Candid Catholic Convos

Whether you've sat through hundreds, haven't been in a while or have never been at all, as part of our Back to Basics series, today we're diving deep into the heart of Catholic Worship with a full exploration of the Mass. Deacon Scott Root, senior theology teacher at Trinity High School, is sitting down with us to unpack what's really happening at the altar, why every part of the Mass is important, and how to truly engage with this celebration so we can feel more deeply connected to Christ.

We’re picking up right where we left off last week with our deep dive into the Mass as Deacon Scott Root is back to unpack what’s happening from the sign of peace to the end of the service, why it’s all important, and how to truly engage with this celebration so we can feel more connected to Christ whether this is your first time or your hundredth time attending.

Sometimes, God isn’t subtle – you just have to be paying attention and willing to pivot. Today I’m excited to introduce you to one of our transitional deacons soon to be ordained a priest in just a few weeks, Deacon Clark Stiteler, about his frying pan moment that led him to the priesthood.

A "vocation" and a "job" are sometimes used interchangeably, but it turns out, a vocation carries a much deeper significance: "who you are" vs. "what you do." Or rather "who has God called you to be." Today we're chatting with Deacon Andrew St. Denis, one of our transitional deacons soon to be ordained a priest in a few weeks, about how he knew he was called to the priesthood.

Today we have the very special privilege of introducing you to Deacon Cole Mase, one of our three transitional deacons preparing to enter the priesthood in the next few weeks, and we're chatting about how he knew he was ready to take the first step into seminary.

Happy Mother's Day! Today we're bringing you a very special crossover episode with Mel Rossi and Jess Wolf of the podcast Simple Yes to help us dive deeper into our relationship with Mary as a human and as a mother.

Homelessness in Pennsylvania alone rose 12.2 percent over the last year according to the Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, and on any given day, over 12,000 Pennsylvanians are known to be homeless across the commonwealth. 20-25% of the homeless population across the U.S. also struggle with mental health or substance abuse issues.

This week, we’re shining a light on a powerful new ministry in the Diocese of Harrisburg — one that blends compassion, mental health care, and the Catholic call to serve the most vulnerable among us.

Named after St. Benedict Joseph Labre, the patron saint of the...

Happy Easter!

Even though we're at the end of Holy Week, how can we really lean in to this special season, this pinnacle of our faith, and truly experience it rather than just trudge through it?

Deacon Scott Root, senior theology teacher for Trinity High School, joins me again today for our Back-to-Basics series, and today we’re exploring the holiest week of the year that we just celebrated, most specifically the three day leading up to today and why they are vital to our faith.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9tLRiCb2CW...

Michael Parks of WHP 580 sits down with Bishop Timothy Senior for our annual Easter episode.

For more event info, visit hbgdiocese.org

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kuFY92hTKBM

In just a few short months, our diocese will be hosting a young adult jubilee pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi to celebrate the jubilee with Pope Francis and young people around the world while also visiting some of the world’s most incredible holy sites. We're super excited to welcome back Zack Haney, director of youth and young adult ministries and this year’s pilgrimage leader, to talk about how we can truly experience God as pilgrims, not tourists.

What if we told you that the Diocese is partnering with a unique organization that not only raises funds and awareness for crisis pregnancies, but also embraces a holistic pro-life approach using a combination of cycling and evangelization?

Today, we're excited to welcome back Zack Haney, our director of Youth and Young adult Ministry, and Marianne Weltmer, our director of Life and Dignity, to chat about our Biking for Babies even on April 26th, a unique opportunity for advocacy and action.

www.bikingforbabies.com

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-IvRmAgDCrw<...

If you're a fan of the 1989 animated classic 'All Dogs Go To Heaven,' you're probably a firm believer that our furry friends will be waiting for us on the other side.

But what does the church actually say about this? Some doctors of the church say no, while some saints and even the pope say yes. To offer us another perspective, Father Kenneth Roth, pastor at St. Joseph’s Church in Mechanicsburg and fellow animal lover, joins us today as we unpack this idea of heaven and the awesome responsibility that God has gifted to us in...

Being Catholic isn't something we 'have' to do - it's something we 'get' to do. We get to experience God's grace through His gift of the Sacraments.

Deacon Scott Root, senior theology teacher at Trinity High School, joins us again today for our back-to-basics series and today we're covering the last two sacraments, the sacraments of service which are matrimony and holy orders.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rjQJAXHyrso

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Did you know anointing of the sick isn't just for those who are dying?

Deacon Scott Root, senior theology teacher for Trinity High School, joins us again for our next installment of the Back-to-Basics series. Today we’re exploring the Sacraments of Healing: Confession and Anointing of the sick and why they’re both necessary for a healthy, fulfilling life.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eHWbpdCnS2U

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We've talked a lot about taking ownership of our Catholic Faith, and today we're going to do just that, starting with the sacraments.

Deacon Scott Root, senior theology teacher at Trinity High School, joins us for the next installment of our back to basics series and today, we're doing a deep dive into the sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.

It’s hard to have faith that things will get better or truly believe that this suffering is there for a reason. Instead of drawing closer to God, it often feels like we’ve been abandoned.

Pope Francis wrote, "God does not abandon us and often amazes us by granting us a strength that we never expected and would never have found on our own." He likened the journey of the ill to that of the disciples on the road to Emmaus who recognized Jesus travelling with them only after sharing their anxieties and disappointments with him.

We're always looking for ways to honor and improve our relationships with our spouses, our kids or our friends, but when was the last time we worked on our relationship with God? Sure you say your prayers and go to church, but when was the last time you actually put any effort into THAT relationship?

God doesn’t want to be acquaintances with us. He wants ALL of us. So how can we deepen our relationship with Him during this season of love?

Today we're excited to welcome back Chris Wood, youth minister and spiritual di...

Bishop Senior recently announced that schools in the Diocese of Harrisburg would be incorporating age-appropriate teachings of Theology of the Body into their curriculum starting with the 2025 school year. Today, we're joined by Mr. Courtney Brown, father of eight and executive director of Rua Woods Institute. Rua Woods is one of the many curriculum choices our schools and parents alike have to educate our children in Christian Anthropology and what that means for us as humans.

Rua Woods: https://www.ruahwoodsinstitute.org/

Watch on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/YfeHTyrCqP8<...

Father Ben Dunkelberger, pastor at Our Lady of the Visitation and campus minister at Shippensburg University joins us today to walk through all the vibrant opportunities to available in our Diocese for Youth and Young Adults and hopefully, you’ll learn about one that interests you!

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Deacon Scott Root, Senior Theology Teacher at Trinity High School, joins us for the start of our new series, Back to Basics. This week, we begin our deep dive into the Catholic faith, starting with the Church itself - its origins, its mission, its structure, and what we mean when we say, "a mystery of faith."

If you have any questions you'd like to ask Deacon Root, drop a comment below and we'll do our best to ask him in upcoming episodes!

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In the spirit of the new year, let’s make a resolution together to get back to basics on all things Catholic. Deacon Scott Root, senior theology teacher at Trinity High School, will be sitting down with us today and throughout 2025 to dive deep into the foundations of Catholicism, helping us get back to basics and revitalize our commitment to our faith, starting with an introduction to Catholicism, how it’s different from other Christian denominations, and how why someone should consider becoming Catholic or coming back to the faith after stepping away.

Michael Parks of WHP 580 joins Bishop Senior for our annual Christmas episode to discuss all the recent happenings in the Diocese as well as looking into what we can expect in the new year.

Today is the third Sunday of Advent, next week is Christmas already. Society tells us “its the most wonderful time of year,” that we’re just expected to be happy and smiling and joyful because its Christmas. But for many people, this is a very hard time of year. So how can we experience true joy, not just temporary holiday happiness?

Father Stephen Logue, campus minister at Millersville University and Franklin & Marshall College, and Chaplain at Lancaster Catholic high school, joins us today to define what joy really is and how we can tap into it throughout the ye...

We tend to place a lot of pressure on ourselves this time of year to do all the things in the name of preparing for Christmas. And by its definition, Advent is a season of preparation, but are we preparing the right way or are we being distracted? Making the cookies and sending the cards and putting the tree up in November isn’t really helping us prepare for Jesus’ first or second coming. It’s just stressing us out, and Jesus didn’t come to stress us out. He came to bring peace to the whole world.

So how...

Advent is a season of waiting, and God does some of His best work in our waiting seasons, but we have to have hope, and we have to trust in Him that the wait is worth it. To kick off this season of joyful anticipation, we're excited to welcome Father Bill Forrey, pastor at Holy Name of Jesus Parish, to dive deeper into the meanings of Hope and the first week of Advent.

Thanksgiving is upon us, and with it, all those reminders to be grateful. But what is gratitude, and how can we practice it throughout the year? Sister Geralyn Schmidt joins us today to unpack this virtue with tangible tips to practice it.

We will never have all the information. We aren’t meant to. That’s why we have faith. Martin Luther King Jr. is famously quoted as saying “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

To wrap up Vocations Awareness week, we have the honor of speaking with Fr Josh Weaver, Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Harrisburg to help us fill in the gaps of what a vocation is, how to know if we’re called to one, and most importantly, how to actually take that first step.

Vocations...

The end of this election won’t come with sunshine and rainbows and everyone skipping hand and hand into the sunset. What matters isn’t what’s on the news today—it’s what we choose to do about it, and the effect that choice has on our eternal souls.

Today’s episode is a repeat with Executive Director of the PA Catholic Conference and regular guest on our show, Eric Failing. Normally we don’t air repeat episodes so close to their original air date, but Eric brings a terrific sense of humor, heart and humble faith to the o...

It’s no secret we Catholics can be a little macabre – we pray in front of bones and send them on little tours, we dig people up to check out their body sometimes before canonizing them, we believe in the reality of demons, angels and the dearly departed, we also really love reminding people they will die one day.

So why do we do it?

Father Jonathan Sawicki, pastor at Saint Theresa’s Parish in New Cumberland to continues his conversation with us from Sunday as we dive into the details of each of these unique...

Halloween, unfortunately has been long associated with spirituality and the occult. Christians and non-Christians alike are convinced of Halloween’s pagan origins, and with the abundance of violence, gore, sensuality, occultism, and demonic aspects now associated with Halloween, it’s hard not to. But is Halloween a pagan holiday or is it a hijacked holy day? How does the Catholic church feel about it? And since we’re talking about ghosts, are they even real and is believing in them in accordance with our Catholic faith?

Today we're excited to welcome back to the program Father Jonathan Sawick...

On previous episodes we’ve talked about our wellness, our whole selves, as being spiritual, physical and mental. If you forsake one for another, inevitably, you will still suffer. How we nurture or nourish each of these areas directly impacts the other, which in turn impacts our whole self and how we show up in the world, how we make the real presence of Christ visible through us.

So how can we show up as God calls us to if it feels like we’re missing something? Where do we find that missing piece of the puzzle?

Well friends, love it or hate it, election season is here. If you’re anything like me, you may already be confused, concerned and maybe even a bit frustrated right now, and there’s only a few weeks left to make a decision at the polls.

Today, we're very excited to welcome back Executive Director of the PA Catholic Conference and regular guest on our show, Eric Failing. Eric brings a terrific sense of humor, heart and humble faith to the often overwhelming topic of politics and today is no different as we discuss whether or not our...

That saying old habits die hard is a saying because it’s true.

But why is that?

Is it that we lack willpower or conviction? Are we waiting for all the conditions are perfect before getting started, like waiting until Monday or waiting until the new year? What hope is there when we’re surrounded by triggers and temptations to slip back into our old ways? Does God expect us to be perfect?

Today we're honored to welcome back Erin McCole Cupp, an author and certified trauma recovery coach, to talk about this idea...

September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness month, and today I’m honored to welcome back Irma Do, a former therapist who specialized in crisis intervention and recently presented on this topic to Catholic Leadership.

** If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm, please talk with someone you trust or dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Being an adult is hard. It’s just hard. There is no path. There’s no map, and we’re all just flying by the seat of our pants, which makes it easy for us to get stuck on this hamster wheel of going through the motions not knowing where we belong - we all battle this pressure to have it all: the house with the white picket fence, the dream job, the perfect family, a real Leave it to Beaver type of image we try to hold on to.

But is it where we’re called to be? A...

I know I’m still considered young-ish, but I’ve thought about death a lot lately, and how if I were to drop dead tomorrow, would my family be taken care of? Would I want to be kept alive on life support? What options are available to maintain any form of quality of life? What about our faith?

Dying doesn't have to be scary, and talking about it won't make it happen any faster. In fact, it will save our loved ones a lot of heartache later.

Today I’m joined Christina Ring, a nurse practi...

Today we're chatting with Deacon Armando Torres, our director of Culture and Outreach here at the Diocese, about all the different apostolates we have in our vibrant Diocese, as well as a brand-new conference for our Hispanic population.

Register for our first ever Hispanic/Latino Diocesan Conference:

Hispanic | Latino Diocesan Conference - Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg (hbgdiocese.org)

If we’re not carving the Madonna out of stone, painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel or painstakingly piecing together stained glass, is our creativity honoring God and what He’s called us to? Today we’re chatting with Carolyn Astfalk, a local author and member of the Catholic Writers Guild about balancing your creativity and your vocations, bridging your art with faith, and tapping into divine inspiration.

What chance do we stand, as Catholic parents, in a world where our children’s energy and attention is so divided, especially as they get older?

Today we’re continuing our conversation with Irma Do, a wife, a mother, a former therapist and current RCIA and Youth Ministry instructor with years of parenting under her belt about that fascinating stage of parenting known as the teenage years.

Because parenting is hard and we sometimes need that extra encouragement for the different stages of parenting, we’ve broken this episode into two parts: This week is all about being in the trenches as a new parent and playing the long game of raising your kids in the faith. Next week will be all about raising teenagers, helping them come to their own conclusions and teaching them about Catholic social justice. I’m thrilled to welcome Irma Do to the program today. Irma is a wife, a mother, a former therapist and current RCIA and Youth Ministry instructor with...