by Adam Mitchell | May 9, 2019 | Podcast
An interview with Vatican Correspondent and Orbis Books Author
We are joined by Gerard O’Connell, associate editor and Vatican correspondent for America Magazine, who recently authored Orbis Books’ the Election of Pope Francis, an Inside Account of the Conclave that Change History.
Gerry, who’s covered the Vatican for nearly 35 years, brings special insight into the current pope as he and his wife, who’s also a Vatican correspondent from Argentina, were friends with Cardinal Bergoglio before he was elected in 2013.
Contrary to the predictions of most Vatican watchers, both Gerry and his wife predicted Bergoglio might well become the next pope.
We hope you enjoy this fascinating and detailed perspective of the historic 2013 Vatican conclave.
Gerard O’Connell is an associate editor and Vatican correspondent for America magazine.
He has covered the Vatican since 1985, reporting for a number of English-speaking news outlets, including The Tablet (UK), Our Sunday Visitor, The National Catholic Reporter, and Inside the Vatican.
He is the author of Do Not Stifle the Spirit: Conversations with Jacques Dupuis (Orbis).
by Adam Mitchell | Mar 29, 2019 | Podcast
Hello everyone, it’s Father Daniel Kim here.
Thank you so much for your questions. According to this list, it seems like the most common question is, surprise, surprise, why do we give up things for Lent?
Well, I’ll give you the short answer.
It’s because Christians, we are called to imitate the life of Christ, and that involves the time he spent in the desert, where for 40 days he was not only tempted by the Devil, but through self denial prepared himself for the ministry, the very public ministry that lay ahead.
As baptized faithful, we do believe that God has a specific calling for each and every one of us. By not indulging in the things that we normally do, helps us reexamine our spiritual lives, the quality of our spiritual lives, and to really get closer to Christ, which is basically what we are all called to do, ultimately.
One Lent I remember, I gave up meat. Not just on Fridays, but for 40 days. It was tough, but during the process, especially when I got cravings, I was like, ‘If Christ could give up not eating for 40 days, I think I can give up not eating meat“.
You know, through that self denial, it really connected me closer to Christ. It was a pretty meaningful Lenten season, and Easter was awesome too, because … You know what?
I actually remember it right now. Some of the funny things that I found that people gave up, this is according to The Daily Express, it’s a U.K. Magazine.
The most common things were chocolate, social networking, alcohol, Twitter, Facebook, school … Okay … Meat, sweets, coffee, and soda.
The funny thing is, it says social media here. One of my Lenten observances this year is to actually engage in social media, and I ended up creating an Instagram and Twitter account to connect with all of you. Yeah, I guess it could kind of go both ways.
It depends on what leads you into getting closer to Christ.
Anyway, that’s kind of my answer for why do we give up things for Lent. For next week, I was thinking we could do something fun.
I just listed the many things that people gave up, were the popular things that people gave up for Lent. Why don’t we share that amongst ourselves?
I’ll create a poll following this post, and in it you could share what you have given up, and if you’re successful this far. I’ll share the results with you next week.
Thanks again for listening, and have a wonderful rest of the Lenten season. God bless.
by Adam Mitchell | Mar 14, 2019 | Podcast
On this episode of Among The People, we sit down with Father Russ Feldmeier, a Maryknoll missioner who spent 36 years on foreign mission assigned to Korea following his time with the Peace Corps. He is currently heading the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers formation house in Chicago.
Our co-host, Fr. Joe Veneroso and Fr. Russ have a deep history with each other, both serving in the Peace Corps in Korea prior to joining Maryknoll. We will also talk about the Catholic Church’s past and future in Korea.
The interview also touches on how the acceptance of international seminarians are shaping the future of Maryknoll and how it can serve a better world.
by Adam Mitchell | Feb 21, 2019 | Podcast
Father Mike is an actor. Always has been, always will be. He’s also a missionary with a vast array of experiences in Latin America, Asia and Africa.
Turn your dial up and learn about the versatile and spiritually gifted Father Michael Bassano, M.M., who currently works with refugees in a UN-run camp in South Sudan. Follow his exciting and remarkable journey from Chile to Thailand to Tanzania and beyond as a Maryknoll missioner of unshakable faith and calling.
In this deeply moving podcast, the ebullient priest gives his testimony as to how God tugs on us until we answer; how He prepares us for our real calling through everything we do beforehand, and how “…all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
From his humble days in the Diocese of Syracuse, the small town pastor felt a nudge—no, a shove—to “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15). But just how would that happen in the context of his cozy parish?
So, in 1987, he decide to join the ranks of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers—the Catholic Foreign Mission Society—with the understanding that he would return to his duties Stateside after five years.
Well, God had other plans. Moved by the sacrifices of the Church martyrs of El Salvador, he mobilized himself for the poor and voiceless, and remains a Maryknoll missioner to this day.
But, let’s go back to “Act One, Scene One” of this real-life play for a moment.
Some actors are shy in real life; others have a boldness that crosses over from the stage to the street. Father Mike possesses that boldness. His journey with Maryknoll started out with an unannounced visit to the Maryknoll campus, when he asked to see “a priest” and stated his case for apprenticeship. After securing his bishop’s permission, he was assigned as an associate to Chile.
Fear ran through Father Mike’s veins as he disembarked the plane, entering into the dangerous territory of the Pinochet regime. But he wasn’t as afraid for his own safety as much as he was of his perceived inadequacy for the calling that burned within him. “If you’re working with the poor, you must be communist!” he says of the military junta’s perception of him.
During his reign as president and then Supreme Head of the nation, Augusto Pinochet had incarcerated 80,000, tortured tens of thousands and executed 3,095 souls.
Even when teargassed, arrested, and finding himself in the midst of a post-coup volatility that could have resulted in his death, Father Mike sang songs of justice for those who vanished mysteriously, never to return to their families.
He took to the streets, a wandering minstrel of sorts, with guitar, cross and basket in hand to perform the Gospel of Saint Matthew for anyone who would listen. Dramatizing reality was a means of survival for many Chilean youth; it brought healing from growing up in alcoholic homes, witnessing neighbors being tortured and feeling the uncertainly of their future. The tenacity of the human spirit in these “poblanos” astounded the early missioner.
“It’s like God had been preparing me for all the theater I did before, to do something as a missioner that would really impact the hearts of people,” said Father Mike.He continues to take his show on the road in other parts of the world where Maryknoll missioners serve.
You won’t find stories like Father Mike’s in any history book or documentary. Listen and learn—as they say—to what a real-life missioner with the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers has to share, because we’ve only just begun to scratch the surface here.
by Adam Mitchell | Nov 30, 2018 | Podcast
From the streets of Chile, during the protest demonstrations against torture, to caring for HIV/AIDS patients in Thailand and now serving the people of Sudan, Fr. Mike Bassano share his reflections and stories as a Maryknoll missioner.
by Adam Mitchell | Nov 21, 2018 | Podcast
On this special episode of Among The People, we recognize the celebration of International Children’s day by interviewing Father Frank Breen, M.M. Father Breen shares with us his extensive work in Africa and here in the United States serving immigrants and refugees.
by Adam Mitchell | Nov 2, 2018 | Podcast
by Adam Mitchell | Oct 19, 2018 | Podcast
In this episode we speak with Fr. Alejandro Marina M.M., one of the newest Maryknollers, though he celebrated twenty five years as a priest prior.
Coming from Argentina, Fr. Alejandro offers a unique perspective on the growing challenges of doing mission throughout Latin America. He explores the reasons why in a part of the world where most of the people are christian, many face terrible situations of injustice, poverty and oppression.
Fr. Alejandro also shares many of his thoughts on such topics as mission in Latin America, Cuba and his feelings on Pope Francis.
About Padre Alejandro Marina, M.M.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Maryknoll Father Alejandro Marina was ordained a priest in 1993 in the Diocese of San Isidro. He was director of missions in his diocese and, as part of that work, he was sent as a missionary to Holguín, Cuba, for four years. Father Alejandro has a degree in Dogmatic Theology and has specialized in the area of Missiology. He is currently the director of the Maryknoll Mission Center in Latin America, based in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
Nacido en Buenos Aires, Argentina, el Padre Maryknoll Alejandro Marina fue ordenado sacerdote en 1993 en la Diócesis de San Isidro. Fue director de misiones en su diócesis y, como parte de dicho trabajo, fue enviado como misionero a Holguín, Cuba, por cuatro años. Es Licenciado en Teología Dogmática y se ha especializado en el área de la Misionología. Actualmente es el director del Centro Misionero Maryknoll en América Latina (CMMAL), con sede en Cochabamba, Bolivia, y enseña Antropología en la Universidad Católica Boliviana.
by Adam Mitchell | Sep 28, 2018 | Podcast
“Its a good feeling knowing that the universal church is recognizing his life as a prophet, as a priest, and as a martyr.”
This is how Franciscan Br. Octavio Duran describes soon-to-be canonized Archbishop Oscar Romero.
Br. Octavio personally knew Bishop Romeo, often interviewing him at the Catholic Radio Station in San Salvador, accompanying him in pastoral visits, and documenting the Bishop’s life and work in photographs.
In addition to this episode, you’ll be able to read more about Br. Octavio’s time and work with the soon to be canonized Archbishop in Romero: Saint for the World found in our September/October issue of Maryknoll Magazine.
Brother Octavio is a dear friend of Maryknoll and we’re honored to have had him on “Among the People” and hope you enjoy his unique story and tales of Bishop Romero.
Episode Notes:
Romero: Saint for the World
by Adam Mitchell | Sep 11, 2018 | Podcast
It’s a beautiful September morning. Maryknoll Fr. Ray Nobiletti had just celebrated 8 o’clock Mass in Transfiguration Church in Lower Manhattan. The primary election for the Mayor of New York City was that day and the elementary school at Transfiguration was buzzing with the start of brand new school year. In fact it was the children’s 2nd day of school. The date is September 11, 2001.
After Mass Fr. Nobiletti received a phone call and was informed that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center, a building he always enjoyed looking at from his bedroom window, and he was asked if he could go immediately to the burning building to help minister to the wounded.
Barely having time to collect his thoughts, let alone his stole, prayer book, and holy oils, Fr. Nobiletti proceeded into the chaos of what would become known as one of the worst tragedies the United States has ever seen.
As tens of thousands of people are trying to escape Lower Manhattan, Fr. Nobiletti is walking in that direction. With people grabbing on to him, screaming, and crying it didn’t matter whether you were Catholic or not that day. He didn’t know it at the time but his presence became a beacon of light in the blackness, dust, and tragedy of that day.
