Religion To Reality

In this episode of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan co-hosts with Lucero Manzanares, Associate Director for Youth and Young Adult Ministry, as they welcome Kiana Carrington, President of Young Catholic Professionals (YCP) Brooklyn, to discuss the successful launch of the chapter and the growing desire among young adults for authentic Catholic community, integrating faith into their careers, and discovering a place to call home in the Church.

In this episode of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan and Father Heanue welcome four members of the Diocese of Brooklyn's 2025 priest ordination class. Each priest shares the joys and graces that have shaped their early ministry, offering an inspiring glimpse into what it means to serve the Church today.

In this episode of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan and Father John Hwang reflect on Pope Leo XIV's first year as Pope, highlighting his defining themes of peace, care for the poor, and social justice, all rooted in his missionary experience and Augustinian spirituality. Bishop Brennan encourages listeners to embrace Pope Leo's call to allow Christ to convert our hearts.

In this episode of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan and Father Heanue reflect on Pope Leo’s call for peace—“War No More”—linking pro-life values to the dignity of every human life. They also examine the rising acceptance of political violence among young adults, while offering hope in the Church’s role—through Catholic education and young adult ministry—in forming a generation rooted in faith, respect, and true peace.

In this second of a two-part episode of Big City Catholics, Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez joins the conversation to share personal and heartfelt memories of Bishop William Murphy — a globally connected yet deeply humble leader who helped shape both his own ministry and that of Bishop Brennan. Together, they reflect on Bishop Murphy’s authentic friendships and remember a compassionate mentor who showed them how to be bishops not just through words, but through the witness of his life.

In this two-part episode of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan and Fr. Heanue remember Bishop William Murphy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Msgr. Joseph DeGrocco, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Lindenhurst, joins Bishop Brennan for a warm conversation about Bishop Murphy's life and legacy, recalling his defining traits: his infectious joy, deep love for his diocese and its people, and his ability to bring people together across all walks of life.

QUICK SUMMARY: What if the biggest obstacle to ministry isn't a lack of resources, programs, or content — but a missing system for actually knowing the people in front of you? In this bonus episode, Dave Plisky and Fr. John Gribowich sit down with Josh Packard, sociologist of religion and co-founder of Future of Faith, for a wide-ranging conversation about one of the most urgent challenges facing the Church today: how to do genuine relational ministry at scale. Drawing on years of research data and his experience at Spring Tide Research Institute and NCEA, Josh explains why trust in institutions is collapsing — and why the only antidote is time spent in a real, consistent relationship. He introduces practical tools anyone can download free at futureoffaith.org, shares why Gen Z isn't "leaving the church" (their parents already did), and makes a compelling case for why AI will only make human connection more, not less, essential. If you work in ministry, Catholic education, or any field that depends on reaching young people, this episode is required listening. ABOUT JOSH PACKARD Josh Packard is a sociologist of religion and a former professor at the University of Northern Colorado, where he taught applied sociology. He was the founding executive director of Spring Tide Research Institute, one of the most respected sources of data on youth and faith in the United States. He is now co-founder of Future of Faith, a nonprofit dedicated to helping ministry leaders build scalable relational tools grounded in a theology of sacred listening.   IN THIS EPISODE, WE EXPLORE: 1. Trust has collapsed — and that changes everything2. Relational ministry needs a system, not just good intentions3. The Text to Connect tool4. Belonging before believing — and time before truth5. Gen Z didn't leave — they were never there6. The Church's strongest offering may be its most overlooked7. AI will deepen — not solve — the relational challenge  0:00 — Introduction: Who is Josh Packard, and what is Future of Faith? 2:15 — The Core Problem: How do you do relational ministry at scale when people only trust what's right in front of them? 5:30 — The Free Tools: What the Future of Faith listening tools are and how to download them at futureoffaith.org. 10:30 — Text to Connect: A step-by-step walkthrough of the emoji-based check-in tool — and how a color-coded Google Sheet can transform youth ministry. 14:00 — The Youth Minister's Dilemma: A real-world portrait of a minister running on voice memos, Apple Notes, and reactive attention. 20:00 — Sacred Listening vs. Ministry with an Agenda: John challenges Josh: can you really listen without an end in mind? 23:30 — Time, Trust, Truth: The framework that flips the church's traditional approach: belonging before believing. .31:00 — Tarot, Crystals, and the Spiritual-but-not-Religious: Why young people are finding spiritual systems on TikTok that the Church hasn't figured out how to offer. 39:00 — Young People Aren't Leaving the Church: Josh pushes back: their parents left. The generation the Church is trying to reach was never there. 42:00 — The Church Is Answering Questions Nobody Is Asking: John on the disconnect between pulpit priorities and what young people actually need. 57:00 — AI and the Future of Trust: Why artificial intelligence will push the locus of trust lower — toward one-on-one relationships — and what that means for the Church.   MEMORABLE QUOTES For sharing on social media or in...

In this episode of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan highlights the 30th Annual Way of the Cross—a powerful public witness of faith that processes across the Brooklyn Bridge into Lower Manhattan, with a stop at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Featuring guests from the lay Catholic movement Communion and Liberation—Christopher Vath, John Ronan, and Luca Lupi—who reflect on the meaning and impact of this tradition founded in 1996.

In this episode of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan and Father Heanue welcome Edward Clancy, Director of Outreach for Aid to the Church in Need, an organization dedicated to supporting Christians through funding, education, and rebuilding efforts. Together, they raise awareness about the global persecution of Christians ahead of ACN’s Courage and Faith Week, highlighting the sharp decline of Christian populations and ongoing violence. Bishop Brennan invites listeners to pray, learn more, and stand in solidarity with the persecuted Church during Lent.

In this episode of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan and Father Heanue reflect on vocations to the priesthood and religious life, sharing their own stories and the influence of joyful priests and Eucharistic Adoration in their discernment. They highlight encouraging signs of young people exploring vocations today. The conversation also explores the many forms of ministry within the diocesan priesthood and the call for priests to strive for holiness, not perfection.

In this episode of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan and Father Heanue reflect on the Lenten season and recent diocesan activities. Bishop Brennan shares highlights from the Lenten Pilgrimage and explores the meaning of the Lenten scrutinies and their connection to baptism. As we continue our Lenten journey and celebrate the Jubilee year honoring St. Francis, Bishop Brennan invites listeners to become instruments of peace in their own communities.

In this episode of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan and Father Heanue reflect on the approach of Lent and the need for thoughtful, intentional preparation rather than last-minute resolutions. They emphasize that Lent is meant to foster true spiritual growth, not simply physical sacrifice, and highlight how prayer, fasting, and almsgiving work together to deepen our relationship with God. Bishop Brennan also encourages concrete Lenten practices and taking part in the Diocesan Lenten Pilgrimage as meaningful ways to live the season more intentionally.

Cathedral Club President Harry D’Onofrio and spiritual director Father Michael Falce join this episode of Big City Catholics to explore the Cathedral Club’s legacy of lay Catholic leadership. The conversation highlights the club’s bipartisan community, expanding scholarship support for Catholic education in Brooklyn and Queens, and its mission to mentor young people and live out faith through service.

In this edition of Big City Catholics, Bishop-Elect Manuel de Jesus Rodriguez shares the story of his unexpected appointment by Pope Leo XIV to lead the Diocese of Palm Beach, reflecting on the surprise call and his vision for the growing Florida diocese. The conversation touches on youth ministry, Catholic education, pro-life advocacy, and answering God's call to serve.

In this episode of Big City Catholics, Bishop Brennan and Father Heanue reflect on the cultural life of the Diocese, from Bishop Brennan’s missionary experience in Peru to celebrations like the Feast of Our Lady of Altagracia and the Mass honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They highlight upcoming events that celebrate diversity and affirm the Church’s commitment to human dignity. The episode also contrasts a recent religious liberty victory, exempting Catholic institutions from providing abortion coverage, with concerns over the newly signed euthanasia law.

Quick Summary  Are you attending Mass regularly but struggling to live out your faith in everyday life? You're not alone. In this episode of Religion to Reality, Dave Plisky and Fr. John Gribowich explore why so many Catholics feel confident in their sacramental life but struggle with the expressive fruits of discipleship, particularly the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Drawing from their groundbreaking discipleship study, they sit down with three inspiring guests who are living these works of mercy in radically different ways: Renee Roden from the Catholic Worker Movement, Fr. Jim O'Shea of Reconnect Brooklyn, and Christina Semmens of Say Yes to Holiness. Together, they unpack what it truly means to become Eucharist in the world and how small acts of mercy in our daily lives can transform both ourselves and our communities. In this Episode, We Explore: Introduction: The Disconnect Between Mass and Mercy (00:00) Overview of expressive fruits from the discipleship study Why Catholics rate themselves low on works of mercy despite strong sacramental participation Interview with Renee Roden - Catholic Worker Movement (3:00) The relationship between the Eucharist and works of mercy How the liturgical movement influenced Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin Why there should be no division between "helpers" and "the helped" Mass as Commissioning (9:22) Understanding "Go forth, the Mass is ended" as a call to action Integrating material and spiritual needs in service The danger of separating soup kitchens from spiritual community Practical First Steps for Living the Works of Mercy (13:00) Why accompanying someone already doing this work matters Overcoming the awkwardness of personal encounter Building spiritual muscles through community Interview with Father Jim O'Shea - Reconnect Brooklyn (15:00) Working with at-risk youth in Bedford-Stuyvesant How radical solidarity costs us our comfortable narratives The fear that keeps us from authentic engagement The Power of Listening (18:30) Why Fr. Jim says we've "written off" certain groups of people Starting with those in proximity before reaching the margins Working the muscle of deep listening in your own family Interview with Christina Semmens - Say Yes to Holiness (25:00)

Episode 5: The Sacred Art of Listening - Understanding Spiritual Direction Quick Summary What does it mean to truly hear someone versus simply listening? In this episode, hosts Dave Plisky and Fr. John Gribowich explore the transformative practice of spiritual direction—examining how this ancient tradition helps us tune into God's presence in our daily lives. Through intimate conversations with three practitioners, discover why seeing yourself as lovable might be the most important spiritual work you'll ever do, and learn how one diocese is making spiritual direction accessible to thousands. Whether you're seeking your first spiritual director or wondering if this practice is right for you, this episode offers practical wisdom and surprising data about one of Catholicism's most powerful yet underutilized resources. In This Episode, We Explore: Opening Reflection: Hearing vs. Listening (00:00) Marshall McLuhan's insight on electronic-age communication and the Gospel The difference between restrictive listening and transformative hearing Why Christ distinguished between scribes who listened and disciples who heard Key Quote: "To listen is to blinker yourself... but to hear is to put yourself on the same wavelength as the speaker." (02:00) Interview with Mary Glowaski - Creating Gentle Spaces (04:00) Mary Glowaski is a spiritual director based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and serves as Dave's spiritual director Why gentleness matters more than technique in spiritual direction The crucial distinction between being loved and seeing yourself as lovable (06:00) Understanding whose we are, not just who we are (07:00) How spiritual directors discern between spiritual direction, pastoral counseling, and mentoring (08:00) The sacred trust of covenant confidentiality vs. simple confidentiality (10:00) Key Quote: "Too often I find people, Dave, that it is not that they don't feel loved, they don't see themselves as lovable." (06:45) Confession and Direction: A Priestly Perspective (11:00) Father John Gribowich reflects on the intersection of sacramental confession and spiritual direction Why confession should be viewed as gratitude rather than legalism (13:00) The challenge of complementing confession with spiritual direction Rethinking "spiritual direction" as "spiritual guidance" Why priests aren't always the right choice for spiritual direction (22:00) Interview with Deacon Tom Whalen - Building Diocesan Infrastructure (16:00) Deacon Tom Whalen coordinates spiritual direction for the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina How one diaconate formation class revealed a massive gap in spiritual direction access (17:00) Creating a diocesan-wide spiritual direction program from scratch Why Spring Hill College's graduate program became the foundation The innovative model: spiritual directors work under pastors, not the chancery (19:00) Addressing the supply and demand crisis in spiritual direction Interview with Hans Plate - What the Data Reveals (23:00) Hans Plate is founder and president of Vinea Research and partner on the Religion to Reality discipleship study The surprising 100% statistic about spiritual direction availability (23:00) Why many Catholics don't understand what spiritual direction actually is Hans's personal journey: discovering spiritual direction through confession (25:00) The challenge of finding the right match when directors relocate (26:00) Com...