S2 E4 - Evangelizing Young Adults and the Role of the Catechism with Pete Burak

Summary: In this episode, expert evangelist Julianne Stanz joins to talk about the challenges and importance of discussing the Ten Commandments in the context of evangelization. We also discuss insights from Julianne’s new book, The Catholic Parent’s Survival Guide, and what she learned from interviews with parents and teens about discussing moral teachings and the Ten Commandments. We discuss the role of apprenticeship and practical tips for parish catechists. Julianne emphasizes the importance of prayer, practical engagement, and acknowledging one's own limitations when discussing difficult topics.

Show Notes:

(00:00) In the opening of this episode, Julianne Stanz discusses the challenge of integrating the Ten Commandments into evangelization, emphasizing the need to present the fullness of the Gospel. Edmund and Julianne discuss the "believe, behave, belong" concept, explaining that belief and belonging precede behavior. Julianne highlights the nuanced approach required for different individuals, stressing the importance of acknowledging the commandments as guideposts for moral and natural law in fostering meaningful discussions, especially with teenagers.

(06:46) Julianne highlights the importance of presenting the Ten Commandments not merely as intellectual pursuits or behavior modification but as an invitation to experience God's life. She draws parallels to discipleship, emphasizing a close relationship with God. Edmund and Julianne discuss how young people may inadvertently make idols. Additionally, Julianne shares insights from young people's perspectives she learned through interviews and suggests using the Socratic method to foster meaningful conversations with children.

(13:09) The conversation delves into the challenges of discussing morality and the Ten Commandments, emphasizing the danger of presenting as experts in all aspects of the Church. The dialogue underscores the power of authenticity, suggesting that modeling vulnerability and engaging in the learning process together is more effective than perfect presentations. Julianne shares more insights from her research, highlighting the deep pain young people harbor regarding mental health and identity. She addresses the silent struggles and desire for face-to-face conversations young people experience. Parents express pressure to have everything figured out, while Stanz recommends simple traditions, like blessing children's shoes, as impactful ways to instill faith at home.

(21:02) Julianne advises catechists and parents not to fear presenting the Ten Commandments or facing tough questions. The discussion turns to authenticity, curiosity, and gradual teaching, emphasizing the Holy Spirit's role in evangelization. 

(28:08) The conclusion of the podcast directs listeners to explore additional resources and Julianne Stanz new book, A Survival Guide for Catholic Parents.

This episode is sponsored by Saint Meinrad. Click saintmeinrad.edu/OSV to learn more about Graduate Theology at Saint Meinrad Seminary & School of Theology. Laity and deacons are invited to inquire or apply. Pursue your MA or certificate in theology via
weekend and online offerings. 

An OSV Podcasts partner. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Summary: In this podcast episode, host Edmund Mitchell engages with Fr. Stephen Pullis, Director of Pastoral Formation, and a professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, to explore the nuances of grace in catechesis. They discuss the challenges of moving beyond traditional catechesis, emphasizing the need for lifelong discipleship. Fr. Pullis shares insights into integrating faith into daily life in a postmodern world, emphasizing both successes and mistakes.

The conversation delves into the intricate nature of grace, highlighting its dual aspects—God's aid and human merit. Father Pullis stresses that grace is God's freely given life to humanity, shaping the Christian narrative. The discussion explores the transformative power of grace, emphasizing Jesus as the primary actor in breaking into our lives.

The hosts express concerns about potential pitfalls, and Fr. Pullis provides tips on explaining grace to those new to the faith. They discuss the challenges of living out church teachings and address the heresy of Pelagianism and modern challenges like Neo-Pelagianism.

The podcast concludes with practical advice for catechists, emphasizing a balanced approach between God's initiative and human cooperation. Fr. Pullis encourages the use of saints as examples for translating beliefs into practical everyday life. The episode closes with a mention of Sacred Heart Major Seminary's online courses and an invitation for engagement on Real+True's YouTube channel.

This episode is sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association 2024 Convention. To learn more visit: https://ncea.org/NCEA2024 

An OSV Podcasts partner. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

In this podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Scott Sollom to discuss better catechesis through the lens of the theological virtues. We focus on Dr. Sollom’s publication in the book “Speaking the Truth in Love”, in which he wrote a chapter titled: The Theological Virtues in Catechesis: Faith, Hope and Charity in the Pedagogy of the Catechism and the Life of the Catechumen. Dr. Scott Sollom is a professor of theology and the Director of the Catechetics Office and Director of the Catechetical Institute at Fransican University. Dr. Scott Sollom has worked in the field of evangelization and catechesis for 25 years, including parishes, dioceses, and schools.

(00:00) Edmund introduces Dr. Scott Sollom and the topic of the theological virtues and their relation to catechesis. Dr. Sollom emphasizes the importance of the theological virtues (faith, hope, and charity) in guiding the goal of catechesis. The conversation explores practical ways to connect theological virtues with various aspects of teaching, especially the when explaining the “Life in Christ” we’re called to. Additionally, Dr. Sollom uses specific doctrines as examples, such as Mary's assumption, in addressing fundamental human questions. The theological virtues are a way for catechesis to answer deep questions of the human heart, fostering growth in faith, hope, and charity.

(16:34) The discussion revolves around the significance of the catechumenate and what we all can learn from OCIA (Order of Catechumens in the Initiation of Adults). The analogy of building a fire and the stages of a relationship, such as courtship leading to marriage, is used to illustrate the process of catechesis – slow and in stages.  The catechumenate is described as a period of systematic and comprehensive catechesis, connecting teachings explicitly to the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity. We also discuss the importance of disposition in receiving sacraments and the connection between living the Christian way of life and readiness to receive grace. The ancient catechumenate sought signs of growth in the virtues of faith, hope, and charity as a foundation for God's grace to take root.

(24:11) The conversation explores an analogy of dating to discuss faith, hope, and charity applied to human faculties. It emphasizes the transformative role of these virtues—faith in the intellect, hope in the imagination, and charity in the will. Specific catechism paragraphs 1812 and 1813 are referenced, highlighting the roots of human virtues in theological virtues. The goal of conversion in Christ is defined as believing, hoping, and loving supernaturally. The conversation suggests an engaging approach to catechesis that begins with recognizing natural faculties and appreciating their supernatural elevation through theological virtues, presenting them as becoming "superpowers" through grace.

(32:04) The conversation highlights the transformative approach of teaching faith, hope, and charity by connecting them to personal experiences. Augustine's emphasis on theological virtues as central to worship and life in Christ is discussed. The method, benefits, and disadvantages of bridging doctrine and experience, using theological virtues as a guide, is also discussed. Dr. Sollom mentions resources like the Franciscan Catechetical Institute and Franciscan at Home.

This episode is sponsored by the U.S. bishops' 9 Days for Life Novena
Join the U.S. bishops’ pro-life novena from January 16 through January 24
www.9daysforlife.com

An OSV Podcasts partner. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

(00:00) In this podcast episode, co-host Edmund Mitchell interviews Dr. Joseph White, a licensed family and child psychologist with a focus on the intersection of psychology and catechesis. Dr. White, an associate publisher for Our Sunday Visitor, discusses his journey into this field, emphasizing the connection between his psychology background and a Catholic university's influence. The conversation delves into the third pillar of the catechism, exploring challenges in moral teachings and authentic catechetical approaches. Dr. White emphasizes the need for faithfulness to both God and humanity, aligning the message with the audience's developmental stages. 

(09:47) Edmund and Dr. Joseph discuss the potential resistance to incorporating modern psychology and human sciences into catechesis. Dr. White highlights the two-fold responsibility of using human sciences to enhance catechetical effectiveness and evaluating scientific discoveries through the lens of faith. The conversation explores the complementarity between divine revelation, Catholic anthropology, and insights from the human sciences. 

(19:42) The conversation turns to the relevance of psychology and childhood development in understanding and easing the natural pushback against moral teachings during adolescence. Dr. Joseph and Edmund emphasize that questioning and pushing back are integral parts of healthy development, crucial for forging independence.

 (30:35) Edmund and Dr. Joseph discuss the example of St. John Bosco in building relationships, especially with students and those being catechized. They highlight how St. John Bosco's trust in God was a cornerstone in his care for orphaned children, emphasizing the importance of forming close bonds and leading others into a relationship with God. The hosts reflect on a common mistake in catechesis—assuming that knowing facts is sufficient, stressing the need to connect faith with practical ways of living. 

 (35:54) Edmund shares where people can find more of Dr. White's work, mentioning his books on the OSV website and highlighting his YouTube channel, where he shares talks on catechesis, especially focusing on sharing the faith with young people. Edmund encourages listeners to find Dr. White on youtube by searching "Dr. Joseph White catechesis".  

An OSV Podcasts partner. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Summary: In this podcast, Emily and Edmund discuss how to effectively use the third pillar of the Catechism. We dive into the challenges and strategies for presenting the Church's teachings on morality effectively to a modern audience. We also discuss the importance of understanding the audience and some aspects of effective catechesis. This episode also covers the significance of approaching catechesis and evangelization with a focus on God's love and the invitation to a relationship with Christ. Additionally, we recommend resources for understanding modern evangelization and its relation to the Church's teachings and the third pillar of the catechism.

Show Notes: 

(00:00) In the opening of the podcast Edmund and Emily set up the discussion of the third pillar of the catechism, focusing on how to present the Church's teachings on morality effectively. They emphasize the importance of approaching catechesis and evangelization with an understanding of God's love and the invitation to a relationship with Christ. They explore the structure of this pillar, highlighting its emphasis on living in Christ rather than just following rules. The conversation underscores the significance of contextualizing moral teachings within the broader framework of the Gospel. By examining the structure of the Catechism, they emphasize the importance of the order and how it contributes to sound catechesis.

(10:48) Edmund and Emily emphasize the significance of understanding foundational truths before presenting specific moral teachings. They discuss the importance of recognizing that humans are created for goodness and love, emphasizing God's invitation to happiness through beatitude. They stress the importance of meeting their audience where they are at by authentic listening and understanding their perspectives to effectively catechize and evangelize. Drawing from Sherry Waddell's insights in Forming Intentional Disciples, they highlight the importance of the spiritual journeys of belonging, believing, and behaving in the context of catechesis. They also discuss the approach taken in their videos. The discussion encourages catechists to approach teaching with a deep understanding of the foundational truths of faith and the context of their audience's experiences.

(19:31) Emily and Edmund discuss practical ways to respond when individuals react critically to Church teachings. The hosts share insights from their experiences and discussions with church ministers. Drawing from the catechism, they highlight the importance of starting with the foundational belief that humans are created for goodness and are inherently attracted to it. They emphasize the significance of meeting people where they are and accompanying them through dialogue to effectively address their concerns. The discussion encourages catechists and parish leaders to focus on understanding the underlying beliefs of those we are catechizing and evangelizing and connecting them back to Church teaching.

(26:54) In the closing of the podcast, Emily and Edmund encourage listeners to study the third pillar of the Catechism. They also suggest reading Pope Francis' "Evangelii Gaudium" (The Joy of the Gospel), highlighting its relevance in understanding contemporary evangelization. The hosts emphasize the document's incorporation of recent church teachings, its focus on modern contexts and audiences, and its discussions of the challenges and temptations within the Church's evangelization efforts. They invite feedback from listeners, aiming to plan future episodes to address their needs. 

An OSV Podcasts partner. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

In this podcast, we’re joined by Jennifer Baugh, the founder of Young Catholic Professionals (YCP). Parish ministries often overlook one crucial age range – people who have recently graduated college but haven’t yet fully established themselves in a career or marriage. For the Church to better evangelize and accompany this age range, we need to understand their unique needs. We discuss Gen Z and the various methods YCP uses to reach this age range, as well as practical ways parish leaders can learn from YCP. 

(00:00) Edmund introduces Jennifer Baugh and she shares her personal story of growing up Catholic but rediscovering her Catholic faith. She also shares the origins of Young Catholic Professionals (YCP) and what prompted her to start this ministry. Edmund and Jennifer discuss this often overlooked demographic – that of people who have just graduated college but haven’t yet established themselves in a marriage or career and are searching for community and are open to hearing how someone could live out their faith in a secular and professional context. These individuals don’t always fit in a parish young adult or college ministry but also have a hard time finding community among the adult ministries in parish, as these are often filled with older married adults with children.

(10:49) Jennifer explains why YCP uses “networking events” to attract young Catholic professionals. She also speaks about the fruit they’ve seen from these events, and what parish leaders can learn from them. She offers a few examples of how a parish leader could practically implement these principles into their parish ministry. One challenge is finding balance between a purely social gathering and a direct and explicit evangelizing event. The key here is balance and intentional invitation into something deeper as a next step to the networking event. 

(19:23) YCP offers one-on-one mentorship and has seen fruit from this model. Jennifer shares what YCP has learned from this mentorship program and what parish leaders can learn from this model. Jennifer also shares what she has seen as the unique challenges Gen Z is facing in general and in relation to the faith. 

(24:48) Jennifer shares how the catechism had a huge impact on her faith journey. She discusses the need to not just present intellectual knowledge when we present the faith, but the need, especially with younger generations, to present a personal invitation to a new way of living with Jesus that is compelling. YCP has found that using the stories of lives of Saints helps give a concrete practical example of this life in Christ to people who are struggling to fully embrace the Catholic Church. She also explains the importance of volunteers and hospitality to help people build relationships, not just gain knowledge. 

(31:38) We close this episode with Jennifer sharing that parish leaders can visit youngcatholicprofessionals.org to find out more about the ministry. She also shares about the national conference and ways that parishes can help host events for their local young Catholic professionals in collaboration with YCP.

This episode is sponsored by: "An Introduction to Sacred Scripture" With Dr. Dr. Mary Healy, shms.edu/online

An OSV Podcasts partner. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Summary: In this podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Timothy O’Malley, Notre Dame Professor of Theology and Director of Education at the McGrath Institute. This episode tackles the relationship between catechesis and evangelization and what parish leaders can practically do in light of this relationship. The need to evangelize plays out on the ground in parishes. And many parish leaders don’t know where to start when it comes to practically making a difference in the “age of disaffiliation,” as Dr. Tim describes it. Dr. Tim also unpacks the need for developing a Eucharistic culture in order to more effectively evangelize in a world where most people are greatly influenced by a culture at odds with the Gospel. 

Dr. O’Malley researches and teaches at Notre Dame in the areas of liturgical-sacramental theology, marriage and family, Catholic higher education, catechesis, preaching, and spirituality. He is also the author of nine books on topics related to the liturgy, OCIA, the Eucharist, sacramental theology, marriage and family, and liturgical formation.

Show Notes: 

(00:00) Edmund introduces us to this podcast’s guest, Dr. Timothy O’Malley who is a Notre Dame Professor of Theology and Director of Education at the McGrath Institute. Dr. Tim shares his background and how he became interested in theology and academia. Dr. Tim describes his perspective on the modern phenomenon of people leaving the church in large numbers. He describes this as an age of disaffiliation. 

(07:42) Dr. Tim explains why culture is such an important factor when we are discussing evangelization. Even among people who attend Mass weekly, they will at most only experience a Christ-centered culture for a very small percentage of their week. He offers some suggestions on how parish leaders can help people cultivate a Christ-centered culture in their lives and how parishes can build a more robust culture to invite people into this meaningful and Eucharistic life. Dr. Tim also explains a common mistake in sacramental preparation - that the sacraments are just about presence.

(16:59) The conversation turns to the reality that the Mass is often the first and only place people experience the Church in their lives. Should the Mass be a place for evangelization? How can and should parish leaders practically balance the opportunity for evangelization with the reality of the Mass? Dr. Tim explains how the Mass is the ordinary space of evangelization for Catholics. He also addresses preaching, liturgy, and reverence.

(23:56) How should parish leaders understand parish membership? Dr. Tim speaks about the idea of belonging to a parish and the need to accompany people with real authentic relationships and empathy. The conversation also turns to the importance of being flexible to the specific needs of individuals, instead of rigidly applying processes to large groups of people without understanding the unique needs of families. He suggests fostering a eucharistic culture in parishes and responding to requests for sacraments with an improv attitude of "yes, and" rather than a mere institutional style of "yes, but."

(29:24) Dr. Tim shares about the McGrath Institute for Church Life at Notre Dame. He also explains the relationship between the McGrath Institute and Notre Dame as a two-way bridge that brings the best of academic life to the Church and the best of Church life to the academy in order to foster a fruitful conversation. The institute is dedicated to cultivating a vibrant Catholic culture in the United States and around the world by forming leaders who are equipped to renew the Church and serve the common good. Through its various programs, the institute seeks to promote the renewal of the Catholic imagination and the revitalization of Catholic intellectual and cultural life

An OSV Podcasts partner. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

An OSV Podcasts partner. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Summary:  This episode is a concise and practical explanation of a way to use a unique feature of the catechism to unlock scripture. Using the index of citations, found in the back of the catechism, we can look up specific passages of scripture and find all the paragraphs of the catechism that reference this scripture passage. This is a great way to read scripture and the catechism together and view scripture through the eyes of the Church. This is also a wonderful way to incorporate the catechism into our time of prayer with scripture, while also making us more familiar with the catechism in an effective way. 

(00:12) Edmund sets up the problems we face when we try to read or pray with the Bible, as well as when we try to read through the catechism. It can be hard to read through large passages of the catechism without a way to make it relevant to our own life. When reading the Bible, it can at times be hard to pray with passages without knowing how the Church might interpret or view the passage in light of Divine Revelation. Praying with the catechism AND the Bible can be a powerful way to unlock both. 

(02:54) Edmund explains the index of citations, found in the back of the catechism. Using the index of citations, we can look up a passage of scripture and see everywhere that verse or passage is cited throughout the catechism. We’ll see paragraphs of the catechism listed, which we can turn to and read to shed more light on the passage of scripture.

(04:27) Edmund uses Luke 19:1-10, the story of Zacchaeus meeting Jesus, as an example passage for using the index of citations. The catechism references this passage of scripture in paragraphs 2712, 1443, and 2412. By reading these three short paragraphs, we can shed more light on how the Church views this story of Zacchaeus meeting Jesus. 

(15:33) Edmund recommends other Scripture passages to try combining with the catechism: John 6:54, Luke 1:37, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Genesis 3:15, Luke 3:21, and Isaiah 43:1-7. Edmund also makes some final suggestions on other ways to use the index of citations, the Bible, and the catechism. One suggestion is to read the Gospel for the upcoming Sunday and referring to the index of citations to then look up the  catechism paragraphs

This episode is sponsored by The CatholicTV Network on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/CatholicTV

An OSV Podcasts partner. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

S2E8 Podcast Show Notes: Mari Pablo 

 Mari Pablo, a seasoned religious educator and youth minister, joins Edmund on this episode of the Real+True Podcast. Their discussion starts with dissecting Maris’ pedagogy in presenting the Church’s moral teaching, the importance of ‘first principles,’ building trust with students, and finally the power of personal testimony. Edmund asks Mari how she’d respond to a family member or co-worker who confronts her with a difficult question related to Church teaching; her response is powerful. Learn how to bring the powerful truths of our faith to life in a way that impacts hearts, and honors the beauty of our Catholic tradition.

Show Notes:

(00:12) Edmund welcomes Mari Pablo to the Real+True podcast. Mari graduated from Franciscan University with a double major in theology and psychology. Mari holds a Master of Theology from the Augustine Institute. She has worked in youth ministry for over 15 years. Mari currently serves with The Evangelical Catholic. Edmund and Mari discuss Mari’s first encounter with the Catechism. When teaching theology, Mari shares that her goal is to help her students see God’s plan for their lives: “What God teaches about morality will make them the happiest and freest and give them the best life possible.” 

(08:45) Going back to first principles: Mari discusses her pedagogy in presenting the Church’s moral teaching. She explains that she builds moral truths off of the truths of God and the human person: “Truth is real and you are created good.” And then after that foundation is in place, she then presents the Church’s teaching on morality within the context of that larger framework and worldview. This is also done once there is a foundation of truth set with her classroom.

(17:34) The power of personal testimony: Mari shares the impact of implementing her own testimony when presenting the Church’s more difficult teachings. She says she isn’t afraid to admit to her students that her heart has been changed over time on morality and her conversion has been an ongoing process. She emphasizes the power of personal testimonies, and even the testimonies of her students. 

(24:06) When you’re asked a hard question: Edmund asks Mari to walk the listeners through a confrontation with someone asking a challenging question about the faith, “Take a breath, take a step back. Ask questions, and thank them for the question. Respond lovingly. Be patient. Break it down. Ask the Lord to help you. Know when to end the conversation, and when to say, “I don’t know the answer but I’d love to get back to you.’” Edmund encourages listeners, “when you’re reading the Catechism, ask yourself, ‘what does this have to do with Jesus?” Always bring everything back to Jesus.”

This episode is sponsored by Religious Freedom Week 2023, http://www.usccb.org/ReligiousFreedomWeek

An OSV Podcasts partner. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.