AMDG: A Jesuit Podcast

Dr. Jeanette Epps is an aerospace engineer and a NASA astronaut. Earlier this year, it was announced that Jeanette had been chosen for a six-month mission to the International Space Station, where she will become the first Black woman to live and work in space for an extended amount of time. Jeanette is also a product of Jesuit education: she graduated from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY, in 1992 and currently serves on the school’s board of directors. She talked to host Mike Jordan Laskey last month about life as an astronaut, how she reacted when she found out about her upcoming mission to space, what she values about Le Moyne College, and how the wonders of the universe shape her faith in God. Learn more about Jeanette here: https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/jeanette-j-epps/biography Subscribe to AMDG wherever you get podcasts.

Sr. Colleen Gibson, SSJ, offers her original poem, "The Signs," written in the waning hours of November 3, 2020. Sr. Colleen is a Sister of Saint Joseph, who currently serves as coordinator of services at the Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Center in Camden, New Jersey and is a regular contributor to Give Us This Day, National Catholic Reporter, and Global Sisters Report.

We made it to Election Week in the strangest, most stressful presidential election campaign season of our lifetimes. Today's guest, Bill McCormick, SJ, is such a hopeful, faith-filled guy you might leave the episode feeling maybe even a little optimistic about things. A Jesuit-in-training and a political science professor, Bill is the perfect person to wrap up our series on faith and politics. He and host Mike Jordan Laskey discuss Pope Francis' political vision and how we might respond to the needs of the world with compassion and a long view. Read Bill at America Magazine, where he's a contributing editor: https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/bill-mccormick-sj Follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BMcCSJ Check out all the Jesuits' faith and politics coverage: https://jesuits.org/election2020

There are lots of tricky phrases that pop up often in Catholic faith and politics conversations these days: Constitutional originalism. Intrinsic evil. Prudential judgment. "Non-negotiable issues." Professor Cathleen Kaveny of Boston College helps host Mike Jordan Laskey unpack and understand these ideas and more. Dr. Kaveny is the first person in the history of BC to hold joint appointments in the theology department and law school, and has made her unique career at the intersection of faith, morality and law. Learn more about her work here: https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/law/academics-faculty/faculty-directory/cathleen-kaveny.html Find all the Jesuits' faith and politics coverage at jesuits.org/election2020.

Congressman Francis Rooney is a conservative Republican from a conservative district in Florida, but the issues he wanted to discuss with host Mike Jordan Laskey were not standard GOP talking points: he wanted to talk about fighting climate change, protecting the Everglades and stopping offshore drilling in Florida. He brought up economic inequality and his vote for a $15 per hour minimum wage. He railed against partisan gerrymandering. It's disappointing the Congressman isn’t running for reelection this year because his commitment to building bridges across partisan divides is rare. We sure could use more elected leaders with open minds in this polarized era. Congressman Rooney also talked about his tenure as the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, a position he held from 2005 until 2008. He shared some great behind-the-scenes stories about his experiences with Pope Benedict XVI, and also what he learned about the church by engaging with the Vatican on diplomatic affairs. Finally, he talked about how his Jesuit education impacted him, which included stops at Georgetown Prep, Georgetown University and Georgetown Law. This episode is part of a series on faith and politics inspired by the new Jesuit document titled “Contemplation and Political Action: An Ignatian Guide to Civic Engagement.” Read the document and see the rest of our faith and politics coverage at jesuits.org/election2020.

Sr. Quincy Howard, OP, is the Coordinating Director of advocacy, outreach and campaigns for the Faithful Democracy coalition, which is a multi-faith community of organizations and congregations who share the moral imperative of fixing our democracy. She talks with host Mike Jordan Laskey about the threats to our democratic systems and how we can address them. She also shares her vocation story, which is one of the most incredible paths to religious life you'll ever hear. Get involved with Faithful Democracy: https://faithfuldemocracy.us/ Sr. Quincy's viral moment: https://twitter.com/chrismazina/status/1267868625416921089 This is part of our series on faith and politics. To read the new Jesuit Conference document "Contemplation and Political Action: An Ignatian Guide to Civic Engagement," visit http://jesuits.org/civic-engagement.

To help you spiritually prepare for Election Day, we’re kicking off a series of episodes on faith and politics. You know, those topics you’re not supposed to discuss in polite company. These episodes are inspired by a new document by the Jesuits of Canada and the USA called “Contemplation and Political Action: An Ignatian Guide to Civic Engagement,” which reflects on how Ignatian spirituality can help shape the way we participate in political life. Our guest today is no stranger to these topics: Fr. Tom Reese, SJ. Fr. Tom is a well known and long-time commentator on faith and public life, and currently serves as a columnist for the Religion News Service. He is a former editor of America Magazine and wrote the book "Inside the Vatican." He talked with host Mike Jordan Laskey about the election and how Catholics can navigate political choices when neither of our major parties perfectly align with Catholic social justice teachings. Fr. Reese's recent fabulous piece on Catholic voting: https://religionnews.com/2020/08/27/trump-or-biden-whats-a-catholic-voter-to-do/ Follow Fr. Reese on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThomasReeseSJ Subscribe to AMDG wherever you listen to podcasts.

Fr. Jason Downer, SJ, had been studying to be a Jesuit priest for the better part of the last ten years. Somehow, though, ordination during a pandemic wasn't on the course list. Jason is today's guest. He reflects on how Ignatian spirituality grounded him during the uncertain months surrounding his ordination. And how his closeness to God continues to ground him during his first assignment in Saipan -- an island in the Western Pacific. As you'll hear, Jason's vocation story comes full circle with two flights over the Pacific Ocean. And he reminds us what it means to be a true example of contemplation in action.

Paisley Sierra grew up in a community where clean water is scarce. Her family's water sources are threatened by contamination from uranium mining and oil pipelines. Sierra lives in South Dakota, on the Pine Ridge reservation. As a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation, Sierra believes that "water is life." But, the Lakota must fight for this basic resource. On this episode of AMDG, guest host MegAnne Liebsch talks to Paisley Sierra about her community's battle for land and water rights. We also hear from key Jesuit partners on the frontlines of this fight, including President of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Rodney Bordeaux, Fr. Peter Bisson, SJ, and Sr. Priscilla Solomon, CSJ and Ojibway First Nations. Interested in how the Jesuits are working for environmental justice across the world? Join the Global Ignatian Prayer Vigil for the Season of Creation on September 25 at 8pm ET. Go to www.breathingtogether.jesuits.global to learn more. This episode was produced and edited by MegAnne Liebsch.

On last week’s episode, we talked to Australian Jesuit Fr. Michael Hansen about the First Spiritual Exercises – otherwise known as the 18th Annotation Retreat – and dug into how this seemingly forgotten form of the Exercises can transform our thinking and approach to Ignatian Spirituality. Think of this week as “part 2”. Fr. Rob McChesney discovered the 18th Annotation Retreat only recently. He’s just back from three years working with the Jesuit Refugee Service in Amman, Jordan, and he’s reflecting on how the Jesuits might better minister to victims of trauma: refugees, war veterans, survivors of sexual abuse, and others. For Rob, the light bulb went off when he came upon Fr. Hansen’s work on the first spiritual exercises. Today's conversation is about applying Ignatian spirituality in general and the 18th annotation in particular to meet the needs of some of the most vulnerable members of our human family. Hopefully it gives you something to chew on, especially as you consider ways to put your own Ignatian contemplation into action. You can find more great spirituality resources at Jesuits.org/spirituality. And if you're interested in getting in touch with Fr. Rob to learn more and help him with his work, contact him at rmcchesney@jesuits.net.