AMDG: A Jesuit Podcast

Even though the French paleontologist and theologian Pierre Teilhard de Chardin died in 1955, it feels like his work is still being discussed and debated in theological circles all the time. There are numerous associations and publications dedicated solely to exploring Teilhard’s huge body of work. He made it back into the news this past fall when Pope Francis described him as “often misunderstood” during a Mass in Mongolia. Host Mike Jordan Laskey reached out to one of the foremost Teilhard experts in the United States, Sister Kathy Duffy, SSJ, to learn more about this fascinating Jesuits. Sr. Kathy is a Sister of St. Joseph of Philadelphia and the president of the of the American Teilhard Association. She’s also Professor Emerita of Physics at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, where she directs the Institute for Religion and Science. She has written two books on Teilhard, including, most recently, “Teilhard’s Struggle: Embracing the Work of Evolution” (Orbis). Sr. Kathy also guides retreats on topics related to Teilhard’s life and work. Mike asked Sr. Kathy to introduce him to Teilhard’s life and thought. Why does he continue to be so interesting to so many people today? And why is he controversial? Sr. Kathy talked about the relationship between faith and science, some key biographical moments in Teilhard’s life that shaped his theology, and where readers new to his work might want to start. American Teilhard Association: https://teilharddechardin.org/ Sr. Kathy Duffy, SSJ, Ph.D.: https://www.chc.edu/faculty/kathleen-duffy www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus jesuitmedialab.org/

For more than 60 years, the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) has been a pioneer in the service landscape. With over 100 volunteers each year and over 12,000 alumni, they are one of the largest lay, Catholic, full-time volunteer programs in the world. JVC gives young adults the opportunity to engage in service and solidarity with local communities, rooted in the values of spirituality, simple living, community and social justice. Host Mike Jordan Laskey recently spoke with JVC’s president, Tom Chabolla, who has served in the role since 2018. Tom has more than 30 years working in faith-based and community-development organizations and he brings a wealth of expertise to the role. Mike asked Tom about what inspires him in his work, plus how he and his team navigated the pandemic. They also talked about the challenges JVC and other similar organizations are facing today and how they’re responding. This conversation is the second part of a two-week series on full-time volunteer programs in the Ignatian family. Be sure to listen to last week’s conversation between my colleague Eric Clayton and Mary McGinnity, president and CEO of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, which typically works with volunteers quite a bit older than JVs, folks who have spent decades in career and family life. Jesuit Volunteer Corps: https://www.jesuitvolunteers.org/ About Tom Chabolla: https://www.jesuitvolunteers.org/jvc-news/meet-tom-chabolla-jvc-s-new-president-jvc-is-proud-to-welcome-tom-at-the-helm-of-the-organization-starting-november-1 www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus jesuitmedialab.org/

In the final meditation of the Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius of Loyola reminds us “that love ought to manifest itself in deeds rather than in words.” We are called to love and serve in all things. And so, it’s hardly a surprise that in the 500 or so years since Ignatius wrote those words, countless service organizations have grown and flourished within the Ignatian tradition. Over the course of the next two weeks, we’re going to explore two of those organizations. Today, we’re talking about the Ignatian Volunteer Corps with President and CEO of IVC, Mary McGinnity. Mary has more than 30 years of experience in leadership positions in education, faith formation, pastoral counseling, parish ministry and faith-based non-profit social justice and service organizations. She’s a graduate of the College of Holy Cross and served as a Jesuit Volunteer. Most importantly, Mary is passionate about integrating service and justice. Today’s host Eric Clayton has had the privilege of traveling to a number of IVC communities and meeting countless Ignatian volunteers. These are remarkable women and men who bring to their service experience a whole career worth of knowledge, insights, skills and networks. And they offer all of these invaluable resources to local nonprofits, bolstering the capacity of communities to respond to some of the most pressing needs of our time. What’s more, IVC is a lay-led organization that is empowering lay leaders. In many ways, IVC is helping all of us envision what it means to be Church — especially as we all try to live the ongoing lessons of the Synod on Synodality. If you’re interested in learning more about IVC, visit IVCUSA.org.

It’s hard to know where to start an interview with Jesuit Fr. Leo O’Donovan. At 89 years old, Fr. O’Donovan’s could boast a hefty list of accomplishments and accolades—though he’s not much interested in bragging. A theologian by training, he studied under the prominent Jesuit Fr. Karl Rahner in Munich, where O’Donovan’s own body of work would eventually earn him The Knight Commanders Cross of the Order of Merit, with Star, of the Federal Republic of Germany. For over a decade, Fr. O’Donovan served as president of Georgetown University. He also served on the board of the Walt Disney Company and the National Council on the Arts. Through his many leadership positions, he has become friends with global leaders such as German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright, and President Joe Biden—to name a few. Contrary to what his impressive CV might imply, Fr. O’Donovan is easy to talk to. He’s an eager storyteller, drawn to engaging people, whether that be his first-grade teacher, a Dominican nun, or his mentor Karl Rahner. For the last eight years, Fr. O’Donovan has served as the director of mission for the Jesuit Refugee Service in the U.S, a position which he calls “an incredible privilege.” Our conversation covers all this and more. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Learn more about the Jesuit Refugee Service at jrsusa.org This episode was produced and edited by MegAnne Liebsch

Have you ever met someone so passionate about something that you just couldn’t help getting excited about it, too? That was host Mike Jordan Laskey's experience when he first met Fr. Tom Curran, SJ, today's guest. Fr. Curran, who served as the president of Rockhurst University in Kansas City for 16 years, is now the coordinator of the Jesuit Prison Education Network (JPEN). Through participation in JPEN, nine different Jesuit institutes of higher learning offer college courses and degree programs -- taught by their own college/university professors -- at correctional facilities around the country. The programs are open to both those who are incarcerated and prison staff members, and Fr. Curran has some incredible stories about how the programs have changed the students and teachers lives and even the cultures of the correctional facilities themselves. In the conversation, Fr. Curran describes some of the ways our criminal justice system is dehumanizing and how prison education is a prophetic statement against that reality. He also talks about how Ignatian spirituality inspires his work and shared some of the most powerful stories from the JPEN programs. Subscribe to the JPEN email newsletter: https://jesuitscentralsouthern.us21.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=7e1f684649378603a3b6af1a0&id=6aee2e3285 AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus https://jesuitmedialab.org/

This past weekend, we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany, when the three magi followed yonder star to God’s perfect light (to paraphrase the old song). By gazing at the stars, people from near and far we’re drawn to Christ—a reminder that, woven into the very fabric of the universe, God reveals Godself, guiding us deeper into God’s mystery and an encounter with Christ. What was true more than 2,000 years ago remains true today. Stars, meteorites, planets, the mysteries of space still speak to us of God and God’s dream for creation. And the Society of Jesus continues to be on the forefront of discerning God in the stars. More than 30 asteroids have been named for Jesuits. There are a similar number of craters on the moon bearing Jesuit names. And based on the work of today’s guest, it’s entirely possible that the Society of Jesus might find itself with a few more astral namesakes in the not-so-distant future. Br. Bob Macke, SJ, is one of the world’s foremost experts in the study of meteorites. And his work has been instrumental in OSIRIS-REx mission, a recent NASA mission that might reveal new insight into the earliest moments of the solar system. Today, he talks to us about his work, his vocation and what he hopes to learn as he continues to comb through space—that final frontier. Br. Bob studied physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Washington University in St. Louis, before entering the Society of Jesus in 2001. Between 2011 and 2013 he studied theology at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, during which time he also constructed a new ideal-gas pycnometer for measuring meteorite densities. Br. Macke joined the Vatican Observatory in July 2013, where he studies meteorite physical properties in the observatory’s meteorite laboratory. In August 2014, Br. Macke became the curator of the Vatican collection of 1200 meteorite specimens.

Happy New Year! And welcome to the first episode of AMDG of 2024. Each January, to kick off a new year, we like to delve into aspects of Ignatian spirituality that might be particularly useful as we think about forming better habits and growing deeper in our relationship with God over the next 12 months. After all, Ignatian spirituality is all about discovering who God dreams we might be by better understanding the person God already knows we are—and already loves. This year is no different. We’re excited to welcome Jesuit priest, Fr. Christopher Collins, to the show today. Fr. Collins is the Vice President for Mission at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. He’s the author of several books, most recently “Habits of Freedom: 5 Ignatian Tools for Clearing Your Mind and Resting Daily in the Lord” from Ave Maria Press. It’s this book we discuss today. An important story from Scripture that Fr. Collins returns to again and again in his book—and in our conversation—is that of the Baptism of Jesus, which we celebrate on January 8. It’s an important day not only in the life of Jesus but also in our own spiritual journeys. The challenge, as Fr. Collins articulates, is to hear those words of God the Father to Jesus spoken also to us. Do we see ourselves as the beloved of God? We should! Because remembering that essential piece of our identity can make all the difference as we begin a new year. Pick up your copy of Fr. Collins' book here: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/habits-of-freedom

Tyler Button, founder of Tapestry Comics and former special education teacher, discusses his mission to make history engaging through graphic novels. He shares how visual storytelling captivates diverse learners and transforms reluctant readers. Tyler reveals the creative process behind adapting Ignatius of Loyola’s life, blending traditional imagery with modern comic styles. He reflects on the spiritual journey he experienced while developing The Greater Glory and emphasizes the importance of storytelling for the Ignatian family today.

It's an AMDG Christmas jamboree: our first-ever five-person episode. Friends of the pod (and awesome writers/retreat leaders) Shannon Evans and Cameron Bellm join AMDG's three co-hosts Mike Jordan Laskey, Eric Clayton and MegAnne Liebsch for a draft of Christmas characters. The conversation is raucous, overstuffed, reflective, spiritual, a little melancholic, mostly fun -- kind of like the whole Christmas season overall. The appearance of Shannon and Cameron is also a teaser for our new project, the Jesuit Media Lab, which gathers, forms and unleashes Ignatian creators. See how you can get involved at jesuitmedialab.org. Merry Christmas from AMDG and everyone at the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus

“There is no faith without an encounter, because faith is a personal encounter with Jesus,” Pope Francis writes. He goes on: “One of the things that helps us when we have the Gospels before our eyes is to imagine those encounters with Jesus—recreate them, look at him ourselves, meet him ourselves. In the Gospels, to look and to see are two very important verbs. So let us approach the episodes in the life of Jesus with eyes filled with contemplation.” This is a brief excerpt from the introduction to the new book “The Life of Jesus” by veteran Vatican reporter and current editorial director of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, Andrea Tornielli. Andrea is today’s guest. And as you’ll quickly learn, in his work and his writing, he lives out Pope Francis’ words. His new book isn’t just a retelling of the Gospel. It’s an experience. It’s an invitation to immerse ourselves in the story, to use our imagination and bring to life the words of Scripture. We hear, too, throughout his book the teachings of Pope Francis. In short, this book is a compilation of biblical text, imaginative prayer and papal insights. It’s very Ignatian. And, as Pope Francis reminds us, we are challenged to approach these key episodes in the life of Jesus with contemplative spirit. And we’re approaching one of those key moments now: Christmas, the Incarnation. In the conversation today, Andrea pulls from his book and his own personal prayer life to help us as we journey through these remaining Advent days and prepare anew for Christ. If you’d like to learn more about “The Life of Christ” and pick up a copy, visit the Loyola Press online store: https://store.loyolapress.com/the-life-of-jesus