by Adam Mitchell | Mar 22, 2018 | Podcast
In this episode, Father Mike Snyder joins us to share his story about his foreign mission work in East Africa, how he saw the face of Jesus Christ in an old lady named Stella and how the music he plays on his guitar has united people from all parts of the world.
About Father Mike
Fr. Mike Snyder M.M. is a native of Rutherford and Wayne, New Jersey. After ordination, he was assigned to Tanzania, East Africa where he served for a total of 26 years.
During that time he was stationed in various mission parishes and most recently he served as the chaplain at the Muhimbili University of Health & Allied Sciences (the national medical university of Tanzania in Dar es Salaam).
Fr. Mike has served in various leadership positions with Maryknoll, including as Vocation Director from1999-2006. He was re-assigned to vocations in Oct. 2015.
Episode Notes
Watch Father Mike Snyder play and sing the Tanzanian National Anthem in it’s native Swahili language, click here.
by Adam Mitchell | Mar 9, 2018 | Podcast
An interview with The Director of Liturgy, Music Ritual and Worship for Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
On this episode of Among the People, we interview our Director of Music, Worship, & Ritual, Chris Reilly.
Chris, a leader in pastoral music, gives us a glimpse into the world of someone whose made music for the Church for decades. We’ll cover his life, how he was influenced by music, a brief history of sacred music, as well as the shifts he’s seeing in the Church including, a surprising shift towards a more traditional celebration of worship.
Chris will also give us his expert insights and thoughts on the future of music in the Church!
If you’re a big fan of Maryknoll’s Christmas Concerts or a fan of Music in general, you won’t want to miss this episode.
by Adam Mitchell | Feb 22, 2018 | Podcast
A life of peace activism and reflections of friendship with Daniel Berrigan and Dorothy Day
In this episode we are joined by Orbis Books Author, Jim Forest. Jim takes us through his early years that inspired his writing, from childhood to his time in the United States Military and into his lifelong work as an activist for peace.
He reflects on his call to christianity, his time working with Dorothy Day at the Catholic Worker and how he was first introduced and inspired by Daniel Berrigan.
About Jim Forest
Jim Forest is an internationally renowned peacemaker and spiritual writer. His many books include biographies of Dorothy Day (All is Grace) and Thomas Merton (Living with Wisdom). His most recent book is The Root of War Is Fear: Thomas Merton’s Advice to Peacemakers. He lives in Alkmaar, the Netherlands.
Episode Notes
Jim Forest on Facebook
Jim and Nancy Forest
Join Jim on the new Orbis Book Club Facebook Group. When you join, all book club members will receive 35% off At Play in the Lions’ Den: A Biography and memoire of Daniel Berrigan.
Orbis Book Club
by Adam Mitchell | Feb 9, 2018 | Podcast
Today, we’re joined in the studio by award winning Author and recent speaker at Maryknoll, Jana Laiz.
As you will hear in this interview, Jana’s mission is to change the world, one book at a time. You will hear how the topics she is so passionate about such as climate change, the global refugee crisis, equal rights are woven into her stories; stories that are not only take her readers on a captivating journey, but also speak to critical issues of our time… You may even learn a thing or two about faeries.
More About Jana Laiz
Fascinated by other cultures, Jana studied anthropology and Chinese language at University. She is a teacher, a writer, an editor, a mom, an animal lover, a sea glass collector, a musician and a dreamer.
She is passionate about our beautiful planet and endeavors to make a difference in the world and to work with others who feel the same.
Jana is the very first Writer-In-Residence at Herman Melville’s beloved Arrowhead where she is working on a new novel. She lives in a 205-year-old farmhouse in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts.
Episode Notes:
Learn more about Jana: JanaLaiz.com
Find her on Facebook
Discover her books on Amazon
Berkshire Historical Society at Herman Mellville’s Arrowhead
by Adam Mitchell | Jan 25, 2018 | Podcast
In this episode, Megan and Father Joe interview Kevin Foy, National Team Leader of Teacher and Catechist Outreach at Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. They discuss Kevin’s experiences as a former teacher working with youth, his life as a catechist and a lay person who is helping to promote and transform the church in the US among young people.
Kevin has more than fifteen years experience ministering to and with ethnically and economically diverse communities across the United States, has worked as a middle school teacher and curriculum consultant in multiple dioceses, and has led mission immersion experiences in North, Central, and South America.
Episode Notes
You can reach Kevin Foy at: KFoy@Maryknoll.org
Discover Your Neighbor: Classroom education program.
by Adam Mitchell | Jan 17, 2018 | Podcast
Recently, Jesuit Father James Martin, Orbis Books author (Essential Writings and This Our Exile), editor-at-large of America magazine and consultant to the Vatican’s Secretariat for Communication, shared his thoughts on prayer, forgiveness and more with our senior marketing technologist, Adam Mitchell.
Jim Martin is an American Jesuit priest, a writer, and editor-at-large of the Jesuit magazine America. He grew up in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, and now lives in the America House Jesuit Community in midtown Manhattan.
On April 12, 2017, Pope Francis appointed Martin and EWTN leader Michael Warsaw as consultants to the Vatican’s Secretariat for Communications.
Episode Notes
Father Martin’s articles and information can be found at America The Jesuit Review, by Clicking Here
Published work is available from Orbis Books, follow the links below.
James Martin, Essential Writings
This Our Exile
Father Martin’s books can also be be found on Amazon.com, by Clicking Here
Follow Father Martin on Facebook and Twitter
by Adam Mitchell | Dec 29, 2017 | Podcast
Father John Dear joins us to discuss how he has committed his life to promoting world peace, social justice, non-violence and awareness of the extreme dangers we face with climate change.
His empowering message will motivate you to deeply consider your personal role in ending violence, racism and poverty as he shares his own accounts of non-violent activism, incarceration, protest and putting himself in harm’s way for the promotion of peace and justice.
“To be a Christian is to be a person of non-violence, which means to be a Christian you cannot have anything to do with war, racism, greed, nuclear weapons, environmental destruction … you have to be continuing Jesus’ life of revolutionary non-violence.”
His profound stories range from hitchhiking through war-ravaged Lebanon, where from the Sea of Galilee he witnessed Israeli bombs drop upon the place where Jesus spoke. Father Dear goes on to share his reflections from his life-long work that has taken him around the world, from the most dangerous war zones to the streets of the largest cities, spreading his message in protest of violence and social injustice.
Father Dear is an author and sought after lecturer on the topics of peace, disarmament and non-violence throughout the United States, and around the world, including national speaking tours of England, Australia and New Zealand.
Father Dear has received several peace awards, including the 2010 Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award and has been nominated several times for the Nobel Peace Prize. In January 2008 he was nominated by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and with Leo Rebello in 2015.
Today, Father Dear lives completely off the grid on a remote mountaintop in the desert, but continues his busy schedule of educating people on the necessity of creating a new culture of peace throughout the world.
“We all have to become activists; we all need to stand in opposition to the culture of war.”
Father Dear can be personally reached at www.fatherjohndear.com
Published work is available from Orbis Books, follow the links below.
Thomas Merton, Peacemaker
Lazarus, Come Forth!
You Will Be My Witnesses
They Will Inherit the Earth
Mohandas Gandhi
Daniel Berrigan
by Adam Mitchell | Dec 21, 2017 | Podcast
We are proud to bring you the first episode of Among The People, with an impactful interview with Maryknoll Brother John Beeching.
In this episode, Brother John shares:
• His time with Mother Teresa, a story we’re sure you’ve never heard.
• His war experiences in Beirut and Yemen.
• Managing the trauma of war.
• His selfless work with the Mon refugees of Myanmar and Thailand.
• Christian love and Buddhist compassion.
About Brother John:
Much of Brother Beeching’s work in Thailand has involved accompanying Mon refugees and monks, who have taken shelter at Wat Prok, a Buddhist temple in Bangkok.
The Mon are indigenous Burmese people, who have been brutalized by the ruling military regime of Burma (Myanmar, as the military government now refers to the country).
Brother Beeching joins the Mon and other Burmese ethnic groups in demonstrating in front of the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok, helps them secure visas and passports, and assists them in getting supplies to some of the refugee camps along the Burmese/Thai border.
He writes: “Despite differences in belief, these fellow refugees and I have grown through the experience of service as a shared sense of community. Together we break the bread of compassion. Together we sit in silence trying to be present to the gift of the moment, and are drawn ever deeper into the ineffable mystery of God.”
Prior to Bangkok, Brother John served first in Chile and then in the Middle East, working in Egypt, Yemen and Lebanon. In war-ravaged Beirut he experienced numerous narrow escapes with mortar attacks and terrorist bombings. It was also a time when he became involved in interfaith dialogue, an interest that has grown within the old walls of Wat Prok, Thailand.
For him, Christian love and Buddhist compassion comprise the same call to action. “Buddhists say you are a brother to the mosquito you slapped on your wrist. The tree, the water-it’s all part of what is happening in you. It’s a brotherhood that embraces all life.”
