catholic church podcast

Saint Pope John Paul II gave 129 powerful lectures during his Wednesday audiences that formed the Theology of the Body - an analysis on a multiude of important issues related to human sexuality. Our very own Michael Gormley will not be giving 129 lectures, but his four TOB talks on August 1st through 4th are sure to still be insightful! Mike and Nate sit down for this episode of Beyond the Bulletin to talk about the importance of TOB, how our society has been misguided in our focus on sexuality, and hear a sneak preview of what topics and issues will be on the table when Mike hosts the upcoming Theology of the Body talk series for high schoolers and their families August 1st through 4th from 6:30 to 8:30pm in the youth room!

Deacon Mike Krall shares a Gospel reflection from the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, speaking on the daring, persisting, and obliterating actions that we can learn from the powerful Mass readings! Special Guest: Deacon Mike Krall.

The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was a monumental day for the pro-life movement, but a number of questions quickly arose - was abortion now outright illegal? Would this ruling spell the end for other recent or controversial court cases? Could women with ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages get in trouble? While the monumental decision by the Supreme Court is still a hotly-debated issue, Michael Gormley and Nate Hoffman sit down to discuss the big news, as well as dispel many of the myths that have arisen in the following weeks. Don't believe the lie that "Catholics only care about babies in the womb" or "don't want to protect them after their born" - listen to this podcast to learn about the truth, and hear about many of the resources and organizations available to help expectant mothers, families in need, and more.

What do the Blues Brothers and the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time have in common? They're both about being on a mission! God calls us to be missionary disciples. Listen to Fr. Jesse's homily from St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. Special Guest: Fr. Jesse Garcia.

What do you get when you mix messy games, high-ropes courses and white-water rafting with adoration, Lectio Divina, and daily Mass? The best summer camp ever! St. Anthony recently sent more than 40 teens to Life Teen Summer Camp at Camp Covecrest in Tiger, GA, led by our youth ministers Samy & PJ Pierce. The Pierces joined Nate on the podcast to talk about their week of camp, the reason why Life Teen camps are different, the fun of their first year on staff, and the immense need for more help and volunteers in the youth ministry program. Listen now! Special Guests: PJ Pierce and Samantha Pierce.

Deacon Mike Krall embarks on the tall task of preaching on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, diving into how we can better understand and reverence the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Special Guest: Deacon Mike Krall.

A passionate priest involved in a thriving Kansas college ministry, a top-notch Coordinator of Development & Communications at a bustling Catholic parish in Texas, and an aging, bearded Podcaster all walk into a bar - this isn't the start of a weird joke, that's just the crowd that we have on Episode 37 of Beyond the Bulletin! Drew and Nate Hoffman are just like most brothers - except for the fact that Drew got to preach at Nate's wedding, and Nate can be absolved of his sins by Drew. Calling in from Kansas, Fr. Drew joins Nate and Gomer to talk about what it's like to be involved in college ministry, why it can be harder to form passionate Catholics for marriage rather than anyone else, the pitfalls of a Catholic university, the Hoffman's mutual love of golf, and much much more! This is not an episode you want to miss - tune in now! Special Guest: Fr. Drew Hoffman.

Fr. Mathew Thottyil reflects on how we need to make room for the Holy Spirit in our lives on the 6th Sunday of Easter at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in The Woodlands, TX. Special Guest: Fr. Mathew Thottyil.

When you get to the end of a long day, it's important to look back and ask yourself an important question - where was God? If you haven't been able to find Him lately, or if you're not asking that question regularly, then it may be a good time to take a step back and check your compass. And if you find yourself needing some direction, we know just the Deacon you should be speaking to! Deacon Rick Vogel is one of our many excellent Deacons at St. Anthony, and he joins Nate on the podcast to talk about his journey into his vocation, important steps about how to tell what's "from God" and what isn't, as well as provide a great walkthrough of prayer exercises such as Lectio Divina and a Daily Examen! Tune in to gain great insight into improving your prayer life, as well as hear why he believes spiritual direction is such an invaluable tool for Catholics. Listen now! Special Guest: Deacon Rick Vogel.

The month of May can be a busy one - graduations, upcoming summer trips, you name it. But May has a much more important tradition that we should all be aware of: it's the month of Mary! The tradition of dedicating the month of May to Mary goes back to the 13th century, so Nate and Gomer are here to tell you all about how we can spend the month of May living in a Marian way. Do Catholics worship Mary? Heck no. Is Mary worthy of imitation? Most definitely. Tune into this rambunctious conversation between our two great Paduan podcasters to learn valuable insights that will help you make this May full of beauty, devotion, and faith.

For years, St. Anthony of Padua has sent a large group of missionaries over to Honduras to bring help, hope, and love to a number of villages in need. One of the poorest countries in the world, the need is great, but our parish's response and action, has been inspiring. Nate is joined for Episode 34 by Leon & Michelle Rieger, two parishioners who have joined the mission trip multiple times, to talk about the Honduras mission trip, ahead of this weekend's second collection and taco sale. Tune in to hear about how they got involved, the work that is done down there, and their varying emotions when returning to The Woodlands after serving in a third-world country. Listen now! Special Guests: Leon Rieger and Michelle Rieger.

The holiest week of the year is finally here! With a great Palm Sunday in the books and Triduum coming up fast, we're so excited to journey through this powerful and prayerful season with you! Have you ever wondered though, just WHY is this week so holy? How does the Old Testament tie into everything? Where does the Passover of ancient Israel connect to Jesus? Why did the chief priests and scribes push so hard for Jesus to specifically be crucified? All these questions and more are tackled in this special Holy Week episode of Beyond the Bulletin - we highly encourage you to join Nate and Gomer in this enlightening conversation aimed to help you make the most of this monumental week. Tune in!

Do you remember your first confession? Nervously waiting your turn to mumble your sins of pushing your sibling and stealing candy, before fumbling your way through the Act of Contrition? Good times, good times. Whether that was the last time you received the sacrament of Reconcilation, or whether you go every week, this is a podcast you don't want to miss! Lent is a great time to hit the confessional, but before you get in line, there's plenty you can do beforehand. Nate and Gomer are here to dive into the tips of making a great confession as well as answer some big questions you might have -- is complaining a sin? What's mortal and what's venial? How many venial sins equal one mortal one? Is temptation itself a sin? If you've ever struggled with feeling like you made a "good" or honest confession, or struggled with making progress AFTER your confession, this is the episode for you. With a few weeks of Lent remaining, listen through this podcast and then go receive God's grace in the confessional - you won't regret it!

Fr. Jesse Garcia preaches during the 4th Sunday of Lent on the Gospel story of the Prodigal Son, and what we can learn from reflecting on our connections to the characters in this immensely powerful parable. Special Guest: Fr. Jesse Garcia.

Deacon Tom Vicknair reflects on the powerful readings from the 3rd Sunday of Lent, and encourages parishioners to go beyond simply being members, but instead, true disciples of the Lord. Special Guest: Deacon Tom Vicknair.

Tool or distraction? Asset or accessory? The role of technology in the Church is a hotly-debated topic; whipping out your phone mid-Mass would certainly raise a few eyebrows at St. Anthony of Padua. But Stephen Lenahan, former SAOP staff member, founder of our storied podcast, and current Catholic Market Sales Manager for Pushpay, returns to Beyond the Bulletin this week with Nate to talk about how technology can be utilized in a way to connect communities, enhance the beauty, and even further the mission of the Catholic Church. The host of the first 44 episodes of this podcast, it's great to have Stephen back to talk about his hard work to keep parishes ahead of the technology curve, the "tradismatic" movement, how Catholic Churches could enter the Metaverse, and more. Tune in!

On the First Sunday of Lent, Deacon Rick Vogel recounts the ways in which Jesus was tempted while in the desert, and how we can call on Jesus to renounce temptations when we face them in our own lives! Special Guest: Deacon Rick Vogel.

Live, Laugh, Lent. What can often be viewed as just a "Catholic New Year's Resolution", is actually an extremely important time of prayer, penance, and preparation for the great celebration of Easter. From the origins of Lent, to reflecting on the "why and how" of fasting, this is a great episode and discussion to prepare our minds and hearts for the 40 days of Lent ahead!

On the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Jesse reflects on the Beatitudes, and how even though the sting of suffering will inevitably touch us all, we can find comfort and solace in the love and strength of Jesus Christ. Special Guest: Fr. Jesse Garcia.