Candid Catholic Convos

Part Two of our discussion with Dr. John Bishop, founder of FORGE, as we continue to discuss the crisis of masculinity in the Catholic Church, the importance of authentic Catholic masculinity, and practical ways men can lead their families in faith. SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 4:13-15SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Thomas MoreRESOURCES:New Adam: God's Plan for Men - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XYZ1234Website - https://forge.org/johnbishop

Dr. John Bishop, founder and executive director of FORGE, discusses the crisis of masculinity in the Catholic Church, the importance of authentic Catholic masculinity, and practical ways men can lead their families in faith.ResourcesNew Adam: God's Plan for Men by Dr. John Bishop - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XYZ1234Website - https://forge.org/johnbishop

We live in a time of constant noise. Constant consumption. Constant comparison. Most people are overwhelmed by information, pressured to perform, and stretched thin by busyness. Even spiritually, it can be easy to approach faith as just another thing to manage or optimize. And yet Saint Francis offers us something strikingly different. Today we’re chatting with Father Michael Heine, the minister provincial of the Franciscan Friars Conventual of Our Lady of Angels in Maryland, to talk about how the spirit of St. Francis continues to shape the Church, challenge modern believers in deeply practical ways and why he continues to resonate with people who are searching for something deeper during this year of Saint Francis.SCRIPTURE: Luke 9:23SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Clare of Assisi

Fr. Chiedozie Ononuju (Fr. Dozy), parochial vicar of St. Patrick Parish in Carlisle, joins us today to chat about the quiet ways God directs our lives and how we can work on our relationship with Him.SCRIPTURE: John 15:4SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Francis de Sales

Easter Sunday may be over but the Easter Season is only just now coming to an end. While the Church calls this Ordinary time, there's nothing 'ordinary' about living as Resurrection people in a world driven by science, technology, questions and uncertainty. Today we're diving into this beautiful tension - and harmony - with Monsignor Frank Karwacki, pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and former science teacher.SCRIPTURE: John 10:10SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Albert the Great

Today we're exploring the idea of Mary not just as our mother, but as our friend who's walked this path with us, sharing her wisdom, her faith, and pointing us to our ultimate goal, her Son. Amanda Snyder - convert, mom and co-facilitator of the An Investment in Motherhood group at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish - joins us today to explore how our blessed mother might advise us as we navigate our modern motherhood.SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:38-45SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Louis de Montfort

Today we're exploring what many nowadays would consider a radical act: the sacrament of Confession. Donna Giberti joins us to unpack how reconciliation can be a radical act for us Catholics, and indeed, very punk rock.SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:23-24SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Josephine Bahkita

To anyone who’s unfamiliar, the Catholic observance of relics might seem a bit creepy. And if Jesus conquered death at Easter, why do we do it at all? Today we’re joined by Father Matt Cannon, pastor at St Paul the Apostle church in Annville, to share with us how the saints provide an example for us of a faith that shows up in real life, and why venerating their relics can be an integral part of our faith.SCRIPTURE: Luke 24:36-48SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Maria Goretti

How do we reconcile our Catholic Faith and Current events? Today we're joined by Father John Bateman, Pastor at St. Joe's Parish in Mechanicsburg and chaplain in the PA Air National Guard with a degree in Canon Law who's uniquely qualified to help us comprehend current events from all sides: as a civilian, as a soldier, and as a Catholic.SCRIPTURE: John 15:13SAINT SPOTLIGHT: Venerable Emil Kapaun

The disciples couldn't recognize Jesus walking with them on the road to Emmaus - what hope is there for us to recognize Him when we are so distracted by modern day living? Donna Giberti, spiritual director for the Diocese of Harrisburg, joins us to share some ways we can practice recognizing Christ in our every day.SCRIPTURE: Luke 24:28:35SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Ignatius of Loyola

Part 2 of our conversation with Bishop Senior and WHP 580’s Michael Parks where they will discuss upcoming events in the Diocese of Harrisburg.SCRIPTURE: John 20:1-9SAINT SPOTLIGHT: Mary Magdalene

WHP 580's Michael Parks joins Bishop Senior for our annual Easter Episode.

Music is the universal language - it can reflect all the aspects of how we’re feeling throughout life, in particular when it comes to our faith and the powerful moments of Holy Week. Today we're excited to welcome Father Maximilian Mary Dean, a hermit priest of our Diocese and award-winning Catholic musician who uses his gift to give Glory to God in unique and powerful ways.SCRIPTURE: Luke 19:38SAINT SPOTLIGHT: Saint CeceliaSONG: "I Will Lead You into Solitude" by Fr. Maximilian Mary Deanwww.fathermaxmusic.com

Sometimes the most meaningful parts of the Christian life don’t happen in grand gestures or dramatic moments. They show up in the quiet decisions we make each day — how we respond to challenges, how we treat the people around us, and how we choose to walk with Christ in the middle of ordinary life. What does that look like for those of us in the 21st century. What does it mean to be a modern-day disciple of Christ? Father Matt Canon, pastor at Saint Paul the Apostle Church in Annville, joins us to chat about some tactile ways we can grow in our discipleship, really take up our cross, and follow Christ.Scripture: Luke 9:23Saint Spotlight: St. Matthew

Prayer. Fasting. Almsgiving. These three practices define Lent—but what happens when they become a way of life? Renee and James from the St. Martin de Porres house in Harrisburg join us today from our local Catholic Worker movement, to discuss how it’s message and each Lenten Season continue to challenge us in the Church today.SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:1–6, 16–18SAINT SPOTLIGHT: Servant of God Dorothy Day

What if we're in a period of our lives where just surviving feels hard enough? How can we do Lent properly if we're struggling with our own woundedness? Father Dan Powell, Pastor of Saint John Neumann Parish in Lancaster, joins us for a Lenten Reframe for those of us who are grieving, hurting or emotionally exhuasted during this season.SCRIPTURE: Psalm 34:18SAINT SPOTLIGHT: Saint John of the Cross

The beginning of Lent is the perfect time to create the space God needs to speak to us. Today we're joined by Tanya Janoski, mother, relationship educator at A Woman's Concern, volunteer at St. Jame Parish and spiritual director for the Diocese of Harrisburg to talk about how Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season are a great opportunity to lean into surrender and begin again.SCRIPTURE: Psalm 51:17SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Ignatius of Loyola

Its inevitable that we will experience seasons of disappointment or disillusionmnet throughout our faith journey, but how we handle it determines everything. Father Ted Keating, pastor at Mary Mother of the Church Parish in Mount Joy joins us to unpack what to do when we find ourselves in a fog.SCRIPTURE: Luke 24:32SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Augustine of Hippo

To create more space to sit at Jesus' feet and do ordinary things with extraordinary love, what do we need to do at the most basic level? Today we welcome back Deacon Scott Root, Senior Theology teacher at Trinity High School, who serves at St. Katherine Drexel Parish in Mechanicsburg where he's also the director of religious education, to chat with us about our prayer life, and what that can look like in our very busy, everyday lives.SCRIPTURE: Luke 10:38-42SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Therese of Liseux

Deacon Scott Root, senior theology teacher at Trinity High school who serves at St. Katherine Drexel Parish in Mechanicsburg where he’s also the director of religious education, is back to help us build better Bible reading habits to meet all our mental and spiritual goals this year and beyond.SCRIPTURE: Psalm 119:105SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Anthony of the Desert

Have you ever felt the weight of your life and thought 'I want a break - I need a break.' Did you know rest and renewal are both necessary for our faith to evolve? Kevin Cicak, CYO Director for the Diocese of Harrisburg and frequent retreat facilitator, joins us today to talk about how retreats are the perfect opportunity to engage in both.SCRIPTURE: Mark 1:35SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Mary Magdalene

It’s hard not to feel overwhelmed by the suffering in the world. War, illness, loneliness, and injustice —it can start to feel like too much. And sometimes the temptation isn’t to stop caring, but to stop hoping. But just because we experience or witness suffering doesn’t mean it’s random or without purpose, as it so often feels, so to help us out, we’ve invited Renee and James from the St Martin de Porres Catholic Worker House in Harrisburg, to help us reframe and respond to suffering as Catholics. SCRIPTURE: John 16:33SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Josephine BahkitaLearn more about the St. Martin de Porres House: https://stmartindeporrescw.org/Learn more about the Catholic Worker Movement: https://catholicworker.org/

Today we're welcoming some very special guests to help put the Christmas season into perspective for us.SCRIPTURE: Matthew 2:13-15SAINT SPOTLIGHT: The Holy Innocents

Bishop Senior and Michael Parks are back to talk about all the events and initiatives we can look forward to in 2026 at the Diocese of Harrisburg.

With Christmas just around the corner, Bishop Senior joins WHP580's Michael Parks for our annual holiday episode.

Today we're joined by Father Bill Forrey of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Harrisburg, Father Kevin Key of Saint Joan of Arc Parish in Hershey and Father Stephen Logue of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Lancaster to discuss the themes of Advent: Hope, Peace and Joy.SCRIPTURE: 1 Thessalonians 5:6SAINT SPOTLIGHT: Saint Joseph

Today we're chatting with Amanda Snyder, parishioner at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish and one of the leaders of their An Investment in Motherhood (AIM) group about how her journey through motherhood has led her closer to Mary, and in turn, Jesus.An Investment in Motherhood Group at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish: [email protected]: Luke 1:26-38SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Gianna Molla

While the holidays are a joyous time for the church, for many it can be a stark reminder of grief and loss. Dr. Kirsten Tollefson, psychiatrist and program director for Catholic Charities' Labre Mental Health Clinic, joins us to talk about some tangible ways we can lean into hope this season, even if it feels out of reach.SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 64:1SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Jude Thaddeus

Pathways to Purpose is our brand-new video series launching on YouTube in January, and today we're privileged to hear from several of the nuns and sisters who will be featured in this series about their journey, the apostolates they've served, and their advice for young women discerning a call to religious life.SCRIPTURE: John 15:16SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Therese of Liseux

Have you ever had your life all mapped out only for God to completely reroute your plans? Today we're chatting with Joseph Gonzales, Youth Minister and Development Director for St. John the Baptist Parish in New Freedom, about his big plot twist moment in life that led him to follow God's call much differently than he imagined.SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 16:9SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Francis of Assisi

Deacon Drew Heidelbaugh sits down with us to discuss how he discerned his vocation and the mental gymnastics that went along with it.Scripture: John 21:15-17Saint Spotlight: St. John Vianney

Open any social media app and you’ll find Catholics and non catholics alike arguing over whether or not to celebrate this holiday because, unfortunately, it has been long associated with spirituality and the occult. So many people are convinced of Halloween’s pagan origins, and with the abundance of violence, gore, sensuality, occultism, and demonic aspects now associated with Halloween, it’s hard not to. But is Halloween a pagan holiday or is it a hijacked holy day? How does the Catholic church feel about it? And since we’re talking about ghosts, are they even real and is believing in them in accordance with our Catholic faith?Today we're excited to welcome back to the program Father Jonathan Sawicki, pastor at Saint Theresa’s Parish in New Cumberland to talk through the history of this fascinating holiday and find out if it’s all, in fact, just a bunch of hocus pocus.Scripture: John 1:5Saint Spotlight: St. Lucy

Our art and our faith actually can work in concert with one another. Today we're excited to introduce you to James from Saint Joseph Catholic School in Danville and his teacher, Kurt Eck, together known and the duo behind the podcast, Fun Fact Times with James D. What started as a little experiment has grown into two full seasons of episodes with guests ranging from students and teachers to priests and even Bishop Senior.SCRIPTURE: Exodus 35:31-32SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Catherine of BolognaListen to James' interview with Rachel on Fun Fact Times: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0QGTEIlgGtGSDDg17KqfgM?si=OfnRUzyNQuuuwQVE_heUXA

Today we're chatting with Sean Domencic about how our faith calls us to be stewards of creation and some tactile ways we can incorporate change in our daily lives.SCRIPTURE: Psalm 24:1SAINT SPOTLIGHT: Servant of God Dorothy Day

Today we’re chatting with the incomparable Eric Failing. Eric is the executive director of the PA Catholic Conference, the public affairs arm of the Catholic church that advocates and lobbies for Catholic Education, faith & politics, health care, life and dignity, marriage and family, religious liberty and social justice. SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 31:8-9SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Oscar Romero

We talk a lot about “meeting people where they’re at” – isolation and loneliness is now considered to be an epidemic in this country, especially for those who are elderly, injured or homebound – so how to we remind them they are still part of the body of Christ? Today we’ll be chatting with Sharon Fisher,one of our extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at Holy Infant Parish in Manchester, about the gift of spiritual communion and why she continues to participate in this ministry.SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 11:26SAINT SPOTLIGHT: St. Tarsicius

Today we’re joined by the newly ordained Father Andrew St. Denis. Father St. Denis attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia for his formation, graduated from Lancaster Catholic High school and later Bloomsburg University with a degree in business administration and finance. He currently serves as the pastoral vicar at St. Joseph Parish in York and Chaplain at York Catholic middle and high school and was blessed to attend the Eucharistic congress in person shortly before his ordination.Scripture Reading: John 6:35Saint Spotlight: St. Manuel Gonzalez Garcia

Today on our show, we’re chatting with Dr. John Rossi about his reversion experience, what second chances mean in the eyes of God, and why we shouldn’t be afraid to come home even if we’ve spent a long time away.Scripture Verse: 1 John 1:9Saint Spotlight: St. Thomas Aquinas

Today we’re joined by Deacon Scott Root. Deacon Root is a permanent deacon in our Diocese who holds a masters in Pastoral Studies in the Diaconate Formation Program from Pontifical College Josephium, a Catechist certification from Franciscan university of Steubenville, a master Catechist Certification from our Diocese, and he’s the senior theology teacher at Trinity High School. He’s also a husband, father and regular guest on our podcast over the last several months helping us get Back-to-Basics with our faith.Scripture Verse: Luke 22:19Saint Spotlight: Carlo Acutis

In the spirit of the upcoming school year that will be here before we know it, today Father Matt Cannon, pastor at St. Paul the Apostle church in Annville, joins us to discuss the unique and sacrificial opportunity presented to us in Catholic Education, how to be adaptable in our faith throughout the changing seasons, and how we can strengthen the domestic church at home all year long.

Visiting the imprisoned is one of the seven Corporal Works of Mercy, given to us by Jesus in Matthew 25:31-37. In this teaching, Jesus calls us to consider how we would treat others if they were Him in disguise. “I was in prison and you visited me.”Today, we're chatting with Father Matthew Morelli, pastor at St. Anthony of Padua Parish and chaplain at Lancaster County prison to talk about this unique form of evangelization and the shared humanity we have as sinners.

Mary Magdalene is the most famous woman in Christianity, second only to Jesus' mother; she's also the most hotly contested figure in the New Testament. Mary Magdalene, the patron saint of outcasts, embodies uncertainty and has captivated Christians for centuries.But why?Today, we sit down with Sr. Geralyn Schmidt of the Sisters of Christian Charity to unpack some of the misconceptions of this mysterious saint, her theological importance and her impact on the role of women in the Catholic Church.

Our service members are asked to do and see things that many of us civilians can't even fathom. I will never know the full extent of what my husband saw or did overseas, but I do know that it rocked his faith. So how can we minister to those who are called to sacrifice for the rest of us, who come home with injuries that are sometimes invisible, who no longer see the intersection of faith and patriotism?Today I have the honor of speaking with Father William Barbee, pastor at both St. Joseph and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Berwick as well as a former army chaplain who served in Germany, Korea, Texas, South Carolina and eventually the Carlisle Barracks. His vast experiences and incredible journey has led him to creating a rich community steeped in the Catholic Faith and military service devotion.

Nature has always been a tool for healing, but we can also use it as a tool to get closer to God.Avid hiker, outdoor aficionado and spiritual director Chris Wood joins me today to chat about all they ways we can experience and appreciate God’s presence in nature with just a few simple shifts.

Whether you've sat through hundreds, haven't been in a while or have never been at all, as part of our Back to Basics series, today we're diving deep into the heart of Catholic Worship with a full exploration of the Mass. Deacon Scott Root, senior theology teacher at Trinity High School, is sitting down with us to unpack what's really happening at the altar, why every part of the Mass is important, and how to truly engage with this celebration so we can feel more deeply connected to Christ.

We’re picking up right where we left off last week with our deep dive into the Mass as Deacon Scott Root is back to unpack what’s happening from the sign of peace to the end of the service, why it’s all important, and how to truly engage with this celebration so we can feel more connected to Christ whether this is your first time or your hundredth time attending.

Sometimes, God isn’t subtle – you just have to be paying attention and willing to pivot. Today I’m excited to introduce you to one of our transitional deacons soon to be ordained a priest in just a few weeks, Deacon Clark Stiteler, about his frying pan moment that led him to the priesthood.

A "vocation" and a "job" are sometimes used interchangeably, but it turns out, a vocation carries a much deeper significance: "who you are" vs. "what you do." Or rather "who has God called you to be." Today we're chatting with Deacon Andrew St. Denis, one of our transitional deacons soon to be ordained a priest in a few weeks, about how he knew he was called to the priesthood.

Today we have the very special privilege of introducing you to Deacon Cole Mase, one of our three transitional deacons preparing to enter the priesthood in the next few weeks, and we're chatting about how he knew he was ready to take the first step into seminary.

Happy Mother's Day! Today we're bringing you a very special crossover episode with Mel Rossi and Jess Wolf of the podcast Simple Yes to help us dive deeper into our relationship with Mary as a human and as a mother.