Jesuitical

Latest Episodes:

A parish priest’s approach to blessings for same-sex couples Jan 19, 2024

Show notes

On December 18, the Vatican’s doctrinal office released “Fiducia Supplicans,” a declaration that allowed priests to give simple or pastoral blessings to couples in irregular situations, including those in same-sex relationships. This week on “Jesuitical,” Father Alex Santora, pastor of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph parish in Hoboken, N.J., joins Zac and Ashley to explain how “Fiducia Supplicans” is being received in his parish.

They discuss:

- Father Santora’s reaction to “Fiducia Supplicans” and how he plans to discuss the declaration and enflesh it in his parish

- Taking a pastoral approach to complicated situations and accompanying people even when you have to tell them “no”

- The importance of listening in pastoral ministry

In an infernal Signs of the Times segment, Zac and Ashley cover Pope Francis’ recent comments that he hopes hell is empty, the subsequent criticisms from some Catholics, and why an empty hell might not be such a crazy idea, even if it’s not a dogma of faith. They also dive into a recent poll from Gallup on Pope Francis’ approval ratings in the U.S. (it is an election year, after all) and explore how our country’s ideological divides might impact our view of the pontiff.

After the interview, Ashley and Zac welcome another one of Jesuitical’s assistant producers, Delaney Coyne, to share about her experience as an O’Hare Fellow at America. She talks about how her love for social justice led her to apply to the fellowship, the work she does at America and finding God in disagreement. If you or someone you know might be interested in the O’Hare Fellowship the final deadline to apply is February 1, 2024. Apply here!

Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. Please email us if you plan to attend any of the events below at, jesuitical@americamedia.org

Jan 22: Vintage Brewing Company (Madison West) from 7-9 pm. Meet and greet with Zac and Ashley, over drinks! Location: 674 South Whitney Way, Madison, WI 53711

Jan. 23: St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Madison, Wisconsin. Mass at 5:30 pm followed by a live interview with Bishop Donald Hying on “Why we love the church” from 6:30-8:30pm.

Jan. 25: Loyola University Chicago (Ignatius House) in Chicago, IL. Live discussion with Patrick Gilger, S.J. on, “What the hell should I do with my life?: God, discernment and vocation outside the college bubble” from 7-9 p.m. Student Mass to follow at 9pm (Note: This event has limited capacity. Please RSVP to jesuitical@americamedia.org)

Feb. 28: Crystal City Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA Live interview with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on “A Listening Church in a Divided Nation” from 7-8 p.m. Reception to follow from 8-9 p.m. Please RSVP here.

March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with American TV Newscaster Carol Costello. Time and venue TBD.

Links from the show:

- The Editors: Vatican document on same-sex blessings does not confuse church teaching—it deepens it

- Pope Francis says he hopes hell is ‘empty’

- 58% of Americans, 77% of U.S. Catholics View Pope Favorably

What’s on tap?

White Claws

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The Bible passages that formed Pope Francis Jan 12, 2024

Show notes

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley welcome John Martens, a professor of theology and director of the Centre for Christian Engagement at St. Mark’s College at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver to shine a light on the Bible passages that have shaped Pope Francis’ papacy.

They discuss:

- How the Call of Matthew and the Parable of the Good Samaritan shape the pope’s view of a church that is a “field hospital” for sinners

- Debates over the connection between justice, truth and mercy

- Criticisms of Pope Francis’ approach, especially in the U.S. Church

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley cover a Vatican official’s recent call to reconsider mandatory priestly celibacy in the church. They also discuss Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, the head of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, who has come under fire for a book he wrote 25 years ago on spirituality and sensuality. And after the interview they welcome another friend to share about his faith: Michael O’Brien, one of America’s O’Hare Fellows who helps produce “Jesuitical.” He shares what drew him to the fellowship and how his post-grad year at America has enriched his faith. If you or someone you know might be interested in the O’Hare Fellowship the final deadline to apply is February 1, 2024. Apply here!

Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. Please email us if you plan to attend any of the events below at, jesuitical@americamedia.org

Jan 22: Vintage Brewing Company (Madison West) from 7-9 pm. Meet and greet with Zac and Ashley, over drinks! Location: 674 South Whitney Way, Madison, WI 53711

Jan. 23: St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Madison, Wisconsin. Mass at 5:30 pm followed by a live interview with Bishop Donald Hying on “Why we love the church” from 6:30-8:30pm.

Jan. 25: Loyola University Chicago (Ignatius House) in Chicago, IL. Live discussion with Patrick Gilger, S.J. on, “What the heck should I do with my life?: God, discernment and vocation outside the college bubble” from 7-9 p.m. Student Mass to follow at 9pm (Note: This event has limited capacity. Please RSVP to jesuitical@americamedia.org)

March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with American TV Newscaster Carol Costello. Time and venue TBD.

Links from the Show

Pope Francis’ focus on the Bible and mercy—and why so many Catholics are uncomfortable with it

Apply to the O’Hare Fellowship

RSVP to our event in Arlington, Virginia!

What’s on Tap?

New Fangled

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A Very Traditional, Jesuitical Christmas Dec 22, 2023

Show notes

Christmas is a time for traditions. From the quirky to the classic, every family has a favorite holiday movie, dish or custom. This week on Jesuitical, Zac and Ashley talk to four of their colleagues about their Advent and Christmas traditions—some old, some aspirational, some completely made up but all filled with the joy and anticipation of the season.

This is Jesuitical’s last episode of 2023—unless you become a member of the Patreon community. Next week, members will get a bonus mail-bag episode in their feeds. Zac and Ashley answer listener questions about the synod, the future of the parish and more. Sign up today!

Links from the show:

The perfect imperfections of the Nativity pageant, by Heather Trotta, vice president for advancement

What my mother’s Advent gift tradition taught me about the true meaning of giving, by Molly Cahill, associate editor

A (Midwestern) discussion about Advent traditions, by Joe Hoover, S.J., poetry editor

I love my Advent wreath. I just keep forgetting to light it, by Kerry Weber, executive editor

What’s on tap?

Prosecco with pomegranate seeds…and eggnog with orange Fanta

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Christmas in Bethlehem During a War Dec 15, 2023

Show notes

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley interview Stephanie Saldaña, the author of What We Remember Will Be Saved: A Story of Refugees and The Things They Carry. Stephanie lives with her family in Bethlehem, where the economy has long relied on tourism around Christmas time as Christian pilgrims flock to the site of Jesus’ birth. But as one might imagine with the war raging in Gaza, Advent in Bethlehem looks different this year. Stephanie helps the “Jesuitical” team to enter into that reality.

They discuss:

Stephanie’s experience on and after Oct. 7 as a Christian living in the West Bank
The challenges Bethlehem residents are facing during the war and how that’s impacted Advent celebrations
Stephanie’s spirituality and the importance of closeness amid these difficult times

In a funeral-focused Signs of the Times segment, Ashley and Zac get into Pope Francis’ recent announcement that he won’t be buried at the Vatican as well as recent Vatican guidelines about scattering ashes. They also talk about the recent lawsuit brought by a group of nuns against gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson. Plus, Zac shares his quibbles with this year’s liturgical calendar.

Links

What’s on tap?

Arak

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The mother of an Israeli hostage shares her son’s story with Pope Francis Dec 08, 2023

Show notes

On this week’s “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are honored to welcome Rachel Goldberg, the mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, one of the hostages taken into Gaza following Hamas’s massacre at the Nova music festival in Southern Israel on Oct. 7. In the weeks since Hersh and 240 other hostages were brutally kidnapped, Rachel has met with a host of people, including the pope and the president, to share her son’s story. She was gracious enough to bring that story to “Jesuitical,” and she and the hosts shared a moving conversation.

They discuss:

Rachel’s family life and Hersh’s passion for reading and adventure
The last time Rachel saw Hersh on Oct. 6 and her experience learning about the massacre on Oct. 7
Rachel’s meeting with Pope Francis and the power of dialogue in sustaining hope
How Rachel’s Jewish faith has been challenged and served as a source of strength in the wake of unthinkable tragedy

Support Jesuitical on Patreon or become a digital subscriber to America Media.

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The Catholics fighting for climate justice Dec 01, 2023

Show notes

Even though Pope Francis recently canceled his trip to Dubai for COP28 on doctor’s orders, the meeting still represents a huge initiative in Francis’ papacy; in “Laudate Deum,” Francis writes that the meeting has the potential to be “a historic event that honors and ennobles us as human beings” (“Laudate Deum,” No. 59). So Ashley and Zac welcomed Jose Aguto, the executive director of Catholic Climate Covenant, on this week’s episode of “Jesuitical” to discuss Catholic climate advocacy at this pivotal moment.

They discuss:

Pope Francis’ commitment to climate justice throughout his papacy
How Catholics should understand climate change as both a systemic and spiritual issue, and where we can find hope
The history and current state of climate action in the U.S. church

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley check in with Maggi Van Dorn, host of the “Hark!” podcast, which explores the meaning and making of our favorite Christmas carols. The first episode of season three, which came out on Sunday, dives into “O Holy Night” and features Greg Boyle, S.J. Maggi takes the “Jesuitical” team behind the scenes of “Hark!” production and helps to usher in the Advent season.

Links from the show:

What’s on tap?

(knock-off) Chartreuse

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How Pope Francis laid the groundwork for his papacy Nov 24, 2023

Show notes

Ten years ago, Pope Francis released his first papal document, “Evangelii Gaudium,” which lays out his vision for the church in the 21st century. To help break down this inaugural document of Francis’ papacy, Zac and Ashley welcome Rafael Luciani, an associate professor of practice at the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College.

They discuss:

Pope Francis’ call to “pastoral conversion” and “missionary discipleship”
How Pope Francis’ Latin American roots guide his vision for the church
The foundation for a synodal church put forth in “Evangelii Gaudium”

Links from the show:

Evangelii Gaudium

What’s on tap?

Wine from Mendoza, Argentina

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How a Southern Protestant learned to love Catholic social teaching Nov 17, 2023

Show notes

This week on Jesuitical, Zac and Ashley welcome Lee C. Camp, a professor of theology and ethics at Lipscomb University, the author of Scandalous Witness: A Little Political Manifesto for Christians and the host of “No Small Endeavor,” a podcast that explores what it means to live a good life.

They discuss:

Lee’s upbringing as a Protestant Christian in Alabama, and how his studies at the University of Notre Dame changed his views on the Catholic world
Moral theology and the value of asking, “What does it mean to live a good life?”
The importance of good, wholesome arguments in religious tradition

In Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac talk about Pope Francis’ controversial decision to remove Bishop Joseph Strickland from his duties overseeing the diocese of Tyler, Tex. They then discuss the U.S. bishops more broadly, focusing on this week’s U.S.C.C.B. meeting in Baltimore and the conflicting assessments of the U.S. church put forth by various leaders.

Links from the show:

What’s on tap?

Chimay Trappist ale

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The movement of lay people behind Pope Francis’ peace missions Nov 10, 2023

Show notes

How does a 25-year-old woman from Salt Lake City end up facilitating peace negotiations during a civil war in South Sudan? This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are joined by Elizabeth Boyle, an International Relations Officer in the Community of Sant’Egidio, a lay social movement of the Catholic Church whose mission focuses on three “P”s: “prayer, peace, and the poor.”

Zac and Ashley talk to Elizabeth about:

The journey that brought Elizabeth to peacebuilding and the work she’s doing with the Community of Sant’Egidio in Rome
What her work in South Sudan reveals about the challenges and possibilities of peacemaking
How Catholics (and the church) can integrate peace into their spirituality

In Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac discuss Pope Francis’ recent announcement that he would travel to Dubai to attend COP28. Then, they get into a most pressing issue facing the church: Sabrina Carpenter’s “Feather” music video, which caused an uproar after being filmed in the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Brooklyn.

Links from the show:

What’s on tap?

Lambrusco

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Synod on Synodality Debrief with Father James Martin Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

On this special crossover episode of Jesuitical and Inside the Vatican, Zac Davis speaks with his colleagues Gerard O’Connell, Sam Sawyer, S.J., and synod member James Martin, S.J., about the concluding document of the recent synod on synodality in Rome. They discuss:

The open debate about women’s ordination to the diaconate
Why reference to L.G.B.T. Catholics was not included in the synthesis document
What the synthesis document is and how it can be read and used widely
Was this really a synod of bishops?
Plus, new paths for appointing bishops and performance reviews

Links:

Support Jesuitical and Inside the Vatican by becoming a digital subscriber to America!

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