Jan 25, 2023

A disturbing trend over the past couple of years has been the rise of antisemitism. The Anti-Defamation League, which tracks antisemitic incidents, says 2021 was the worst year in decades and that 2022 will look similar once the numbers are tabulated. We’re in a five-year upswing overall. Let’s not give any more oxygen to acts of hate. Instead, we are thrilled to be sharing this conversation host Mike Jordan Laskey recently had with Dr. Phil Cunningham and Dr. Adam Gregerman, two scholars who have devoted their careers to building bridges between Jews and Catholics. Phil and Adam lead the Institute for Jewish-Catholic Relations at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. The institute was founded in 1967 in response to the Second Vatican Council. Phil is Catholic and Adam is Jewish, and their shared leadership models the type of engagement the institute is all about. You’ll see this sort of collaboration on display throughout the episode. Mike asked them for a brief historical overview of the relationship between Catholics and Jews, and why the promulgation of the Vatican II document Nostra Aetate was such an important turning point. Adam and Phil also talked about the work they’re doing today, and how we can build relationships across religious divides without erasing each faith’s uniqueness. Institute for Jewish-Catholic Relations: https://www.sju.edu/college-arts-and-sciences/ijcr Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations: https://ccjr.us/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

How Ignatian Spirituality Can Make This Year Great with Jim Manney Jan 18, 2023

If you’ve spent much time reading about Ignatian spirituality, there’s a good chance you’ve come across the work of Jim Manney. He has a great book on the Examen called “A Simple, Life-Changing Prayer” that often serves as introduction for many to this all-important part of Ignatian spirituality. Jim has this way of boiling down his vast—and it is vast!—array of Ignatian knowledge in a way that is accessible, powerful and practical. His writing stays with you. And so, his newest book, which essentially is an exercise in making Ignatian spirituality accessible and practical, is pretty exciting. It’s called “What Matters Most and Why: Living the Spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola.” In the book are 365 daily reflections—each less than a page. Jim is today’s guest, and he walks us through his own life story, how he became so enamored with the spirituality of Ignatius, how he goes about sharing it with others and why he thinks it’s important to do so. Learn more about Jim's work by visiting: jimmanneybooks.com.

Learning From Pope Benedict XVI's Post-Papacy With Historian Christopher Bellitto Jan 11, 2023

Over the past couple of weeks, there have been countless reflections on the life and work of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, highlighting his rich theological writings and his decades of church service and even some of the challenging moments he faced before, during and after his papacy. He was a complex man with so much experience. Let us pray that he might rest in the peace of Christ forever. Whenever a world-historical event happens related to the papacy, host Mike Jordan Laskey likes to call up his friend Dr. Christopher Bellitto, Ph.D. Chris is a medievalist, a church historian and a professor of history at Kean University in New Jersey. He’s a frequent media commentator on church history and contemporary Catholicism, and you might have seen him quoted in recent days in the Washington Post, CNN, NBC and other outlets. He always brings the long view to current events as a scholar of history. Chris talked about the history of papal resignations and what lessons the church might learn from how Benedict’s post-papacy unfolded. He also talked a bit about the history of Jesuit superior general resignations, and teased his upcoming book from Georgetown University Press titled “Humility: The Secret History of a Lost Virtue.” Learn more about Dr. Bellitto: https://sites.google.com/a/kean.edu/christopher-m-bellitto-ph-d/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. https://www.jesuits.org/ https://beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

The View from Piscataway Park: Talking Indigenous Justice with Anjela Barnes Jan 04, 2023

Today’s guest is Anjela Barnes, the vice president of the Accokeek Foundation. In her work, she helps preserve and protect Piscataway park, located in southern Maryland on the Potomac River. This is part of the traditional homelands of the Piscataway people, of which Anjela is a member. As you’ll hear in this episode, host Eric Clayton met Anjela at Loyola University Maryland. She was on a panel discussing what justice looks like for Indigenous people—and what injustices have been perpetrated throughout our history. And while the conversation certainly focused on the need for justice, one theme kept resurfacing: Too often discussions around issues of Indigenous communities are limited to the mere reality that Indigenous people are not relics of the past but in fact members of our present community with joys and challenges and hardships and triumphs just like anybody. Yet, many of us are still surprised to learn that there are Indigenous folks next to us in line at the supermarket or the next booth over at the diner. And so, what you’ll hear today is a delicate dance, a paradox almost. Anjela and Eric discuss how Indigenous people are more than just stories, more than a window into the past. And yet, at the same time, without understanding and asking after those stories, without looking through that window, we can not grasp the unique experiences—and, as such, the unique injustices and struggles—of Indigenous communities in the present. We can not reduce people to a single story, and yet we still must page through those many chapters. This is an important conversation—and we hope you’ll find it insightful. If you want to learn more about Anjela and her work at the Accokeek Foundation, visit https://www.accokeek.org/.

Wrestling With God and Poetry With Philip Metres Dec 28, 2022

Poetry can be intimidating and inaccessible. Why even bother? Guest Philip Metres is a living reminder that it’s worth it to bother, worth it to wrestle with poetry even when it’s difficult because the power of language is uniquely human and is one of the best parts of being alive. Phil is a poet, author and professor of English literature at John Caroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. He’s the author of ten books and has won fellowships from institutions like the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. As the product of a Jesuit high school and college education, it’s consoling to see that much of his work takes up themes of spirituality and social justice, and what prompted host Mike Jordan Laskey to invite Phil on the show was a fabulous essay Phil wrote for Image Journal that was part book review, part memoir and part theological reflection. Phil also reads two of his poems and talks about them. Read Phil’s Image Journal essay: https://imagejournal.org/article/the-other-world-and-this-one-immanent-and-transcendent-tendencies-in-contemporary-poetry/ Learn more about Phil: https://philipmetres.com/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Advent, Nine Months Pregnant With Nicole Perone and John Grosso Dec 21, 2022

Earlier this month, Nicole Perone and John Grosso were anxiously awaiting the birth of their first child. Nicole and John are both what you could call professional Catholics – Nicole is the national coordinator for a young adult initiative called ESTEEM that works to prepare college students for faith life after graduation. And after several years working in digital media for the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut, John is on the communications team at a network of Catholic philanthropic organizations called FADICA. In between Nicole and John’s conversation with host Mike Jordan Laskey and the release of this episode, Rose Marie Grosso was born on December 12, and both she and Nicole are doing well. The question at the heart of this episode: What was Advent like for two super-thoughtful, Jesuit-formed parents-to-be? Does the story of the Holy Family resonate differently when you’re nine months pregnant? And as people who have devoted their professional and personal lives to serving the church, Nicole and John offered their reflections on the state of the church today – their thoughts and feelings on this community of faith they’re bringing Rose Marie into. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Six Christmas Movies for the Ignatian Soul with Fr. Jim McDermott, SJ Dec 14, 2022

It’s a great time of year to sit back, relax and watch a Christmas movie. To help you fill out your binge-watching schedule these last few days before Christmas, host Mike Jordan Laskey invited Fr. Jim McDermott, SJ, onto the show to talk about some of their favorite movies to watch this time of year. Jim is an ideal candidate for this work. He’s a fantastic writer who covers the intersection of pop culture and spirituality. (His Twitter handle is literally “@PopCulturPriest.” These days, he’s an associate editor at America Magazine in New York, but he has training and experience as a screenwriter and spent some time working for the TV channel AMC. Jim and Mike each picked three of their favorite Christmas movies to discuss. They also talked about Jim’s life as a Jesuit writer and what interests some of his Hollywood executive friends about his vocation to the priesthood. It was a super-fun conversation and should get you in the Christmas spirit – which, as you’ll hear from Jim and Mike as a common theme in this discussion, means two parts joy and maybe three parts melancholy. Read Fr. Jim in America Magazine: https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/jim-mcdermott AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

The Examen Like You've Never Seen It Before Dec 07, 2022

In today's episode, meet writer and illustrator team, Paul Mitchell and Katie Broussard, a brother and sister passionate about sharing Ignatian spirituality with kids -- their own and others! Their latest project, "The Examen Book" from Loyola Press, doesn't just teach kids how to pray the examen; it invites families to encounter a God of love together. A little more about Paul and Katie: Paul cares full-time for his young sons and writes in the service of lay formation. He taught in Uganda, Chicago, Boston, and Egypt, and studied theology at the University of Notre Dame and the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. Katie is an award-winning illustrator of The Examen Book, Audacious Ignatius, Sorin Starts a School, and I'm a Saint in the Making. Buy the book: https://store.loyolapress.com/the-examen-book Find "Audacious Ignatius": https://cordepress.com/ Learn more about Paul: https://paulmitchell.blog/ Learn more about Katie: https://katiebroussard.com/about/

What St. Joseph Can Teach Us This Advent With Sr. Colleen Gibson, SSJ Nov 30, 2022

Saint Joseph is the most mysterious character from the Advent story. He doesn’t say anything and we know pretty much nothing about him, yet there are few figures more central to the story of our faith community. So host Mike Jordan Laskey asked his friend, Sister Colleen Gibson, SSJ, if she could help shed some light on this shadowy member of the Holy Family. Sr. Colleen is a Sister of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia and has spent a lot of time praying and reflecting on her community’s patron. Unsurprisingly, given Sr. Colleen’s intelligence and creative gifts, she brought multiple perspectives on St. Joseph you might have never considered before. Sr. Colleen also talks about her own vocation story of becoming a millennial religious sister, plus a bit of the history of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, which were founded in France by a Jesuit in 1650. Sr. Colleen also tells us about her own new podcast project, which she’s co-hosting with another sister of Saint Joseph. It’s called Beyond the Habit and they’ve just released their first few episodes. If you’d like some more Advent content from us here at the Jesuit Conference, you can sign up for daily email reflections on faith heroes formed in the Ignatian tradition at Jesuits.org/advent22 and register for a free evening of reflection on Zoom at Jesuits.org/adventprayer, which is being hosted by iconographer Kelly Latimore and writer Cameron Bellm (Wednesday, December 14, 7:30pm ET). Listen to Beyond the Habit on Spotify or wherever you get podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/3dcsfiK6IQJvWFvgAbZUuR Follow Sr. Colleen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoitssistercoll/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Inside the Tradition of Jesuit Theater with Fr. George Drance, SJ Nov 23, 2022

Back at some of the very first Jesuit-run schools in the 1500s, teachers would work with students to put on plays. This tradition was called “Jesuit drama,” and it was seen as a fantastic way to accomplish several educational goals at once. The plays themselves were in Latin, so that helped the students learn the language. Plays required memorization and skilled rhetoric, both big values at the time. And the subject matter of these early dramas were Catholic morals and doctrine, so they were seen as central to religious instruction, too. The rich tradition of Jesuits involved in theater has continued through the ages all the way to modern times, evolving and adapting through the centuries. One of the most accomplished Jesuit theater actors, teachers and scholars is Fr. George Drance, today’s guest. Fr. Drance, who teaches theater at Fordham University, has performed and directed in more than 20 countries on five continents. He’s also the founding artistic director of the Magis Theatre Company in New York, which draws its name from that classic Jesuit word that means “the more” or “the greater.” Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Fr. Drance about his dual vocations as Jesuit and theater artist, a bit about the history of Jesuit drama and the parallels between theater and Ignatian spirituality, how Catholic liturgy and drama are intertwined, and some of his favorite projects through the years. Also, we wanted to let you know about two Advent resources we’re preparing here at the Jesuit Conference. The first is a daily email series called Ignatian Heroes. We have 25 fabulous writers offering short reflections on Jesuits and others who have been influenced by Ignatian spirituality. You can sign up to receive these reflections at Jesuits.org/advent22. Then, we’re sponsoring a live Advent evening of reflection on Zoom. It’s called “Room at the Inn: An Ignatian Journey with the Holy Family into Advent.” The session will be led by the fabulous iconographer and visual artist Kelly Latimore and one of our favorite spiritual writers, Cameron Bellm. It’s on Wednesday, December 14, at 7:30pm ET. You can sign up for free at Jesuits.org/adventprayer. Learn more about Fr. George Drance and Magis Theatre Company: https://www.magistheatre.org/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Breaking Bread and Borders with Bishop Mark Seitz on the Jesuit Border Podcast Nov 16, 2022

This week, we’re pleased to bring you another cross-over episode with our colleagues from the Jesuit Border Podcast! Jesuit fathers Brian Strassburger and Louie Hotop live and work in the Rio Grande Valley, providing aid and spiritual companionship to migrants on both sides of the US-Mexico border. Their podcast depicts their daily ministry, and how communities are responding to the humanitarian crisis on the border. On this episode, Brian and Louie interview Bishop Mark Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso, TX. Known for his advocacy for the poor and vulnerable, Bishop Seitz offers a unique perspective as a leader of the Church in a border community. On this episode, he calls for a deeper conversation about migration, one that is not solely dominated by socio-political concerns, but shaped by a theological perspective that identifies the migrant experience as essential for understanding the Church. He also talks about celebrating Mass at the border wall on an altar which straddled both sides; a reminder of the unifying force of the Eucharist even amidst division. We offer our own reflection on experiences of breaking bread with migrants through our Sacramental ministry; including a 12-year-old altar server named Vincent who just can’t quite seem to figure out when to ring the bells. Subscribe to the Jesuit Border Podcast wherever you listen! Learn more about Louie and Brian’s work: https://thejesuitpost.org/2021/11/the-jesuit-border-podcast/

How One Liturgical Vestment Explains the Rise and Fall of Catholic England Nov 09, 2022

A king. A cope. And a faith under siege. Intrigued? Today’s episode covers all this and more. Our guest, Dr. Jan Graffius, the curator of collections at Stonyhurst College in the UK – the oldest surviving Jesuit school in the world – is our guide through a riveting history that traces the rise and fall of the Catholic Church in England through the lens of a single piece of art: a cope commissioned by Henry VII. Copes are common liturgical vestments. But this one – one of the most expensive items commissioned by a king – was meant to unite the power of Church and State to strengthen a dubious claim to the throne but ultimately became a symbol of Catholic resistance and was smuggled out of the country. This cope and the stories that surround it remind us of the power of art to point to both spiritual and temporal power – and the dangers therein. You can see this cope and more as it travels across the United States in the exhibition, “The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England.” The dates below let you know when the exhibition is in your area: • New York: 3 October 2022 – 8 January 2023 • Cleveland: 21 February 2023 – 14 May 2023 • San Francisco: 26 June 2023 – 24 September 2023 Learn more: • The Met: https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2022/tudors • The Cleveland Museum of Art: https://www.clevelandart.org/exhibitions/tudors-art-and-majesty-renaissance-england • About Stonhurst: https://www.stonyhurst.ac.uk/about-us/stonyhurst-college-historic-collections/contact-us

How to Practice Faithful Citizenship Beyond Midterm Elections with Thomas Mulloy Nov 02, 2022

With U.S. midterm elections just a week away, we know a lot of people in the U.S. might be wanting a break from politics, a break from excessive political ads and tense discussions with loved ones. But as Pope Francis says, good Catholics meddle in politics. In fact, political engagement can be a positive manifestation of our faith. A way to promote the common good for all people. And that work doesn’t stop with Election Day—it’s a yearlong job. So, on this special Election Week episode, MegAnne Liebsch talks with professional, full-time advocate and our colleague, Thomas Mulloy. Tom is the government relations director for the Jesuit Office of Justice and Ecology—or OJE as we call it. OJE is the advocacy arm of the Jesuits, and through Tom, we advocate with the federal government on various social and environmental justice issues. On this episode, we talk about why the Jesuits are involved in federal advocacy, what regular citizens can teach Congress and how faithful citizenship extends beyond Election Day. Stay up to date with the Jesuits advocacy efforts through our email newsletter: jesuits.org/advocate To learn more about faithful citizenship, check out our guide: jesuits.org/civic-engagement

Reconciling Faith and Things that Go Bump in the Night with Gary Jansen Oct 26, 2022

This is a spooky episode. And that makes sense, right? We’re in that time of year when both secular and spiritual calendars invite us to reflect on the supernatural, the unknown, those spirits at work in our lives in ways we can’t quite put our finger on. We celebrate and remember our beloved dead—but first we masquerade as ghosts and goblins For many of us, the more secular ghost stories that Halloween represents—hauntings and the like—are kept separate from our belief in Heaven and the afterlife, all that All Saints and All Souls Days point to. But for our guest today, Gary Jansen—Director for New Products and Acquisitions at Loyola Press and author of the book, “Holy Ghosts: Or How a (Not So) Good Catholic Boy Became a Believer in Things that Go Bump in the Night—ghosts, spirits, souls and the afterlife all come together in his own story and his own faith. A number of years ago, he found himself living in a real haunted house. He writes about it in his book, and he shares some reflections on the matter with us today. In the end, what Gary really drives home is that any supernatural occurrences ultimately serve to lift our gaze upward at the supernatural world in general—in that world, we encounter angels and demons, miracles and hidden whispers, and ultimately, we come closer to God as we delve more deeply into the mysteries of our faith. If you’re interested in checking out Gary’s book or learning more about Gary’s other works—including an excellent new kids book, “Remember Us With Smiles,” click on the links below. Click here to visit Gary's site: https://garyjansen.com/ Click here to learn more about "Holy Ghosts": https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Ghosts-Catholic-Became-Believer/dp/1585428957/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1511371674&sr=1-1&keywords=Holy+Ghosts#customerReviews

What Vatican II Means Today with David Gibson Oct 19, 2022

October 11 was the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Vatican II. Pope Francis marked the occasion with a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, which is also the feast day of St. John XXIII, who of course was the pope to call the Council. In his homily, Pope Francis reflected on how Vatican II continues to shape us today. A lot of the headlines mentioned how he called for communion in the face of such polarization. But here’s the best quote from the homily: “Let us rediscover the Council in order to restore primacy to God, to what is essential: to a Church madly in love with its Lord and with all the men and women whom he loves; to a Church that is rich in Jesus and poor in assets; to a Church that is free and freeing. This was the path that the Council pointed out to the Church.” Guest David Gibson is one of the best people to talk to if you want to think about Vatican II and the way it continues to unfold in the church in our own times. David is the director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University in New York City. The Center hosts conversations and events that explore the relationships between faith and contemporary life. David has been there since 2017, arriving after a long career as an award-winning religion journalist, author and filmmaker. Gibson is the author of two books on Catholicism: “The Coming Catholic Church: How the Faithful are Shaping a New American Catholicism” and “The Rule of Benedict: Pope Benedict XVI and His Battle with the Modern World.” He co-wrote and co-produced several documentaries on Christianity for CNN and the History Channel and co-authored a book on biblical archeology, “Finding Jesus: Faith. Fact. Forgery,” the basis of a popular CNN series of the same name. Before coming to Fordham, Gibson worked for six years as a national reporter at Religion News Service and specialized in coverage of the Vatican and the Catholic Church. Gibson is a frequent media commentator and op-ed writer on topics related to the Catholic Church and religion in America. In addition to discussing Vatican II, David talked about the ongoing synod process taking place throughout the global church, plus why maybe engaging culture is a way to overcome polarization and decline in the church. More about the Center on Religion and Culture: https://www.fordham.edu/about/living-the-mission/center-on-religion-and-culture/ Follow David Gibson on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GibsonWrites Pope Francis’ Vatican II anniversary homily: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2022/documents/20221011-omelia-60concilio.html U.S. National Synthesis from the Synod on Synodality: https://www.usccb.org/resources/us-national-synthesis-2021-2023-synod AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Rethinking the Ignatian Contemplative with Rossano Zas Friz de Col, SJ Oct 12, 2022

If you’re a long-time listener of this podcast or long-time friend of Jesuits and Jesuit institutions, the claim made by our guest today might shock you: We need more than Ignatian spirituality in our lives as Christians. Of course, you’re likely nodding; this is probably obvious. And yet, too often – as our guest today, Jesuit priest, Fr Rossano Zas Friz de Col, SJ claims – in our lives of faith, we stop short of the depth into which God invites us to plunge. Fr. Rossano is the author of a wonderful book, “Ignatian Christian Life: A New Paradigm for Post-Christianity.” And while he and his work are deeply grounded in and influenced by Ignatian spirituality and Ignatius of Loyola himself, Rossano takes us on a journey in and through mystery, pulling in characters like John of the Cross and Sigmund Freud. The goal, as Rossano notes in our conversation, is to recognize the mystery that is each of us, and to bring our unique mystery into conversation with the ultimate Mystery. In the process, our prayer lives inevitably change and grow and deepen. And that’s where Rossano invites us to reconsider how we think about Ignatian spirituality. Born in Peru, Rossano has spent a great deal of time in Rome and now is a professor of Christian spirituality at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley at Santa Clara University. Learn more about Rossano's book: https://jesuitsources.bc.edu/ignatian-christian-life-a-new-paradigm/

Jesuit Fr. Tim McCabe Wants to End Chronic Homelessness Oct 05, 2022

Host MegAnne Liebsch first met Fr. Tim McCabe, SJ, at a construction site. Sporting clerics and a hardhat specialty branded with the Pope Francis Center logo, Tim toured Meg around the newly bulldozed foundation of what will become the Pope Francis Center Bridge Housing Campus. It's an ambitious project that Tim believes will help end chronic houselessness in Detroit. The Pope Francis Center—or PFC as it’s known—is a day shelter in downtown Detroit that offers respite to hundreds of unhoused people every day. As executive director of PFC, Tim has overseen a building renovation, creating a functioning kitchen to make hearty and nutritious meals, as well as showers, sinks, and a laundry room for guests. But the PFC team wanted to do more—they wanted to address the roots of housing insecurity. Upon completion, the Bridge Housing Campus will house 40 people in individual units for 90 to 120 days, offering 24/7 services, including meals, medical care, psycho-social support, job-readiness programs and more. At the end of their stay, guests will transition into permanent supportive housing through the assistance of PFC specialists. On today's episode, we talk to Tim about this singular approach to ending chronic homelessness, about how small changes can make a big impact, and, conversely, about how asking “how hard can it be?” can lead to transformative change. Learn more about the Bridge Housing Campus and track it's progress: https://popefranciscenter.org/donate/bridge-housing-campus/ Support the Pope Francis Center: https://popefranciscenter.org/donate/

Why Ciszek Hall Is The New Frontier In Jesuit Formation Sep 28, 2022

Ciszek Hall is a Jesuit house of First Studies located in the Bronx. Jesuits in formation go there to do exactly what you’d guess: study. But something new is happening at Ciszek. This house is the site of a new way of doing formation, and the entire global Society of Jesus is watching to see what might be learned. Co-hosts Eric Clayton and Meg Liebsch visited the Bronx earlier this year to talk with some of the Jesuits there, as well as members of the wider community. In this special episode of AMDG: A Jesuit Podcast, you’ll hear their voices, as well as learn why a new approach to Jesuit formation matters to you — and our world.

Why Georgetown Sends Nursing Students to Lourdes with Dr. Sarah Vittone Sep 21, 2022

If you were going to make a list of the most demanding and important jobs, nurses would be right near the top. The pandemic has revealed how much we ask of our nurses. They face exposure to illness, they juggle multiple patients simultaneously, all of whom have different needs and face a huge range of challenges. They work extremely long shifts and are on their feet most of the time. And so often they’re accompanying people who are in the middle of the worst day or week or month of their lives. How do you prepare a college nursing student for all that? Georgetown professor Dr. Sarah Vittone has one surprising idea for nurse training: She takes the students to Lourdes. Lourdes, of course, is the French town in the Pyrenees made famous by Marian apparitions witnessed by a teenage girl named Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. Soon after the apparitions, visitors began to report miraculous healings after drinking or bathing in water from the grotto spring there. Millions of pilgrims continue to travel to Lourdes each year, many of whom are facing serious medical diagnoses. Dr. Vittone, her colleagues and the ten or so students who make each trip do a lot of things to support pilgrims while they’re in Lourdes, but most of their time is spent assisting those who come to bathe in the waters. The trip is rooted in the Ignatian principle of “cura personalis,” or care for the whole person – Dr. Vittone hopes students who take part in the project will become nurses who are comfortable noticing and responding to the spiritual needs of their patients, no matter what those needs might be or how they are expressed. Dr. Vittone teaches students in ethics and professional formation in the School of Nursing, and she’s a consultant at Georgetown’ Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics. She talked with host Mike Jordan Laskey about her experiences with the students in Lourdes and how the project connects to her scholarly work as a healthcare ethicist. Dr. Vittone shares stories from her trips and the ways she has seen the experiences help shape nurses who are equipped to care not just for the physical needs of patients, but their mental and spiritual health as well. Learn more about the Georgetown Lourdes project for nursing students: https://gumc.georgetown.edu/gumc-stories/georgetown-nursing-students-focused-on-spiritual-health-of-pilgrims-in-lourdes-france/ Learn more about Dr. Vittone: https://gufaculty360.georgetown.edu/s/contact/00336000014RdvBAAS/sarah-vittone AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Why People of Faith Shouldn’t Be NIMBYs With Addison Del Mastro Sep 14, 2022

If you live in the suburbs, you’re probably used to hopping in your car to run pretty much every errand, even if you just need to get cold medicine at the drug store. Have you ever wondered why this is part of your daily life at all? Or why you can’t walk more places? It’s easy to just assume that’s just the way things are, have always been and will always be. But the built environment of our suburbs is the result of decades of choices. And looking at how we use land in our local communities and trying to grow things like public transit are central ways to work on a whole collection of social justice issues. Usually when we make a list of social justice issues that people of faith care about, land use policies like zoning regulations aren’t on the top of the list. But maybe they should be. Today’s guest writes on these issues in such compelling and unexpected ways. Addison Del Mastro runs his own Substack newsletter on urbanism and cultural history called The Deleted Scenes, and he also contributes to places like Vox and The Bulwark and America Magazine. A Catholic who describes himself as a bit right-of-center politically, Addison crosses boundaries between groups that are often uncrossed in today’s polarized America. He’s a thinker you want to know. Read his writing or listen to him during this conversation with host Mike Jordan Laskey and you might start to see why words and phrases like zoning regulations, land use and parking minimums are important things for all of us to be thinking and advocating about. Addison Del Mastro’s newsletter: https://thedeletedscenes.substack.com/ His writing at America: https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/addison-del-mastro “NIMBYISM is a Distorted Love”: https://www.thebulwark.com/nimbyism-is-a-distorted-love/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

God and the Big Bang with Astrophysicist Fr. Adam Hincks, SJ Sep 07, 2022

The stunning new images of outer space from the Webb Space Telescope might prompt people of faith to ponder big questions: How do I square my belief in the Big Bang with my belief in the creator-God of the Book of Genesis? Could we really have an all-loving God who cares about such a tiny little speck of dust in this massive universe? Guest Fr. Adam Hincks, SJ, is the perfect person to talk to about God and the universe. Fr. Hincks is an accomplished astrophysicist and a Jesuit priest. He’s assistant professor and holder of the Sutton Family Chair in Science, Christianity and Cultures at the University of Toronto, with a joint appointment between the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics and St. Michael’s College, the Catholic college at the university. He’s also written about the intersections of science, philosophy and theology. He talked to host Mike Jordan Laskey about faith and science, Fr. Hincks’ vocation to the Jesuits, and what has interested him most about the new Webb images. Learn more about Fr. Adam Hincks: https://adh-sj.info/ Read Fr. Hincks’ essays in America Magazine: https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/adam-d-hincks AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

What Tolkien's Manuscripts Teach Us About Storytelling Aug 31, 2022

From the Jesuits of Canada and the United States, this is AMDG – and I’m Eric Clayton. I was introduced to J.R.R. Tolkien in seventh grade. This was the project that the seventh grade class of St. Catherine of Sienna participated in each year—the whole school knew it. Students read “The Hobbit” and then were tasked with creating their own version of Smaug, the villainous dragon. You could make a diorama, a clay sculpture—whatever. But the goal was to allow the world of Tolkien’s Middle Earth to inspire in you a little bit of creativity. I hope that today’s conversation does much the same for you. My guests are Dr. William Fliss and Dr. Sarah Schaefer. They are the co-curators of the “J.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript” exhibition at Marquette University. Bill is the curator of Marquette’s Tolkien Collection, and Sarah is assistant professor of art history at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Both are big fans of Tolkien and his world. The exhibition, as you’ll hear, is a really exciting thing. On display are manuscripts that Tolkien himself created. But these aren’t just pieces of paper with his draft of “The Fellowship of the Ring.” These manuscripts are part of his world of Middle Earth, actual pieces of the lore crafted by his own hand, bearing his own beautiful calligraphy. The exhibit is running from August 19 through December 23, 2022. Tickets are on sale—I’ve included a number of helpful links below, both for those interested in visiting, and for those just interested in learning more. Now, here’s my conversation with Bill Fliss and Sarah Schaefer. https://www.marquette.edu/haggerty-museum/tolkien.php https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/arts/2022/08/22/marquette-university-exhibit-shows-creation-jrr-tolkiens-lord-rings/7841566001/ Image Info: J. R. R. Tolkien English, 1892 – 1973 The King’s Letter, third version, early 1950s Ink on paper 9 x 7 in. (229 x 178 mm) Raynor Memorial Libraries, Marquette University MS. Tolkien, Mss - 4/2/25/2a © The Tolkien Estate Limited 1992, 2015 www.TolkienEstate.com

A Crash Course in Catholic Economics with Tony Annett Aug 24, 2022

Catholic Social Teaching is sometimes called the best-kept secret of the Catholic faith. But not anymore! Today host MegAnne Liebsch talks to Dr. Tony Annett, an economist who spent much of his career at the International Monetary Fund. His new book, Cathonomics, examines our global economy through the lens of Catholic social teaching on solidarity, wealth redistribution, social democracy, and inequality. His conclusion? Our current economic system is exploiting inequality and perpetuating poverty. In our interview, he breaks down economic definitions, diagnoses the problems in our current economy, and offers some practical—and moral—remedies. Order Cathonomics here: http://press.georgetown.edu/book/georgetown/cathonomics

How Star Wars Expands Our Theology with Fr. Ryan Duns, SJ & Dr. Ben Espinoza Aug 17, 2022

"Star Wars" is a window into a larger universe, a universe that has the same flawed characters, hope-filled adventures and deep galaxy-altering questions as our own. A story like "Star Wars" helps us expand our own imagination, helps us better grapple with how we share and reflect upon our own stories. We dream bigger about what’s possible in our lives and our society as a result. And, maybe, we learn something new about how God works. Don’t agree? Today’s episode of AMDG may help put your doubts to rest. Today's guests our Dr. Benjamin Espinoza and Fr. Ryan Duns, SJ. Ben is the associate vice president for online education and assistant professor of practical theology at Roberts Wesleyan College. He’s also an ordained minister in the Wesleyan Church. Ryan is an assistant professor in the theology department as Marquette University. He’s also the assistant department chair and director of undergraduate studies. And, he’s a Jesuit priest. Both of our guests are eminently qualified to discuss theology, philosophy and pop culture. But what makes them particularly amazing guests today is that they were both involved in a brand new, very cool book, “Theology and the Star Wars Universe.” Ben was the editor; Ryan contributed an essay — and he talks about that in our conversation. Even if you’re not a huge Star Wars fan, you’ll appreciate the conversation, the grappling with making sense of and encountering God in our culture today. Check out "Theology and the Star Wars Universe" here: https://www.amazon.com/Theology-Star-Universe-Religion-Culture/dp/1978707231

From Advising Martin Sheen to Joining the Jesuits: Joe Kraemer SJ's Vocation Story Aug 10, 2022

Way back in June, 17 Jesuits from the US and Haiti were ordained to the priesthood. One of them was Joe Kraemer. And like many of his fellow Jesuits, as the summer months wind down, he’s preparing to start his new ministry as a Jesuit priest. Joe, though, didn’t “become” a Jesuit as his ordination. He’s been one for years, living and working with the Society of Jesus and its many collaborators. It’s easy to forget that the word “Jesuit” isn’t a synonym for “priest.” There are countless Jesuits in formation, and of course, there are Jesuit brothers the world over. Jesuits – as priests, brothers and men in formation – are still Jesuits, carrying on the mission and legacy of St. Ignatius, the early companions and all that have followed in their footsteps. And so, today, Fr. Joe Kraemer joins us on AMDG to talk about what his years of formation looked like, what it has meant for him to now become a Jesuit priest, and what he hopes for his only ministry and that of the Society as he looks to the future. Joe has great stories about a cross-country pilgrimage, ministering to those in prison and working closely with Martin Sheen. If you’d like to learn more about the newly ordained Jesuits, check out this link: http://www.jesuits.org/ordinations/2022-ordinands/

Why Religious Freedom Matters Worldwide with Stephen Schneck Aug 03, 2022

Today’s guest is Stephen Schneck, a political philosopher by training and a well-known advocate for Catholic social justice teachings in public life. He spent more than 30 years at The Catholic University of America as a professor, department chair and dean, and he was the founder and long-time director of the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies. He’s worked with Catholic Climate Covenant, Catholic Mobilizing Network, Franciscan Action Network and as a member of the Obama Administration’s White House Advisory Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. And now, he’s here to talk to us about his latest role. He was just recently appointed by President Biden to serve as a commissioner on the bipartisan United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. What is the US Commission on International Religious Freedom? What does it do? Steve provides answers—as well as insights into why religious freedom and the freedom of belief are so important to communities around the globe. He highlights a few key issues and regions where religious freedom is particularly threatened that we should keep our eyes on. And he offers his reflections on how Catholics in the United States can advocate on this issue. Below you can find the full excerpt from "Fratelli tutti" that is mentioned during the episode: “Ancient conflicts thought long buried are breaking out anew, while instances of a myopic, extremist, resentful and aggressive nationalism are on the rise. In some countries, a concept of popular and national unity influenced by various ideologies is creating new forms of selfishness and a loss of the social sense under the guise of defending national interests. … there are those who appear to feel encouraged or at least permitted by their faith to support varieties of narrow and violent nationalism, xenophobia and contempt, and even the mistreatment of those who are different.” (FT 11/86)

Saint Ignatius and Our Never-Ending Call to Conversion with Paola Pascual-Ferrá and Seán Bray Jul 27, 2022

The Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola on July 31 will mark the end of the Ignatian Year, through which we have been celebrating the 500th anniversary of Ignatius getting hit in the leg with a cannonball. This is admittedly a weird-at-first-glance event to be marking. What about Ignatius’ birth or the beginning of his ministry? The cannonball gets special attention in Ignatius’ story because it was such a vivid and transformative moment. The cannonball sparked Ignatius’ conversion. It shattered his plans for a life of chivalry and set him on a dramatically new path. This anniversary has been a great opportunity for all of us to look at our own life paths and see how the Lord might be trying to reach out to us or maybe even shake us up a little. Today’s guests took the opportunity of the Ignatian Year to start a brand-new creative project. Dr. Paola Pascual-Ferrá is a communications professor at Loyola University Maryland. Her friend Sean Bráy is the interim vice president for mission at the university. They decided to start a podcast called "This Ignatian Year," which welcomed guests to reflect on how they live Ignatian spirituality in their everyday lives. They talked with host Mike Jordan Laskey about how their how their own spiritualities were affected through this process, and how we might continue living the key themes at the heart of the Ignatian year even after this celebration is over. Listen to “This Ignatian Year”: https://www.loyola.edu/department/campus-ministry/ignatian-spirituality/ignatian-year Read about its creation: https://www.ajcunet.edu/june-2022-connections/2022/4/25/loyola-maryland-thematic AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

How The Sacred Heart Helps Us Close The Ignatian Year with Joe Laramie, SJ Jul 20, 2022

July 31st, 2022 ends our journey through the Ignatian Year. To mark this important moment in the life of the global Society of Jesus, Fr. General Arturo Sosa will travel to Loyola, Spain to renew the Jesuits’ consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. What is the Sacred Heart of Jesus? And why does a renewed consecration matter? For many of us, this devotion might be little more than a prayer card found in our grandmothers’ purse. But there’s so much more to it – and so much it can add to our spiritual lives. So, we invited Fr. Joe Laramie, SJ, the Jesuit in charge of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network in the United States to join us today. Foundational to this ministry is the devotion to the Sacred Heart. Fr. Joe walks us through what this devotion is, why it matters, and what it can mean for us and world today. Fr. Joe provided us with a ton of interesting, helpful links – you can find them below: • Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network site: popesprayerusa.net • Resources on the Sacred Heart: http://popesprayerusa.net/2022/07/18/jesuits-renew-consecration-sacred-heart-jesus/ • Fr. Joe Laramie’s site: joelaramiesj.com • Social handles: @popesprayerusa | @JoeLaramieSJ

The Freedom of Missing Out with Fr. Michael Rossmann, SJ Jul 13, 2022

You’ve heard of FOMO – the “fear of missing out.” You’ve probably experienced it, too. It’s paralyzing. You find yourself trapped, asking the same question over and over again: What am I missing out on? And what will it mean for my future? Fr. Michael Rossmann, SJ, is back on the pod today to tweak the meaning of FOMO. His new book is called “The Freedom of Missing Out: Letting Go of Fear and Saying Yes to Life.” And rather than allow ourselves to become paralyzed by all the opportunities we inevitably say no to, Fr. Rossmann encourages us to look at this “missing out” as a chance to engage more deeply with the deepest, most important aspects of our lives. You can find his new book wherever books are sold – or follow this link: https://store.loyolapress.com/the-freedom-of-missing-out

Can Investments Save the Environment? Jul 06, 2022

Today on AMDG, host MegAnne Liebsch talks about how investment advocacy can stop climate change. Stick with us! Investing might sound boring, but the people who engage in shareholder and divestment advocacy are anything but boring. Plus, by holding polluting industries like fossil fuel accountable, these responsible investment strategies are helping reduce carbon emissions. MegAnne talked to three people who have helped transform Jesuit institutions through fossil fuel divestment and shareholder advocacy. First, we'll hear from Emily Burke, a student activist who led the fossil fuel divestment movement at Creighton University. Then, to learn more about how divestment works, we talk with Katharine Wyatt, who led Loyola University Chicago's divestment process. Finally, MegAnne talks to our colleague John Sealey about how the Jesuits use their investments to push companies to adopt greener practices. To learn or get involved with the Jesuit Committee on Investment Responsibility, click here: https://www.jesuits.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2022.2.8-JCIR-E-news.pdf

Why Young People Leave the Church and What We Can Do About It with Tracey Lamont Jun 29, 2022

Why are so many young Catholics leaving the church? And what we can do to stop that trend and maybe even reverse it? There are lots of Catholic scholars studying these questions, and one of them is our guest, Dr. Tracey Lamont. Dr. Lamont serves at Loyola University New Orleans as the interim Director of the Loyola Institute for Ministry and Assistant Professor of Religious Education and young adult ministry. The Loyola Institute for Ministry offers graduate and undergrad programs online and in person to help shape leaders in all sorts of church contexts. Tracey shared her energetic and super insightful perspectives on how we can help make our parishes and schools communities that truly welcome and empower young people. There’s no silver bullet, but we have a pretty good sense of what keeps people involved in their faith. It’s just up to all of us to work together to renew our local church cultures. Learn more about the Loyola Institute for Ministry: http://cnh.loyno.edu/lim Learn more about Dr. Lamont: http://cnh.loyno.edu/lim/bios/tracey-lamont AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Breaking Ground at Holy Cross with President Vincent Rougeau Jun 22, 2022

The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, was founded in 1843. It’s the oldest Jesuit and Catholic college in New England and one of the oldest in the whole country. Despite 178 years of educating students, Holy Cross’ current president, Vincent D. Rougeau, represents two huge firsts in the history of the college: He is the first lay president and the first Black president of the school. President Rougeau and host Mike Jordan Laskey talked recently, just a few weeks after the end of his first academic year as president. President Rougeau is a legal scholar and came to Holy Cross after serving as Dean of Boston College’s Law School, and he talked about how his experience in the law has affected his views on social justice and how a Jesuit college can be a force for good in the world especially as higher ed institutions face an increasingly competitive landscape. Read President Rougeau’s work in America Magazine: https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/vincent-d-rougeau AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Why Thomas Aquinas Is Really A Jesuit with Bill McCormick, SJ Jun 15, 2022

There are two temptations – at least! – that we often fall into when it comes to looking at our current state of politics. On the one hand, we may be tempted to look back at some previous period and say, “Our political discourse was really good then; I wish we could go back.” We romanticize the past and ignore the challenge and struggle and oversights that we’ve muddled through to get to the present. On the other hand, we may be tempted to look at our present state – our institutions, our ideologies, our political systems – and assume we’ve made nothing but progress. Things aren’t perfect, but they’re better than they were, we may say. And as a result, we assume we have nothing to learn from what’s come before. I think – I hope! – the vast majority of us fall somewhere in between, eager to keep improving our political processes so as to represent and include more and more voices, and also curious about what worked in the past, what we might have to learn from those who have gone before. If that sounds right, then this conversation is for you. Bill McCormick is a Jesuit and scholar of political science and philosophy. He’s a frequent contributor to America Magazine, and has written a new book called “The Christian Structure of Politics.” In it, Bill takes us way back in time to the political thought of Thomas Aquinas and his work De Regno – which was a letter the saint wrote to a prince. Bill helps us think through what this obscure text written for a very different political system can say about our politics today.

Three Fascinating Jesuits Who Could Change Your Life With Robert Ellsberg Jun 08, 2022

One cool thing about the Jesuits is the huge number of incredible men who have served the Lord so faithfully over the centuries. A lot of these guys are so well-known you can call them by just a single name: Ignatius, Xavier, Gonzaga, Canisius, Faber, Claver, Arrupe, Teilhard, Hopkins. But there have been thousands of other fascinating Jesuits who aren’t quite as famous, and it’s always fun to learn about them. Guest Robert Ellsberg has forgotten more about saints and other holy men and women than most of us will ever know. Robert is the editor-in-chief and publisher of Orbis Books, the esteemed publishing arm of the Maryknoll order. He is also the author of “Blessed Among Us”, a column on saints and other saintly witnesses that appears in the monthly Catholic prayer resource “Give Us This Day.” He has written about over 1000 saints, both canonized and not. Host Mike Jordan Laskey wanted to know which Jesuits Robert has encountered in his research and own faith journey have inspired him the most. In particular, who are three under-known Jesuits we might all want to meet? Robert picked three three: Jean Pierre de Caussade, Alfred Delp and Walter Ciszek. The conversation also veered to Dorothy Day often, which is going to happen anytime you get Robert on the line. He served as the editor of the Catholic Worker newspaper in the final years of Dorothy Day’s life. In fact, Dorothy introduced him to the work of Jean Pierre de Caussade, and he shares that story in the episode. He also talked his famous father, Daniel Ellsberg, who in 1971 released to the press a classified document related to the United States’ history in Vietnam called the “Pentagon Papers.” His dad’s bold act of heroism had a huge impact on Robert’s life, especially in forming his strong pacifist views. Orbis Books: https://www.maryknollmagazine.org/orbis-books/ "Blessed Among Us": https://litpress.org/Products/E4745/Blessed-Among-Us Robert Ellsberg in America Magazine: https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/robert-ellsberg AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

How Ignatian Spirituality Helps You Share Your Story with Author Christine Marie Eberle Jun 01, 2022

As a writer of spiritual nonfiction, one might wonder: Do any of these seemingly random stories, these anecdotes and details and bits of personal history, matter to anyone but me? What good is all this storytelling doing for other people? After all, the goal of good spiritual nonfiction isn’t to be another entry in a personal diary; it’s meant to help all people glimpse something new of their own spirituality. Our guest today helps us tackle this question — and many more. Christine Marie Eberle is the author of two books of daily meditations based on her own true personal stories. She sees her personal mission like this: she passionately connects spirituality, Scripture and everyday life. And with 26 years of experience as a campus minister under her belt, not to mention her current work as a retreat leader, it’s clear she has a wealth of stories to draw from to live out this mission. Her latest book, "Finding God Abiding" from Woodhall Press, drops us into these personal, at times humorous, at times heartbreaking, stories from her life. And it is through the utterly specific details of her life that we are drawn closer to God in our own. After all, God deals with us in the specific, not the abstract. Today's conversation with Christine is all about Ignatian storytelling, what it means to tell and share stories from the tradition of Ignatian spirituality. Hopefully you find something in this conversation that helps you explore your story in a new way — and maybe, share with others. Links discussed in today's podcast: Christine's Website: https://christine-marie-eberle.com/ Christine's Book, "Finding God Abiding": https://christine-marie-eberle.com/finding-god-abiding/ Eric's Book, "Cannonball Moments: Telling Your Story, Deepening Your Faith": https://www.amazon.com/Cannonball-Moments-Telling-Story-Deepening/dp/0829454365

Gloria Purvis is a Pro-Life, Anti-Racism Prophet May 25, 2022

When a draft opinion by Justice Samuel Alito overturning Roe v. Wade was leaked last month, the person host Mike Jordan Laskey most wanted to interview was Gloria Purvis. Gloria is the host of the Gloria Purvis Podcast, a show produced by America Media. She’s also a longtime pro-life advocate and one of the most outspoken Catholic commentators on racism. The way she ties these two justice issues together in particular is so impressive. One common temptation for American Catholics is to try to fit our faith’s teachings into the platform of our preferred political party. For Catholics on both sides of the aisle, it’s often the case that party affiliation is a stronger predictor than Church teaching for where we’ll come down on issues like abortion, racism, immigration, economic justice, physician-assisted suicide and so many others. Gloria is a refreshing exception to this trend. You can’t fit Gloria neatly on our partisan spectrum. She spoke with Mike last week about both of these central issues to her, why they’re connected, and how she handles the vitriol and hate mail sent her way from all sides. The Gloria Purvis Podcast: https://www.americamagazine.org/gloria-purvis-podcast Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gloria_purvis The Helen M. Alvaré article Gloria mentions in the conversation: https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2011/01/2380/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

What Inspires Fr. Jim Martin's Outreach to LGBTQ Catholics May 18, 2022

If you head over to the new website, outreach.faith, you’ll find these words to greet you: “Welcome. God loves you.” (At least, that’s what it says as of recording.) That’s not a terribly novel concept, right? And yet, for so many people in our Church, those words are foreign. And too many folks in the LGBTQ+ community may have never heard those words at all. That’s what Outreach is all about — making sure every member of the LGBTQ+ community knows God loves them. Outreach is an LGBTQ Catholic Resource and an initiative of America Media. And today’s guest, our old friend, Fr. Jim Martin, is here to talk about. If you’re familiar with Fr. Martin, you know that accompanying folks in the LGBTQ+ community is an important part of his ministry. And he’s learned a lot as a result. That’s why he knew Outreach was necessary — the chance to fill a gaping hole in the resources our Church offers. You’ll learn about Outreach and discover ways to get involved throughout our conversation. But I encourage you to head over to outreach.faith now and click around for yourself—or maybe, for someone you love. There’s a lot of great stuff to find. Visit: https://outreach.faith/

How to Build a Non-Profit from Scratch with Annie Phoenix May 04, 2022

After college and a stint as an elementary school teacher, Annie Phoenix was looking for volunteer opportunities with prison education programs. But there really weren’t any education programs in Louisiana prisons. So, she decided to start one. Annie co-founded multiple initiatives aimed at expanding education access to people who are incarcerated. Through her non-profit Operation Restoration, Annie and her team provide, educational tools, creative programming, and immediate social services to formerly incarcerated women. Most recently, she was appointed executive director of the Jesuit Social Research Institute (or JSRI) at Loyola University New Orleans. Founded by Jesuit Fr. Fred Kammer, JSRI works to transform the Gulf South through analysis, education, and advocacy on the issues of poverty, race and migration. Along with JSRI and Loyola staff, Annie is spearheading a new educational program for incarcerated men in Louisiana. Host MegAnne Liebsch talks to Annie about the new role and lessons she's learned along the way. Learn more about JSRI's work: https://jsri.loyno.edu/ Check out Operation Restoration: https://www.or-nola.org/ Get in touch with Annie: alphoeni@loyno.edu

Could Women Be Deacons in the Catholic Church? With Casey Stanton Apr 27, 2022

Casey Stanton is the founding co-director of a new initiative called Discerning Deacons, which is engaging Catholics from all over the world around the question of ordaining women to the permanent diaconate in our church. Just to be clear from the start, they’re not talking about ordaining women to the Catholic priesthood, which is a totally different topic. This question about women deacons is more open – it’s in the realm of the possible. Pope Francis has called a commission to discern this very question. And Casey and her team are working with Catholics to empower them to participate in this discernment process. Listen to Casey for just a few minutes and you’ll see that she embodies the “diaconal” spirit: she is an expert speaker and preacher; she is utterly devoted to the communal prayer of the church; she is a practitioner of Gospel-centered social justice. She just can’t train to be ordained a Catholic deacon – yet – because she’s a woman. Her perspective is equal parts frustrating, inspiring, and hope-filled. Learn more about Discerning Deacons: https://discerningdeacons.org/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Want More Joy? Let's Promote More Vocations with Andrew Laguna, SJ Apr 27, 2022

Today’s guest, Fr. Andrew Laguna, SJ, is a vocation promoter in the US West Jesuit Province. The term “vocation promoter” is probably one few of us have heard before — unless, of course, we’ve been discerning religious life. But the term and title go back to the earliest days of the Jesuits. Early Jesuits were understandably concerned with growing the nascent Society of Jesus. One of those men was Fr. Jerome Nadal, one of Ignatius’ early companions and a key architect in the development of the Jesuit identity. From Fr. John O’Malley’s classic text, “The First Jesuits:” “The Jesuits did not passively wait for young men to knock on their doors. By 1562, Nadal rather expected each community to have a promotor who would be especially charged with keeping his eyes open for likely candidates and guiding those who came seeking. He stressed that every Jesuit needed to do his part to see that ‘as many as possible of the very best’ entered the Society… Although Jesuits were to respect the freedom of the inquirer, Nadal provided a program of prayer, reading, conversation and reflection to be used to nurture a call if it was there. … In Nadal’s questionnaire and the autobiographical accounts that survive, Jesuits mentioned being attracted specifically to the Society over other orders by the Jesuits’ cheerfulness, refinement and graciousness.” (55) There are a few points in O’Malley’s text that are particularly relevant to us today. First, Fr. Arturo Sosa, the superior general of the Society of Jesus, has challenged us all to build up a culture of vocation. What does that mean? Sure, more Jesuits invite more young men to join the Society. But it also means we all become more aware and appreciative of our own unique vocations. Second, Pope Francis has often called on us to be joyful in the living out of our Christian vocation. Are we? Is “joy” a word people use to describe us in our daily lives? As you listen to Fr. Laguna talk about the work of vocation promotion, reflect on his own vocation and share stories of Jesuit life, you’ll glimpse some of these points: a culture in which vocation is celebrated and joy is paramount. You’ll quickly learn that the work of a vocation promoter is not the same as the work of a salesperson or recruiter. No – rather, a vocation promoter in 2022 is exactly that: Someone who helps people of all sorts discover who God has invited them to be. If you would like to get in touch with a vocation promoter, head over to beajesuit.org.

How to Cultivate a “Spirituality of Synodality” with Fr. James Hanvey, SJ Apr 20, 2022

As you might have heard, the Catholic Church is in the middle of a long, global consultation process on the theme of “synodality,” a fancy-sounding theological word that means “on the way together.” Synodality is a way of doing church that emphasizes things like listening, shared leadership responsibilities between ordained and lay faithful, and reading and responding to the signs of the times. One of the Jesuits helping the church think about how synodality is lived out is Fr. James Hanvey, SJ. Fr. Hanvey is a theologian and serves as the Secretary for the Service of Faith at the Jesuit Curia in Rome. He’s also on a couple of Vatican committees supporting the work of the synod, including one examining the spirituality of synodality. That group has just released a document on Biblical resources for synodality: Where in Scripture do we hear the call to this way of doing church? Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Fr. Hanvey about this work and how Ignatian spirituality might contribute to our building a synodal church together. Read “Biblical Resources for Synodality”: https://www.synod.va/en/news/biblical-resources-for-synodality.html "Faith Dimensions," the website of the Jesuits' global Secretariat for the Service of Faith: https://dimensions.faith/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

What Fr. Matt Malone, SJ, Has Learned in a Decade Leading America Magazine Apr 13, 2022

Here’s an understatement: The last decade has been a challenging time for legacy print media. Heck, it’s been a challenging time for online media. How many of your favorite local newspapers or blogs or news websites have called it quits? You have to adapt or die, and the best ways to adapt aren’t always clear. Few people have as sharp a perspective on today’s media landscape as Fr. Matt Malone, SJ, who has been the editor in chief of America Magazine since 2012. America is the U.S. Jesuits’ more than century-old flagship publication. Under his leadership, America has transformed from “a magazine with a website” to a full-fledged multimedia company, boasting a top-notch online presence, strong video production, and a whole collection of original podcasts. Fr. Malone’s position at America also gives him a unique birds-eye view of the Catholic Church, which might be facing even bigger challenges than legacy media is facing. As he prepares for the end of his tenure at America in December, it was fascinating to hear his takes on the last decade and what roles a Catholic media company like America can play in our polarized culture. As we share this interview with America Magazine’s current editor-in-chief, we remember one of Fr. Malone’s predecessors, Fr. Drew Christiansen, SJ, who died last week at the age of 77. Fr. Christiansen was an eminent global politics scholar and led the magazine from 2005 until Fr. Malone took the reigns in 2012. In a lovely remembrance posted on America’s website, Fr. Jim Martin remembered his old editor as someone who was “smart, thoughtful, consultative, wise and kind. “That last trait was the most important. Drew was an exceedingly kind person, always asking after you, after your family, wondering how your writing was going, recommending books or articles he thought you would like, offering you help whenever he could. Kind, mild, friendly, peaceable, self-effacing, generous.” May he rest in peace. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

How “Hierarchicalism” Hurts the Church (And What To Do About It) With FR. James Keenan, SJ Apr 06, 2022

If you were going to make a list of the Catholic church’s problems today, maybe the word “clericalism” would be high on your list. We toss that word around a lot, but what is it, exactly? The Association of U.S. Catholic Priests defines it this way: “an expectation, leading to abuses of power, that ordained ministers are better than and should be over everyone else among the People of God.” Maybe that description brings experiences you’ve had right to the front of your mind. If you’ve spent a lot of time in different Catholic environments, you’ve probably encountered clericalism at one point or another. But in a compelling new paper in the academic journal Theological Studies, the eminent Jesuit moral theologian Fr. James Keenan argues that focusing on clericalism is missing a larger root problem. He writes that we should turn our attention to what he calls “hierarchicalism,” which he says is the “father of clericalism.” Whereas clericalism concerns the power and culture of individual priests, “hierarchicalism” is about the culture of bishops, archbishops and cardinals. This is where we should concentrate reform efforts, Fr. Keenan argues. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked him about his paper and why he thinks this shift of thinking is so important. Fr. Keenan also discussed Russia’s war on Ukraine from his perspective as someone who studies the Catholic social justice tradition. Fr. Keenan has been a professor of theological ethics at Boston College for over 20 years, and he also serves as the university’s Vice Provost for Global Engagement and the director of the Jesuit Institute. He has an upcoming book called “A Brief History of Catholic Ethics” from Paulist Press. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Welcoming Ukrainian Refugees to Poland with Fr. Damian Czerniak, SJ Mar 30, 2022

On a given day, Fr. Damian Czerniak, SJ, faces a laundry list of responsibilities: finding Ukrainian refugees temporary housing, providing psychosocial support, assisting with paperwork, distributing funding, and maintaining contact with two Jesuit houses in Ukraine. Alongside Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), Fr. Damian is coordinating the Jesuit response to Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Since the invasion began in February, over 2 million Ukrainians have come to Poland seeking refuge. They’ve been met with a groundswell of support from aid organizations and from local communities. Volunteers line the Ukrainian border to offer food and hugs to arriving refugees, and many families, as well as religious communities like the Jesuits, are providing Ukrainian families with temporary housing. On today’s episode of AMDG, host MegAnne Liebsch talks to Fr. Damian about this robust community-led support for refugees. They also discuss how vocation and faith have guided Fr. Damian across his life, from teaching French at Creighton Prep here in the U.S. to responding to a refugee crisis. If you want to support JRS’s work in Poland, click here: https://www.jesuitsmidwest.org/support-us/donate-now/ If you wish to donate directly to the Jesuits in Poland, please email Fr. Damian at damianczerniak@jesuits.net. Take action for Ukrainian refugees with JRS USA: https://www.jrsusa.org/take-action-for-ukrainian-refugees/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Saint Peter's University President Eugene Cornacchia on a Magical March Madness Mar 24, 2022

Welcome to a special March Madness episode of AMDG. As of Thursday afternoon, there are three Jesuit teams left in the women’s and men’s NCAA basketball tournaments. On the women’s side, the Creighton Bluejays have made their first ever Sweet Sixteen. On the men’s side, number-one overall seed Gonzaga have secured their incredible seventh straight trip to the Sweet Sixteen. But the clear top story in all of college basketball this March is the success of the Saint Peter’s University Peacocks. A 15-seed, their men’s squad pulled off a historic upset of no. 2 Kentucky last Thursday night. The New York Times reported the disparities between the two schools’ student body size and athletic budgets and basketball history: “Kentucky has about 32,000 students, St. Peter’s approximately 2,300. Kentucky has won eight N.C.A.A. championships; St. Peter’s had never won an N.C.A.A. Tournament game before Thursday. St. Peter’s men’s basketball coach Shaheen Holloway made $266,344 in 2019; Kentucky head coach John Calipari’s base salary is $8.5 million. St. Peter’s basketball revenue was $1.6 million in 2019-20, while Kentucky’s was $29.3 million.” The Peacocks followed up their huge win with a thorough dismantling of 7-seed Murray State. They face Purdue on Friday in Philadelphia. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked university president Dr. Gene Cornacchia what the experience has been like for Saint Peter’s, a small Jesuit university in Jersey City, NJ, that’s not used to this sort of spotlight. Dr. Cornacchia has been president at St. Peter’s since 2007, and he’s seen a lot of stuff, but nothing quite like these past few days. He accompanied the team in Indianapolis and talked about what it was like to be in the arena for the victories. But Dr. Cornacchia was even more excited to talk about the university he serves, which is one of the most diverse Catholic universities you’ll find anywhere: about three-quarters of the undergraduate student body are people of color. It ranks as New Jersey’s best-value school per US News and World Report. It’s a national leader on Money Magazine’s list of transformative schools, which means it enables students to beat the odds and produce outcomes that are better than expected given their academic and economic backgrounds. We here at the Jesuit Conference are so happy for Dr. Cornacchia and the school, and we’re glad we can help spread the word about Saint Peter’s. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Why We're Called To Settle Into Grief with Kathy Powell Mar 23, 2022

Kathy Powell is currently the Creative Director, working with Becky Eldredge, LLC | Ignatian Ministries. But ever since the loss of her first child, Francis, through miscarriage, Kathy has dedicated a great deal of time and energy to walking with families who have had to lay their babies to rest all to soon. In this episode, we hear Kathy’s story. We learn from her how to walk with others. And this is important because there’s a good chance you know someone whose pregnancy has ended in a loss. Maybe you’re that person. And if so, this episode is for you. St. Catherine of Sweden, whose feast day is March 24, is the patron saint of miscarriage. Kathy tells us a little about Catherine and how her legacy helped in a moment of darkness. We end our episode in prayer: Kathy leads us through an examen for a day of crisis. Whether that day was last week or ten years ago, whether the crisis was a miscarriage or something else, take this time for prayer. If you like the Examen of a Day of Crisis, we invite you to visit the Guided Audio Ignatian Prayer Library (https://beckyeldredge.com/guided-audio), made possible through the Ignatian Media Lab, a program of the Jesuit Conference of the US & Canada. With over 30 guided audio prayers, including an extended recording of the Examen of the Day of Crisis (https://soundcloud.com/beldredge98/examen-of-a-day-of-crisis?in=beldredge98/sets/you-are-not-alone), this is a resource for your personal prayer and one you can share with others. We know this topic is heavy. Please see the links below for more prayer & miscarriage resources. Resources from All Embrace, Inc., a Catholic organization Kathy works with to support families who have lost a child through miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death: • For those who have suffered the loss of a child: https://allembrace.com/parents/ • For Friends & Familes: What to do (and not do) when you want to help: https://allembrace.com/family-friends/ • Stations of the Cross: Reflections from the Heart, Written by Nicole Hartman, Edited & Designed by Kathy Powell, Published by All Embrace, Inc: https://allembrace.com/product/all-embrace-stations-of-the-cross-reflections-from-the-heart/ • Series on Saints for Pregnancy & Infant Loss: https://allembrace.com/author/kathy/ More deep-water resources from Becky Eldredge, LLC | Ignatian Ministries: • Women and Men for Others: Using My Pain to Serve Grieving Families - More of Kathy’s story posted on the Into the Deep blog, exploring Ignatian Spirituality through the voices of women: https://beckyeldredge.com/women-and-men-for-others-all-embrace/ • Praying When Its Hard: Series on the Into the Deep Blog: https://beckyeldredge.com/tag/praying-when-its-hard/ • Praying with Jesus: Guided Prayers for the Triduum through Easter Monday: https://becky-eldredge1.teachable.com/p/prayingwithjesus • Prayer resources from Becky Eldredge: https://beckyeldredge.com/Resources/

Celtic Spirituality Isn't Just For St. Patrick's Day with Julianne Stanz Mar 16, 2022

This week, we celebrate the Feast of St. Patrick…St. Patrick’s Day. But too often, we reduce this day to a round of green beer and shamrock-themed t-shirts. Let’s go a little deeper. Our guest today is author Julianne Stanz. Julianne is a nationally known speaker, retreat leader, storyteller, and the Director of New Evangelization for the Diocese of Green Bay and a consultant to the USCCB Committee on Catechesis and Evangelization. In her new book, “Braving the Thin Places: Celtic Wisdom to Create a Space for Grace,” she draws on her Celtic roots to weave together a spirituality that can help us all navigate these challenging times. And, she throws in a few great stories about St. Patrick for good measure. If you want to check out her book, visit https://store.loyolapress.com/braving-the-thin-places

Faith and Resistance in Ukraine with Theologian Pavlo Smytsnyuk Mar 09, 2022

All of us have been watching Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with feelings of horror and sadness and helplessness. There have also been incredibly moving stories of the resilience and compassion of the Ukrainian people, who have been living under existential threat for years and years. It was our absolute privilege at AMDG to welcome one of Ukraine’s leading Catholic theologians last week. Pavlo Smytsnyuk is the director of the Institute of Ecumenical Studies at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, a city in the western part of Ukraine. Pavlo has been in New York for a few months researching for a book, but his parents and colleagues are in Ukraine. He doesn’t know when he’ll be able to make it home. Now, in addition to his research, Pavlo wakes up early in the morning and spends hours on calls with his colleagues at the university and other faith leaders in Ukraine, helping to coordinate the faith community’s response to the war. Pavlo is an expert on the religious makeup of Ukraine, which is one of the more religiously diverse countries in Europe. If you want to learn more about Ukraine, the religious landscape there is absolutely essential context. The son of a Ukraininan Greek Catholic priest, Pavlo has also been deeply formed by the Jesuits: He got his bachelor’s degree at the Gregorian University in Rome and his doctorate at the University of Oxford’s Campion Hall, which is run by the Jesuits. Pavlo is among the most impressive people you will ever hear from – he could’ve done an equally insightful interview in seven other languages besides English. His devotion to his faith and his country and sharp intelligence shined through his whole conversation with host Mike Jordan Laskey. Please keep Pavlo and his family and friends in your prayers. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Doing Lent After Two Straight Years of Lenten Vibes with Fr. Paddy Gilger, SJ Mar 02, 2022

Well, Lent is here. Hooray. To be honest, it feels like the last thing we need right now is 40 days of fasting and penance and just the general heaviness that comes with this season. We’ve been living in a perpetual state of Lent for two years now. So host Mike Jordan Laskey called up his friend Fr. Paddy Gilger, SJ. Fr. Paddy is a sociology professor at Loyola Chicago and a super thoughtful person. He suggested we reframe what the season is all about in the first place. His insights are so helpful and consoling if you’d rather just skip straight to Easter this year. Fr. Paddy was also the founding editor in chief of the Jesuit Post back in 2012, the wonderful culture and religion website that’s run by young Jesuits to this day. So we had to get his music and movie and reading recommendations for Lent. His picks are linked below. All of our hearts are especially heavy as this Lent begins due to the horrifying war underway in Ukraine. Pray and act here: https://www.jesuits.org/stories/pray-and-act-for-ukraine/ Fr. Paddy’s Lenten picks: “Come Healing” by Leonard Cohen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUB1O2cT2gM Springsteen on Broadway: https://www.netflix.com/title/80232329 “Ecce Homo” by Xavier le Pichon: https://onbeing.org/blog/xavier-le-pichon-ecce-homo-behold-humanity/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

How Ignatian Spirituality Can Make You a Better Leader with Seán Sanford Feb 23, 2022

One of the most interesting developments in the Jesuit world these days is the emergence of a field called “Ignatian leadership.” The concept comes from the belief that Ignatian spirituality has a huge amount to offer leaders today, whether or not they’re working in “religious” contexts. A lot of those Jesuit concepts that have been at the heart of the order since its founding can be incredibly helpful to leaders today. Think things like discernment, freedom and prayerful reflection through practices like the daily examen. There’s a lot to dig into here. One of the flagship programs promoting Ignatian leadership is called Contemplative Leaders in Action (CLA). CLA gathers young adults in cities across the country for study, reflection and hands-on leadership experiences rooted in the Jesuit tradition. Today’s guest heads up the CLA program and several other Ignatian young adult ministry efforts. His name is Sean Sanford, and he is the director of leadership and young adult programs for the Office of Ignatian Spirituality of the USA East Jesuit province. Whether you’re managing people at work or trying to help raise kids or just trying to have better relationships with the people in your life, Sean offers some helpful elements from the Ignatian tradition that can help all of us live richer, more holistic lives. Office of Ignatian Spirituality: https://jesuitseastois.org/ Ignatian Young Adult Ministries: https://ignatianyoungadults.org/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Subscribe to AMDG wherever you get podcasts.

This Is The Episode That Changes Your Life: Why Micro Shifts Make Big Change with Gary Jansen Feb 16, 2022

Lent is only a few weeks away. But before you panic about what to do during these upcoming forty days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, listen to the advice of spiritual author Gary Jansen. Gary is the author of several spirituality books, including his latest, “MicroShifts: Transforming Your Life One Step At A Time.” Throughout his career as a writer, editor and publisher, Gary has devoted a lot of writing and thinking to the intersection of spirituality and human potential. In “MicroShifts,” Gary grapples with the question: What would our lives look like if we lived fifteen minutes out of each day for something beyond ourselves? What changes could we make – in our lives and in the lives of those around us? The act of microshifting, as Gary explains, can affect any and all aspects of our lives – and so, this conversation spans all sorts of things, from Daoism to ghosts, from social media to Ignatian spirituality. Ultimately, this conversation will help you get ready for Lent, and the spiritual disciplines and opportunities it presents. And, as a bonus, throughout the month of February, you can download Gary's book, "MicroShifts," for free. Visit this link: https://amzn.to/3gDN6pi Learn more about Gary and his work at his website: https://www.garyjansen.com/

Behind the Scenes of Dorothy Day’s Sainthood Cause with Jeff Korgen Feb 09, 2022

Dorothy Day is among the most inspiring, challenging and holy American Catholics ever. As the Jesuit peace activist Daniel Berrigan said, Dorothy "lived as if the truth were true." There were no half-measures with her. The co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, Dorothy put her faith into action in pursuit of social justice with so much passion and heart and intelligence that she’s now up for canonization in the church. Late last year, the Archdiocese of New York packed up hundreds of pounds of materials in support of her cause. The packages contain her published and unpublished writings, plus transcripts of interviews with people who knew her. There are books about her. A couple of DVDs of movies about her. Just an incredible volume of stuff. And the person in charge of collecting and organizing all this material is our guest, Jeff Korgen, who has been involved in social justice work in the church for decades. For the past seven years, Jeff has been learning about Dorothy and preparing all these documents for the Vatican. Officials in Rome will look through it all and study to see if Dorothy might take the next step toward canonization. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Jeff to explain the process and share the highlights from what he learned on his journey with Dorothy and those who knew her. It's a fascinating look behind the curtain of how a saint is made. Even better than learning about the process, though, was getting to hear Jeff talk about Dorothy and her witness. If you learn about Dorothy Day and then go back to living your life just as you had before, you’re missing the point. Her radical commitment to the Gospel and to those living in poverty invite all of us to discern how we can serve the Lord by working for peace and justice. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. You can subscribe to AMDG wherever you get podcasts.

Her Uncle, the Future Jesuit Saint: Ana Grande on Blessed Rutilio Grande, SJ Feb 02, 2022

Ana Grande's great uncle was Fr. Rutilio Grande, SJ, a Jesuit from El Salvador who was just beatified last month. (Beatification is the final step before canonized sainthood in the church, and we can call him Blessed Rutilio now.) Blessed Rutilio was assassinated by El Salvador's security forces in 1977 for his ministry and community organizing with impoverished farmers. He was good friends with Archbishop Oscar Romero, and Rutilio’s death sparked Romero’s own conversion from a reserved leader who preferred to stay away from controversy into an outspoken prophet for peace and justice. Ana spoke with host Mike Jordan Laskey just a few hours after she had returned to her home in Los Angeles from Fr. Rutilio’s beatification. She talked about was like to be there for the ceremony, plus what it's like to have someone in your own family so close to sainthood. Ana has so clearly been inspired by Blessed Rutilio’s work for justice herself, as she has dedicated her life to social justice causes like immigration reform. She’s also a longtime member of Blessed Sacrament Church, the Jesuit parish in Hollywood. It's a privilege to hear from Ana about her experience at the beatification and how she thinks her great uncle’s legacy can inspire all of us today. Follow Ana Grande on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsAnaGrande AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Subscribe to AMDG wherever you get podcasts.

Responding to God's Call: An Audio Retreat, Part 4 Jan 31, 2022

Listen to our new Ignatian retreat, a four-part series of ten minute audio modules, written and narrated by Ryan Carroll, a PhD student at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Missed an episode of this prayer retreat? Find this and other digital retreats at https://www.jesuits.org/spirituality/ignatian-digital-retreats/.

Why Journalist John W. Miller Quit the Wall Street Journal and Made a Documentary Jan 26, 2022

John W. Miller was a successful journalist with the Wall Street Journal, covering all sorts of topics all over the planet. A few years ago, he gave it all up for an extremely different path. He tells host Mike Jordan Laskey about the spiritual journey that led him to co-directing his first feature film, the documentary "Moundsville," which tells the story of a small West Virginia town on the Ohio River. John also discusses a series of articles he wrote for America Magazine on economics and Catholic social teaching. In the conversation, John moves seamlessly between personal stories and high-level social analysis, peppering in plenty of Ignatian spirituality along the way. If you haven't encountered John or his work before, he's an incredible person to get to know. Watch "Moundsville": https://www.pbs.org/show/moundsville/ Learn more about the town: https://moundsville.org/ Read John in America Magazine: https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/john-w-miller Learn more about John: https://www.johnwmiller.org/

Responding to God's Call: An Audio Retreat, Part 3 Jan 24, 2022

Listen to our new Ignatian retreat, a four-part series of ten minute audio modules, written and narrated by Ryan Carroll, a PhD student at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Take time to pray as you begin this new year. New episodes drop every Monday in January.

Why Rutilio Grande's Struggle with Mental Health Matters Jan 19, 2022

This Saturday, January 22, Father Rutilio Grande, SJ – along with laymen Manuel Solórzano and Nelson Rutilio Lemus – will be beatified in San Salvador, El Salvador. All three men are martyrs, killed in 1977. Fr. Grande, though, was the first priest assassinated before the Salvadoran Civil War began. And, he was a close friend of Archbishop and saint, Óscar Romero. Fr. Arturo Sosa – the superior of the Society of Jesus – wrote about Fr. Grande and his upcoming beatification: “Father Grande, born in the small town of El Paisnal on 5 January 1928, was a Jesuit of unsuspected religious and human depth. In his weakness he found his greatness. He lived much of his life in the silence and humility of those who are becoming, step by step, companions of Jesus.” Fr. Sosa goes on to describe the circumstances in El Salvador during Grande’s time: “The growing awareness of the need to promote a transformation of the inhuman circumstances of life of the peasant majority, a situation caused by the unjust structures of Salvadoran society, sparked the social and political struggles of this convulsive period in the history of this Central American country. Many members of the ecclesial communities participated actively in the social and political struggle. For Father Rutilio, his team, and his close collaborators, who were committed because of their faith to the struggle for the justice of the Gospel, there was a clear distinction between pastoral work and partisan political militancy.” Finally, Fr. Sosa writes: “The Church, in recognizing the martyrdom of Rutilio, Manuel, and Nelson, judges that their lives were taken because of the faith that gave their lives meaning, the faith to which they gave witness by shedding their blood.” Today, to help commemorate the life and legacy of Fr. Rutilio Grande, author and poet and Jesuits.org columnist, Cameron Bellm, is back on the podcast. She’s just finished a new devotional entitled, “No Unlikely Saints: A Mental Health Pilgrimage with Sacred Company.” In it, she devotes a chapter to Fr. Grande and his struggles with mental health. She shares what she learned about him in preparing this book, as well as why it’s important to weave this part of his story into his lasting legacy. Find her book here: https://brickhouseinthecity.com/product/no-unlikely-saints-a-mental-health-pilgrimage-with-sacred-company/

Responding to God's Call: An Audio Retreat, Part 2 Jan 17, 2022

Listen to our new Ignatian retreat, a four-part series of ten minute audio modules, written and narrated by Ryan Carroll, a PhD student at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Take time to pray as you begin this new year. New episodes drop every Monday in January.

Cannonballs and Companionship with Ignatian Spirituality Project Jan 12, 2022

Growing up in an abusive household, Issac Sneed wasn’t allowed to have friends. He learned to fend for himself. As an adult, he kept people at arm’s length. For years, he struggled with substance abuse and, at times, lived on the streets. While staying in a homeless shelter, he began attending reflection circles with Ignatian Spirituality Project (ISP)—a Jesuit ministry across the U.S., Canada and Ireland. With ISP, Issac began his journey of recovery. “They validated me and affirmed me, in a way that I had never been validated and affirmed in my own family,” Issac says. Now, a decade later, he leads weekly reflection programs and retreats with ISP Boston. On this episode, host MegAnne Liebsch explores how Ignatian Spirituality Project offers spiritual companionship to people facing homelessness and substance addiction. She talks to alumni leaders like Issac, as well as volunteers and ISP staff about their cannonball moments, transformative friendships, and why St. Ignatius is so relatable. _____________________________ For more information about ISP: Ignatian Spirituality Project provides spiritual retreat and reflection programs at shelters and recovery centers in cities across the US, Canada and Ireland. Learn more about how you can help their mission: www.ispretreats.org Check out this video on ISP produced by MegAnne Liebsch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuxSNNq8yTM

Responding to God's Call: An Audio Retreat, Part 1 Jan 10, 2022

Listen to our new Ignatian retreat, a four-part series of ten minute audio modules, written and narrated by Ryan Carroll, a PhD student at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Take time to pray as you begin this new year. New episodes drop every Monday in January.

3 Ignatian Spiritual Principles to Start 2022 Off Right Jan 05, 2022

Hosts Mike Jordan Laskey and Eric Clayton kick off the new year by reflecting on some Ignatian spiritual principles that can guide us as we navigate 2022.

Introducing the Jesuit Border Podcast Dec 29, 2021

This week on AMDG, we're bringing you a special cross-over episode from our colleagues at the Jesuit Border Podcast. Hosted by two Jesuits, Fathers Brian Strassburger and Louie Hotop, this podcast explores the Catholic response to humanitarian needs on the U.S.-Mexico Border. Since the summer of 2021, Louie and Brian have been working in the Rio Grande Valley, providing aid and spiritual companionship to migrants there. Now, they're telling the stories of the border through interviews with local leaders. On this week's episode, they talk with Sr. Norma Pimentel, a powerhouse of advocacy and service in the Rio Grande Valley since the 1980s. She currently serves as the executive director of Catholic Charities in the Valley. Subscribe to the Jesuit Border Podcast: https://thejesuitpost.org/2021/11/the-jesuit-border-podcast/

Letting Go of Christmas Pressure with Simcha Fisher Dec 22, 2021

Christmas is a weird time of year. No other season is such a potent combination of stuff happening. You have family traditions and maybe drama…definitely a whole lot of feelings. There’s consumerism and anti-consumerism. Heck there’s a whole soundtrack we share and bicker over. Plus, for Catholics and other Christians, there's the whole Jesus as God incarnate thing. To help host Mike Jordan Laskey sort it all is the great writer Simcha Fisher. Simcha is a columnist for America Magazine and a couple other places and the author of the book "The Sinner’s Guide to Natural Family Planning." She and her husband have ten kids, and she is uniquely good at writing about everyday life and big theological points so accessibly and hilariously. She offers lots of good insight into the season, no matter how crazy or calm your Christmas is this year. Simcha Fisher: https://www.simchafisher.com/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and United States. Subscribe to AMDG wherever you get podcasts.

We Invited Mary Karr to Do a Poetry Reading and a Retreat Broke Out Dec 15, 2021

Acclaimed memoirist and poet Mary Karr joined the Jesuit Book Club to talk about her most recent poetry collection, "Tropic of Squalor." The Zoom gathering turned into a deep spiritual conversation, full of Mary's sharp insight and humor. We hadn't planned on running the book club meeting as an AMDG podcast, but it was too good not to share. Learn more about Mary: https://www.marykarr.com/ Learn more about Jesuit Book Club facilitator Nick Ripatrazone: http://nickripatrazone.com/ Join the Jesuit Book Club on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jesuitbookclub AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Subscribe to AMDG wherever you get podcasts.

Advent, Ignatian-Style with Jesuit Conference President Fr. Brian Paulson, SJ Dec 08, 2021

Fr. Brian Paulson, SJ, began his ministry as president of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States in September. He comes to us in DC after seven years as the provincial of the USA Midwest Province, headquartered in Chicago. Fr. Brian talked to host Mike Jordan Laskey a bit about Advent and this period of transition for him, plus Fr. Brian's big-picture vision for the Society of Jesus in the world today. Fr. Brian is a deeply spiritual and thoughtful person who absolutely loves his Jesuit vocation, traits that will undoubtedly serve him well in his new role. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Subscribe to AMDG wherever you get podcasts.

Finding God at a Rock Show with Tom Beaudoin Dec 01, 2021

Why do some "secular" music or art experiences feel sacred? Guest Tom Beaudoin, Ph.D., is a theology professor at Fordham University has spent a lot of his career exploring this question. He joins host Mike Jordan Laskey to talk about encountering the divine in music, plus a conversation on Tom's new research project on the effects the ancient Pantheon temple (now a church) in Rome has on its visitors. Learn more about Tom: https://sites.google.com/site/tmbeaudoin/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Subscribe to AMDG wherever you get podcasts.

Giving Thanks for an Empowered Feminine Spirituality with Shannon Evans Nov 24, 2021

Thanksgiving is a time of tradition. How we celebrate the holiday today probably has a lot to do with how we celebrated the holiday growing up. The foods we place on the table. The special napkins we pull out of the closet. The signature cocktail we serve our guests. The dessert – pies and brownies and more. Take a moment: How much of your Thanksgiving experience reflects the Thanksgivings that have come before, perhaps even before you were born? Tradition is important and forms us in countless ways. But sometimes, traditions can box us in. Sometimes, they limit our horizons, keep us trapped in the old ways of doing things. That’s something that our guest today thinks a lot about. Today’s conversation is with Shannon Evans, a longtime contributor to Jesuits.org and an author of a new book, Rewilding Motherhood: Your Path to an Empowered Feminine Spirituality. It’s a wide-ranging conversation: We talk about images of God that are helpful and that are limiting for mothers; the hyped-up masculinity of St. Ignatius’ writings – and how we might integrate them in a healthy, hopeful way; patriarchy and systemic oppression; and, Thanksgiving traditions. If you’re not a mother, you might be thinking: This episode isn’t for me. Well, not so fast. This is a challenging, important conversation for all of us. What I found in Shannon’s writing and thinking is a challenge to liberation, a liberation from those modes of thinking and acting that keep us from achieving our full God-given potential. We’d do well to remember that we go to God together, as a community, and if any of us is bound up and held back, then all of us are affected. Our entire community of God’s family is kept from achieving God’s dream. And so, even if you’re not a mother, you’ll be challenged by this episode to reflect on your relationship to those who are – and on your relationship with yourself, as a member of God’s family. You can purchase Shannon's book by visiting: http://www.bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/rewilding-motherhood/408781

What If Jesus Kept A Diary? On Prayer and Storytelling with Bill Cain, SJ Nov 17, 2021

Today's episode is about storytelling, imagination and prayer -- three things St. Ignatius of Loyola saw as interconnected. Fr. Bill Cain, SJ, has a rather intimidating bio: He’s a Peabody and Writers’ Guild award winning screenwriter who has worked on several films and television shows, including Nothing Sacred, Thicker Than Blood, and more. His work for theater includes Equivocation, 9 Circles, Stand-Up Tragedy and How To Write A New Book For The Bible. He received the 2009 and 2010 Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award, and is the only writer to receive the award in sequential years. There’s more awards, too, and they’re all impressive. Plus, he founded the Boston Shakespeare Company, and has spent more than a few years teaching at Nativity Schools. But the reason he’s on the podcast today isn’t for any of that. He’s here because he wrote a book about Jesus Christ, a deeply moving and tender story that was so good it found its way into conversation around the dinner table of host, Eric Clayton. And that's something worth reflecting on. After all, isn’t that the nature of the Gospel? Jesus lived a life worth talking about, did things that were so remarkable people told their friends, their families, said, “Hey — you’ve got to check this guy out. He’s gonna change how you view the world.” St. Ignatius himself was so moved by the story of Christ — not the scripture, specifically, at least not at first — but by another author’s account of Jesus. And that imaginative tale is what led the soldier-turned-saint to embrace a new life, a new way of loving. So, in today's episode, consider what it means to encounter Christ through imaginative storytelling. How might such an encounter change your life?

Synodality Starts with Coffee with Sr. Nathalie Becquart Nov 10, 2021

Last month, Pope Francis officially launched a two-year process of reflection and listening called a Synod of Bishops. Synods bring church leaders together to discuss and act on important topics related to the life of faith, and this edition is about the concept of synodality itself. Synodality is a big, obscure word, and our guest, Sr. Nathalie Becquart, is one of the most qualified people in the world to explain it. Sr. Nathalie is a Xaviere sister from France and has a background in youth ministry. Earlier this year, Pope Francis named her an undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops, which is a fancy way of saying she is helping to run the whole process and, in a historic first, she will be the first woman in the history of the church to have a right to vote in the synod. This first year of the synod will include church leaders listening to the faithful all over the world, and this gathered wisdom will shape the meetings of bishops and other leaders in Rome in 2023. In addition to asking Sr. Nathalie to help explain synodality, host Mike Jordan Laskey asked her about her biggest hopes and fears as the process unfolds. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Subscribe to AMDG wherever you get podcasts.

Meet Jesuit Saints Not Named Ignatius with Tim O'Brien, SJ Nov 03, 2021

The early days of November give us ample opportunity to celebrate holy women and men. November 1st is All Saints’ Day; November 2nd is All Souls Day. And November 5th is the Feast of All Saints and Blessed of the Society of Jesus. But how many Jesuit saints do you really know? If you went to a Jesuit school, you can probably name a few – maybe you lived in Gonzaga Hall or went to class in a building named Campion. But for many of us, our familiarity with Jesuit saints begins and ends with a guy named Ignatius. That stops today with our guest, Jesuit historian Fr. Tim O’Brien, the newly named Director of Mission Initiatives at the College of the Holy Cross. Tim introduces us to a noble-turned-Jesuit-turned-diplomat, a carpenter that saved priests — and orchestrated jail breaks – and martyrs that led to a global showdown over what means to go on mission. Host Eric Clayton and Tim tackle geopolitics and clashes of religious identities that shaped the world stage. And all these saints – Francis Borgia, Nick Owen and the martyrs of Nagasaki – lived and worked and died less than 100 years after the Society of Jesus was founded. Not bad for a new religious order. If you like what you hear, why not subscribe or give us a kind rating? Why not tell your friends? And, if you’re really looking for more, why not join our weekly mailing list at Jesuits.org/weekly.

Sharing the Gospel in Clay and Bronze with Sculptor Timothy Schmalz Oct 27, 2021

The sculpture looks so much like a homeless man, people have called the cops on it. It’s a life-size sculpture of a person huddled under a blanket on a park bench. Get close to the artwork in any cities that have a copy of it, like Toronto or Rome, and look at the feet. You’ll find two wounds carved into the bronze, the only signs that the person show here is Jesus himself. It’s a powerful and challenging sculpture inspired by the 25th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, when Jesus tells his disciples that whenever they feed the hungry or visit the prisoner, they’re caring for Christ himself. The artist behind the homeless Jesus statue is Timothy Schmalz, a devout Catholic from Canada who uses sculpture as a ministry. Tim is an absolutely prolific sculptor, usually starting his day in his studio at 4am. He creates large, visually arresting works that are on display all over the world, including a recent piece for the Vatican called "Angels Unawares," which is 20 feet long and depicts more than 140 migrants and refugees. Most recently, Tim has finished a series of 100 sculptures depicting all 100 cantos of Dante’s Divine Comedy. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked him why he decided to take on such a massive project and how he approaches sculpting as a spiritual practice. Tim is so good at taking us into the mind and heart of the artist, and his reflections will probably have you Googling where you can find a sculpture of his near your own hometown. Timothy Schmalz: https://www.sculpturebytps.com/ Divine Comedy sculptures: https://www.dantesculpture.com/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts.

Actress Siobhan Fallon Hogan Brings Faith to the Big Screen Oct 20, 2021

Jesuit-educated actress Siobhan Fallon Hogan has had an incredibly busy acting career over the last three decades, from appearing in Saturday Night Live and Seinfeld in the early 1990s to roles in movies like Forrest Gump, Men in Black and the Lars Von Trier musical drama Dancer in the Dark. Most recently, she made her screenwriting debut with a movie called Rushed. Siobhan also stars in the film as an Irish Catholic mother in upstate New York who has to figure out how to respond to a tragic fraternity hazing incident that strikes her family. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Siobhan about what it was like to try screenwriting for the first time, and how she prepares for a dramatic role versus a comedic one. They also talked about her strong Catholic faith and how her home parish pitched in to the filming of Rushed in a few awesome ways. Finally, they got into her Jesuit education at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York, plus how she managed raising three kids while working an extremely full schedule that took her all over the world. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Subscribe to AMDG wherever you get podcasts.

God and Basketball with ESPN's Mike Breen Oct 13, 2021

The National Basketball Association season starts next week. If you flip on a marquee matchup on ESPN or ABC sometime this fall, you’ll probably hear the voice of today's guest: play-by-play announcer Mike Breen. Mike is widely regarded as one of the best announcers in the world in any sport. He informs without overexplaining. He shows excitement and love of the game without being cheesy. He perfectly captures the energy in the arena for those of us watching at home. It’s no surprise he has announced the NBA finals a record fifteen times and received the top media award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020. Mike is a proud alumnus of Fordham University and a deeply committed Catholic. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked him about what he loved the most about returning to the arena after announcing dozens of games from his house during the pandemic. They also talked about all the work that goes into the job of announcing games in the hours and days before a big game starts. They also discussed Mike Breen's faith and his time at Fordham. Learn more about Mike Breen: https://espnpressroom.com/us/bios/breen_mike/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Subscribe to AMDG wherever you get podcasts.

Honoring Indigenous Peoples' Day with Rosella Kinoshameg Oct 06, 2021

"Every child matters," reads Rosella Kinoshameg's fluorescent orange tee-shirt. The shirt is part of a national movement to recognize the harmful history of Indigenous residential schools in Canada. Rosella's shirt commemorates the thousands of children who were compelled to attend these schools, where practicing Indigenous cultures or languages was forbidden in an effort to assimilate children into white culture. Indigenous communities in Canada and the U.S. are still grappling with the impacts of this history. Co-host MegAnne Liebsch talks to Rosella about the ongoing trauma in her community, an Ojibwe First Nation reservation on Manitoulin Island, Canada. Rosella also shares moments of joy from her vast ministry with the Anishinabe Spiritual Centre, which is a work of the Jesuits of Canada. For her, Indigenous and Catholic traditions go hand in hand. Both energize her to serve the community on Manitoulin Island. And her wisdom is widely sought. As she told me, when something happens—a baby’s birth or a loved one’s death—she is one of the first calls that people make. To learn more about the Anishinabe Spiritual Centre visit: https://www.anishinabespiritualcentre.ca/ In the U.S., Congress is currently considering a bill that would create a Truth and Healing Commission on U.S. Indigenous boarding school policy. The Jesuits, alongside six other faith groups that formerly ran boarding schools for Indigenous students, have endorsed this legislation. We ask you to join us in supporting this commission. Learn more at https://www.jesuits.org/stories/jesuits-endorse-bill-to-establish-a-truth-and-healing-commission-on-us-indian-boarding-school-policy/.

The US Catholic Church is Shrinking (and Other Myths) with Fr. Tom Gaunt, SJ Sep 29, 2021

Today’s guest might make you reexamine everything you think you know about the current state of the Catholic Church in the USA. Fr. Tom Gaunt, SJ, is a Jesuit priest and the executive director of the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA). Since it was founded in 1964, CARA has conducted hundreds of social science studies of the Catholic Church. If you want to know how many priests were ordained last year, or how many Catholics go to Mass weekly vs. once or twice a year, CARA is the place to go. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Fr. Tom for a bird’s eye view of the state of the church, and that overview provided surprising stats time after time. Be ready to be surprised. Learn more about CARA: https://cara.georgetown.edu/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Subscribe to AMDG wherever you get podcasts, and leave us a nice review on iTunes.

The Ignatian Year Invites Us To Reach Out To Trauma Victims — Rob McChesney, SJ, Tells Us How Sep 22, 2021

During this Ignatian Year—this 500th anniversary of the conversion of St. Ignatius—a lot has been said about “cannonball moments.” The phrase comes from Ignatius’ own life story: he’s struck in the leg by a cannonball at the Battle of Pamplona. It’s that injury and its subsequent, painful recovery that confines Ignatius to bed and ultimately presents him with the opportunity to read and reflect on the life of Christ and the saints. We talk about this cannonball moment because it’s so jarring; it literally knocks Ignatius off his feet, off the trajectory he’d set for his life, and forces him to look anew at what God is inviting him to do with his life. From that cannonball moment, we get the Society of Jesus, the Spiritual Exercises and countless other good fruits. And, as a result, we’re invited to consider similar moments in our lives—when have we been struck by cannonballs; when have we had our life turned around by God? These are all good and worthy questions—and this year provides us with ample opportunity to reflect on our own ongoing conversions. We’re invited to see all things new in Christ. And yet, there’s a temptation to sanitize the cannonball moment, to forget that Ignatius—then, Inigo de Loyola—was a prideful man who led his soldiers to their deaths; whose cannonball moment was a bloody, gruesome affair, and who suffered from trauma and guilt in the many months and years that followed. This, too, is what it means to experience a cannonball moment—and we must look at the story honestly, fully, lest we risk offending or alienating those among us who have also experienced such trauma. This is the theme of today’s episode. Fr. Rob McChesney, SJ, joins us again to discuss how Ignatian spirituality and the person of St. Ignatius can help us process trauma, can help us accompany those who have experienced trauma and, ultimately, how a fuller understanding of what a cannonball moment represents might bring us closer to God. A warning: the subject matter today is heavy; we do dig into trauma and its effects, particularly where veterans and sexual abuse survivors are concerned. We hear from one combat veteran, Bob Macpherson, who shares his story of trauma and Ignatian spirituality. You can learn more about Bob and read his book at https://www.robertseamusmacpherson.com/. As a final note, Fr. Rob makes mention of several meditations found within The Spiritual Exercises. We encourage you to visit the Office of Ignatian Spirituality’s page on the Exercises to learn more. Go to https://jesuitseastois.org/spiritualexercises.

Reimagining the Story of St. Ignatius: A Conversation on Storytelling Sep 15, 2021

There’s a series of Star Wars books called From A Certain Point of View. Two have been released to date, each to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Star Wars: A New Hope and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, respectively. Each book contains 40 short stories from 40 different authors assuming the perspective of 40 different, minor characters from those classic films. The whole idea is to give readers a new glimpse into an old story—to retell that classic tale “from a certain point of view.” The Ignatian Year—this anniversary celebration of St. Ignatius’ conversion in which we find ourselves—invites us to “see all things new in Christ.” We’re invited to contemplate St. Ignatius’ story in new ways, to look upon his conversion and his legacy with the eyes of Christ—and then to turn that same gaze on ourselves, our own lives. How is Christ using Ignatius’ story to inform and inspire our own? For those of you who have read St. Ignatius’ autobiography, you know that the pages are full of minor characters—women and men who cross Ignatius’ path ever so briefly and yet leave behind a profound impact. Here at the Jesuit Conference, we thought one way to consider Ignatius’ story anew would be to explore the perspectives of these other characters: how they saw Ignatius, what they were thinking about as they encountered saint. It’s still the story of St. Ignatius—from a certain point of view. And so, we invited authors to submit their stories. And today, I’m really excited to share the work of two authors—and my conversations with them. The first of our authors is Ryan Carroll, a PhD student in English and Comparative Literature at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He is a longtime enthusiast of Ignatian spirituality, having first become involved through the Ignatian Spirituality Ministry at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. His story is titled, “The Pilgrim’s Book,” and it’s an extended meditation on the life of the book itself—the book that stirred Ignatius’ own conversion. Our second author is John Dougherty, is a Catholic writer and campus minister with over a decade of experience in Jesuit education. His work has appeared in America Magazine and Millennial Journal. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and children. His story, “The Provincial and the Pilgrim,” puts us in the shoes of the Franciscan friar responsible for turning Ignatius away when the would-be saint sought to live and work in Jerusalem. Both stories are beautiful opportunities to pray with the story of St. Ignatius, to “see all things new in Christ.” You can read these stories at Jesuits.org/pilgrim-stories – or, click on the link in the notes.

The Beauty and Mystery of the Wilderness with Nick Ripatrazone Sep 08, 2021

Back in the innocent days of February 2020, host Mike Jordan Laskey sent a Twitter message to author Nick Ripatrazone in reply to a tweet Nick posted about reading the Graham Greene novel "The Power and the Glory" for Lent, which is something he does every year. What if we invited others to read along with us and talk about it online? Mike asked. Nick was up for it and the Jesuit Book Club was born. Since then, the Jesuit Book Club has hosted a series of live events featuring conversations with some of today’s best authors who are rooted in the Catholic literary tradition, including Alice McDermott, Kirstin Valdez Quade and Phil Klay. For this summer’s Jesuit Book Club selection, we read Nick's own most recent book, which is titled "Wild Belief: Poets and Prophets in the Wilderness." The book traces the theme of wilderness through the work of almost a dozen writers in creative and surprising ways. This time, instead of a live event, the Jesuit Book Club discussion is happening as an episode of AMDG. Mike and Nick discuss the work of three of the writers Nick focuses on in his book: Gerard Manley Hopkins, William Everson and Mary Oliver. Join us in October for our next book and live author event with a very special guest (Nick announces who it is during this episode!). If you can't wait that long, check out jesuits.org/bookclub to sign up for the virtual gathering.

Gold Medalist Katie Ledecky Lives Her Faith as a Champion for Refugees Sep 01, 2021

Nobody in the history of swimming has been as good at freestyle as our guest today is. Katie Ledecky is the literal GOAT (Greatest Of All Time), as she is the world record holder in the women's 400-, 800-and 1500-meter freestyle. (If you're an American who prefers yards to meters, Katie also has the fastest-ever times in the women's 500-, 1000-, 1500- and 1650-yard freestyle events.) Katie is just back from her third Olympics, where she won two gold medals and two silvers. In addition to dominating in the pool, she also has some great Jesuit connections: Katie's godfather is a Jesuit priest named Fr. Jim Shea, SJ, and Katie has also lent her voice and platform to the urgent work of the Jesuit Refugee Service. She talked with host Mike Jordan Laskey about those Jesuit connections and her Catholic faith, plus some swimming stuff -- like what’s going through her head as she swims a grueling 1500-meter race. Learn more about the Jesuit Refugee Service here: https://www.jrsusa.org/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Don't forget to subscribe wherever you get podcasts, and leave us a nice review on iTunes!

Haiti Revisited: A Conversation with Nate Radomski of Magis Americas Aug 25, 2021

It was only a few weeks ago that Fr. Jean Denis Saint-Felix — the superior of the Jesuit community in Haiti – was our guest on this podcast. He shared with us his reflections on the assassination of the Haitian president. Tragically, a lot has happened in Haiti in just these few weeks. On August 14, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake devastated Southwestern Haiti — an earthquake even stronger than the one so many of us remember from 2010. Fr. Jean Denis encouraged us to hope — and trust in the Haitian people. And so today’s guest, Nate Radomski, the executive director of Magis Americas, is here to tell us what he’s heard from Jesuit partners across Haiti — and how the work of Magis Americas and its many partners is working with the Haitian people to rebuild. That’s at the heart of Magis Americas’ mission: to foster, support and accompany Jesuit partners in the Global South as they strive toward a more just, dignified and equitable society. If you want to learn more about — and support the work of — Magis Americas, visit magisamericas.org, give.magisamericas.org/supporthaiti and https://www.jesuits.org/stories/support-the-jesuits-relief-effort-in-haiti/.

Ignatian Pilgrimage? There's An App For That with Fr. Casey Beaumier, SJ Aug 18, 2021

It’s cliché to say but Ignatian Pilgrimage: There’s an app for that. It’s called “Journey with Ignatius” – and it’s a cool new project developed by the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies at Boston College. On today’s episode, Fr. Casey Beaumier, SJ, director of the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies, shares the thinking and reflection that went in to developing this app. But the conversation doesn’t stop there. The app itself is meant to be a pilgrimage, an experience of Ignatian spirituality, a tool to deepen our lives of faith. The conversation spans those topics and more: How the pandemic has served as a catalyst for innovation where faith and spirituality is concerned; How the very idea of pilgrimage can still apply to us – even if we’re still stuck at home; How the life and legacy of St. Ignatius is relevant today as ever, particularly as we continue our own global pilgrimage through the Ignatian Year. If you want to learn more about the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies or want a direct link to where you can get the app, check out the links below: https://www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/centers/iajs.html https://www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/centers/iajs/about/news/app-release2.html

Why Mapping the Global Church Matters with Molly Burhans Aug 11, 2021

It’s not every day you crack open a copy of the New Yorker Magazine and find a long profile of an incredibly impressive, inspiring young Catholic woman. But that was the case in the February 8th issue, where you can find an article headlined “How a young activist is helping Pope Francis Battle Climate change. That young activist is Molly Burhans, and she’s today's guest. Molly is the founder and executive director of GoodLands, an organization created to enable the Catholic Church to use its extensive landholdings for good. She had the insight a few years ago that effective stewardship of Church-owned land could have an enormous positive impact on the environment given that the Church is one of the largest landholders in the world. Molly has made mapmaking her ministry. She talks about how she got her start, where her passion for this work comes from, and what keeps her charging ahead.

Ignatian Spirituality Meets Urban Planning with Jamie Kralovec Aug 04, 2021

Jamie Kralovec’s work is deeply rooted in his faith and Ignatian spirituality, but he’s not a theologian or a youth minister. Jamie is an urban planner by trade, and he’s on the show today to convince you that caring about cities and urban parks and transit and zoning is a deeply Catholic endeavor. Jamie first saw the connections between urbanism and Catholicism while a high school student at St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, and he has turned interest in that convergence into a career. In addition to teaching urban planning at Georgetown, he’s the associate director for mission integration at the university’s School for Continuing Studies. That word in his job title “integration” is such a perfect one to describe Jamie, who models how faith and justice go hand in hand. He’s one of the most Ignatian people you’ll ever meet and a bright, incisive guest. Read Jamie’s recent interview in US Catholic Magazine: https://uscatholic.org/articles/202104/urban-planning-is-an-inherently-catholic-practice/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Celebrate the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola with Poet Cameron Bellm Jul 28, 2021

On July 31st, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, better known as the Jesuits. And this year, the feast is extra special. Why? Because we’re in the midst of an Ignatian Year, a celebration of the 500th anniversary of the cannonball strike that shattered Ignatius’ legs and ultimately set him on the path to conversion. Today’s guest, Cameron Bellm, has been doing a lot of reflecting on the life and legacy of St. Ignatius—both in her own prayer life and in her professional work. She’s a columnist for us at Jesuits.org, a poet who each month writes a beautiful prayer poem. You can find them in the Spirit and Verse series on our site. Now, how she came to be a renowned prayer poet is a pretty cool story—and we talk about it in our conversation. But that’s not all. Cameron has also been working on a really exciting e-book initiative. It’s called Christ Plays in 10,000 Places—a call back to another poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins, SJ—and it’s a small volume we hope you’ll use to accompany you and your own faith community throughout the year. As Cameron shares, she worked with a number of really great voices from across the Ignatian family in the US and Canada. One last thing: Cameron has a PhD in Russian Literature. And she puts that on display in our conversation in the most compelling way, inviting us to consider how towering figures in the Russian literary tradition can help us unpack some well-known themes in Ignatian spirituality. If you want to get your hands on your own copy of our new e-book, visit Jesuits.org/ebook.

What Anti-Nuclear Activist Fr. Steve Kelly, SJ, Sacrifices for His Faith Jul 21, 2021

What are you willing to risk for what you believe? Fr. Steve Kelly, SJ, is a peace activist and a member of the Plowshares movement, a largely Catholic movement of pacifists that protests nuclear weapons by damaging weapons and military property. He has spent at least a decade of his life behind bars for his witness, and was just released recently for what was called the Kings Bay Plowshares action. On April 4, 2018, Fr. Kelly and six other Catholic activists cut a hole in a security fence at the Kings Bay Naval Base in Georgia, where several nuclear submarines are kept. They hung a banner, spray painted Love One Another on the pavement, poured their own blood on a seal of the base, and pounded the display of a tomahawk missile with a hammer. They were willingly arrested two hours after entry. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Fr. Kelly about why he chooses to participate in these actions despite the risks. They also talked about his vocation story to the Jesuits and his experience with the criminal justice system. Fr. Kelly is a gentle, warm person and this conversation will quietly challenge you to think and pray about how you live what you say you believe. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

A Reason for Hope in Haiti with Jean Denis Saint-Felix, SJ Jul 14, 2021

On July 7, one week ago today, in the early hours of the morning, the president of Haiti, Jovenal Moise, was assassinated in his home. The exact details of his death are still clouded in mystery, but the impact on the country is stark and tragic: Haiti, still recovering from the devastating 2010 earthquake, still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, plagued by violent gangs, economic insecurity and a widening gap between the haves and have-nots, now faces a future of uncertainty. But it’s far from a hopeless situation. As our guest today, Fr. Jean Denis Saint-Felix, the superior of the Jesuit community in Haiti, notes, there is reason to believe a better future is possible. Fr. Jean Denis issues a challenge for all of us on the outside looking in: To help usher in this new future, we have to be ready to listen to the needs, the pain and even the silence of the Haitian people.

Pulitzer Prize Winner Marcia Chatelain on Fast Food in Black America Jul 07, 2021

Last month, Georgetown University professor of history Dr. Marcia Chatelain was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her book “Franchise: the Golden Arches in Black America." The book reveals the hidden history of how fast food became one of the greatest generators of Black wealth and power in American and the costs of this success story. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Professor Chatelain what it was like to hear she won the Pulitzer, and then they discussed the book and some of the most interesting things she learned during her years of research and writing. Professor Chatelain also shared what she has come to love about Jesuit spirituality since arriving at Georgetown 10 years ago. Lear more about Marcia Chatelain and "Franchise" here: http://www.marciachatelain.com./ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

The Legacy of Bill Barry, SJ, with Vinita Wright & Jim Martin, SJ Jun 30, 2021

When Fr. Bill Barry, SJ, passed away late in 2020 at the age of 90 years old, he left behind a long and storied legacy as a spiritual director, author and Jesuit priest. Though he wrote many, many books, mentored generations of Jesuits and guided countless retreatants, there was one consistent theme that everyone who encountered Fr. Barry walked away with: God desires a friendship with each of us. His final book, “God’s Great Story and You” – published by Loyola Press earlier this year – returns to that theme and pulls together insights and experiences from Fr. Barry’s nine decades of life with God. On today’s episode, Fr. James Martin, SJ, editor-at-large for America Magazine, and Vinita Wright, managing editor at Loyola Press, share stories, memories and reflections on Fr. Barry – his life, his work and his legacy. You can purchase a copy of his final book here: https://store.loyolapress.com/gods-great-story-and-you.

Meet Carlos Smith: Award-Winning Poet, Top Debater, Loyola High School Grad Jun 23, 2021

June is high school graduation season, and today's guest is one of the most impressive grads from the Jesuit Schools Network: Carlos Smith, who just finished his time at Loyola High School in Detroit. Loyola is an all-male Jesuit high school known for its rigorous academic standards and strong commitment to faith, and it serves about 150 predominantly Black young men. For the past 11 years, Loyola has achieved 100 percent college acceptance among its graduates. Carlos won two incredibly impressive honors during his senior year: First, he won a $25,000 Black History Month scholarship from the Detroit Pistons basketball team for a poem he wrote on the theme of powering humanity. Second, he was named the top high school debater in the entire state of Michigan. Carlos clearly has a way with words, and the energy and intelligence that made him a champion debater were on full display during his conversation with host Mike Jordan Laskey. In the episode, Carlos reads the winning poem, discusses its themes and talks about his experience at Loyola. Carlos is heading to the University of Arizona in the fall, and he hopes to one day be a Supreme Court justice. One quick announcement: We at AMDG were thrilled a couple weeks ago to hear that our show had won two first-place awards from the Catholic Media Association. We were named the best overall podcast in our division, and our collection of episodes on the pandemic won best podcast series. So now when you recommend this podcast to your friends and family, you can invite them to subscribe to the award-winning AMDG wherever they get podcasts. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Descendants of Jesuit Slaveholding Are Pursuing Truth and Racial Healing Jun 16, 2021

In the year 1838, the Jesuits of the Maryland Province sold at least 272 enslaved men, women and children to a plantation owner in Louisiana, in part to provide financial support to Georgetown University, which was struggling at the time. The Jesuits have long been aware of this shameful history, but living Descendants of the 272 enslaved persons have only learned about their ancestors over the past five years thanks to meticulous genealogical research. More than 10,000 living Descendants have been identified since 2016. Two of those Descendants are today's guests: Joe Stewart and Cheryllyn Branche. After learning of their family histories, Joe and Cheryllyn worked together with other Descendants to found the GU 272 Association. The association approached the Jesuits in 2017, looking to dialogue with the Society of Jesus in pursuit of creating a billion-dollar foundation to support racial justice work and educational opportunities for Descendants. Our third guest today is one of the Jesuits who participated in this dialogue process, Fr. Timothy P. Kesicki, SJ, the president of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. These three along with other Descendant leaders and representatives from the Jesuits and Georgetown University went through a years-long dialogue process and arrived at a memorandum of understanding: The Jesuits of the US would contribute $15 million to start the foundation and pledge to fundraise an additional $85 million. The result is the Descendants Truth and Reconciliation Foundation, which was announced this past March. The foundation marks the first time in history the Descendants of those enslaved have collaborated like this with successors of the enslavers. You can learn more about the history and the foundation at their website, which is www.descendants.org. Joe, Cheryllyn and Fr. Tim talked to host Mike Jordan Laskey about the dialogue process and their vision for the foundation. They hope this unique pathway forward might inspire similar efforts throughout the country. Learn more about the GU 272 Descendants Association: https://gu272.net/ Learn more about the Descendants Truth and Reconciliation Foundation: https://www.descendants.org/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Five Great Things About Being Catholic with Thomas Groome Jun 09, 2021

As more and more of us are going back to Mass for the first time in over a year, today's episode is a celebration of our faith. Today's guest is the renowned theologian and teacher Dr. Thomas Groome, who serves as a professor of theology and religious education at Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry. He has an incredible ability to make difficult concepts clear and engaging, often using his fabulous Irish storytelling skills in his work. In his conversation with host Mike Jordan Laskey, Dr. Groome goes deep into five things he loves about being Catholic. It's the spiritual boost we need as a new normal starts to unfold. Learn more about Dr. Groome here: https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/stm/faculty/faculty-directory/thomas-h-groome.html His book "What Makes Us Catholic" is a must-read and accessible to anyone, no matter your level of theological training: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/what-makes-us-catholic-thomas-h-groome?variant=32128767623202 AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Subscribe to AMDG wherever you get podcasts.

What Solidarity With India Means Today with Fr. Siji Chacko, SJ Jun 02, 2021

Today’s episode is a challenging one. We take a deep dive into the tragic events gripping the people of India, and we reflect on the tremendous loss of life that has resulted from the second wave of COVID-19. According to Vatican News, as of May 29, there have been 27.7 million reported cases of COVID-19—second only to the US – and 322,512 deaths, placing India at the third highest death count after the US and Brazil. And these are just the cases that have been reported. In India, at least 400 of those dead due to COVID-19 are nuns and priests. As today’s guest, Jesuit priest Fr. Siji Chacko will explain, this is in large part due to the work these faith leaders do at the forefront of the nation’s suffering, accompanying the vulnerable, excluded and forgotten. Fr. Siji wears a lot of hats in the Jesuit Conference of India, but as you’ll hear, no matter what his role, his vocation is to constantly serve God’s people in whatever way is possible. The conversation spans his own calling to the Jesuits to his work advocating for human rights to his reflections on the life of Fr. Stan Swamy, the 84-year-old Jesuit priest who has been imprisoned by the Indian authorities for his human rights advocacy. Learn how you can help provide COVID-19 relief in India by visiting https://www.jesuits.org/stories/covid-19-emergency-response-in-india-ways-you-can-help/. Learn how you can advocate for Fr. Stan Swamy’s release from prison by visiting https://www.jesuits.org/our-work/justice-and-ecology/take-action-2/release-fr-stan/. And learn more of Fr. Stan’s story by visiting Jesuits.org/stories/jesuits-demand-immediate-release-of-fr-stan-swamy-sj/

Why You Should Take To The Streets This Ignatian Year — And Go On Retreat May 26, 2021

Finding time to go on retreat is a challenge — even when there's not a global pandemic to contend with. But what if there was a way to go on retreat without having to book a room, set aside a weekend or travel out of state? What if you could just...go? In your own town, city or neighborhood? In this episode, co-host Eric Clayton talks with both retreatants and retreat leaders who have gone on what's called a Retreat in the Street in Toronto or Montreal, Canada. Each tells a life-changing story, an encounter with God that only required a bit of courage and some time to wander. What's more, this model of retreat is perfect for the ongoing Ignatian Year, a way to see all things new in Christ. These retreats help us find our way to God. They appeal in a particular way to young people, people who may have fallen away from faith – or who have never known faith. These retreats challenges us to walk with one another, to accompany the vulnerable and become vulnerable ourselves. And, as we journey through our own city, our own landscape, we see where God’s creation is flourishing – and where it needs our care. By the end of this episode, maybe you'll want to head out for a retreat on the streets.

How Red Cloud Indian School Is Confronting Its Past with Maka Black Elk May 19, 2021

For Maka Black Elk, being a member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe on Pine Ridge Reservation confers a great responsibility. And it forms the bedrock of Black Elk’s work — first as a teacher at Red Cloud Indian School and now as the school’s Executive Director for Truth and Healing. Red Cloud is a Jesuit-run school on the reservation. It was founded in 1877 and its history spans many turbulent and painful periods on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Maka Black Elk is helping Red Cloud face this past. On this episode of AMDG, host MegAnne Liebsch talks to Black Elk about what truth and healing means for the Red Cloud and Pine Ridge Communities. They have a powerful — and challenging — conversation about the school’s involvement in the Indian Boarding School Policy and how it impacts the Pine Ridge community today. They also talked about identity and culture, and how Black Elk’s faith runs through both. To learn more about Red Cloud’s Truth and Healing Committee go to: www.jesuits.org/https://www.jesuits.org/stories/new-truth-telling-initiative-confronts-red-cloud-indian-schools-past/ Stay up-to-date with the process: https://www.redcloudschool.org/pages/truth-and-healing#updates

Sister Helen Prejean Wants Your Help Ending the Death Penalty May 12, 2021

Listen to today’s show, and you’ll learn at least one incontrovertible fact: Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, is an absolute dynamo. She has spent close to four decades accompanying prisoners on death row and almost as long advocating for the end of the death penalty—work that first came to worldwide renown with the 1993 publication of her book “Dead Man Walking.” (The book inspired an Academy Award-winning movie, an opera and a stage play, and it transformed the national dialogue on capital punishment.) And if her recent conversation with hosts Mike Jordan Laskey and MegAnne Liebsch is any indication, she shows no signs of slowing down. Their conversation covers the current state of the work against the death penalty nationwide, what truths about America the pandemic has revealed, the importance of storytelling to Sr. Helen’s mission, an inside look at how Sr. Helen became an activist, the role of women in the Catholic Church and much more. Read Sr. Helen’s 2019 memoir, “River of Fire”: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/133675/river-of-fire-by-sister-helen-prejean/ Learn more about how the Jesuits are working to abolish the death penalty: www.jesuits.org/amdg. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts.

How St. Ignatius Can Guide Your Return to Normal with Dr. Debra Mooney May 05, 2021

The arrival of more-normal life feels close now, at least here in the US. A lot of us might feel tempted to dive back in, to schedule gatherings and buy concert tickets and try to make up for lost time. Today's guest, Dr. Debra Mooney, suggests a more slow-paced return to normal. Any change is stressful, she told host Mike Jordan Laskey when they talked recently, even positive change. Dr. Mooney has a doctorate in psychology and serves as the Vice President for Mission and Identity at Xavier University in Cincinnati. She just wrote an article for America Magazine headlined “Anxious about returning to regular life? 6 Jesuit discernment tips for the post-Covid world.” Dr. Mooney combines her psychological training with deep Ignatian knowledge in a fascinating way. St. Ignatius had an astute psychological mind after all, ahead of his time in how well he understood our emotional life. In the episode, Dr. Mooney goes deeper into all six of her points from the article. You'll hopefully leave the conversation feeling better equipped for the next stage of our shared life. Dr. Mooney's essay: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2021/04/11/jesuit-ignatian-examen-retreat-post-pandemic-wellness-240415 AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Faith and Science with Br. Guy Consolmagno, SJ, the Pope's Astronomer Apr 28, 2021

A fun fact about the Society of Jesus is that there are more than 30 craters on the moon named for Jesuits, which is a great reminder that faith and science are not the adversaries so many people make them out to be. Since the beginning of the Society of Jesus almost 500 years ago, Jesuits have looked to the heavens to learn more about the wonders of our universe. (That's how so many got their names on the moon.) Jesuits continue this work today, perhaps most notably by running and staffing the Vatican Observatory in Rome. The director of the observatory is an American Jesuit named Brother Guy Consolmagno, today's guest. He chatted recently with host Mike Jordan Laskey on the occasion of the launch of the brand-new Vatican Observatory website and podcast. They also talked about Br. Guy’s vocation story, why science and faith aren’t enemies, why he’s still amazed by the universe after decades of work and study, why it’s important to keep exploring space, and more. Visit the Vatican Observatory's new website: https://www.vaticanobservatory.org/ Subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Faith and Prophetic Witness with NETWORK Lobby Director Mary J. Novak Apr 21, 2021

Our guest this week is Mary J. Novak. She's the new executive director of NETWORK Lobby, a DC-based social justice advocacy organization formed by a coalition of Catholic nuns. While not a nun herself, Novak embodies a faith that does justice—the kind of roll-your-sleeves up and get to work attitude that Ignatian spirituality encourages. Novak’s career has traversed the intersections of spirituality and justice. As a lawyer she worked on environmental rights litigation and a death penalty appeal case. She was the founding board chair of Catholic Mobilizing Network, which is working to abolish the death penalty at the state and federal level. And most recently, she served as the associate director of Ignatian Formation at Georgetown’s Law School. Novak is animated by her faith. You can tell that her optimism and rugged determination spring from her belief in a God of justice. She talked with guest host MegAnne Liebsch about how her spirituality keeps her firmly grounded when it feels like our social and political landscape is tugging us in conflicting directions. And she offered some advice for how Catholics can get involved—and stay involved—with Catholic social justice movements. Learn about NETWORK's Build Anew Agenda: https://networklobby.org/buildanew/ Support the For the People Act (H.R. 1): https://networklobby.org/forthepeopleact Watch NETWORK's Immigration Policy Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETJlM0zZ_QU

How PTSD Impacted the Catholic Church with Jeff von Arx, SJ Apr 14, 2021

When you think about the Catholic Church, you may be tempted to think in terms that are outside of history – the Church is more or less the same since Jesus’ time, right? The continuity is supposed to be obvious, untouchable. Of course, that’s impossible. No matter how much we may try to preserve something, the steady march of time, those slow and plodding changes to society and culture as well as those unforeseen events, inevitably impact even the most resilient of institutions. Today’s episode is a deep dive into one of those perhaps unforeseen events that upended Catholicism – and in particular, the Papacy – as we know it. In fact, how we understand both Catholicism and the Papacy today traces directly to this moment in history. Today's guest, Fr. Jeffrey von Arx, SJ, is a Visiting Professor of the History of Christianity at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry and the Superior and Director of the John LaFarge Jesuit House of Studies at Harvard University. Fr. von Arx guides us through the years spanning the French Revolution through the First Vatican Council and beyond, and reflects on how a near-death experience for the Papacy following the French Revolution led to what he believes is an experience of PTSD – post-traumatic stress disorder – in the Church, and shares what he sees as the outcome of this institutional PTSD. It’s hard to fathom a time when the papacy almost ceased to exist – particularly in the wake of papacies like John Paul II’s and Francis’. And yet, as Fr. von Arx notes, the Papacy as we know it today didn’t have to be this way – and in fact was really close to not existing at all. The Jesuits play a role in this story, too, having suffered their own near-death experience during this same era. And, though it’s tempting to think of this historical deep-dive as unrelated to our own lives, what happened to the Catholic Church between the French Revolution and the First Vatican Council has impacted how we Catholics today experience of faith, our culture and our traditions – not to mention how we interact in society, in politics and in art. Read more from Fr. von Arx: https://www.americamagazine.org/issue/post-traumatic-church https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/09/24/root-china-vatican-agreement-napoleon

Why Catholicism Infuses the Rock Songs of The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn Apr 07, 2021

The Hold Steady plays big, loud rock 'n' roll that sounds like the best bar band you’ve ever heard. But if you listen carefully to the lyrics, you’ll hear moving, funny, heartbreaking stories about broken people sinning, falling and reaching for redemption. You’ll hear references to saints and churches and Catholicism and parties. Lots and lots of parties. Today's guest is the songwriter behind The Hold Steady, Craig Finn. Finn, who has been called our greatest Catholic storyteller since Flannery O’Connor, grew up in a Catholic family and graduated from Boston College. He talked to host Mike Jordan Laskey about the Catholic themes in his songs, his time at BC, and the Hold Steady’s fabulous new record "Open Door Policy." The Hold Steady: https://theholdsteady.net/ Craig Finn: https://craigfinn.net/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Subscribe wherever you get podcasts.

Along the Way for Lent: Episode 8 Apr 03, 2021

Matt Wooters, SJ, and Damian Torres-Botello, SJ, are back to journey with us along the way this Lent. Danielle Harrison, co-director of the Slavery, History, Memory and Reconciliation Project of the Jesuit Conference joins.

Why Getting Ignatius' Story Right Matters with Bart Geger, SJ Mar 31, 2021

If you have had any encounter with Jesuits – at a school, a parish, a nonprofit – you probably know a little about St. Ignatius of Loyola. You may know he got hit by a cannonball, that he wrote the Spiritual Exercises and that he ultimately went on to found the Society of Jesus. Good enough, right? Wrong. Fr. Bart Geger, SJ – a research scholar at the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies and Assistant Professor of the Practice at the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College – returns to AMDG to give us a behind-the-scenes look at his new edition of Ignatius’ own autobiography – and tells us why calling it an autobiography isn’t really right. Fr. Bart and Eric get into some more of the common misconceptions around Ignatius – around his understanding of Catholicism – and why setting the record straight matters. Ultimately, Fr. Bart helps us recognize where God was at work in Ignatius’ life – and how spending time to reflect on the saint’s life might better help us discover God at work in our own.

Along the Way for Lent: Episode 7 Mar 27, 2021

Matt Wooters, SJ, and Damian Torres-Botello, SJ, are back to journey with us along the way this Lent.

How Jesuit Basketball Got This Good with ESPN's John Gasaway Mar 26, 2021

This is a special edition of the show we’re rushing to get in before this weekend’s Sweet 16 in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Why the hurry? Because three Jesuit schools have made it this far: the Gonzaga Bull Dogs, Sister Jean’s Loyola Chicago Ramblers and the Creighton Blue Jays. There’s nobody more prepared to talk about these teams and the past and present of Jesuit hoops than guest John Gasaway. John is a college basketball analyst for ESPN, where he largely focuses on the growing field of sports analytics. He’s also the author of a brand-new book called “Miracles on the Hardwood: The Hope-and-a-Prayer Story of a Winning Tradition in Catholic College Basketball.” The book is chock-full of fascinating stories and history and is a must-read for any fan of Jesuit hoops. After he talked with host Mike Jordan Laskey about the book and the Jesuit-heavy Sweet 16 and this week’s passing of Jesuit basketball legend Elgin Baylor (Seattle University), John and Mike took turns drafting the best all-time players from Jesuit schools. Check out @jesuitnews on Twitter to vote for which team you think would win a hypothetical matchup on the court. Get John's book: https://www.twelvebooks.com/titles/john-gasaway/miracles-on-the-hardwood/9781538717127/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Subscribe wherever you get podcasts.

How Fantastical Stories Can Lead Us To God with Br. Brent Gordon, SJ Mar 24, 2021

Perhaps you're the kind of person who consumed a lot of science fiction and fantasy stories growing up. Stories like the Chronicles of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings have overt Christian themes. Others – Star Wars and Marvel movies, for example – might if you squint at them the right way. Regardless of spiritual intent, these stories can shape us, shape our imagination. We continue to return to them - maybe in surprising ways. These imaginative stories may even lay the groundwork for an encounter with Scripture, priming our minds to see the world as a big, fantastical place where miracles are just around the corner, where epic things can and do happen, and where themes of justice and good versus evil really matter. Brent Gordon, a Jesuit brother in his first year of studies, can relate. He wrote a wonderful essay for the Jesuit Post a several weeks ago where he explored exactly these themes. And he's here today to share some of those reflections – how these seemingly otherworldly stories could lead us to our very real and present God today, in our world, in this moment. You can read his article here: https://thejesuitpost.org/2021/01/fantasy-literature-imagination-and-christian-life/

Along the Way for Lent: Episode 6 Mar 23, 2021

Matt Wooters, SJ, and Damian Torres-Botello, SJ, are back to journey with us along the way this Lent.

Scripture and Songwriting with John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats Mar 17, 2021

Musician and author John Darnielle is the creative force behind the Mountain Goats, the critically acclaimed and deeply loved indie rock band he has led (sometimes as its only member) since 1991. He's also a deeply spiritual person with incredible religious literacy -- each song on the Mountain Goats' 2009 album "The Life of the World to Come" is named after a different Scripture verse, for instance. Darnielle joined hosts Mike Jordan Laskey and MegAnne Liebsch to discuss everything from the church in Latin America to the spiritual experience of live music to the Book of the Prophet Jonah. It's a whirlwind of a conversation and unlike any other AMDG episode you've heard before. Learn more about the Mountain Goats here: https://www.mountain-goats.com/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Subscribe wherever you get podcasts.

Along the Way for Lent: Episode 5 (ft. Pádraig Ó Tuama) Mar 13, 2021

Matt Wooters, SJ, and Damian Torres-Botello, SJ, are back to journey with us along the way this Lent. Special guest Pádraig Ó Tuama. Tune in on Saturdays for new episodes.

Persistence on the US-Mexico Border with Joanna Williams Mar 10, 2021

Joanna Williams has the kind of energy that sucks you in. Just talking to her is like getting a jolt of motivation. She’s passionate about social change and justice, but she’s also pragmatic. Williams recently became the executive director of Kino Border Initiative, a Jesuit-run ministry that accompanies migrants on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. She views her work at Kino like a global invitation. It’s not just her work—or the work of 22 staff members. Everyone has a responsibility, a share in the mission. On this episode of AMDG, Williams talks guest host MegAnne Liebsch about conditions at the border right now and how we can build a more welcoming society for migrants and asylum seekers. Learn more about KBI: https://www.kinoborderinitiative.org/ Join KBI's 100 Days Campaign here: bit.ly/kbileads Learn about migration advocacy at the Jesuit Conference: https://www.jesuits.org/our-work/justice-and-ecology/migration-and-immigration/

Along the Way for Lent: Episode 4 (ft. James Martin, SJ) Mar 06, 2021

Matt Wooters, SJ, and Damian Torres-Botello, SJ, are back to journey with us along the way this Lent. Special guest Fr. James Martin, SJ. Tune in on Saturdays for new episodes.

How Mark Kennedy Shriver's New Book "10 Hidden Heroes" Empowers Kids Mar 03, 2021

Mark Kennedy Shriver has spent a lot of time with incredibly impressive people. His father was Sargent Shriver, who founded the Peace Corps, was the architect of Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty, and ran for vice president of the United States in 1972. Sargent Shriver was married to Mark’s mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver -- sister of JFK and RFK -- for 56 years. She, in turn, founded the Special Olympics, among many other accomplishments. The public service values Mark learned from his parents have taken root in his own life. Mark served as a Maryland state delegate for eight years and has been leading the Save the Children Action Network for the last seven. He knows what it means to be a servant leader. And he shares those lessons with a fresh generation in his brand-new children’s book “10 Hidden Heroes,” published by Loyola Press. The book is a vividly illustrated “Where’s Waldo?”-style collection of people serving their communities in big and small ways, meant to show kids that they don’t need a lot of money or superpowers to be a hero in their own communities. Mark talked to AMDG host Mike Jordan Laskey about why he wrote the book, how his Catholic faith and Jesuit education shape his values, and what today’s leaders navigating the coronavirus pandemic might learn from the example of his parents. Get your copy of "10 Hidden Heroes" here, written by Mark K. Shriver and illustrated by Laura Watson: https://store.loyolapress.com/10-hidden-heroes Mark's other two books: https://www.amazon.com/Mark-K-Shriver/e/B006LTJ19A AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Along the Way for Lent: Episode 3 Feb 27, 2021

Matt Wooters, SJ, and Damian Torres-Botello, SJ, are back to journey with us along the way this Lent. Tune in on Saturdays for new episodes.

From "Seinfeld" to the Society of Jesus with Fr. Radmar Jao, SJ Feb 24, 2021

If you have a Hulu subscription or the DVDs of "Seinfeld," pull up episode 16 of the eighth season. It’s called "The Pothole." A few minutes in to the episode, Elaine, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, is waiting for Chinese food delivery on the sidewalk. The delivery man approaches. A hilarious interaction ensues that we don’t want to spoil for you. The actor playing the delivery man is named Radmar Jao, who was an up-and-coming actor back then in 1997 and would go on to appear in shows like "ER" and "General Hospital" and the Steven Spielberg movie "Minority Report." But he left that career path about 20 years ago for something just a little bit different: Actor Radmar Jao is now Father Radmar Jao, a Jesuit priest and the director of vocations for the USA West Province. He talked with host Mike Jordan Laskey about his acting career, his entrance into the Jesuits, how he uses his acting talents in his ministry, and so much more. There’s no better way to get ready for the Golden Globe Awards this Sunday and the start of our delayed awards season than this incredibly fun conversation. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Subscribe wherever you get podcasts.

Along the Way for Lent: Episode 2 Feb 20, 2021

Matt Wooters, SJ, and Damian Torres-Botello, SJ, are back to journey with us along the way this Lent. Tune in on Saturdays for new episodes.

Learning to Pray this Lent with Fr. James Martin, SJ Feb 17, 2021

Prayer is one of the pillars of Lenten spirituality. But it’s hard, right? We’re constantly tempted to ask, “Am I doing this right? Am I doing this enough? Is it even working?” Prayer is so foundational to our lives as Christians and yet at the same time feels somewhat mysterious. We might even convince ourselves it’s just not worth the effort. Fortunately, today’s guest has some experience in prayer. And he’s familiar with these very struggles – these temptations to throw in the towel and assume praying is better left to someone else. That’s why he wrote a new book: Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone. Today, Fr. James Martin, SJ, returns to AMDG to kick off the Lenten season, to give us a little insight into prayer and to offer us a word of encouragement in our own spiritual lives.

Along the Way for Lent: Episode 1 Feb 13, 2021

Matt Wooters, SJ, and Damian Torres-Botello, SJ, are back to journey with us along the way this Lent. Tune in on Saturdays for new episodes.

Finding Hope in Suffering with Joe Hoover, SJ Feb 10, 2021

Last year was a tough year. This year has gotten off to a rocky start. Many of us – on more than one occasion – have thrown up our hands and said, “Why God? Why is this happening?” Joe Hoover, a Jesuit brother, actor and writer, asked this very question in his new book, O Death, Where is Thy Sting? He asked it again and again as he reflected back on experiences his had throughout his own life: experiences in El Salvador, experiences at the gravesides of young people, experiences coping with 9/11 and the wars that followed. Suffering, as it turns out, is not a question easily answered. But it is one that demands contemplation – that very Ignatian approach to prayer. As Joe discusses in today’s episode, sometimes it just is, and we’re left to stand in wonder and awe, shock and horror at this unavoidable part of human existence. Nevertheless, there is hope to be found. And Joe speaks to that, too. Check out Joe's book: https://www.orbisbooks.com/o-death-where-is-thy-sting.html

How Beautiful and Balanced Catholic Media Can Help the Church with Fr. Alan Fogarty, SJ Feb 03, 2021

Fr. Alan Fogarty, SJ, has been the CEO of Salt + Light Media, a Catholic TV network and media company based in Toronto, since August. Fr. Fogarty doesn’t have a traditional media background, but he radiates energy and bold vision, traits that served him well in his previous stops as the president of St. Paul’s High School in Winnipeg, Canada, and as the president of the Gregorian University Foundation in Rome. We need more compelling, high quality, balanced Catholic media in the worst way, and hearing his hopes for Salt and Light got host Mike Jordan Laskey so excited to watch them continue to grow in the months and years to come. Check out Salt + Light online: https://slmedia.org/ "Be Not Afraid" by Catholic Artists From Home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF0DIpFOoBg Subscribe to AMDG wherever you get podcasts. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Constructing Ignatian Spirituality with Fr. John O'Malley, SJ Jan 27, 2021

If you’re a long-time listener of this podcast, a student at a Jesuit school or a member of a Jesuit parish, then the term “Ignatian spirituality” is probably pretty familiar to you. You might consider Ignatian spiritualty to be the bedrock of all things Jesuit: something that just is and always has been. "Magis," "Contemplatives in Action," "Discernment" – we're tempted to believe St. Ignatius himself liked to use these words. Unfortunately, it’s just not so. Legendary Jesuit historian, Fr. John O’Malley, SJ, is today's guest, reflecting on a recent article he co-wrote with another Jesuit historian, Fr. Tim O’Brien. The article is called “The Twentieth-Century Construction of Ignatian Spirituality: A Sketch.” It’s exactly what it sounds like – a quick historical tour through Jesuit history, reflecting on how we ended up with spirituality we call “Ignatian” – and how it defers from – or at least, expands upon – what St. Ignatius originally said and did. Read the article here: https://ejournals.bc.edu/index.php/jesuit/issue/view/1173

Learning from #CapitolSiegeReligion with the Smithsonian's Peter Manseau Jan 20, 2021

One of the most disturbing elements of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol was how much Christian imagery was on display. You don’t have to watch too many video clips to see hats and flags and shirts with Christian slogans printed on them. There’s video of a group chanting “The blood of Jesus is covering this place.” There are photos of Proud Boys kneeling in prayer. Guest Peter Manseau has been chronicling these images and stories on Twitter using the hashtag #CapitolSiegeReligion. It’s not a surprise Peter jumped into this project: He is the first-ever curator of American religious history at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington. At a time when we can’t visit museums, he’s been taking the curation work online. He talked with host Mike Jordan Laskey about what he’s learned from this social media effort, and what American religious history can teach us about how we got to the present. In the second half of the show, they talked about Peter’s most recent book, "The Jefferson Bible: A Biography." It tells the fascinating story of Thomas Jefferson’s cut-and-paste job with the Gospels and how generations of audiences have responded to the work. Learn more about Peter: http://www.petermanseau.com/ The compelling essay inspired by his book in The New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/01/04/what-thomas-jefferson-could-never-understand-about-jesus AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Thank God for Free Time with Theologian Conor Kelly Jan 13, 2021

How are you using your free time? Do you have enough of it? Too much? Are you mainly using it to veg out? Or are you devoting time to growing closer to God and other people and promoting the common good? These are some of the questions that animate the scholarly work of today's guest, Dr. Conor M. Kelly. An assistant professor of theology at Marquette University, Conor is the author of the recent book “The Fullness of Free Time: A Theological Account of Leisure and Recreation in the Moral Life.” He talked to host Mike Jordan Laskey about the different ways we use free time, what our faith has to say about leisure, some of the structural barriers that prevent people from having access to free time, and more. Reflect on how you're spending your free time with Conor's "Leisure Examen": jesuits.org/leisure Conor's book: http://press.georgetown.edu/book/georgetown/fullness-free-time And his recent America Magazine article on streaming: https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2020/12/17/television-streaming-video-covid-free-time-239392 Previous, related episode of AMDG with Jon Malesic mentioned in this conversation: https://soundcloud.com/jesuitconference/an-ignatian-solution-to-burnout Subscribe to AMDG wherever you get podcasts. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Three Spiritual New Year’s Resolutions with Fr. John Dardis, SJ Jan 06, 2021

Most New Year's Resolutions sputter out by February (if they make it that long!). In this episode, the insightful Jesuit spiritual guide Fr. John Dardis, SJ, shares three simple, doable things we can do to grow in our relationship with God this year. Plus, a reflection on what the Covid pandemic has uncovered and what a "new normal" might look like. Fr. Dardis is an Irish Jesuit who works in communications and apostolic planning for the global Society of Jesus at the Jesuit Curia in Rome. Learn more about the upcoming Ignatian Year: https://www.jesuits.global/2020/07/29/the-opportunity-of-the-ignatian-year-2021-2022/ Subscribe to AMDG wherever you get podcasts. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Finding God in Pop Culture with Jim McDermott, SJ Dec 30, 2020

2020 brought us a pandemic, a reckoning on racial injustice and ongoing challenges to our democratic norms. How can pop culture help us process these events? And how did pop culture fail to prepare us? Fr. Jim McDermott, SJ, returns to AMDG for a conversation on pop culture, storytelling and finding hope as we change the calendar year. There are a lot of stories to be told as we begin a new year -- and a lot of voices we need to hear from. This final episode of 2020 will help get those creative wheels spinning.

The Jesuit View from Europe's Power Center with Fr. Peter Rožič, SJ Dec 23, 2020

Fr. Peter Rožič, SJ, is the director of the Jesuit European Social Centre (https://jesc.eu/), based in Brussels, Belgium -- the de facto capital of the European Union. He talked with host Mike Jordan Laskey about the pandemic year in Europe, the importance of forming young leaders with Ignatian values, and his colorful childhood and early inklings of a Jesuit vocation in his native Slovenia. Learn more about Fr. Peter: https://jesc.eu/peter-rozic-sj-appointed-as-new-director-of-jesc/ Subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts.

Along the Way: The Fourth Sunday of Advent Dec 19, 2020

Br. Matt Wooters, SJ, and Damian Torres-Botello, SJ, guide us in praying through the Sunday readings for the final week of Advent. Music by Borrtex. Accessed via FreeMusicArchive.org.

The 12 Best Christmas Songs Dec 16, 2020

The Advent and Christmas seasons are most welcome this year. To celebrate the yuletide, two Christmas music fans from the Jesuit family join host Mike Jordan Laskey to talk about their favorite seasonal tunes. Dr. Susan Bigelow Reynolds is a professor of Catholic Studies at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology and has two degrees from Boston College. She’s also a top-notch singer and percussionist. Fr. Mark Mossa, SJ, is the director of campus ministry at St. Mary Student Parish at the University of Michigan. He’s also a writer and a hardcore pop culture aficionado. The three new friends took turns drafting favorite Christmas songs like in the NFL or NBA draft, ending up with a 12-song playlist – plus a bunch of honorable mention choices – that are sure to make the rest of the season merry and bright. And a bit melancholy. And maybe even a bit teary-eyed. Christmas has a lot of emotions even in a non-pandemic year. Learn more about Susan: https://candler.emory.edu/faculty/profiles/reynolds-susan.html Learn more about Fr. Mark: https://www.stmarystudentparish.org/staff/fr-mark-mossa-s-j/ Don’t forget to subscribe to AMDG wherever you get podcasts.

Along the Way: Gaudete Sunday Dec 12, 2020

Br. Matt Wooters, SJ, and Damian Torres-Botello, SJ, guide us in praying through the Sunday readings for the third week of Advent. Music by Borrtex. Accessed via FreeMusicArchive.org.

Islamophobia (And How to Stop It) with Jordan Denari Duffner Dec 09, 2020

On Monday, the Vatican made a surprising announcement: Pope Francis is planning to visit Iraq next March, his first international visit since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. He will be the first pope to visit this majority-Muslim country and wants to make the visit what the Vatican called a “concrete gesture of closeness” to the people of Iraq, who have suffered through years of war and instability. As we look forward to Pope Francis’ visit, and pray it will be an occasion of bridge building between Christians and Muslims, it's a perfect time to feature this conversation with Jordan Denari Duffner, an acclaimed author and scholar of Muslim-Christian relations, interreligious dialogue and Islamophobia. Jordan's books are "Finding Jesus among Muslims: How Loving Islam Makes Me a Better Catholic" (2017) and "Islamophobia: What Christians Should Know (and Do) about Anti-Muslim Discrimination," which will be released in the spring of 2021. She is also a Ph.D. student in Theological and Religious Studies at Georgetown University. She talked with host Mike Jordan Laskey about Muslim-Christian dialogue and what we can all do to take a stand against Islamophobia and work toward understanding and peace. Learn more about Jordan's work here: https://jordandenari.com/ You can subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts.

Along the Way: The Second Sunday of Advent Dec 05, 2020

Br. Matt Wooters, SJ, and Damian Torres-Botello, SJ, guides is praying through the Sunday readings for the second week of Advent. Music by Borrtex. Accessed via FreeMusicArchive.org.

How Jesuit Colleges Navigated an Impossible Semester with Fr. Mike Garanzini, SJ Dec 02, 2020

The arrival of December means college semesters are either finished or wrapping up. This was the first academic term that happened entirely within the pandemic, and there’s nobody better suited to give a bird’s-eye view of how the 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the US handled the semester than Fr. Mike Garanzini, SJ. Fr. Garanzini is a Jesuit priest and the president of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU). He’s also the secretary for higher education for the worldwide Society of Jesus, which gives him a uniquely international perspective. He has worked in higher education for decades, including a successful 14-year tenure as president of Loyola University Chicago. In addition to talking about this unprecedented semester, he talked with host Mike Jordan Laskey about the distinctive value of Jesuit higher education within an extremely competitive marketplace and what he hopes the Biden administration will do to support college students. Learn about AJCU at https://www.ajcunet.edu/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Along the Way: The First Sunday of Advent Nov 28, 2020

Br. Matt Wooters, SJ, and Damian Torres-Botello, SJ, guides is praying through the Sunday readings for the first week of Advent.

How to Give Thanks in a Tough Time with Fr. Michael Rossmann, SJ Nov 25, 2020

Many of us won't be traveling or seeing loved ones for Thanksgiving this year. So host Mike Jordan Laskey called up his old college roommate to connect from afar: Fr. Michael Rossmann, SJ. They discussed finding spiritual nourishment during the pandemic and how the Eucharist, which means "thanksgiving," can help heal divisions even when we can’t all get to Mass. Fr. Rossmann is a vocation promoter for the Midwest Jesuits. He joined the Jesuits in 2007, just after graduating from the University of Notre Dame. Fr. Rossmann taught in Tanzania for two years and has graduate degrees from Loyola University Chicago and Boston College. He is passionate about evangelization and has been active in the use of new media, starting the "One-Minute Homily" and previously serving as the editor-in-chief of The Jesuit Post. He continues to post a one-minute video on social media each week. His goal in life is to get people to spell his last name with two n’s. Might you or someone you know be called to be a Jesuit? Check out beajesuit.org. Subscribe to AMDG wherever you find podcasts.

Introducing Along the Way Nov 24, 2020

Join Br. Matt Wooters, SJ, and Damian Torres-Botello, SJ, this Advent in a new podcast reflection series, "Along the Way."

Why Ignatius Wants You To Forgive with Marina McCoy Nov 18, 2020

It's not shocking to say that the United States is a divided nation. And no matter who you voted for in the 2020 presidential election, you probably know someone who voted the other way. You probably know someone who feels discouraged and angry, just as much as you probably know someone who feels vindicated and hopeful. You yourself likely fall into one of those camps. As we barreled through those last few weeks of the election, guest host Eric Clayton came across a book that he thought might bring a bit of consolation in this otherwise chaotic moment. It’s called "The Ignatian Guide to Forgiveness" and it’s by Marina McCoy, a professor of philosophy at Boston College. (You can preorder the book through Loyola Press.) The book raised the following question: If we practice Ignatian spirituality – a spirituality that by its very nature demands that we put into action what we experience of God – how does an Ignatian approach to forgiveness play out in this moment? What does it demand of us? And what does it offer? How might it heal our relationships with one another? In today’s podcast, Eric talks with Marina about answers to these questions – and more.

Astronaut Jeanette Epps Finds God in the Universe Nov 11, 2020

Dr. Jeanette Epps is an aerospace engineer and a NASA astronaut. Earlier this year, it was announced that Jeanette had been chosen for a six-month mission to the International Space Station, where she will become the first Black woman to live and work in space for an extended amount of time. Jeanette is also a product of Jesuit education: she graduated from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY, in 1992 and currently serves on the school’s board of directors. She talked to host Mike Jordan Laskey last month about life as an astronaut, how she reacted when she found out about her upcoming mission to space, what she values about Le Moyne College, and how the wonders of the universe shape her faith in God. Learn more about Jeanette here: https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/jeanette-j-epps/biography Subscribe to AMDG wherever you get podcasts.

"The Signs" - A Post-Election Day Poem by Sr. Colleen Gibson, SSJ Nov 04, 2020

Sr. Colleen Gibson, SSJ, offers her original poem, "The Signs," written in the waning hours of November 3, 2020. Sr. Colleen is a Sister of Saint Joseph, who currently serves as coordinator of services at the Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Center in Camden, New Jersey and is a regular contributor to Give Us This Day, National Catholic Reporter, and Global Sisters Report.

An Election Week Deep Breath with Bill McCormick, SJ Nov 02, 2020

We made it to Election Week in the strangest, most stressful presidential election campaign season of our lifetimes. Today's guest, Bill McCormick, SJ, is such a hopeful, faith-filled guy you might leave the episode feeling maybe even a little optimistic about things. A Jesuit-in-training and a political science professor, Bill is the perfect person to wrap up our series on faith and politics. He and host Mike Jordan Laskey discuss Pope Francis' political vision and how we might respond to the needs of the world with compassion and a long view. Read Bill at America Magazine, where he's a contributing editor: https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/bill-mccormick-sj Follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BMcCSJ Check out all the Jesuits' faith and politics coverage: https://jesuits.org/election2020

"Non-Negotiables" and Other Tricky Terms with Cathleen Kaveny Oct 28, 2020

There are lots of tricky phrases that pop up often in Catholic faith and politics conversations these days: Constitutional originalism. Intrinsic evil. Prudential judgment. "Non-negotiable issues." Professor Cathleen Kaveny of Boston College helps host Mike Jordan Laskey unpack and understand these ideas and more. Dr. Kaveny is the first person in the history of BC to hold joint appointments in the theology department and law school, and has made her unique career at the intersection of faith, morality and law. Learn more about her work here: https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/law/academics-faculty/faculty-directory/cathleen-kaveny.html Find all the Jesuits' faith and politics coverage at jesuits.org/election2020.

Fighting Political Polarization with Congressman Francis Rooney Oct 21, 2020

Congressman Francis Rooney is a conservative Republican from a conservative district in Florida, but the issues he wanted to discuss with host Mike Jordan Laskey were not standard GOP talking points: he wanted to talk about fighting climate change, protecting the Everglades and stopping offshore drilling in Florida. He brought up economic inequality and his vote for a $15 per hour minimum wage. He railed against partisan gerrymandering. It's disappointing the Congressman isn’t running for reelection this year because his commitment to building bridges across partisan divides is rare. We sure could use more elected leaders with open minds in this polarized era. Congressman Rooney also talked about his tenure as the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, a position he held from 2005 until 2008. He shared some great behind-the-scenes stories about his experiences with Pope Benedict XVI, and also what he learned about the church by engaging with the Vatican on diplomatic affairs. Finally, he talked about how his Jesuit education impacted him, which included stops at Georgetown Prep, Georgetown University and Georgetown Law. This episode is part of a series on faith and politics inspired by the new Jesuit document titled “Contemplation and Political Action: An Ignatian Guide to Civic Engagement.” Read the document and see the rest of our faith and politics coverage at jesuits.org/election2020.

How to Heal Our Democracy with Sr. Quincy Howard, OP Oct 14, 2020

Sr. Quincy Howard, OP, is the Coordinating Director of advocacy, outreach and campaigns for the Faithful Democracy coalition, which is a multi-faith community of organizations and congregations who share the moral imperative of fixing our democracy. She talks with host Mike Jordan Laskey about the threats to our democratic systems and how we can address them. She also shares her vocation story, which is one of the most incredible paths to religious life you'll ever hear. Get involved with Faithful Democracy: https://faithfuldemocracy.us/ Sr. Quincy's viral moment: https://twitter.com/chrismazina/status/1267868625416921089 This is part of our series on faith and politics. To read the new Jesuit Conference document "Contemplation and Political Action: An Ignatian Guide to Civic Engagement," visit http://jesuits.org/civic-engagement.

Fr. Tom Reese, SJ, on How Faith Can Shape Our Politics Oct 07, 2020

To help you spiritually prepare for Election Day, we’re kicking off a series of episodes on faith and politics. You know, those topics you’re not supposed to discuss in polite company. These episodes are inspired by a new document by the Jesuits of Canada and the USA called “Contemplation and Political Action: An Ignatian Guide to Civic Engagement,” which reflects on how Ignatian spirituality can help shape the way we participate in political life. Our guest today is no stranger to these topics: Fr. Tom Reese, SJ. Fr. Tom is a well known and long-time commentator on faith and public life, and currently serves as a columnist for the Religion News Service. He is a former editor of America Magazine and wrote the book "Inside the Vatican." He talked with host Mike Jordan Laskey about the election and how Catholics can navigate political choices when neither of our major parties perfectly align with Catholic social justice teachings. Fr. Reese's recent fabulous piece on Catholic voting: https://religionnews.com/2020/08/27/trump-or-biden-whats-a-catholic-voter-to-do/ Follow Fr. Reese on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThomasReeseSJ Subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts.

With God In Saipan: The Story Of A New Jesuit Priest Sep 30, 2020

Fr. Jason Downer, SJ, had been studying to be a Jesuit priest for the better part of the last ten years. Somehow, though, ordination during a pandemic wasn't on the course list. Jason is today's guest. He reflects on how Ignatian spirituality grounded him during the uncertain months surrounding his ordination. And how his closeness to God continues to ground him during his first assignment in Saipan -- an island in the Western Pacific. As you'll hear, Jason's vocation story comes full circle with two flights over the Pacific Ocean. And he reminds us what it means to be a true example of contemplation in action.

Why Indigenous Leaders Say Their Land Is Not For Sale Sep 23, 2020

Paisley Sierra grew up in a community where clean water is scarce. Her family's water sources are threatened by contamination from uranium mining and oil pipelines. Sierra lives in South Dakota, on the Pine Ridge reservation. As a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation, Sierra believes that "water is life." But, the Lakota must fight for this basic resource. On this episode of AMDG, guest host MegAnne Liebsch talks to Paisley Sierra about her community's battle for land and water rights. We also hear from key Jesuit partners on the frontlines of this fight, including President of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Rodney Bordeaux, Fr. Peter Bisson, SJ, and Sr. Priscilla Solomon, CSJ and Ojibway First Nations. Interested in how the Jesuits are working for environmental justice across the world? Join the Global Ignatian Prayer Vigil for the Season of Creation on September 25 at 8pm ET. Go to www.breathingtogether.jesuits.global to learn more. This episode was produced and edited by MegAnne Liebsch.

How Ignatian Spirituality Can Heal Victims of Trauma Sep 16, 2020

On last week’s episode, we talked to Australian Jesuit Fr. Michael Hansen about the First Spiritual Exercises – otherwise known as the 18th Annotation Retreat – and dug into how this seemingly forgotten form of the Exercises can transform our thinking and approach to Ignatian Spirituality. Think of this week as “part 2”. Fr. Rob McChesney discovered the 18th Annotation Retreat only recently. He’s just back from three years working with the Jesuit Refugee Service in Amman, Jordan, and he’s reflecting on how the Jesuits might better minister to victims of trauma: refugees, war veterans, survivors of sexual abuse, and others. For Rob, the light bulb went off when he came upon Fr. Hansen’s work on the first spiritual exercises. Today's conversation is about applying Ignatian spirituality in general and the 18th annotation in particular to meet the needs of some of the most vulnerable members of our human family. Hopefully it gives you something to chew on, especially as you consider ways to put your own Ignatian contemplation into action. You can find more great spirituality resources at Jesuits.org/spirituality. And if you're interested in getting in touch with Fr. Rob to learn more and help him with his work, contact him at rmcchesney@jesuits.net.

The Crazy Challenges and Joys of Pandemic Parenting Sep 02, 2020

AMDG hosts Mike Jordan Laskey (dad to three young kids) and Eric Clayton (two young kids) welcome America Magazine executive editor Kerry Weber (three young kids) to discuss trying to parent intentionally in the pandemic. The author of the modern spiritual classic "Mercy in the City," Kerry is incredibly thoughtful and so committed to her faith. Part podcast and part group therapy session, we hope any fellow parents of young kids out there get something out of this conversation. (If you don’t have young ones, enter this episode at your own risk!) Essay by Kerry on bringing her son to a Catholic day of action that's discussed on the show: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/07/22/why-i-took-my-3-year-old-catholic-day-action-immigrant-children Don't forget to subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts.

Lessons from the Ignatian Camino with Brendan McManus, SJ Aug 26, 2020

The idea of going on pilgrimage might sound preposterous to our pandemic mindset. Just getting groceries feels like pilgrimage enough! Fr. Brendan McManus, SJ, a Jesuit priest from Northern Ireland, is an expert pilgrim. And not so long ago, he went on the Ignatian Camino, the route that traces St. Ignatius' steps through Spain. He wrote a book about it: The Way to Manresa. And what he learned on his journey is applicable to each of us today -- even if our own pilgrimages are from the couch to the kitchen.

Finding God in the Beirut Blast with Dan Corrou, SJ Aug 19, 2020

On August 4, 2020, an explosion devastated the city of Beirut, the capital city – and the largest city – in Lebanon. At least 160 people were killed and more than 5,000 people injured. Homes were destroyed – and countless people suddenly found themselves without any shelter, food or water. Cultural artifacts and historic buildings vanished. And this on top of a global pandemic, a crumbling economy, protests in the streets and a burgeoning number of refugees fleeing to Lebanon seeking safety. For better or worse, the people of Lebanon know what to do when they hear explosions – the decades-long civil war instilled in them a muscle memory that wasn’t easily forgotten. But adding one trauma on top of another is emotionally and spiritually exhausting. Mental health is just as fragile as physical safety. The Jesuits of Beirut have been responding as best they can, accompanying the people in this moment of darkness. On today's episode, Fr. Dan Corrou, SJ, the newly appointed director of the Jesuit Refugee Service in the Middle East, invites us into that moment when the explosion first hit, painting a vivid picture of pain and suffering but also of resilience and hope. And he details how the Ignatian family is responding. Ultimately, Fr. Dan reminds each of us that Jesus is still present—particularly in these moments of brokenness. If you’d like to support the people of Beirut in this moment of brokenness, you can visit www.jrsusa.org/beirut.

Cardinal Michael Czerny Has Faith That Does Justice Aug 12, 2020

Cardinal Michael Czerny leads the Vatican’s Migrants and Refugees section. A Canadian Jesuit, he was stunned to hear last fall that Pope Francis was naming him a cardinal because he wasn’t even a bishop at the time. The surprising decision by the Holy Father was yet another example of how migrants have been so close to Pope Francis’ heart throughout his papacy. Cardinal Czerny and host Mike Jordan Laskey discuss that pivotal day when then-Father Czerny learned his life was changing forever, plus the impact of the pandemic on migrants around the world and what message the cardinal wanted to share with the 20 Jesuits he ordained in Rome this summer. Subscribe to AMDG wherever you get podcasts.

Three Bible Readings Perfect for Difficult Times with Scripture Scholar Mahri Leonard-Fleckman Aug 05, 2020

If you were going to pick a Bible passage to turn to in these difficult times, which would you choose? How about the one in the Gospel of Matthew about the inefficacy of worrying? It’s a neat little tidy message from Jesus and such an important lesson. Today's guest, Old Testament Scripture scholar Professor Mahri Leonard-Fleckman from the College of the Holy Cross, picked three sections of the Bible she suggests visiting. And it’s safe to say none of them have a single tidy moral lesson at all. A big theme in Professor Leonard-Fleckman’s writing and teaching is that the Hebrew Scriptures are full of tension. They can be uncomfortable to read, especially when we approach them looking for the sort of straight-ahead ethical guidance we find in parts of the New Testament. But that challenge doesn’t mean the Hebrew Scriptures can’t be incredibly illuminating and consoling during this era of pandemic and social unrest. In this conversation, Mike and Professor Leonard-Fleckman’s dug into her three choices: the Book of Ecclesiastes, Psalm 91, and the story of King David. She also provided a great primer for how to approach reading the Hebrew Bible and shared a bit of her own amazing faith journey. She’s a brilliant scholar who’s also a clear and accessible teacher. Follow Dr. Leonard-Fleckman on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MahriFleckman

Jesuitical x AMDG Crossover Special with Ashley McKinless and Zac Davis Jul 29, 2020

In honor of the Feast of St. Ignatius coming up on July 31, we’ve got a special Jesuit podcast crossover episode today. Ashley McKinless and Zac Davis are the hosts of Jesuitical, a podcast for young Catholics from America Media. They are real pioneers in the Catholic podcast world. They talked to host Mike Jordan Laskey about pandemic life in their shared adopted hometown of New York City, plus their favorite episodes of Jesuitical and what about the story of St. Ignatius inspires them the most. Then, they took turns drafting Jesuit alumni: Just like the NBA or NFL, they built teams of five people each who all went to a Jesuit high school, college or grad school. After you listen, check out @jesuitnews on Twitter to vote for who you think had the strongest overall team. Find Jesuitical wherever you listen to podcasts, on Twitter at @jesuiticalshow, or on Facebook at Jesuitical: A Podcast for Young Catholics. Draft format lovingly cribbed from Joe Posnanski's Poscast.

How NPR's Scott Detrow is Covering the 2020 Presidential Election Jul 22, 2020

Scott Detrow is a political correspondent for NPR and a co-host of the incredibly popular NPR Politics Podcast. He's covering the Joe Biden campaign this year. He shared with AMDG host Mike Jordan Laskey what it's like to attend campaign events with a few dozen people in the room instead of a few thousand, plus some observations on the role of faith in both Donald Trump's and Joe Biden's campaigns. Also, Scott talked about the impact of his Jesuit education on his life and career (he's an alum of Marquette University High School and Fordham University). And stick around until the end for some scattered but very passionate reflections on the upcoming baseball season. More about Scott: https://www.npr.org/people/444796749/scott-detrow The NPR Politics Podcast: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510310/npr-politics-podcast

How Catholics Can Fight for Racial Justice Right Now with Olga Segura Jul 15, 2020

Today's guest is Olga Segura, freelance writer from the Bronx who’s currently working on a book about race, the Black Lives Matter movement and the Catholic Church. Previously, Olga was an associate editor at America Magazine and the co-host of the podcast Jesuitical. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked her about two pieces she wrote that came out this summer: first, a piece for America about how the Catholic Church can work for racial justice. Many Catholics want to do something to help address the sin of racism but we don’t always know where to start. Olga has some great tips for us. Second, Olga wrote a profile of the theologian and Fordham University professor Father Bryan Massingale, one of the leading voices on Black Catholicism. Olga talked about what struck her most about Fr. Massingale’s witness through the course of reporting her story. Subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts.

What Migrant Essential Workers Want to Tell You Jul 08, 2020

One of the new pandemic phrases that has become ubiquitous over the past four months is essential workers. From health care to agriculture, these workers are helping to move society forward amid a pandemic that has brought much of the world to a halt. On this special episode of AMDG, guest host Caitlin-Marie Ward speaks with migrant essential workers, who tell stories of incredible sacrifice, courage and endurance. Facing harsh migration policies and increasing public health concerns, these migrants surmount extraordinary challenges and look with hope toward the future. As Honduran asylum seeker, Fredys likes to say, “Us immigrants, we came here for a purpose. God gave us the opportunity to be in this country. God has the final word.” This episode of AMDG is part of the Solidarity Across Borders Campaign, sponsored by the Jesuit Migration Network of Central and North America. To learn more about the campaign and the people featured in this episode, go to www.jesuits.org/migration. To help Jesuit ministries working with migrants, visit www.jesuits.org/donate2020. Special thanks to Holy Trinity Parish, Kino Border Initiative and Father Alfredo Zepeda and his colleagues at Radio Huaycoctla for conducting and sharing their interviews of some of the people featured in this episode. Host: Caitlin-Marie Ward Producer: MegAnne Liebsch Don’t forget to subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts.

M. Shawn Copeland on Confronting Racism in the Church (Plus "An Examen for Racism") Jul 01, 2020

Today's guest is Dr. M. Shawn Copeland, professor emerita of theology at Boston College and one of the most distinguished religion scholars of our time. Dr. Copeland has written and spoken widely on a range of topics from theological anthropology to Black Catholicism to political theology. Her most recent book is "Knowing Christ Crucified: The Witness of African American Religious Experience." Dr. Copeland is a former President of the Catholic Theological Society of America, and she was the first Black theologian to hold that role. She is also recipient of the Society's highest honor, the John Courtney Murray Award. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked her for her take on the rise in anti-racist protests around the country and beyond. They also discussed the ugly legacy of racism within the American Catholic Church, and how we can all work to make the church more just and equitable. Then, after their conversation, stay tuned for a fabulous new spirituality resource titled “An Examen for Racism" (46:30). The examen is one of the signature practices in Jesuit spirituality, and it typically involves reflecting on the events of your day, searching them for God’s presence and asking for the grace to grow in faith, hope and love. This particular examen invites us to search our hearts to reflect on how we participate in systemic racism. It also invites us to look forward to see how we might take a stand against racism in our own lives. Two Jesuits, Patrick Saint-Jean, SJ, and Christopher Alt, SJ, collaborated on this project. More about Dr. Copeland: https://www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/schools/mcas/departments/theology/people/retired-faculty/m-shawn-copeland.html Text version of "An Examen for Racism": https://jesuits.org/news-detail?TN=NEWS-20200617120944 Don’t forget to subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts.

Dr. Anthony Fauci's Jesuit Education Helped Prepare Him for This Jun 24, 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic has descended upon the United States over the past three months, today's guest, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has become a household name thanks to his expertise and his clear and calm communication style. Though many of us have just learned about his work recently, Dr. Fauci has been in public service for decades, directing the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984. If there’s been a widespread infectious disease you’ve heard about, Dr. Fauci worked on it, from HIV to Ebola to Zika. His impact on public health both here and around the world is incalculable. Dr. Fauci is also a product of Jesuit education, and he credits his years at Regis High School in New York City and the College of the Holy Cross as helping to lay the groundwork for his career. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asks him what he found distinctive about his Jesuit education, what his typical day looks like mid-pandemic, and where we stand right now in our fight against this dreadful disease. Conversation recorded June 16, 2020. You can subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts.

World Refugee Day with Danielle Vella of Jesuit Refugee Service Jun 17, 2020

June 20 is World Refugee Day. While local headlines have taken over our consciousness even more than usual, our faith calls us to have a global vision. Plus, the COVID-19 pandemic has a disproportionate impact on those who are already vulnerable, including refugees. Many displaced persons live in close quarters in refugee camps or urban areas with limited access to healthcare. Global resettlement of refugees has been halted and international borders have been closed. All of these challenges pile up on the other challenges refugees face in the best of times. It’s why the world needs organizations like the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), which serves people displaced from their homes in over 50 countries around the world. Guest Danielle Vella is the director of reconciliation for JRS, and she has written a book of stories from her encounters with refugees called "Dying to Live: Stories from Refugees on the Road to Freedom." Danielle is from the tiny Mediterranean island nation of Malta, and she sat down with host Mike Jordan Laskey on the last day of her US book tour in early March, right before COVID-19 began its assault on North America. She shares incredible stories from her book and how her faith inspires her work. Danielle's book, Dying to Live: https://www.jrsusa.org/dying-to-live/ JRS USA's World Refugee Day campaign: https://www.jrsusa.org/campaign/welcome-protect-world-refugee-day-2020/

Lamenting and Confronting Racism with Fr. Mario Powell, SJ Jun 10, 2020

Fr. Mario Powell, SJ, is a Jesuit priest and the president of Brooklyn Jesuit Prep, which is a middle school serving low-income families of diverse races, ethnicities and faiths in New York City. Last week, Fr. Mario wrote a piece for America, the Jesuit review, headlined “‘How long, O Lord?’ Psalm 13 is the cry of black Americans.” He and host Mike Jordan Laskey use that piece as a jumping-off point to discuss the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and the enduring sin of racism in America. Fr. Mario is 38 years old and one of the youngest black Jesuit priests in the country, and he brings a vital perspective to this time of anguish and protest. Read Fr. Mario's piece in America: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/06/03/how-long-o-lord-psalm-13-cry-black-americans Learn more about Brooklyn Jesuit Prep: http://www.brooklynjesuit.org/

How Our Inner Chapel Can Sustain Us During A Pandemic Jun 03, 2020

Becky Eldredge knows what it means to turn a moment of intense suffering into a creative opportunity for God’s Spirit to work. In her latest book – “The Inner Chapel” – she applies Ignatian spirituality to the everyday struggles of ordinary people – and in so doing, encounters God. Eldredge, an accomplished author and spiritual director – and mother of three – shares with us her reflections on how the tools of St. Ignatius can be applied in our own time, amidst the ongoing pandemic, and the rebuilding that will ultimately ensue. Whether we’re feeling overwhelmed, lonely or just uncertain of ourselves, Eldredge reminds us that we can turn to God, enter into our inner chapels, and find rest. If you’re finding your prayer life to be a bit rocky these days, this episode – and the reflections and stories that Becky shares – are for you. Learn more about Becky and her work: https://beckyeldredge.com/

What Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ, Wants to Tell the California Jobs Task Force May 28, 2020

When California Governor Gavin Newsom wanted to assemble a task force on business and jobs recovery for the state, he turned to some usual suspects: Tim Cook of Apple, Bob Iger of Disney and former fed chair Janet Yellen, among others. But right toward the top of the alphabetical list of 80 some-odd prominent Californians is a Jesuit priest and today's guest Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ, the founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles. If you’re not familiar with Homeboy’s work of empowerment and kinship with former gang members, you really have to pick up copies of Fr. Greg’s two memoirs, which are both spiritual instant classics: "Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion" and "Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship." Host Mike Jordan Laskey asks Fr. Greg about what messages he wants to bring to the governor’s task force, and how he and Homeboy have been navigating this crazy time when their in-person ministry of compassion has been shaken up. Subscribe to AMDG wherever you get podcasts. Homeboy Industries: https://homeboyindustries.org/ More about Fr. Greg: https://homeboyindustries.org/our-story/father-greg/

How One Jesuit Parish in a Pandemic Hot Zone Keeps the Faith May 20, 2020

Catholic parish leaders around the world have been grappling with the pandemic in a unique way: How do you function when your existence as a community is dependent on people gathering for worship, education, and service and social events? Host Mike Jordan Laskey poses this question and others to today's guest, Fr. John Whitney, SJ, who is the pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Seattle, the Jesuit parish there. As you might remember, the Seattle area was one of the earliest regions in North America to face the COVID-19 pandemic. Like so many others, the parish has come together (while apart) in dozens of beautiful ways. Fr. Whitney, who is the former provincial superior of what was then called the Oregon Province of the Jesuits, has loads of leadership experience to draw on in this hard time. His insight about how this experience has helped to empower the laity in some ways is fascinating to hear. Subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts.

How Senator Bob Casey's Jesuit Education Shapes His Public Service May 15, 2020

Our special guest is Senator Bob Casey, who has been representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the Senate since 2007. In addition to being a dedicated public servant, Senator Casey has major Jesuit cred: He graduated from a Jesuit high school (Scranton Prep, Class of 1978). He graduated from a Jesuit college (The College of the Holy Cross, Class of 1982). Then, he spent a year with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, teaching and coaching basketball at the Gesu School in Philadelphia. Senator Casey and host Mike Jordan Laskey discuss the Senator's Jesuit education and how it prepared him for a career in public service. They also talked about the COVID-19 pandemic, and what roles he thinks the federal government should be playing in our response to this difficult time. And stick around until the end, when Mike asks Senator Casey to weigh in on one of Pennsylvania’s biggest culinary debates. It has to do with various forms of breakfast meat. If you like what you hear, you can subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell your friends, especially residents of the Keystone State.

What Leaders Can Learn From St. Ignatius May 13, 2020

We have never needed good leadership more than we need it right now. The COVID-19 pandemic is begging for excellent leadership in every sphere of life: Government at all levels, business, education, sports, all the way down to our own family systems. If you’re tasked with leading anything in any way these days, you’d be smart to draw some lessons from the 500-year old wisdom of St. Ignatius Loyola. Our guest, Fr. David McCallum, SJ, has devoted much of his life to mining the Jesuit tradition for leadership principles that we can apply in the world today. He puts Ignatian spirituality into dialogue with cutting-edge leadership research from “secular” sources like the business world and academic fields like sociology and psychology. Fr. McCallum puts his thought into action as LeMoyne College’s vice president for mission integration. He also leads the Institute for Discerning Leadership out of the Jesuit Curia in Rome, which is a formation program for senior church leaders. He joins host Mike Jordan Laskey to talk about which principles dear to St. Ignatius are most relevant for pandemic-era leaders today. Subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts.

"Go Set The World On Fire" and Other Things St. Ignatius Never Said with Bart Geger, SJ May 06, 2020

If you've ever been to a Jesuit institution, chances are you've been told to, "Go and set the world on fire." You’ve perhaps walked down halls lined with the text of St. Ignatius’ famous prayer for generosity. And you may have been moved by Fr. Pedro Arrupe’s well-known prayer about falling in love. But did you know none of those things were ever said? At least, not in the way you think. Today's guest is Fr. Bart Geger, SJ, a research scholar at the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies, assistant professor at the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College and the general editor of "Studies in the Spirituality of Jesuits." He’s also the editor of a forthcoming new edition of the autobiography of St. Ignatius Loyola. As Bart will discuss — and as you might have already guessed — some of the most famous lines attributed to St. Ignatius or Fr. Arrupe are misattributed, if they were ever uttered at all. Now, you might say: Who cares? Prayers that teach me to be generous and to serve God are good, right? Falling in love with a God who IS love is a beautiful thing, no? Well, it’s complicated – and that’s where Fr. Geger comes in.

7 Books for 7 Moods with Writer Nick Ripatrazone Apr 29, 2020

If you’ve been trying to read more these days, then this episode is for you. Our guest is author Nick Ripatrazone, whose latest book is titled “Longing for an Absent God: Faith and Doubt in Great American Fiction.” In the book, Nick explores how two major strands of Catholic writers--practicing and cultural--intertwine and sustain each other. Nick talked in-depth with host Mike Jordan Laskey about Nick’s three favorite authors from his book: Flannery O’Connor, Don DeLillo and Toni Morrison. Nick also played book concierge, suggesting seven books for seven different quarantine moods. If the conversation makes you want to talk literature with Mr. Ripatrazone himself, you’re in luck. Nick is also the facilitator of our online Jesuit Book Club. Our selection for May is the novel "Mariette in Ecstasy" by Ron Hansen. Get more information and sign up to participate at jesuits.org/bookclub. Buy Nick's book here: https://bookshop.org/books/longing-for-an-absent-god-faith-and-doubt-in-great-american-fiction/9781506451954 Check out his website here: http://nickripatrazone.com/home.html

Austen Ivereigh's Surprising, Profound Interview with Pope Francis Apr 22, 2020

Last month, the journalist and Pope Francis biographer Austen Ivereigh sent a detailed list of themes and questions to the Holy Father about the COVID-19 pandemic. Austen figured he wouldn’t hear back. Luckily for us, he was 100% wrong about that. Not only did Pope Francis respond to Austen’s questions, but he sent a long, extremely thoughtful audio recording. His responses make up perhaps the most in-depth interview the Holy Father has ever directed toward the English-speaking world. Austen Ivereigh is today's guest. He talks with host Mike Jordan Laskey about the interview’s backstory, the Holy Father’s most striking answers, plus how Pope Francis’ response to the pandemic has reflected the central values that have characterized his pontificate since the beginning. Read the interview here: https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/time-great-uncertainty Austen's piece on Pope Francis' remarkable Urbi et Orbi address: https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/pope-plague Keep up with Austen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/austeni Subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts.

A Meditation for Earth Day 2020 Apr 20, 2020

Earth Day 2020 is Wednesday, April 22. Though it will be different this year, as so many shelter at home amidst a global pandemic, our Gospel call to care for creation remains the same. This brief meditation will help you listen to creation and reflect on how you might take part in climate action no matter where you are. Reflection written and read by Eric Clayton

Twenty Non-COVID Questions with Fr. Tim Kesicki, SJ Apr 15, 2020

It's coronavirus counter-programming time! Back in early March, before the craziness hit North America, Fr. Tim Kesicki, SJ, president of the Jesuit Conference, sat down with host Mike Jordan Laskey in person (!) for a breezy chat about things like Fr. Tim's favorite dumb accomplishment and what law he'd enact if he was king of his own make-believe country. Also, a funny story about the time he chatted with Pope Francis.

7 Last Words: Into Your Hands Apr 10, 2020

"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." This is the final in our series on the Seven Last Words of Jesus with Fr. Tim O'Brien, SJ.

Finding God in the Mess with authors Brendan McManus, SJ, and Jim Deeds Apr 08, 2020

Though the Church invites us to move from the forty days of Lent into the season of Easter, in this era of pandemic, lock downs and quarantines, many of us may feel as though Lent marches on. Today's guests, authors Brendan McManus, SJ, and Jim Deeds, provide some spiritual solace for us in this time, inspired by their aptly named book, "Finding God in the Mess." Formed in the Troubles of Northern Ireland's brutal conflict, these two men apply Ignatian spirituality to hard, challenging moments. They invite us to do the same. Brendan McManus SJ, an Irish Jesuit priest, works in the area of spirituality and spiritual accompaniment in Belfast. Author of a number of books including Redemption Road: Grieving on the Camino, Finding God in the Mess: Meditations for Mindful Living and Deeper into the Mess: Praying through Tough Times, he is a keen walker, having undertaken a number of pilgrimages. Jim Deeds is engaged in pastoral ministry in Down and Connor diocese, working in helping parishes to develop their vision and potential. A husband and father, Jim has co-authored Finding God in the Mess: Meditations for Mindful Living and Deeper into the Mess: Praying through Tough Times Learn more about their book: https://www.loyolapress.com/sitecore/commerce/products/loyola-press-shop/books/finding-god-in-the-mess And participate in a digital Ignatian retreat for this time of pandemic: Jesuits.org/into-the-cave.

7 Last Words: It Is Finished Apr 06, 2020

"It is finished." In this penultimate reflection on the 7 Last Words of Jesus, Fr. Tim reflects on death -- and ultimately, why death invites us to hope.

What the Bubonic Plague Can Teach Us Today with Historian Christopher Bellitto Apr 01, 2020

As we face today's pandemic, what we can learn from the 14th Century's Bubonic Plague? Plenty, according to Kean University medieval historian Chris Bellitto. Parallels abound, from the scapegoating of certain communities in both eras to the impact of wealth inequality on who can "socially distance." On the more hopeful side, reflecting on the innumerable faith leaders who gave their lives ministering to the sick in the Middle Ages, Bellitto talks about the huge opportunities religious communities have today to respond to the crisis with compassion and creativity. Chris is a dynamic, funny, accessible teacher who makes history come alive. You'll be fascinated by his perspective. Chris' most recent book is "Ageless Wisdom: Lifetime Lessons from the Bible": http://www.paulistpress.com/Products/4990-2/ageless-wisdom.aspx Learn more about Chris here: https://sites.google.com/a/kean.edu/christopher-m-bellitto-ph-d/

7 Last Words: I Thirst Mar 30, 2020

"I thirst." Amid the current global pandemic, we might find these words of Jesus on our own lips. For what do we thirst in this moment?

Jesuits in the Middle East & the Legacy of Baghdad College Mar 25, 2020

Since the time of Ignatius, the Jesuits have been on mission. The legacies of Jesuit missionaries like Francis Xavier and Matteo Ricci inspire generation after generation of Jesuits to journey to the margins, to accompany the excluded and to work for a more just, peaceful world. Today’s Jesuits are no different. In this final part of our three-part series, the Jesuit Mission in Jordan, Eric Clayton explores the history of Baghdad College, and the enduring legacy of its Jesuits in Jordan. Learn more about the Jesuits in Jordan by visiting jesuits.org/jordan.

7 Last Words: Why Have You Forsaken Me? Mar 23, 2020

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Amid the current global pandemic, we might find these words of Jesus on our own lips. Rather than shake our fists in despair, let us find solace in uniting our words with Christ's.

Public Health Expert and Jesuit Priest Fr. Michael Rozier Mar 20, 2020

Fr. Michael Rozier, SJ, is a public health professor at St. Louis University. He talked with host Mike Jordan Laskey about approaching the coronavirus as a health professional and priest, Catholic social justice teachings that apply to responses to the pandemic, and the fascinating history of Catholic healthcare.

Fr. Jim Martin: Ignatian Spirituality Can Guide Us in the Storm Mar 18, 2020

Fr. Jim Martin, SJ, reflects on how we can draw on the tradition of Ignatian spirituality to respond to the coronavirus pandemic with faith, hope and love.

7 Last Words: This Is Your Mother Mar 16, 2020

"Woman, this is your son" . . . "This is your mother." This is the third of the 7 Last Words of Jesus, and the third in our Lenten audio reflections. Fr. Tim O'Brien, SJ, a Jesuit of the Maryland Province, leads us in meditating on how we see the cross in our everyday lives.

Special Edition: Fr. Paddy Gilger, Locked Down in Milan, Reflects on Fear and Compassion Mar 12, 2020

About two weeks ago, before Italy's national lockdown, Fr. Paddy Gilger, SJ, traveled to Milan -- epicenter of Europe's coronavirus outbreak to this point. He's still there. Host Mike Jordan Laskey talks to Paddy about the mood in the city plus how as Christians we can respond to fear with compassion and hope.

Profiles in Mission: Fr. John Sheehan, SJ Mar 11, 2020

Since the time of Ignatius, the Jesuits have been on mission. The legacies of Jesuit missionaries like Francis Xavier and Matteo Ricci inspire generation after generation of Jesuits to journey to the margins, to accompany the excluded and to work for a more just, peaceful world. Today’s Jesuits are no different. In part two of our three-part series, the Jesuit Mission in Jordan, Eric Clayton sits down with Fr. John Sheehan, SJ, at the end of his three years in Jordan. Fr. John shares how he went from acting in NYC to becoming a Jesuit and ultimately serving in Nigeria, Jordan and more. Learn more about the Jesuits in Jordan by visiting jesuits.org/jordan.

7 Last Words: You Will Be With Me In Paradise Mar 09, 2020

"Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise" This is the second of the 7 Last Words of Jesus, and the second in our Lenten audio reflections. Fr. Tim O'Brien, SJ, a Jesuit of the Maryland Province, leads us in meditating on how we see the cross in our everyday lives.

Persistent Hope: How Jesuits Are Accompanying Refugees in Jordan Mar 04, 2020

Since the time of Ignatius, the Jesuits have been on mission. The legacies of Jesuit missionaries like Francis Xavier and Matteo Ricci inspire generation after generation of Jesuits to journey to the margins, to accompany the excluded and to work for a more just, peaceful world. Today’s Jesuits are no different. In part one of our three-part series, the Jesuit Mission in Jordan, Eric Clayton takes you to the Jesuit Center in Amman to hear the sounds and stories of the refugees served by the Jesuits and their collaborators. Learn more about the Jesuits in Jordan by visiting http://jesuits.org/jordan.

7 Last Words: Father, Forgive Them Mar 02, 2020

"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." This is the first of the 7 Last Words of Jesus, and the first in our Lenten audio reflections. Fr. Tim O'Brien, SJ, a Jesuit of the Maryland Province, leads us in meditating on how we see the cross in our everyday lives.

At the Crossroads of Black History Month and Lent with dr. timone davis Feb 26, 2020

We’ve all heard the expression: God works in mysterious ways. It sounds a little cheesy, a little trite. But the conversation you’re about to hear is a result of exactly that mystery at work. It was not a small amount of serendipity that saw guest host Eric Clayton talking with dr. timone davis at such a crossroads moment: the end of Black History month and the beginning of Lent. And as they delved deeper into their conversation, dr. davis’s own research interest—storytelling and the Black Catholic experience—served as an organic, helpful link between these two significant moments in time. dr. davis is an assistant professor in the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago. She serves as treasurer of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium. And she runs PEACE centered WHOLENESS with her husband, where they blend clinical counseling with spiritual companioning. An excerpt from timone's bio provides helpful insight into how her story is accessible to all: “timone davis is a cradle Catholic who was a “pewster” until she discovered that the uselessness of the Church was because she wasn’t giving anything of herself. After committing to do something, her life changed.” Ultimately, this conversation led to an idea that might be termed "Ignatian storytelling": a reflective effort to put ourselves into stories to encounter God and one another, to heal, to reset power and privilege and ultimately to build bridges in the real world.

7 Last Words: Ash Wednesday Is Nearly Here Feb 24, 2020

Ash Wednesday is THIS Wednesday. And that means we're nearly at the beginning of the season of Lent. Each week of Lent, AMDG will feature reflections from Fr. Tim O'Brien, SJ, on the Seven Last Words of Jesus, a traditional Lenten meditation. Every Monday, a new reflection — no more than three minutes in length — will pop up in your feed. Our prayer for you is that these brief reflections help anchor your week in Lenten spirituality, giving you something to chew on amidst the hustle and bustle of your daily life. As a special bonus, if you subscribe now — if you tell your friends to subscribe, too — you'll also get our regularly scheduled episodes each Wednesday.

Father Arturo Sosa, SJ, Jesuit Superior General Feb 20, 2020

Our very special guest is Fr. Arturo Sosa, who is the 31st Superior General of the Society of Jesus -- the leader of the Jesuits worldwide. Fr. Sosa is originally from Venezuela, where he was a political science professor and the provincial superior for a time. He’s the first person born in South America to lead the Jesuits, and he has been serving in the role since 2016, when his Jesuit brothers elected him at the Society’s 36th General Congregation. Serving as Fr. General, as the role is called within the Society of Jesus, is a massive job. With over 16,000 Jesuits from practically every culture scattered across the globe, Fr. General is responsible for guiding the Society in the same direction and building unity within diversity. A lot of Fr. General’s time is spent on the road, visiting Jesuit communities and works around the world to help him get a bird’s-eye view of the large Society he leads. Earlier this month, his travels led him to the West Coast of the United States, including the Jesuit retreat center in Los Altos, California, which is where host Mike Jordan Laskey sat down with him. They talked about Fr. General's visit to the States, the four Universal Apostolic Preferences that are guiding Jesuit life and mission for the next decade, and what it’s like to see his photograph on the wall of every Jesuit community on every continent he visits. In addition to the podcast, a transcript of highlights from this conversation is available at jesuits.org.

An Ignatian Solution to Burnout Feb 12, 2020

We Americans are obsessed with work. We want meaning in our work. We want work to align perfectly with our values. It’s a badge of honor to tell people how busy we are. And one of the nicest things you can say about someone is that they’re a hard worker. What if we have it all wrong? What if our relationship to work is dysfunctional? And maybe even demonic? Guest Jonathan Malesic has written extensively about work and burnout for publications like the New Republic and America Magazine. He’s currently writing a book on the topic. Earlier in the 2000s, Jon had his dream job as a college theology professor, but the reality of the work was sapping his energy and his spirit until he had to walk away. Since that big decision, he has devoted much of his professional life to studying Americans’ relationship to work, why it’s broken, and how we might be able to fix it. He talks with host Mike Jordan Laskey about his research, including the story of a Benedictine monastery in New Mexico that ran a successful web design business in the 90s until they just shut it down because it was interfering with their life of communal prayer. They also hit on the temptation for folks in Jesuit circles to misuse the popular Ignatian term “magis.” Keep up with Jon’s work and find a list of all the articles discussed on today’s show at jonmalesic.com.

Ignatian Spirituality at Work with KIND Snacks CEO Mike Barkley Feb 05, 2020

One great thing about Ignatian spirituality is how practical it is: Faith isn’t a separate part of your life you observe only on Sundays. Instead, Jesuit tradition talks about finding and serving God in all things and places – including where you work. Mike Barkley is all about bringing Ignatian Spirituality into his everyday life. Mike is the CEO at KIND snacks, the company that makes those granola bars with the clear wrapper and rainbow logo you might pick up impulsively at Starbucks. Mike is an alum of St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, and in recent years he has really worked at growing his faith in a bunch of ways, including the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius. In his conversation with host Mike Jordan Laskey (who used to be the youth minister at the Barkley family parish), Mike talks about how he has used Ignatian tools to discern big family and career choices, plus how a character from Star Wars helped him completely re-frame his approach as a manager. Subscribe to AMDG on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Speaking Up for the Unborn: The 2020 Ignatian Mass for Life Jan 29, 2020

Last week, hundreds of students from Jesuit high schools and colleges from around the country came to Washington, DC, to speak up for the unborn at the March for Life. Before the march, they gathered at Holy Trinity Church in Georgetown for the Ignatian Mass for Life, with the Jesuit Conference president Fr. Tim Kesicki, SJ, presiding. Host Mike Jordan Laskey talked to six of the attendees about why they showed up and why our Jesuit values drive us to protect human life and work for justice for all.

How Fr. Steve Katsouros, SJ, is Transforming Jesuit Higher Education Jan 22, 2020

How do we ensure that Jesuit higher education is accessible to everyone? The cost of college tuition has been in the news lately—and on the presidential debate stage. Guest Fr. Steve Katsouros, SJ, is the founder of the innovative Arrupe College at Loyola University Chicago, the first Jesuit community college in the world. He is preparing to expand the Arrupe College model nationwide. In this episode, he shares with guest host Eric Clayton some reflections from his last six years. What’s worked, what’s been challenging, and what continues to get him out of bed in the morning. If you like what you hear at AMDG, give us a like and tell your friends.

An Ignatian Examen for MLK Day Jan 16, 2020

On January 20, 2020, the United States celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Dr. King is so often remembered for his dream of racial equality, so eloquently articulated in his speeches and letters. But, as my guest today, Dr. Nicholas Mitchell of the Jesuit Social Research Institute, reminds us, Dr. King’s legacy is one that calls us to continue challenging the status quo, to live as radically as he did. From #BlackLivesMatter to prison reform, Dr. King’s dream remains, in many ways, just that: a dream that demands action, commitment and change. Dr. Mitchell reflects on King’s legacy for us as Catholics and members of Jesuit institutions. Dr. Mithcell is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He earned his bachelors and master’s degrees in history and his Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Louisiana State University. Over the last 9 years, he has served as a teacher in both the public and private school systems, in the community college system, and at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and is a trained community organizer. In 2016, he became a fellow at the Jesuit Social Research Institute with a special focus on race and racism. As we reflect on the legacy of Dr. King and the ongoing scourge race and racism in our country, I encourage each of us to return to that most Ignatian of prayers: the Examen. Let us ask God to reveal where in our daily lives we have ignored or enabled racism, where we are blinded by our privilege, and where we need to ask forgiveness.

Baltimore's Legacy of Jesuit Education: A Conversation with Fr. Bill Watters, SJ Jan 08, 2020

A Jesuit vocation can mean a lot of things: there are Jesuits in medicine, astronomy, international relief and development, journalism, publishing and so much more. But perhaps the line of work most often associated with Jesuits is education. Fr. Bill Watters is passionate about education—and he’s my guest today. Fr. Watters knows the value an education can have on an individual and a community. And he’s spent a good number of years expanding the educational opportunities available to young people by founding schools in the varied and diverse communities in Baltimore, Maryland. Fr. Watters has been a priest for more than 50 years, and he shares, here, reflections and stories from the many people he’s encountered over that time. His memory for people—their names, their faces, their stories—constantly amazes me. It’s one of the reasons he was such a beloved pastor of St. Ignatius Church in Downtown Baltimore, transforming the parish from a struggling institution on the verge of closure to the vibrant community it is today.

Ignatian Tips for 2020 Resolutions with Spiritual Author Vinita Wright Jan 01, 2020

January 1 is a day of resolutions, promises, and commitments to form better habits, get back into shape, pick up an old hobby. January 17—more or less—is when all of those commitments begin to fade, and we look accusingly at that new gym membership. New Years resolutions can feel like we’re set up to fail, set up for disappointment. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Today’s guest, Vinita Wright, is a spiritual author and spiritual director, a retreat facilitator and the managing editor at Loyola Press in the trade books department. She’s written fiction and non-fiction, and shares some insights and reflections from her life as a writer that can help us create better habits—and look at the process of creating those habits from a place of love and self-worth, rather than frustration. Vinita is also a student and practitioner of Ignatian Spirituality, so you can bet we spent a good deal of time exploring how St. Ignatius’ insights can help us all as we begin this new year. (Here’s a hint: it has to do with contemplation and action.) Please remember to subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts, and don’t forget to leave us a nice review.

Holy Families Are Still On The Move: A Christmas Conversation with Joan Rosenhauer of JRS/USA Dec 25, 2019

There’s a lot of movement in Scripture during this Christmas season. God comes among humanity through the Incarnation. The Holy Family travels to Bethlehem for a census and then flees to Egypt under threat of death. The shepherds and magi travel varying distances to be present to and encounter God. Scripture isn’t just a historical retelling of holy events—it’s alive and speaking to us today. And when we reflect on all of these stories where we see God’s people on the move, we can’t help but think about the enormous numbers of people on the move today, forced to flee their homes due to violence, lack of opportunity, or environmental destruction. So, for this Christmas episode, we turn to someone who is always thinking about issues impacting God’s people on the move: Joan Rosenhauer, Executive Director of Jesuit Refuge Service/USA. In this role, Joan leads the organization’s efforts in the U.S. to fulfill its mission to accompany, serve, and advocate for refugees and displaced people. As a member of JRS’s global Senior Leadership Team, she also helps lead JRS’s global operations. Joan has a long and impressive career at the crossroads of faith and justice. She was the Executive Vice President of Catholic Relief Services, spent 16 years with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as associate director of the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development, and has degrees in social work and public policy management. Today’s episode may not put you in the Christmas spirit in the traditional sense—tidings of comfort and joy and all that—but it will remind you what Christ’s coming points to: a reordering of relationships to bring about God’s justice and peace. Don’t forget: if you like what you hear on AMDG: tell your friends, subscribe and leave us a nice comment.

The Gospel According to Star Wars: Fr. Jim McDermott, SJ, On Faith, Compassion & Hope Dec 18, 2019

This is the podcast you're looking for. Full disclosure on today’s episode: it’s a deep dive into the cultural and spiritual impacts of Star Wars — just in time for the release of the latest and final installment, The Rise of Skywalker. And it’s a real opportunity to find God in all things. Fr. Jim McDermott, SJ, is a big Star Wars nerd. He’s a screenwriter and the Los Angeles correspondent for America Magazine, and he writes a weekly newsletter about pop culture and spirituality called Pop Culture Spirit Wow. And, naturally, he’s done a lot of writing, reading and thinking about Star Wars. This conversation on Star Wars isn’t really just about Star Wars. We’re talking here about the nature of forgiveness and redemption, the impacts of structural sin and violence and the role stories play in our understanding of spirituality. You should have a good feeling about this. Subscribe — or subscribe not — to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts. And if you think this is the Baby Yoda of podcasts, then don’t forget to leave us a nice review.

El Salvador's Long Road to Justice: A Conversation with Almudena Bernabeu Dec 11, 2019

The Prophet Habakkuk writes: “For the vision is a witness for the appointed time, a testimony to the end; it will not disappoint. If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late.” Perhaps more familiar to listeners, though, are the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” Waiting — particularly during this time of Advent — is a frustrating, if familiar, aspect of faith. Waiting for justice, all the more so. But, as our Advent prayer likely reveals, we are called to be contemplative and active; we do not waiting passively. God invites us to have a hand in bringing about this reign of justice. This episode challenges listeners to reflect on the call to active waiting, to participation in the works of justice. Caitlin-Marie Ward, senior advisor on migration in the Jesuit Conference's Office of Justice and Ecology, talks with Almudena Bernabeu about the long, painstaking journey she has undergone to bring some semblance of justice to those killed during the bitter civil war in El Salvador. Bernabeu is a renowned international lawyer with a long career in the fields of Transitional Justice and International Criminal and Human Rights Law. She led the investigation and prosecution of the massacre of the six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter at the University of Central America in El Salvador by members of the Salvadoran army during that country's civil war. It’s a timely conversation, as November 2019 marked the 30th anniversary of their murders. Please remember to subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts.

Scarred, Sacred Space: Ministry in Lebanon with Fr. Dan Corrou, SJ Dec 04, 2019

A few weeks ago, the Jesuit Dan Corrou went to Mass like any other Sunday. But the setting was far from ordinary. The Mass was being held in the Church of St. Vincent de Paul in Beirut, Lebanon, which was bombed out during Lebanon’s civil war about 40 years ago. Fr. Dan was so struck by the image of a community praying together in the largely destroyed church that he snapped a picture and posted it to Facebook, where it spread quickly. In the photo, the church is full, with a bishop presiding and a number of priests concelebrating. A choir of young people fills the corner of the sanctuary. The walls and ceiling of the church are blackened, the roof is pretty much gone, and twisted steel bars poke out of damaged concrete. Chunks of tile are missing from the walls. The church was never repaired, and has been largely unused for decades, but recently it has served as the setting for special prayers for peace and justice amid national unrest. The Mass Fr. Dan photographed was happening as peaceful protests for government reforms filled the streets just beyond the church walls. The picture is such a striking image of where the Jesuits are called to be: on the margins of society, preaching the Gospel and promoting social justice. Fr. Dan talks with Mike about how his vocation has taken him from New York to his ministry in Beiruit, where he works with Jesuit Refugee Services and with a community of Jesuits in studies.

A Disposition, Not Just A Holiday: Dr. Monica Bartlett on Thanksgiving Nov 27, 2019

Thanksgiving is the time each year when we, as a family, a community, a country, express, well, thankfulness—often, as a prerequisite to indulging in mashed potatoes, turkey and pie. But our guest today reminds us that gratitude isn’t something to confine to late November; it’s a powerful disposition that can transform our relationship—with ourselves, our neighbors, and even with God. Dr. Monica Bartlett is a gratitude expert. She’s an associate professor and chair of the psychology department at Gonzaga University. She received her PhD in social psychology from Northeastern University, and now runs the Positive Emotion and Social Behavior Lab at Gonzaga where she examines how specific emotions influence relationship building and personal well-being outcomes. Much of her work has focused on the emotion gratitude and its role in shaping our relationships with others. Dr. Bartlett teaches Social Psychology, Psychology of Poverty and Social Class, and Human Flourishing. Gratitude, empathy and kindness feel in short supply these days—but Dr. Bartlett has some easy, daily habits that we can cultivate to inject these virtues back into our everyday routines—and national discourse. Please remember to subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts.

Finding God in Twitter: Colin Crowell Applies Jesuit Education to Social Media Nov 20, 2019

Twitter is a huge social media service with over 300 million active users, including one very active user with a high profile who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington. President Trump’s controversial Twitter use is a constant reminder that Twitter impacts politics, economics, and social movements around the world. In addition to being the president’s preferred mode for communicating with the public, Twitter has been the main platform of choice for movements like Black Lives Matter and MeToo. There are also important questions about Twitter’s role in our discourse, as its openness as a platform can lead to harassment and bullying. And the constant stream of information it provides can keep us glued to our phones, even at the dinner table. Today’s guest is a great person to talk to about all of these issues. Colin Crowell is the head of Public Policy, Government, & Corporate Philanthropy for Twitter. After graduating from Boston College in the late 1980s, Colin spent three years in Peru as part of a Jesuit-run mission project, and these Jesuit roots pointed him on a career path of working to make sure all people have open access to telecom and technology services. Today’s interview is in two parts. Right after recording the interview, Twitter announced that it would be banning political advertisements on its platform, so Colin called back in to share some thoughts on this latest development. Be sure to stay tuned all the way to the end. Don’t forget to subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts, and leave us a nice review on iTunes.

Prize-Winning Filmmaker Fr. Mark Bosco, SJ, Wants You to Read Flannery O'Connor Nov 13, 2019

When the documentary filmmaker Ken Burns thinks you’ve made a movie about author Flannery O’Connor worthy of a $200,000 prize awarded in his name, you’re doing pretty well. And when that movie is the first film you have ever made in your life, you’re doing REALLY well. That’s the surprising story of guest Fr. Mark Bosco, SJ, who is the vice president for mission and ministry at Georgetown University, a scholar of British and American Catholic literature, and, as of this autumn, a prize-winning filmmaker. Years ago, Fr. Bosco was given a collection of archival video recordings which featured interviews of some of Flannery O’Connor’s friends, who is a truly original and indispensable voice in the canon of American literature. Fr. Bosco wanted to share the interviews with the world, but didn’t know the best way to do it. So he connected with Elizabeth Coffman, a documentary filmmaker and professor at Loyola University Chicago, and they partnered to bring the film to life. Fr. Bosco and host Mike Jordan Laskey talked about how the movie came into being, what the prize will help the filmmakers do, and why Flannery O’Connor is worth reading and studying today.

Fr. Sean Carroll, SJ, is Welcoming Migrants on the US/Mexico Border Oct 30, 2019

There are not many areas of the country that are discussed by more ill-informed talking heads than the US-Mexico border. But when guest Fr. Sean Carroll, SJ, talks about the region, everyone should listen. Fr. Carroll is a Jesuit priest and the executive director of the Kino Border Initiative (KBI), where he has worked for the past 11 years. KBI is a bi-national organization co-sponsored by the Jesuits and other Catholic collaborators that has facilities in Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, two cities that share a name and a national boundary. KBI serves immediate needs of migrants who are passing between the two countries, they advocate for more just immigration laws and policies, and they welcome groups from all over the United States to learn about the realities people are facing on the border. During his trip to Washington to meet with the acting secretary of homeland security earlier this month, Fr. Carroll told host Mike Jordan Laskey about how things have changed at the border over the past decade and how his vocation as a Jesuit priest fits perfectly into the mission of welcoming and supporting migrants. Kino Border Initiative: https://www.kinoborderinitiative.org/ Jesuits call for increased advocacy on behalf of migrants: http://jesuitmigrantsolidarity.org/

Fr. James Martin, SJ, on the Daily Examen and His Audience with Pope Francis Oct 23, 2019

You might think of this penultimate week in October as the time to buy Halloween candy before the good stuff is gone, but here at the Jesuit Conference we are celebrating the first-ever #ExamenWeek: We’re taking a few days to feature the daily examen prayer practice, a signature element of Ignatian spirituality that Jesuits have been praying since the days of St. Ignatius himself. The daily examen is a practical, contemplative prayer tradition that helps people find God amid their day-to-day experiences, and you don’t have to be a Jesuit to try it. Our guest is Fr. Jim Martin, the widely published Jesuit priest, social media evangelizer and the host of a daily examen podcast produced by America Media. He’s been a Jesuit for 30 years, which is almost 11,000 daily examens, so it’s safe to say he’s an expert on the topic. Fr. Jim also talked to host Mike Jordan Laskey about his recent visit to Rome, where Fr. Jim had a private audience with Pope Francis to discuss his ministry of welcome to LGBT people. Be sure to check out #ExamenWeek on social media for more great resources to help you incorporate the daily examen into your own life. The Examen with Fr. James Martin, SJ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-examen-with-fr-james-martin-sj/id1346804716

Baseball and the Spiritual Life with Fr. Scott Santarosa, SJ Oct 16, 2019

Fr. Scott Santarosa, SJ, is the provincial superior of the Jesuits West Province of the United States. In English, that means he leads the Jesuits in the territory encompassing the ten westernmost states of the union. Even more importantly, at least for our purposes on this episode, Fr. Santarosa is a die-hard Los Angeles Dodgers fan and a borderline baseball obsessive. When Fr. Santarosa talked with host and Yankees fan Mike Jordan Laskey talked recently, both teams were still alive with a shot to reach the world series, but the Dodgers were eliminated by the Washington Nationals a couple days later, so our deepest apologies to Scott for jinxing his team. Fr. Santarosa and Mike chat about modern developments in the game and why the Jesuit thinks baseball is a road to God. Finally, Fr. Santarosa talked just a bit about, well, you know, his actual work and what he was doing with his fellow provincials in Washington, DC, recently. Please remember to subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts, and don’t forget to leave us a nice review on iTunes.

World Day Against the Death Penalty with Fr. George Williams, SJ, and Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy Oct 09, 2019

The United States is sadly unique among developed Western countries in that we still regularly execute people. And capital punishment has been in the political headlines lately, if perhaps overshadowed by other hot-button topics. In July, the Trump Administration announced it would be reinstating federal executions, which have been on hold since 2003. Just a few months earlier, California governor Gavin Newsom went in the opposite direction, suspending the death penalty in his state, even dismantling the death chamber at San Quentin State Prison, the largest death row in the United States. Going back to the summer of 2018, Pope Francis made news when he announced the Catechism of the Catholic Church would be revised to no longer allow for the death penalty in any circumstance. Thursday, October 10 is the World Day Against the Death Penalty, and our two guests are some of the most dedicated leaders in the faith-based movement against capital punishment: Krisanne Vaillancourt-Murphy is the executive director of the Catholic Mobilizing Network, which is celebrating ten years of organizing Catholics to stand against the death penalty and to support restorative justice efforts. Fr. George Williams, SJ, is a Jesuit priest and the chaplain at San Quentin State Prison, where he provides spiritual support to death row inmates. Host Mike Jordan Laskey talks to them both about all the death penalty headlines and how people of faith can get involved in the work. Don’t forget to subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts, and please leave us a nice review on iTunes. Catholic Mobilizing Network: https://catholicsmobilizing.org Fr. George Williams, SJ: https://jesuits.org/story?tn=project-2015021

Talking Church Councils Plus the Jesuit Novitiate Circa 1946 with Fr. John O'Malley, SJ Sep 25, 2019

Fr. John O’Malley joined the Jesuits in 1946, right after World War II and more than a decade before the second Vatican council was announced. You could say he’s seen a lot of change in his 92 years, but that would be a massive understatement. Fr. O’Malley looks at this era of upheaval with a historian’s eye, and he was quick to point out in his recent conversation with host Mike Jordan Laskey that no period in our church’s 2000 year history has been smooth sailing. Fr. O’Malley is the University Professor of Theology at Georgetown, where he specializes in church councils, among other topics. He has just released his 12th book, titled “When Bishops Meet.” In the book, he looks at big questions about church doctrine and structure and traces how they were handled at the Council of Trent, Vatican I and Vatican II. Fr. O'Malley and Mike talk about the book and a recent essay by Fr. O’Malley about his years in the Jesuit novitiate. As you’ll see, Fr. O’Malley is a delightful conversation partner. Please remember to subscribe to AMDG on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you listen, and leave us a nice review on iTunes. "When Bishops Meet": https://www.amazon.com/When-Bishops-Meet-Comparing-Vatican/dp/0674988418 Fr. O'Malley's essay on the novitiate (available as PDF): https://ejournals.bc.edu/index.php/jesuit/article/view/11557

Drafting Saints with Fr. Paddy Gilger and Fr. Eric Sundrup Sep 11, 2019

Jesuit priests Fr. Paddy Gilger and Fr. Eric Sundrup are the hosts of a wonderful new YouTube show called "Jesuit Autocomplete" from America Media. In each episode, Paddy and Eric answer a different set of Google’s most popular questions about Jesuits, the Bible, Pope Francis, and more. After talking about the series, host Mike Jordan Laskey and Paddy and Eric draft teams of five saints each in an NBA-style selection process. You'll have to judge for yourself who ended up with the best team, but when it comes to saints, there are no bad choices. Thanks for subscribing to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you’re feeling generous, please leave us a nice review on iTunes. Watch "Jesuit Autocomplete" at America Media's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/americamedia

Marquette President Mike Lovell Wants the University to Help Heal Brokenness Sep 04, 2019

This is our second of two episodes with a university president as we celebrate the beginning of the academic year. Be sure to check out our last conversation with President Tania Tetlow from Loyola University New Orleans. Today, we welcome Dr. Mike Lovell, the president of Marquette University in Milwaukee. Like President Tetlow at Loyola, Dr. Lovell is the first-ever layperson to serve as president of Marquette. A man of deep faith, he shares the story of prayerfully discerning the call to accept the pressure-packed position. Dr. Lovell is an engineer and an inventor by trade, but one of his biggest passions in higher ed is working to address childhood trauma and the intergenerational cycle of poverty. Host Mike Jordan Laskey talks with Dr. Lovell about that important work and how a university can be both responsive to trauma and committed to academic freedom. Dr. Lovell also describes what it’s like to be in a cage underwater surrounded by hungry sharks, so listen for that. Please subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen, and if you’d be so kind, leave us a nice review on Apple Podcasts.

President Tania Tetlow is Blazing a Trail at Loyola University New Orleans Aug 28, 2019

Tania Tetlow is a trailblazer. She is the first female president in the history of Loyola University New Orleans. She is the first layperson to serve in that role. And her first job was working for Representative Lindy Boggs, who was the first woman to represent the state of Louisiana in Congress. As President Tetlow’s second academic year in leadership gets underway this month, host Mike Jordan Laskey asked her about the challenges Loyola New Orleans is facing and what makes the university special. She describes unique career path from federal prosecutor to university president and how Loyola draws on its diversity as a major source of strength. And stay tuned until the end for our 20 Questions segment, when President Tetlow reveals what she’d say to Pope Francis if she only had time for one sentence. Please subscribe to the show wherever you listen, and if you could, leave us a nice review on Apple Podcasts. America Magazine story by Cokie Roberts mentioned in the interview: https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2019/06/14/how-my-mother-helped-mentor-first-female-president-loyola-university

Sister Jean Reflects on Her 100th Birthday Aug 21, 2019

Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM, took the world by storm as the chaplain for the 2018 Loyola Chicago Final Four men's basketball team. She turns 100 on Wednesday, August 21! In this conversation with host Mike Jordan Laskey and guest host Deanna Howes Spiro of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, Sr. Jean reflects on turning 100, her instant rise to fame last year, and what advice she might offer new college students starting this fall.

Why this Jesuit Swam Six Miles (!) with Very Little Training Aug 12, 2019

Last month, Matt Wooters, a Jesuit brother from the Midwest Province, decided he was going to try and swim six miles for a birthday fundraiser benefiting the immigration legal aid group RAICES. The only problem was he only had a few weeks to train and it’s not like he was doing long-distance swims all the time. But as Brother Matt is wont to do, he just went for it. His effort struck a cord, and the the fundraiser blew up on social media. With an original goal of $1000, he blew past that right away and ended up raising over $23,000 for RAICES. Host Mike Jordan Laskey chats with Matt to ask him about the swim, his thoughts on why he thinks the fundraiser did so well, and how his experience working with immigrant families has affected his view of our political discourse around migration. Matt was also the first participant in a new segment on the show, which we’re calling 20 Questions, so stay tuned for that at the end of the episode. As we continue to grow here at AMDG, we’d really appreciate it if you could leave us a nice review on iTunes, subscribe to the show wherever you listen, and tell your friends and family about it.

Here I Am, Lord: 50 Years of Music with the St. Louis Jesuits Aug 05, 2019

If you’ve been to Catholic Mass in the United States at some point over the past few decades, you’ve probably sung at least one piece of music by a group of five composers called the St. Louis Jesuits. Here, I’ll quiz you. How many of these song titles do you recognize? Be Not Afraid. Here I Am, Lord. Come to the Water. City of God. One Bread, One Body. Lift Up Your Hearts. Though the Mountains May Fall. I bet you’re humming at least one of them already. While the St. Louis Jesuits have gone their separate ways over the years, all writing and playing music independently, they are reuniting in September for one final concert together – a 50th anniversary celebration of their partnership. Host Mike Jordan Laskey spoke with two of the members of the group, Fr. Roc O’Connor, SJ, and Dan Schutte, about five of the group’s greatest compositions, one by each member, and had a lot of fun walking down memory lane.

Malcolm Gladwell on Thinking Like a Jesuit Jul 18, 2019

When best-selling author and public intellectual Malcolm Gladwell announced he was doing a three-part podcast on thinking like a Jesuit, we had to learn more. Host Mike Jordan Laskey chats with Malcolm about the origins of the series, what surprised him in his deep dive into Jesuit moral reasoning, and why most every modern political problem could use a dose of St. Ignatius. This is the first official episode of AMDG, a new podcast from the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Please subscribe and tell your friends! Connect with us at jesuits.org.

How World Cup Soccer is a Source of Solidarity and Spiritual Growth Jun 24, 2019

The Women’s World Cup is in full swing in France, with more elite teams vying for the championship than ever before. One of the biggest soccer fans around is Pope Francis, who recently said that sports “can foster a culture of dialogue and respectful encounters.” We wanted to use the occasion of the World Cup to dig into the spiritual and character-building dimensions of sports, so our guests are two people who have been connected to the game of soccer for four or five decades between them: Shannon Hartinger is the girls' varsity soccer coach at Loyola Academy, a Jesuit high school in in Wilmette, Illinois. She played in college at North Carolina State University, where she was a two-time captain and an all-conference scholar-athlete. James Millikan, SJ, is a Jesuit in formation who is studying philosophy, social sciences and math at ITESO, the Jesuit University of Guadalajara in Mexico. James played goalkeeper at Whitman College in Washington State and has also coached high school soccer.

World Refugee Day: Fighting for Justice with Giulia McPherson of Jesuit Refugee Service Jun 17, 2019

Every minute, 24 people are forced to leave their home because of war, persecution or violence. Experts estimate that there are more people who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict than at any other point since World War II. We are in midst of a global refugee crisis. In over 50 countries where the crisis is the worst, the Jesuits are there. Jesuit Refugee Service, which was founded in 1980 by then-Jesuit superior general Pedro Arrupe, serves over 640,000 people around the world each year. June 20 is World Refugee Day, which is celebrated annually to lift up refugees and raise awareness of the challenges they face. Our guest is Giulia McPherson, the director of advocacy and operations for Jesuit Refugee Service USA, who shares about JRS' work and how we can get involved in support of their incredible mission. Connect with JRS: https://www.jrsusa.org/ Giulia's bio: https://www.jrsusa.org/about-us/our-team/#giulia Produced by the Office of Communications and Vocation Promotion of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Hosted by Mike Jordan Laskey. Edited by Marcus Bleech. Theme music by Kevin Laskey.

An atheist went on a Buddhist retreat and wound up a Jesuit priest Jun 06, 2019

If you had met Fr. Ted Penton, SJ, right before turn of the millennium and told him he’d be ordained a Jesuit priest in 2019, he wouldn’t have believed you. Ted was an atheist when he decided to go on a retreat at a Buddhist monastery in Thailand while traveling after college. His experience there changed everything, and led him on a path back to the Catholic Church, the spiritual home of his childhood. Fr. Ted is one of the newest Jesuit priests in the world. He ordination was just a few weeks ago in Toronto, one of the 22 Jesuits set to be ordained to the priesthood this year. In this conversation with host Mike Jordan Laskey, Ted opens up about his faith journey, his ordination, and how he went about writing the homily for his first Mass as the presider when the Gospel for the day wasn’t his all-time favorite passage.

What the biblical prophets might think of Amazon with Br. Joe Hoover, SJ May 01, 2019

As my wife would tell you, I am a compulsive Amazon shopper. A few taps of my thumb and voila – diapers or granola bars or a massaging seat cover for the car show up at our house two days later. I wish I wasn’t so bad at this, because I know Amazon is not a great company, to put it mildly. Their CEO Jeff Bezos is the richest man in the world and his lowest-paid employees barely make $30,000 a year while facing some pretty tough working conditions in Amazon warehouses. What I am supposed to do with this cognitive dissonance? What wisdom does our faith have to offer in this age of mammoth CEO salaries and truly unfathomable wealth disparity? Joe Hoover, a Jesuit brother, writer, actor, and poetry editor for America Magazine in New York, tackles those questions and more in a recent piece for America titled “If Jeff Bezos wants to be ‘disruptive’, he should listen to biblical prophets.” Brother Joe joined me to talk about the piece and also his vocation as a Jesuit brother in honor of Religious Brothers Day, which is May 1. Read his piece here: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/04/24/if-jeff-bezos-wants-be-disruptive-he-should-listen-biblical-prophets

Processing the Notre-Dame Fire with Architecture Professor Fr. Gilbert Sunghera, SJ Apr 17, 2019

On Monday afternoon here on the East Coast, the horrifying photos and videos began to pour in: the Notre-Dame Cathedral was on fire. The international outpouring of sorrow and compassion was immediate, even among people who've never been to the cathedral. Why? What does a great cathedral mean to us -- even in this secular age? Our guest Fr. Gilbert Sunghera, SJ, is a Jesuit priest who was trained in architecture and now serves as an associate professor of architecture at the University of Detroit Mercy. He talks about the roles a cathedral like Notre-Dame plays in our culture, our common hunger for beauty, and more.

Pope Francis' "Christus Vivit" and Drafting Books of the Bible with Fr. Michael Rossmann, SJ Apr 11, 2019

Host Mike Jordan Laskey chats with his former college roommate, Fr. Michael Rossmann, SJ, about Fr. Michael's vocation promotion ministry, Pope Francis' new letter on young people and the church, and they take turns drafting books of the Bible, assembling Scriptural super-teams of five books apiece. (It's like the NFL Draft but way more fun.)

Fr. Pedro Arrupe is on the Path to Sainthood Apr 03, 2019

This past winter, the cause for sainthood for Fr. Pedro Arrupe was officially opened in Rome. Fr. Arrupe served as the Jesuits’ superior general from 1965 to 1983, right in the middle of the huge changes in the church caused by the Second Vatican Council. He’s sometimes called the “second founder” of the Jesuits because so much of what he emphasized continues to characterize the Society of Jesus today. Fr. Tim Kesicki, SJ, President of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, reflects on the legacy of this beloved leader who’s moving toward canonization.

Six Years of Pope Francis with Fr. Tim Kesicki, SJ Mar 13, 2019

Six years ago this week, an Argentinian Jesuit named Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected Pope. That's a pretty good chunk of time to get your priorities in motion. Fr. Tim Kesicki, SJ, president of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, sat down with host Mike Jordan Laskey to talk about Pope Francis' leadership and vision. Plus, Fr. Tim shares what the Holy Father told him when they met a few years ago and talks about the importance of the annual retreat Jesuits take, which Pope Francis is on this week.

Being a Jesuit in Japan with Fr. Jody Magtoto, SJ Feb 06, 2019

February 6 is the Feast of St. Paul Miki and Companions. Paul Miki was a Japanese Jesuit brother who was martyred with 25 other Catholics in Japan in 1597. Fr. Jody Magtoto, SJ, is a Filipino Jesuit missioned to Japan. He's spending a few months in the United States "interning" with the Jesuit Conference here in preparation for launching a communications office back in Japan. He shared a bit about St. Paul Miki and what it's like to be a Jesuit priest in a country less than 0.5% Catholic.

Fr. Jeremy Zipple, SJ on Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year Dec 19, 2018

"Justice" is Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year. What does that word mean to Jesuits? Mike Jordan Laskey from the Jesuit Conference called up Fr. Jeremy Zipple, SJ (https://twitter.com/jzipple), who's serving at St. Martin de Porres Parish and School in Belize. He offered some great insight into what it means to have a "faith that does justice." Learn more about Fr. Jeremy here: http://jesuits.org/story-details?TN=PROJECT-20130320034520&MTN=0748CD7A-E389-411E-B3EA-50C13761D85D

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