Vocations, voting and building virtuous community with Bishop Kevin Sweeney

This week on a live recording of  “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley chat with Bishop Kevin Sweeney, the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. (and a “Jesuitical” superfan!), about his spiritual journey as a young priest on Sept. 11, 2001, and his transition to becoming a bishop during the Covid-19 pandemic. Bishop Sweeney cites his knowledge gained in hard times as the catalyst for his pastoral approach to fostering community in an evolving church. They discuss:  - Bishop Sweeney’s own vocational journey, from considering professional baseball to embracing the priesthood and, later, the episcopacy. - How modern vocations of both men and women emphasize the radical Gospel call to co-responsibility among the laity in the life of the church. - Tangible ways that the church can help navigate the upcoming U.S. presidential election with a spirit of unity and respect. In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss Pope Francis’ recent advice to Catholics voting in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, where he called both major candidates “against life” and framed the election as a vote for the “lesser evil”; and curious stories about incorruptibility—the divine intervention that allows the bodies of certain saints to completely or partially avoid decomposition after death as a sign of their holiness. Links from the show:  I was a young New York priest on 9/11. The lessons of that day stay with me as a bishop. Beyond The Beacon Podcast  Pope Francis: Trump and Harris are ‘both against life’ but Catholics must vote and choose ‘lesser evil’ Nun’s incorruptible remains highlight rich heritage of Black Catholics in U.S., say experts Carmelites find St. Teresa of Ávila’s body still incorrupt over 400 years after her death Become a Jesuitical Patron and get access to the recording of an exclusive synod Zoom event with James Martin, S.J., held on Thursday, Sept. 19 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley chat with gold medal-winning Olympic rower Nick Mead, who shares insights about being an Olympic athlete and praying with his team in Paris. Nick had the honor of being one of the two flag bearers at the 2024 closing ceremony (along with Catholic Olympic champion Katie Ledecky), and this fall, he’s preparing for his next win: a marriage in the Catholic Church.  They discuss:  How it felt to experience the excitement, camaraderie and faith sharing at the highest stage of athletic accomplishment  The training and sacrifices involved in being an Olympic athlete, including the intense conditioning schedule, the toll on relationships and the pressure to perform.  Nick’s religious background and experience with pre-marital counseling in the Catholic Church In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss Pope Francis’ recent trip to Asia and Oceania, including his stops in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Singapore; and a new short documentary produced by their colleague and producer Sebastian Gomes on the state of the question of women deacons in the Catholic Church, which is now published on YouTube. Watch here!  What’s on tap? Gatorade Links from the show:  Women Deacons and the Catholic Church | An Explainer Pope Francis visits ‘the periphery of the peripheries’ in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea Pope Francis celebrates Mass for nearly half the population of Timor Leste Pope Francis in Singapore: visiting a small but influential Catholic Church What does Pope Francis’ ‘no’ mean for the Catholic debate over women deacons? Beyond The Beacon Podcast  Become a Jesuitical Patron and get access to an exclusive synod Zoom event with James Martin, S.J., on Thursday, Sept. 19, from 6-7 p.m. ET. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the first episode of season eight of “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley critique a general perception that younger priests are more conservative and rigid in their pastoral ministry. Joining them to discuss the countercultural decision to join the diocesan priesthood is the Rev. Wade Bass, a young priest who serves as pastoral administrator at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Allen, Tex., a suburb of Dallas. They discuss:  - Father Wade’s call to the priesthood, experience in seminary and love of the liturgy - The daily life and duties of young diocesan priests today, the joy and positive energy among younger priests, and the risks of loneliness and burnout - The extent to which the ministry of these priests is—or is not—impacted by theological and ideological debates within the church  In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss Pope Francis’ apostolic journey to Asia; a lawsuit from the Diocese of Paterson, N.J., over a new procedural change by the United States government regarding the processing of green cards for foreign-born priests; and the tragic execution by Hamas of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose mother, Rachel, appeared on Jesuitical in November 2023. Links from the show:  Pope Francis begins the longest trip of his papacy yet despite age and mobility issues Mother of a Gaza hostage on keeping faith after Oct. 7: ‘It doesn’t make sense. And I still believe.’ Diocese sues immigration agencies over rule change that could force thousands of foreign-born priests to leave U.S. Catholics are more liberal. Young priests are more conservative. Can the synod help us overcome our divisions? Why Pope Francis is worried about seminaries and young priests with ‘authoritarian attitudes’ Join Jesuitical for a live recording on Wednesday, Sept. 11 in Madison, New Jersey! Become a Jesuitical Patron and get access to an exclusive synod Zoom event with James Martin, S.J., on Thursday, Sept. 19, from 6-7 p.m. ET. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[CLICK HERE to complete the 2024 Jesuitical listener survey] This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley struggle to resist the temptation to “type” each other as they learn about the Enneagram from Liz Orr, a college chaplain who created the popular “Rude Ass Enneagram” Instagram account and authored the new book, “The Unfiltered Enneagram: A Witty and Wise Guide to Self-Compassion.” They discuss: Various personality types and how they relate to each other (including Zac and Ashley) How we create defensive structures to protect our egos and what to do about it What the Catholic Church as a community and institution can learn from the Enneagram about humble self-assessment In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss the developing news around Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganó, former nuncio to the United States, who has been formally charged with schism by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. They also preview the upcoming Jubilee year of hope and chart the pilgrimages and charitable works that will grant you an indulgence! What’s on tap? Spicy Margarita  Links: Archbishop Viganó charged with schism by the Vatican, will face trial Archbishop Viganò says he will not participate in Vatican schism trial Rude Ass Enneagram Instagram account The Unfiltered Enneagram: A Witty and Wise Guide to Self-Compassion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[CLICK HERE to complete the 2024 Jesuitical listener survey] This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are joined by journalist Rachel Swarns to discuss her latest book, The 272: The Families Who Were Enslaved and Sold to Build the American Catholic Church. Rachel shares her wisdom about this important issue for U.S. Catholics and her experience as a Black Catholic, opening up a wide-ranging conversation about the work being done to repair such a grave injustice and promote racial justice in the church. They discuss: The history of Catholic slaveholding and the Jesuits’ involvement in the slave trade The sale of enslaved people by the Jesuits in 1838, its impact on families and the reunion of the descendants  The efforts of Georgetown University and the church to repair this injustice In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley cover Pope Francis’ recent meeting with comedians from around the world (and America’s editor at large, James Martin, S.J.). They then discuss the pope’s trip to the G7 in Italy and the concerns he raised in his speech about artificial intelligence. Lastly, they talk about recent polling from the Vinia Research Group that found that Catholics’ belief in the real presence in the Eucharist is higher than a 2019 report from the Pew Research Group would suggest. What’s on tap? Prosecco Links from the show: Pope Francis jokes with Colbert, Fallon, Conan, Whoopi, Chris Rock, Gaffigan and others at the Vatican Pope Francis has private meeting with Joe Biden at G7 summit New Study Suggests More Than Two-Thirds of Catholics Believe the Eucharist is Truly Jesus Do most Catholics think the Eucharist is ‘just a symbol’? It’s complicated. The 272: The Families Who Were Enslaved and Sold to Build the American Catholic Church by Rachel L. Swarns Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[CLICK HERE to complete the 2024 Jesuitical listener survey]  Basketball fans know Steve Javie as a longtime N.B.A. referee and a frequent commentator on ESPN and ABC. But for the parishioners at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Newtown, Pa., he’s Deacon Steve.  In the midst of the N.B.A. finals tournament, Deacon Steve took some time out of his busy schedule to chat with Zac and Ashley about life on the court and in the pulpit.  They discuss: His journey from zealous rookie ref to humble officiator in the N.B.A. The dangers of turning sports into your religion. How his career in refereeing has informed his ministry as a permanent deacon. In Signs of the Times, a second miracle has been attributed to Blessed Carlo Acutis. Zac and Ashley discuss the life and legacy of the Italian teenager on track to be the first millennial saint. Plus, Pope Francis has again used a homophobic slur in a discussion about admitting gay men to seminary. How are Catholics supposed to understand these comments from a pope who famously said about gay priests, “Who am I to judge?” Links from the show: Pope Francis recognizes miracle needed for the first ‘millennial’ saint: Blessed Carlos Acutis Pope Francis uses gay slur for second time in closed-door meeting, Italian reports allege Jesuitical: Pope Francis used a homophobic slur. How should Catholics respond? What’s on tap? Miller Lite—on ice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a very special week on “Jesuitical”—Ethan Hawke joins us to discuss his new film, “Wildcat,” about the Catholic writer Flannery O’Connor, who is portrayed in the film by Ethan’s daughter, Maya. Zac, Ashley and Ethan share a wide-ranging and profound conversation about this great American writer and the work of bringing her to life in “Wildcat.” They discuss: Ethan’s introduction to Flannery through Maya and the inspiration behind “Wildcat” Portraying Flannery’s complicated views on race Exploring religious questions through art Links from the show: Ethan Hawke’s new biopic ‘Wildcat’ gracefully captures Flannery O’Connor’s complex attitudes on race, writing and faith What can we learn from our confirmation names? Share your confirmation saint name in our Facebook group  What’s on tap? Flannery’s favorite concoction: Coca-Cola and coffee (plus a shot of bourbon, per Ethan’s recommendation) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on “Jesuitical,” we’re breaking from our usual format to discuss news out of the Vatican that Pope Francis used a homophobic slur while discussing church policy on admitting gay men to the priesthood. To discuss this incident and the apology that followed, Ashley is joined by “Jesuitical” producer Sebastian Gomes; Mike O’Loughlin, executive director of Outreach, a resource for L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics; and Ricardo da Silva, S.J., producer of the “Inside the Vatican” podcast, host of the “Preach” podcast and an associate editor at America. They discuss:  The context of the incident, the Vatican’s response, and the implications for L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics Vatican policy about gay men in seminaries and the history of Francis’ outreach to L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics Advice for those affected by the pope’s comments Links from the show:  I am a gay priest. We need more than an apology for Pope Francis’ homophobic slur. Pope Francis used an anti-gay slur. What now for L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics? Pope Francis says Italian seminaries should reject gay applicants Vatican issues apology after Pope Francis’ use of an anti-gay slur Pope Francis’ remarks about gay seminarians ‘taken out of context and used to divide,’ Italian bishop says Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are live at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a conversation with Eric Sundrup, S.J., who provides spiritual direction (or spiritual violence, depending on who you ask) for the podcast. The hosts and Eric share their own experiences discerning their paths as young adults and offer insights from Jesuit spirituality to young people navigating big life questions. They discuss: The need for community and friends you can be vulnerable with while discerning How consolation and desolation can guide discernment Advice for young people discerning their path During Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley are joined by Stuart Wilson-Smith, C.S.P., the Catholic chaplain at the University of California, Los Angeles, to discuss the recent student protests taking place on campus. Father Stu describes the scene on U.C.L.A.’s campus, how the Catholic center offered support and spaces for interfaith dialogue to students, and where he saw God amid the protests. Links from the show:  UCLA’s Catholic chaplain: The world saw scenes of violence at campus protests. Here’s what they didn’t see. Learn more about the Paulists What’s on tap? Kentucky Bourbon from the Neeley Family Distillery  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan Burge set out to learn how many Catholics agree with church teachings on three key pro-life issues: abortion, euthanasia and the death penalty. The answer? Fewer than 1 percent. This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are joined by Ryan, an associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University and the author of the “Graphs about Religion” Substack, to discuss his findings on the beliefs of American Catholics today. They discuss: Trends in Catholic opinion on pro-life issues. How faith-based beliefs and secular politics interact in our polarized society. The role of data in understanding religious trends and effectively communicating church teaching. In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss the eucharistic pilgrimages taking place ahead of July’s National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. They also cover the controversial commencement speech given by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker at Benedictine College. Links from the show: Cafeteria Catholicism? Planning to join up with the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage? Here’s what you need to know. Harrison Butker’s commencement speech and the danger of a Catholic ‘dead traditionalism’ Young U.S. Catholics want more orthodoxy. That doesn’t mean they reject Vatican II. Podcast: When Catholic doctrine can change—and when it can’t What’s on tap? Carajillos (2 parts cold brew, 2 parts Licor 43) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices