March 3, 2026 - Hour 2

Segment 1: John Paul II and the Family’s Call to HolinessAs the first post-Vatican II pope to serve a full papacy, John Paul II made the Universal Call to Holiness his mission. But much of traditional Catholic spirituality is drawn from the monastic tradition, and doesn’t fit neatly into a family life. John Paul II thus spent his entire pontificate laying the groundwork for a universal approach to lay spirituality. We talk about it with Dr. Greg Popcak.Segment 2: Supreme Court says California can’t hide student transgender identities from parents The Supreme Court has ruled that the state of California cannot keep student’s transgender identities hidden from parents. In a 6-3 ruling, the court said that parents enjoy “the right not to be shut out of participation in decisions regarding their children’s mental health.” Andrea Picciotti-Bayer has the details.Segment 3: Eight Characteristics of a Culture of Lay Formation (2 segments)Since the Second Vatican Council, there has been a new surge in the role of the laity in forming the Church. John Paul II and Benedict XVI made the “co-responsibility of the laity” a key theme of their papacies. We discuss the meaning of lay formation with John Cavadini. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com