Jesuitical

Latest Episodes:

What is (and isn’t) the role of bishops in a synodal church? Oct 11, 2024

Show notes

While it might not generate as many headlines as women deacons or L.G.B.T. Catholics, the role of the bishops has emerged as one of the most prominent—and controversial—topics of the Synod on Synodality. Two of the 10 study groups established by Pope Francis are dedicated to bishops, and the pope used his opening address at the final session of the synod in Rome to defend his decision to include lay people as voting members in a Synod of Bishops.

Few people are better equipped to dig into questions around the role, qualifications and selection of bishops than Tom Reese, S.J., a senior analyst at Religion News Service and former editor in chief of America magazine. Tom has written several books about the history and structure of the episcopacy and has covered synods since the 1980s. Zac, Ashley and Sebastian talk to Tom about:

- How the process of choosing bishops has changed from the apostolic age to today

- The qualities we should look for in a bishop—holiness, theological smarts or administrative skill?

- How the role of bishops is being discussed and discerned at the synod

Zac and Ashley also share the tragic news that after a yearlong battle with cancer, friend and three-time guest Greg Hillis has passed away. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis defends giving women and lay men voting rights at synod
Read Tom Reese’s column
17 Schoolgirls Die In Rwanda Attack
Nukes, contemplation and vocation: An introduction to Thomas Merton for young Catholics, interview with Greg Hillis
Living like monks in quarantine, interview with Greg Hillis
Greg Hillis & Family Cancer Journey

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Women doing deacon-like ministry meet with Pope Francis Oct 09, 2024

Show notes

On the eve of the final session of the Synod on Synodality, a diverse group of women working in ministry at the margins of the church had the opportunity of a lifetime: a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican. They brought their stories of serving Indigenous communities, working to protect the planet and bringing the Gospel to the peripheries. Among this global delegation was Rosella Kinoshameg, who is from the Odawa/Ojibway people and lives in the Wikwemikong Unceded Reserve in Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada.

Zac and Ashley talk with Rosella about:

- Her experience in Canada’s residential schools, state- and church-sponsored institutions that sought to strip Indigenous children of the language, traditions and heritage

- Her work in the “Diocesan Order of Service,” a unique ministry that empowers mostly Indigenous women to serve their own communities through communion services, praying at funerals and wakes and ministering to the sick and dying

- What she makes of the conversation about women’s ministry at the synod

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley recap the latest news from Rome, including Pope Francis’ announcement that he will create 21 new cardinals; the pope’s letter to Catholics in the Middle East on the anniversary of Oct. 7; and what the synod delegates are discussing in the Paul VI Hall this week.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis names 21 new cardinals, including Timothy Radcliffe, O.P.

Pope Francis to Catholics in the Middle East: Thank you for being able to pray and love despite everything

Jesuitical’s synod coverage is sponsored in part by the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University.

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Our top 3 questions about the final session of the Synod on Synodality Oct 04, 2024

Show notes

Zac, Ashley and Sebastian are back in Rome to cover the second and final session of the Synod on Synodality, and who better to talk to about what to expect this month than Gerard O’Connell? America’s Vatican correspondent and co-host of the “Inside the Vatican” podcast, Gerry has covered every synod since 1985. Last year, the Jesuitical team spoke to Gerry about his career and why he considers this synod to be the most significant event in the life of the church since Vatican II. (Listen here!)

This year, Zac, Ashley and Sebastian bring their burning questions (and maybe a little synod skepticism) to Gerry for answers and analysis. They ask:

- Was it a mistake to relegate some of the “hot button” issues from last year’s synod to outside study groups?

- If most of the “hot button” issues are off the table, what are synod delegates going to discuss this year?

- What does it mean for the synod to “work”?

The team also gives a rundown of what’s happened at the synod so far: a two-day retreat for delegates, an unusual penitential service and the opening Mass, celebrated by Pope Francis.

Our Synod content is brought to you in part by the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University.

Links from the show:

From 2023: Everything you need to know about the Synod on Synodality

Women deacons, LGBT issues not on the agenda for October’s synod meeting

Vatican releases working document to guide October synod meeting

Father Radcliffe tells synod members: Don’t be driven by fear of the church changing—or staying the same

Interview: Timothy Radcliffe on how he prepares to give homilies—and preach to synod delegates

Synod opens with unusual penitential service: 7 cardinals ask for forgiveness for church’s sins

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Disagreements, friendships and learning to listen–young synod delegates share their experience Oct 02, 2024

Show notes

On this first episode from the second phase of the synod on synodality in Rome, Zac and Ashley introduce the highly anticipated gathering at the Vatican and introduce two of the youngest synod delegates who reflect on their life-changing experience.

Our Synod content this year is brought to you in part by the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University. Learn more at: https://www.scu.edu/jst/becoming/

Follow America's coverage of the synod, including daily synod diaries delivered right to your inbox by becoming a subscriber. Visit: americamagazine.org/subscribe

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Why the Synod on Synodality is working, with lay delegate Linda Staudt Sep 27, 2024

Show notes

On this week’s episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac share a “conversation in the Spirit” with Linda Staudt, a lay delegate from Canada who was selected to participate in the 2023 and 2024 Synod of Bishops for her extensive work in Catholic education and her involvement at the local, provincial, and national levels of the Canadian church. With her wealth of knowledge and experience, Linda has become a tireless evangelist for synodal listening at the grassroots level.

They discuss:

- Linda’s experience of being selected as one of seven lay delegates to the Synod on Synodality from North America, and her initial reaction to being chosen.

- The synodal process of listening, reflection, and discernment, and how it differs from traditional parliamentary-style meetings for its ability to reach and include the voices of those on the margins of the church.

- Linda’s advice for parishioners and clergy who are frustrated by a lack of synodal engagement in their diocese or parish.

Ashley, Zac, and the “Jesuitical” team join America’s “Inside the Vatican” team on their way to Rome to cover the 2024 Synod on Synodality. Great news: you can follow along from home! VisitAmericaMagazine.org/subscribeand you’ll get access to daily synod diaries along with our full coverage. If you have questions about the synod or topics about the Vatican you’d like us to cover during the synod, let us know! Send an email to jesuitical@americamedia.org

Links from the show:

Five things to watch for in the upcoming October synod

I listened to Synod delegates opposed to LGBTQ issues. Here are my responses.

Women deacons, LGBT issues not on the agenda for October’s synod meeting

Vatican II—and its media coverage—has a lesson for today’s synod: Don’t expect immediate results

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Vocations, voting and building virtuous community with Bishop Kevin Sweeney Sep 20, 2024

Show notes

This week on a live recording of “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley chat with Bishop Kevin Sweeney, the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. (and a “Jesuitical” superfan!), about his spiritual journey as a young priest on Sept. 11, 2001, and his transition to becoming a bishop during the Covid-19 pandemic. Bishop Sweeney cites his knowledge gained in hard times as the catalyst for his pastoral approach to fostering community in an evolving church.

They discuss:

- Bishop Sweeney’s own vocational journey, from considering professional baseball to embracing the priesthood and, later, the episcopacy.

- How modern vocations of both men and women emphasize the radical Gospel call to co-responsibility among the laity in the life of the church.

- Tangible ways that the church can help navigate the upcoming U.S. presidential election with a spirit of unity and respect.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss Pope Francis’ recent advice to Catholics voting in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, where he called both major candidates “against life” and framed the election as a vote for the “lesser evil”; and curious stories about incorruptibility—the divine intervention that allows the bodies of certain saints to completely or partially avoid decomposition after death as a sign of their holiness.

Links from the show:

I was a young New York priest on 9/11. The lessons of that day stay with me as a bishop.

Beyond The Beacon Podcast

Pope Francis: Trump and Harris are ‘both against life’ but Catholics must vote and choose ‘lesser evil’

Nun’s incorruptible remains highlight rich heritage of Black Catholics in U.S., say experts

Carmelites find St. Teresa of Ávila’s body still incorrupt over 400 years after her death

Become a Jesuitical Patron and get access to the recording of an exclusive synod Zoom event with James Martin, S.J., held on Thursday, Sept. 19

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Olympic gold medalist Nick Mead on rowing, religion and relationships Sep 13, 2024

Show notes

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley chat with gold medal-winning Olympic rower Nick Mead, who shares insights about being an Olympic athlete and praying with his team in Paris. Nick had the honor of being one of the two flag bearers at the 2024 closing ceremony (along with Catholic Olympic champion Katie Ledecky), and this fall, he’s preparing for his next win: a marriage in the Catholic Church.

They discuss:

How it felt to experience the excitement, camaraderie and faith sharing at the highest stage of athletic accomplishment
The training and sacrifices involved in being an Olympic athlete, including the intense conditioning schedule, the toll on relationships and the pressure to perform.
Nick’s religious background and experience with pre-marital counseling in the Catholic Church

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss Pope Francis’ recent trip to Asia and Oceania, including his stops in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Singapore; and a new short documentary produced by their colleague and producer Sebastian Gomes on the state of the question of women deacons in the Catholic Church, which is now published on YouTube. Watch here!

What’s on tap?

Gatorade

Links from the show:

Women Deacons and the Catholic Church | An Explainer
Pope Francis visits ‘the periphery of the peripheries’ in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea
Pope Francis celebrates Mass for nearly half the population of Timor Leste
Pope Francis in Singapore: visiting a small but influential Catholic Church
What does Pope Francis’ ‘no’ mean for the Catholic debate over women deacons?
Beyond The Beacon Podcast
Become a Jesuitical Patron and get access to an exclusive synod Zoom event with James Martin, S.J., on Thursday, Sept. 19, from 6-7 p.m. ET.

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In defense of young diocesan priests Sep 06, 2024

Show notes

In the first episode of season eight of “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley critique a general perception that younger priests are more conservative and rigid in their pastoral ministry. Joining them to discuss the countercultural decision to join the diocesan priesthood is the Rev. Wade Bass, a young priest who serves as pastoral administrator at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Allen, Tex., a suburb of Dallas.

They discuss:

- Father Wade’s call to the priesthood, experience in seminary and love of the liturgy

- The daily life and duties of young diocesan priests today, the joy and positive energy among younger priests, and the risks of loneliness and burnout

- The extent to which the ministry of these priests is—or is not—impacted by theological and ideological debates within the church

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss Pope Francis’ apostolic journey to Asia; a lawsuit from the Diocese of Paterson, N.J., over a new procedural change by the United States government regarding the processing of green cards for foreign-born priests; and the tragic execution by Hamas of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose mother, Rachel, appeared on Jesuitical in November 2023.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis begins the longest trip of his papacy yet despite age and mobility issues

Mother of a Gaza hostage on keeping faith after Oct. 7: ‘It doesn’t make sense. And I still believe.’

Diocese sues immigration agencies over rule change that could force thousands of foreign-born priests to leave

U.S. Catholics are more liberal. Young priests are more conservative. Can the synod help us overcome our divisions?

Why Pope Francis is worried about seminaries and young priests with ‘authoritarian attitudes’

Join Jesuitical for a live recording on Wednesday, Sept. 11 in Madison, New Jersey!

Become a Jesuitical Patron and get access to an exclusive synod Zoom event with James Martin, S.J., on Thursday, Sept. 19, from 6-7 p.m. ET.

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How the Enneagram can make you more merciful (and tolerable) Jun 28, 2024

Show notes

[CLICK HERE to complete the 2024 Jesuitical listener survey]

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley struggle to resist the temptation to “type” each other as they learn about the Enneagram from Liz Orr, a college chaplain who created the popular “Rude Ass Enneagram” Instagram account and authored the new book, “The Unfiltered Enneagram: A Witty and Wise Guide to Self-Compassion.”

They discuss:

Various personality types and how they relate to each other (including Zac and Ashley)

How we create defensive structures to protect our egos and what to do about it

What the Catholic Church as a community and institution can learn from the Enneagram about humble self-assessment

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss the developing news around Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganó, former nuncio to the United States, who has been formally charged with schism by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. They also preview the upcoming Jubilee year of hope and chart the pilgrimages and charitable works that will grant you an indulgence!

What’s on tap?

Spicy Margarita

Links:

Archbishop Viganó charged with schism by the Vatican, will face trial

Archbishop Viganò says he will not participate in Vatican schism trial

Rude Ass Enneagram Instagram account

The Unfiltered Enneagram: A Witty and Wise Guide to Self-Compassion

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The Jesuits sold 272 enslaved people. How can the church make amends with their descendents? Jun 21, 2024

Show notes

[CLICK HERE to complete the 2024 Jesuitical listener survey]

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are joined by journalist Rachel Swarns to discuss her latest book, The 272: The Families Who Were Enslaved and Sold to Build the American Catholic Church. Rachel shares her wisdom about this important issue for U.S. Catholics and her experience as a Black Catholic, opening up a wide-ranging conversation about the work being done to repair such a grave injustice and promote racial justice in the church.

They discuss:

The history of Catholic slaveholding and the Jesuits’ involvement in the slave trade

The sale of enslaved people by the Jesuits in 1838, its impact on families and the reunion of the descendants

The efforts of Georgetown University and the church to repair this injustice

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley cover Pope Francis’ recent meeting with comedians from around the world (and America’s editor at large, James Martin, S.J.). They then discuss the pope’s trip to the G7 in Italy and the concerns he raised in his speech about artificial intelligence. Lastly, they talk about recent polling from the Vinia Research Group that found that Catholics’ belief in the real presence in the Eucharist is higher than a 2019 report from the Pew Research Group would suggest.

What’s on tap?

Prosecco

Links from the show:

Pope Francis jokes with Colbert, Fallon, Conan, Whoopi, Chris Rock, Gaffigan and others at the Vatican

Pope Francis has private meeting with Joe Biden at G7 summit

New Study Suggests More Than Two-Thirds of Catholics Believe the Eucharist is Truly Jesus

Do most Catholics think the Eucharist is ‘just a symbol’? It’s complicated.

The 272: The Families Who Were Enslaved and Sold to Build the American Catholic Church by Rachel L. Swarns

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