Christopher Closeup

Eric Clayton, the author of “Cannonball Moments” and “My Life with the Jedi” further discusses the connection between Ignatian spirituality and Star Wars, how we can all learn to be contemplatives in action, and how we can integrate the wounds we have endured to find wholeness and healing.

Eric Clayton, the author of “Cannonball Moments” and “My Life with the Jedi” discusses the influence St. Ignatius of Loyola has had on his life and faith, how we can respond to cannonball moments in our lives, and why Eric finds great value in the spirituality of "Star Wars."

Joy Marie Clarkson, the author of “You Are a Tree,” explores what exactly that title means, why it was inspired by Scripture, and how the words and images we use to describe ourselves can improve our lives and relationship with God.

Award-winning journalist Meg Kissinger discusses her memoir “While You Were Out,” which addresses the ways that mental illness and suicide affected her large Catholic family. Meg also talks about reducing the stigma around mental illness so people can work towards a more hopeful future.

Author and speaker Sister Ave Clark explores ways that we can make the

Advent and Christmas seasons "a pilgrimage of light" by embracing stillness in a

variety of ways, and by looking for God's presence in challenging times. She also

offers thoughts on how the infirm and homebound can grow closer to God.

Beloved chef, author, and restaurateur Lidia Bastianich discusses her 25^th anniversary as a cooking show host on PBS, the blessings that grandparents bring to a child’s life, immigrating to the United States with the help of Catholic Charities, how her mother taught her the virtue of helping those in need, and how she continues to live out her Catholic faith.

Deacon Ed Shoener, the co-founder of the Association of Catholic Mental Health  

Ministers, reveals the heartbreak of his daughter Katie’s suicide (brought on by  

bipolar disorder), the need to reduce the stigma and dispel myths around mental  

illness in church circles, and the ways he hopes to bring Christ to those living with  

mental health issues and their families.

Sister Caroline Tweedy, RSM, the Executive Director of St. John’s Bread and Life food pantry, discusses the ways in which the program helps thousands of food insecure people every week, her longtime passion for serving society’s poor and marginalized, and how working at a home for the developmentally disabled helped her see God’s presence in all people, regardless of their physical conditions or circumstances.

Stephanie Saldaña, the author of “What We Remember Will Be Saved,” shares the story of the Syriac Catholics who were forced to flee their Iraqi homeland after ISIS attacked, as well as the stories of other refugees from the wars in Iraq and Syria who managed to maintain their faith and kindness towards others in the most horrific circumstances. 

Award-winning author Lisa Hendey discusses her new children’s book “I Am Earth’s Keeper,” as well as her recent battle with breast cancer and how her faith and parish community gave her the strength to get through some difficult days and months.

Christopher Award-winning author Marcy Cottrell Houle discusses her latest book “The Gift of Aging: Growing Older with Purpose, Planning, and Positivity” and shares the mental, emotional, and spiritual insights that can help people live fulfilling lives well into their 80s, 90s, and 100s.

CNN writer/producer John Blake discusses his memoir “More Than I Imagined: What a Black Man Discovered About the White Mother He Never Knew,” how his white relatives moved beyond racism after getting to know him, and how he himself grew beyond his own prejudices after realizing how much his mother had suffered due to her mental illness.

Emmy Award-winning journalist Luke Russert discusses his memoir “Look For Me There,” which was inspired by the unexpected death of his father, NBC News legend Tim Russert, in 2008. Luke reveals how traveling helped him process his grief, and how prayer and the communion of saints brought him a sense of peace to move forward with his life.

Christopher Award-winning filmmaker Martin Doblmeier discusses his documentary “Sabbath,” which explores the Judeo-Christian tradition of disconnecting from work for one day a week to instead connect with our deeper selves, our families and friends, and our God.

Ted Green further discusses his Christopher Award-winning documentary “The Best We’ve Got: The Carl Erskine Story,” the former Brooklyn Dodgers’ star’s decision to raise his son with Down syndrome at a time when children with special needs were often institutionalized – and how that decision continues to have positive effects for children with special needs today.

Filmmaker Ted Green discusses his Christopher Award-winning documentary “The Best We’ve Got: The Carl Erskine Story” about former Brooklyn Dodgers’ star Carl Erskine, a humble man of faith whose actions led to greater racial equality in baseball and wider inclusion of children with special needs in our society.

Elizabeth Humphreys, the founder of Mind What Matters shares the specifics of how she helps dementia caregivers through the organization, how just a little bit of support can bring light into the difficult lives of caregivers, and why she believes her mom left her a roadmap through grief in a writing of hers that she found just recently. 

Elizabeth Humphreys, the founder of the nonprofit Mind What Matters, discusses her organization’s mission to assist people who are caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer’s or dementia, how her own caregiving experience with her mom shaped that mission, and how she overcame her anger at God because of her mom’s illness to find faith again.

Broadcast journalist Marie Coronel from ABC 10 News in San Diego discusses the incident that left her with a broken neck while she was out reporting a story, the ways that her family and Catholic faith gave her hope and strength during the rehabilitation as well as during her father's long illness, and where she finds joy today. 

Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Sarah Hart discusses her devotional booklet about the lyrics of “Amazing Grace,” the places she sees grace in the world today, the reasons she feels drawn to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and St. Mary Magdalene, and why she is able to trust in God even in times of darkness.