AMDG: A Jesuit Podcast

Poetry can be intimidating and inaccessible. Why even bother? Guest Philip Metres is a living reminder that it’s worth it to bother, worth it to wrestle with poetry even when it’s difficult because the power of language is uniquely human and is one of the best parts of being alive. Phil is a poet, author and professor of English literature at John Caroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. He’s the author of ten books and has won fellowships from institutions like the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. As the product of a Jesuit high school and college education, it’s consoling to see that much of his work takes up themes of spirituality and social justice, and what prompted host Mike Jordan Laskey to invite Phil on the show was a fabulous essay Phil wrote for Image Journal that was part book review, part memoir and part theological reflection. Phil also reads two of his poems and talks about them. Read Phil’s Image Journal essay: https://imagejournal.org/article/the-other-world-and-this-one-immanent-and-transcendent-tendencies-in-contemporary-poetry/ Learn more about Phil: https://philipmetres.com/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Earlier this month, Nicole Perone and John Grosso were anxiously awaiting the birth of their first child. Nicole and John are both what you could call professional Catholics – Nicole is the national coordinator for a young adult initiative called ESTEEM that works to prepare college students for faith life after graduation. And after several years working in digital media for the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut, John is on the communications team at a network of Catholic philanthropic organizations called FADICA. In between Nicole and John’s conversation with host Mike Jordan Laskey and the release of this episode, Rose Marie Grosso was born on December 12, and both she and Nicole are doing well. The question at the heart of this episode: What was Advent like for two super-thoughtful, Jesuit-formed parents-to-be? Does the story of the Holy Family resonate differently when you’re nine months pregnant? And as people who have devoted their professional and personal lives to serving the church, Nicole and John offered their reflections on the state of the church today – their thoughts and feelings on this community of faith they’re bringing Rose Marie into. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

It’s a great time of year to sit back, relax and watch a Christmas movie. To help you fill out your binge-watching schedule these last few days before Christmas, host Mike Jordan Laskey invited Fr. Jim McDermott, SJ, onto the show to talk about some of their favorite movies to watch this time of year. Jim is an ideal candidate for this work. He’s a fantastic writer who covers the intersection of pop culture and spirituality. (His Twitter handle is literally “@PopCulturPriest.” These days, he’s an associate editor at America Magazine in New York, but he has training and experience as a screenwriter and spent some time working for the TV channel AMC. Jim and Mike each picked three of their favorite Christmas movies to discuss. They also talked about Jim’s life as a Jesuit writer and what interests some of his Hollywood executive friends about his vocation to the priesthood. It was a super-fun conversation and should get you in the Christmas spirit – which, as you’ll hear from Jim and Mike as a common theme in this discussion, means two parts joy and maybe three parts melancholy. Read Fr. Jim in America Magazine: https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/jim-mcdermott AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

In today's episode, meet writer and illustrator team, Paul Mitchell and Katie Broussard, a brother and sister passionate about sharing Ignatian spirituality with kids -- their own and others! Their latest project, "The Examen Book" from Loyola Press, doesn't just teach kids how to pray the examen; it invites families to encounter a God of love together. A little more about Paul and Katie: Paul cares full-time for his young sons and writes in the service of lay formation. He taught in Uganda, Chicago, Boston, and Egypt, and studied theology at the University of Notre Dame and the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. Katie is an award-winning illustrator of The Examen Book, Audacious Ignatius, Sorin Starts a School, and I'm a Saint in the Making. Buy the book: https://store.loyolapress.com/the-examen-book Find "Audacious Ignatius": https://cordepress.com/ Learn more about Paul: https://paulmitchell.blog/ Learn more about Katie: https://katiebroussard.com/about/

Saint Joseph is the most mysterious character from the Advent story. He doesn’t say anything and we know pretty much nothing about him, yet there are few figures more central to the story of our faith community. So host Mike Jordan Laskey asked his friend, Sister Colleen Gibson, SSJ, if she could help shed some light on this shadowy member of the Holy Family. Sr. Colleen is a Sister of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia and has spent a lot of time praying and reflecting on her community’s patron. Unsurprisingly, given Sr. Colleen’s intelligence and creative gifts, she brought multiple perspectives on St. Joseph you might have never considered before. Sr. Colleen also talks about her own vocation story of becoming a millennial religious sister, plus a bit of the history of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, which were founded in France by a Jesuit in 1650. Sr. Colleen also tells us about her own new podcast project, which she’s co-hosting with another sister of Saint Joseph. It’s called Beyond the Habit and they’ve just released their first few episodes. If you’d like some more Advent content from us here at the Jesuit Conference, you can sign up for daily email reflections on faith heroes formed in the Ignatian tradition at Jesuits.org/advent22 and register for a free evening of reflection on Zoom at Jesuits.org/adventprayer, which is being hosted by iconographer Kelly Latimore and writer Cameron Bellm (Wednesday, December 14, 7:30pm ET). Listen to Beyond the Habit on Spotify or wherever you get podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/3dcsfiK6IQJvWFvgAbZUuR Follow Sr. Colleen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoitssistercoll/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

Back at some of the very first Jesuit-run schools in the 1500s, teachers would work with students to put on plays. This tradition was called “Jesuit drama,” and it was seen as a fantastic way to accomplish several educational goals at once. The plays themselves were in Latin, so that helped the students learn the language. Plays required memorization and skilled rhetoric, both big values at the time. And the subject matter of these early dramas were Catholic morals and doctrine, so they were seen as central to religious instruction, too. The rich tradition of Jesuits involved in theater has continued through the ages all the way to modern times, evolving and adapting through the centuries. One of the most accomplished Jesuit theater actors, teachers and scholars is Fr. George Drance, today’s guest. Fr. Drance, who teaches theater at Fordham University, has performed and directed in more than 20 countries on five continents. He’s also the founding artistic director of the Magis Theatre Company in New York, which draws its name from that classic Jesuit word that means “the more” or “the greater.” Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked Fr. Drance about his dual vocations as Jesuit and theater artist, a bit about the history of Jesuit drama and the parallels between theater and Ignatian spirituality, how Catholic liturgy and drama are intertwined, and some of his favorite projects through the years. Also, we wanted to let you know about two Advent resources we’re preparing here at the Jesuit Conference. The first is a daily email series called Ignatian Heroes. We have 25 fabulous writers offering short reflections on Jesuits and others who have been influenced by Ignatian spirituality. You can sign up to receive these reflections at Jesuits.org/advent22. Then, we’re sponsoring a live Advent evening of reflection on Zoom. It’s called “Room at the Inn: An Ignatian Journey with the Holy Family into Advent.” The session will be led by the fabulous iconographer and visual artist Kelly Latimore and one of our favorite spiritual writers, Cameron Bellm. It’s on Wednesday, December 14, at 7:30pm ET. You can sign up for free at Jesuits.org/adventprayer. Learn more about Fr. George Drance and Magis Theatre Company: https://www.magistheatre.org/ AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States.

This week, we’re pleased to bring you another cross-over episode with our colleagues from the Jesuit Border Podcast! Jesuit fathers Brian Strassburger and Louie Hotop live and work in the Rio Grande Valley, providing aid and spiritual companionship to migrants on both sides of the US-Mexico border. Their podcast depicts their daily ministry, and how communities are responding to the humanitarian crisis on the border. On this episode, Brian and Louie interview Bishop Mark Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso, TX. Known for his advocacy for the poor and vulnerable, Bishop Seitz offers a unique perspective as a leader of the Church in a border community. On this episode, he calls for a deeper conversation about migration, one that is not solely dominated by socio-political concerns, but shaped by a theological perspective that identifies the migrant experience as essential for understanding the Church. He also talks about celebrating Mass at the border wall on an altar which straddled both sides; a reminder of the unifying force of the Eucharist even amidst division. We offer our own reflection on experiences of breaking bread with migrants through our Sacramental ministry; including a 12-year-old altar server named Vincent who just can’t quite seem to figure out when to ring the bells. Subscribe to the Jesuit Border Podcast wherever you listen! Learn more about Louie and Brian’s work: https://thejesuitpost.org/2021/11/the-jesuit-border-podcast/

A king. A cope. And a faith under siege. Intrigued? Today’s episode covers all this and more. Our guest, Dr. Jan Graffius, the curator of collections at Stonyhurst College in the UK – the oldest surviving Jesuit school in the world – is our guide through a riveting history that traces the rise and fall of the Catholic Church in England through the lens of a single piece of art: a cope commissioned by Henry VII. Copes are common liturgical vestments. But this one – one of the most expensive items commissioned by a king – was meant to unite the power of Church and State to strengthen a dubious claim to the throne but ultimately became a symbol of Catholic resistance and was smuggled out of the country. This cope and the stories that surround it remind us of the power of art to point to both spiritual and temporal power – and the dangers therein. You can see this cope and more as it travels across the United States in the exhibition, “The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England.” The dates below let you know when the exhibition is in your area: • New York: 3 October 2022 – 8 January 2023 • Cleveland: 21 February 2023 – 14 May 2023 • San Francisco: 26 June 2023 – 24 September 2023 Learn more: • The Met: https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2022/tudors • The Cleveland Museum of Art: https://www.clevelandart.org/exhibitions/tudors-art-and-majesty-renaissance-england • About Stonhurst: https://www.stonyhurst.ac.uk/about-us/stonyhurst-college-historic-collections/contact-us

With U.S. midterm elections just a week away, we know a lot of people in the U.S. might be wanting a break from politics, a break from excessive political ads and tense discussions with loved ones. But as Pope Francis says, good Catholics meddle in politics. In fact, political engagement can be a positive manifestation of our faith. A way to promote the common good for all people. And that work doesn’t stop with Election Day—it’s a yearlong job. So, on this special Election Week episode, MegAnne Liebsch talks with professional, full-time advocate and our colleague, Thomas Mulloy. Tom is the government relations director for the Jesuit Office of Justice and Ecology—or OJE as we call it. OJE is the advocacy arm of the Jesuits, and through Tom, we advocate with the federal government on various social and environmental justice issues. On this episode, we talk about why the Jesuits are involved in federal advocacy, what regular citizens can teach Congress and how faithful citizenship extends beyond Election Day. Stay up to date with the Jesuits advocacy efforts through our email newsletter: jesuits.org/advocate To learn more about faithful citizenship, check out our guide: jesuits.org/civic-engagement

This is a spooky episode. And that makes sense, right? We’re in that time of year when both secular and spiritual calendars invite us to reflect on the supernatural, the unknown, those spirits at work in our lives in ways we can’t quite put our finger on. We celebrate and remember our beloved dead—but first we masquerade as ghosts and goblins For many of us, the more secular ghost stories that Halloween represents—hauntings and the like—are kept separate from our belief in Heaven and the afterlife, all that All Saints and All Souls Days point to. But for our guest today, Gary Jansen—Director for New Products and Acquisitions at Loyola Press and author of the book, “Holy Ghosts: Or How a (Not So) Good Catholic Boy Became a Believer in Things that Go Bump in the Night—ghosts, spirits, souls and the afterlife all come together in his own story and his own faith. A number of years ago, he found himself living in a real haunted house. He writes about it in his book, and he shares some reflections on the matter with us today. In the end, what Gary really drives home is that any supernatural occurrences ultimately serve to lift our gaze upward at the supernatural world in general—in that world, we encounter angels and demons, miracles and hidden whispers, and ultimately, we come closer to God as we delve more deeply into the mysteries of our faith. If you’re interested in checking out Gary’s book or learning more about Gary’s other works—including an excellent new kids book, “Remember Us With Smiles,” click on the links below. Click here to visit Gary's site: https://garyjansen.com/ Click here to learn more about "Holy Ghosts": https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Ghosts-Catholic-Became-Believer/dp/1585428957/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1511371674&sr=1-1&keywords=Holy+Ghosts#customerReviews