Best Christian Faith Center Young Adults Podcasts (2024)

1
Preachers: Tell a story that will stay with your listeners long after the homily is over. 34:55

22m ago34:55

34:55

Though Jesus preached in parables that still captivate us, not every story told in a homily has a similarly lasting impact. The Rev. Christopher Clohessy shares how preachers can craft stories that linger long after Mass is over. This week on “Preach,” host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., is joined by another South African priest. Chris is a priest of the …

1
Ron Hansen on bringing fiction-writing techniques to homily writing 23:42

3h ago23:42

23:42

Ron Hansen has written award-winning novels that have been turned into Hollywood hits. As an ordained deacon, he crafts equally compelling homilies. This week on “Preach,” Deacon Ron Hansen, a permanent deacon in the Archdiocese of Washington and a prolific author, preaches for the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Year B. His homily reflects…

1
What young adults most need to hear in a homily 32:43

7d ago32:43

32:43

While most parishes struggle to attract young members, Saint Clement Parish in Chicago stands out with a mostly young adult congregation. This week on “Preach,” the Rev. Peter Wojcik, the pastor of Saint Clement Parish in Chicago, Ill., preaches for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year B. In his homily, he reflects on the depth of Jesus’ committed love…

1
A preacher should offer the congregation a challenge—not cheap grace 36:13

14d ago36:13

36:13

Gemma Simmonds, C.J., a theologian and sister at the Cambridge Theological Federation in Cambridge, England, preaches for the Fifth Sunday in Easter, Year B: In her homily, she reflects on her experience of poverty in Brazil, giving significance to Christ’s words: “Make your home in me as I make mine in you.” Then, in the conversation with host Ric…

1
Bishop Stowe preaches on the climate crisis for Good Shepherd Sunday 27:08

21d ago27:08

27:08

“I think there's a major concern for living more in harmony with creation, which is a result of conversion,” says Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv., “But I think Pope Francis is also, as our good shepherd, calling us to greater urgency to act because time is slipping away and we haven't done much.” Bishop John Stowe is a Conventual Franciscan, the third…

1
To be a good preacher, pray more and read widely 24:51

1M ago24:51

24:51

Good preaching requires mastery of rhetoric, in particular the tools of repetition and organization. “Otherwise, they’re not gonna remember,” says John Baldovin, S.J. “This is a no-brainer, but beginning, middle and end, and not trying to make too many points” are key to a compelling homily. He also adds with hyperbolic emphasis, “If you want to be…

1
Striking a chord: The debate on singing in the homily 34:15

1M ago34:15

34:15

“Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!” This is how Kim Harris starts her homily for the Second Sunday of Easter—in joyous song. “When Thomas first the tidings heard / How they had seen the risen Lord / He doubted the disciples’ word. Alleluia!...” Such daring from the ambo has long struck a controversial chord with preachers and liturgists alike, promptin…

1
When preparing to preach, treat your homily like music 35:54

2M ago35:54

35:54

In the Judeo-Christian tradition, God often makes Godself known through sound: be it a voice from a burning bush, a resounding clap of thunder or the blast of a trumpet. “God is revealed through sound,” affirms Ed Foley, O.F.M. Cap. “I think of a homily as sound theology,” he adds, “it’s acoustic engagement.” When preparing to preach, Ed, the Duns …

1
Ukraine military chaplain: Preaching hope to a world at war on Good Friday 32:12

2M ago32:12

32:12

When reflecting on the life, death and resurrection of the Lord while living in a state of military invasion and active war, Andriy Zelinskyy, S.J., says that “everything becomes more authentic.” For this Jesuit priest, who serves as the chief military chaplain of the Ukrainian-Greek Catholic Church, the task of preaching to those suffering in Ukra…

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A Preacher’s Guide to Holy Week: These are long liturgies. Be brief! 42:53

2M ago42:53

42:53

The liturgies of Holy Week need to be seen as a unity. With two weeks remaining before the start of this summit of the Christian year, the “Preach” team sought the expertise of two esteemed liturgical scholars and practitioners to give preachers a whistle-stop tour of the readings and liturgies for this sacred week. In conversation with “Preach” ho…

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Father Rob Galea’s preaching strategies for reaching disengaged youth 33:23

2M ago33:23

33:23

“Explain the resurrection to me in two minutes without using any church language.” This is the challenge that Father Rob Galea sets for his staff to ensure they can easily relate to the young people they serve. “That takes practice, and that takes hanging out with the kids and understanding the way they speak, the way they reason.” Rob, originally …

1
How a deacon’s past as a taxi driver fuels his preaching 43:43

2M ago43:43

43:43

The best formation Deacon Steve Kramer has ever received were the four summers he spent as a taxi and limo driver. “It really prepared me for pastoral counseling,” he says of his year’s shuttling people back and forth. “They sit, they open their heart, and pretty much they figure out that they’ll never see you again. So they open up in a different …

1
Meet a woman who teaches priests to preach 35:14

3M ago35:14

35:14

“Effective preaching is like good butter sinking into warm toast,” says Karla Bellinger. “You’ve gotta give the Holy Spirit a little bit of time to do some work.” As the founding executive director of the Institute for Homiletics at the University of Dallas and president of the Catholic Association of Teachers of Homiletics, Karla is filled with bi…

1
Try something new this Lent: Map out your homilies like an org chart 42:55

3M ago42:55

42:55

Russell Pollitt, S.J., approaches his homilies in a manner unlike any other preacher the “Preach” team has yet seen. While some rely on verbatim manuscripts, detailed linear plans, or simply loose notes, when this South African Jesuit priest sits down to write his homily after praying on the Scriptures, the first thing he does is produce an org cha…

1
The Vatican’s chief liturgist on why preachers need to take their homilies more seriously 46:09

3M ago46:09

46:09

Cardinal Roche opens the Lenten season on “Preach: The Catholic Homilies Podcast” with a heartfelt message taken from the Scripture readings for Ash Wednesday: “Come back to me with all your heart.” When asked by host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., why he chose the theme of “Welcome Home” and not to preach “in a heavier way,” to emphasize the penitential …

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An update from the Preach team 38:35

4M ago38:35

38:35

You may have seen that we haven’t had any episodes for the last two weeks. We are taking a break after the bumper set of episodes we put together for you during the Advent and Christmas seasons. We are reviewing the results of our survey—which you can still respond to here— and planning our offering for Lent. In the meantime, in this great week whe…

1
The star first leads the wise men to Jerusalem—where Old and New Testament meet—not Bethlehem 34:07

4M ago34:07

34:07

Preaching on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, David Neuhaus, S.J., explores a curiosity in the story of the Wise Men’s journey from the East to the Bethlehem manger. “Why didn’t the star take them straight to Bethlehem? Why did it take them to Jerusalem?,” he asks. "I think it took them to Jerusalem, as we are always taken to Jerusalem, b…

1
A Syriac Catholic priest and father in Bethlehem preaches on the Feast of the Holy Family 34:48

4M ago34:48

34:48

Yunan Frédéric, a Syriac Catholic priest living in Bethlehem with his Latina-American wife and their three children, preaches on the Feast of the Holy Family, even though the Syriac Church does not observe this feast in its liturgical calendar. For the past two years, he has served as the pastor of the Syriac Catholic community in Bethlehem; a smal…

1
Keeping Christmas joy alive in our preaching—even amid war, violence and poverty 35:17

5M ago35:17

35:17

The anticipated joy of Christmas unfolds against a backdrop of pain and violence this year. “I think one of the most important things in these extremely troubled times is that we do have the lights, both metaphorically and physically,” says Barbara Reid, O.P. “Our most important gift and our most important approach, not only to the advent and Chris…

1
Preaching about joy starts with paying attention to life’s difficulties 31:19

5M ago31:19

31:19

This week on 'Preach,' the script is flipped: Ricardo da Silva, S.J., the regular host, becomes the guest preacher, and Maggi Van Dorn, a usual producer, takes the mic as the host. Maggi and Ricardo, who work together extensively on “Preach,” “Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas carols” and “Inside the Vatican,” compare how preachers an…

1
Preaching in Native American communities responding to generational trauma 36:24

5M ago36:24

36:24

Despite his advanced studies in Scripture, it wasn’t until Victor Cancino, S.J., became the resident pastor at St. Ignatius Mission on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Western Montana that he properly grasped the Bible’s deep connections with Native American spirituality and practices. “The Bible is from a tribal world with a spirituality that is…

1
A preacher's guide to Advent 47:57

5M ago47:57

47:57

“How do we really enter into a season like Advent when the world around us is already celebrating Christmas?” This is the question host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., sets before his guests, Scripture scholars Barbara Reid, O.P., and Victor Cancino, S.J., at the start of this episode, which breaks the usual mold of the podcast. Instead of the usual show w…

1
A reminder for preachers: ‘Words can hurt; words can also heal’ 31:57

6M ago31:57

31:57

The Scripture readings for the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, invite us to interpret the Scriptures through a lens that is perhaps less common for this celebration. Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, S.J, tries to imagine ways in which the readings for the last Sunday of the liturgical calendar, “can be perceived less as a hierarc…

1
At funerals, preach for the living, not the dead 27:37

6M ago27:37

27:37

This November, as we remember our beloved dead and our liturgy begins to contemplate the end times, the stark reality of war is even more pronounced. In times, like these, “sometimes, the best thing you can do,” says Bruce Botha, S.J., “is acknowledge someone else’s pain and say, ‘I can’t imagine how you’re feeling.’” Father Botha, a priest of the …

1
Preachers: The elders also need homilies that speak to them 37:24

7M ago37:24

37:24

Preachers face a delicate balancing act: while crafting homilies to draw young people to the pews, they must also engage the elders, who make up the majority of the congregation. The also deserve homilies that resonate with the particular joys and challenges of their lives. “I try to read the scriptures through their eyes,” says Jack Rathschmidt, a…

1
The power of vulnerability when preaching in a retreat or parish setting 35:54

7M ago35:54

35:54

As an undergrad at Boston College, Sarah Hansman was a self-described “retreat addict.” Today, she is a retreat leader in Boston College’s Kairos program and is often invited to preach in various settings. “When it comes to preaching, and when it comes to sharing my voice, one of my goals is to be a role model for those who either don’t feel like t…

1
Pope Francis calls Catholics to support the global church. Our preaching should reflect that. 32:40

7M ago32:40

32:40

Until the early 20th century, the Catholic Church in the United States was “still young, growing and vulnerable,” and “the recipient of help from the church in other lands,” recalls Anthony Andreassi, C.O., in his homily for World Mission Sunday. “Now it is our turn to reach out to support others so that this important work of evangelization can co…

1
Center the experiences of marginalized people when preaching 31:16

7M ago31:16

31:16

Before the Rev. James Martin, S.J., set off for the Synod on Synodality currently underway at the Vatican, he shared some of his hopes for preaching the message of the Synod. “This idea of Jesus calling people from the outside in is very much something that the synod is doing,” he said. “I think it’s reminding people that these groups, whoever it i…

1
How synodal listening transformed this preacher's homilies and faith community 31:17

8M ago31:17

31:17

Brett Williams tries to connect his homilies from week to week. “Our discipleship isn’t limited to Sunday to Sunday,” he says; it needs to be seen “within the context of our ongoing journey.” He cautions that this path may include moments when “it seems dark, and there doesn’t seem to be any progress,” as well as times when it’s “fantastic, easy, w…

1
The art of a short homily 27:19

8M ago27:19

27:19

Synodality is not always an easy thing to describe. But for Iván Montelongo, “It is so concrete. It means walking together, but it means accompaniment. It means being there for somebody else, just as the Lord himself has decided to walk with us, has become a man and lived our same life with our struggles, with our issues.” Iván Montelongo is a prie…

1
Preaching lessons from Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman 34:44

8M ago34:44

34:44

“I had the great privilege of never having a man formally teach me preaching,” boasts Manuel Williams about his training for the priesthood. One of his teachers was Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, F.S.P.A.; the other was Joan Delaplane, an Adrian Dominican sister and the first Catholic woman president of the American Academy of Homiletics. “What…

1
Preaching is more than the homily 32:48

8M ago32:48

32:48

Preachers and those in ministry confront a common dilemma: “We never live up to what we want to be,” says Patricia Bruno, O.P. “However, I think the preaching helps direct our own lives,” she adds. “It’s hard to say something in public that you don’t really believe.” Patricia Bruno, is a Dominican sister of San Rafael in California. She is an exper…

1
The three stories every homily should tell 26:54

9M ago26:54

26:54

When Jude Siciliano, OP, sits down to write his homily, he always has a Venn diagram in mind. “It is one of the theories of preaching that there should be three stories,” Jude says, “The story of God, the story of the preacher, and the story of the listeners, the congregation.” And it is in the overlap of these three stories that Jude preaches. Jud…

1
Preaching to the hearts of college students 33:54

9M ago33:54

33:54

How does a preacher best connect with college students? “I think the challenge for me is just being authentic, right?” says Brian Ching, C.S.C. “They know that your experiences and their experiences are not the same. And when we try to make our experiences relatable to their experiences it can often come off as gimmicky or trite. So just acknowledg…

1
Can I be political in my preaching? 32:55

10M ago32:55

32:55

“What's happening today in American society is the label of Christian is being applied to forces that are really deeply unchristian and certainly within the Catholic community, are very much in violation of our Catholic social teaching,” says Walter Modrys, S.J., reflecting on the challenge that preachers face today when their homilies touch on neu…

1
Yes, women can (and do) preach in the Catholic Church 34:00

10M ago34:00

34:00

Preachers can be tempted to ask themselves the wrong question when starting to prepare a homily. “The question is not ‘What do I want to say,’” but ‘God, what do people need to hear?’”, says Kayla August. “When we start there, the thing that’s ruminating in our hearts, I think, brings out a really good sermon.” Kayla is a Black Catholic preacher. B…

1
Preaching the kingdom of God when justice is delayed on earth 37:04

10M ago37:04

37:04

”We will never solve the crisis of preaching in the Catholic Church, unless we emphasize that the preacher needs to be someone who is constantly learning about the Scriptures and what they mean in their context, but also that the preacher needs to be a person of prayer.” says Bryan Massingale. “Someone who stands in the pulpit as an authentic faith…

1
How to preach to a congregation when you don’t share the same culture 29:24

11M ago29:24

29:24

When Isaac-el Fernandes, S.J., delivers a homily he “won’t necessarily remember to say everything that I've written,” he says. “But what I will remember is the stuff that is closest to my heart. It is much more about the conviction that I say a homily with than about the clever ideas that one might have.” Isaac is a Jesuit of the Southern Africa Pr…

1
Preaching tips from a Catholic priest, husband and father of five 25:59

11M ago25:59

25:59

“I like what Pope Francis said in ‘Evangelii Gaudium’ when he talked about preaching and likened it to family conversation; I try and imagine that I’m at a coffee shop talking to someone and I just have a conversation with them,” Josh Whitfield says. “If I were to sit down with you and just talk about important stuff—share the Gospel with you—I wou…

1
Preaching is ‘believing out loud’ 30:20

11M ago30:20

30:20

“I’m not trying to convey concepts. What I’m trying to convey is my own reliance on God and my own hope in God,” Sam Sawyer, S.J., says when asked to describe his approach to delivering a homily. “The best thing I have to offer someone else is the invitation to deeper love and trust in God.” Sam is a Jesuit of the U.S.A. East province of the Jesuit…

1
Preachers have one minute to captivate the congregation 27:37

11M ago27:37

27:37

“I have discovered over the years that if you save your big point for the end, people have often tuned you out,” Deacon Fritz Bauerschmidt says, “You really have to give them something in that first minute.” Fritz is a permanent deacon in the Archdiocese of Baltimore assigned to the Cathedral of Mary, Our Queen. He is also a professor of theology a…

1
The key to a good homily is an authentic preacher 29:13

11M ago29:13

29:13

“The most important thing for me when I enter into preparing a homily is just being able to authentically give witness to who I am and where I am in my relationship with Christ,” says John Gribowich. “If I can’t do that, then not only is it inauthentic, but it also just doesn’t really grab anyone.” John Gribowich is a priest of the Diocese of Brook…

1
A woman’s preaching advice for a young priest 35:43

12M ago35:43

35:43

The best advice Greg Chisholm, S.J., received about preaching a homily was not taught in the seminary. “I was helped as a young priest by a woman in a church that I served in Detroit, Michigan,” he said. “She came to me and she said, ‘When I go to church, I want to hear about Jesus, and you didn’t have a lot about Jesus in that sermon.’ I have neve…

1
Coming this Pentecost: Preach 2:31

12M ago2:31

2:31

What makes a great Catholic homily? And what goes into the art of delivering it well? “Preach” is a new weekly podcast from America Media that features a diverse cast of the finest Catholic preachers. Each week, preachers open up their hearts and minds, sharing their spiritual lives, approaches to interpreting scripture and techniques for preparing…

1
Next Level: Joy 29:22

6y ago29:22

29:22

This episode of the Christian Faith Center Young Adults podcast features a sermon shared by Pastor Dan Risdall for our July worship experience. Pastor Dan shares a powerful word that describes how our ability to experience daily joy in Jesus allows us to get to the Next Level in our relationship with Him!…

1
Embrace "IT" 37:17

6y ago37:17

37:17

The June worship experience at Christian Faith Center Young Adults features a sermon from the CFC Young Adults Director, Jacob Nitu. Jacob shares a message on how embracing our deepest battles in life gives us the power to overcome them with God by our side!By Christian Faith Center Young Adults

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God Over Needs 33:37

6y ago33:37

33:37

On this episode of the Christian Faith Center Young Adults podcast, Pastor Dan Risdall shares a sermon from the series "God Over All". Pastor Dan shares a message that breaks down how following God will always result in Him becoming bigger than the needs we face on a daily basis!By Christian Faith Center Young Adults

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A Real Move of God

12y ago

—

Marti Johnson and Rita Grey discuss how God moved upon both of them in a mighty and powerful way as people who simply sought Him with their whole hearts. A hunger God and the things of the Lord, and especially His presence became the central feature of their new living faith in Christ. They have been friends for years, and have experienced much tog…

1
New Life in Christ

12y ago

—

Marti Johnson experienced a life changing encounter with God after the death of her father. Marti was 28 years old, and had grown up in a Christian home. She was a preacher’s daughter, and yet, she needed a powerful moment with God that would radically impact her life forever. Listen here to the wonderful story of Marti Johnson’s conversion.…

1
A Heart for Young Adults

12+ y ago

—

Josh and Jenn Winn are the Young Adults pastors at LIFE Foursquare Church in Decatur, Illinois. In this interview, they discuss with Steve Hohm about the areas of ministry assigned to their care. Their heart to see young adults come to know Christ in a real way, and to learn to process faith in Jesus in a real way are features of their ministry. Li…

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