Upon This Rock

Father Don and his sister, Barbie, drop a podcast about podcasts, particularly this podcast, Upon This Rock, as we pause operations to assess its impact and how the church can reach people in our twenty-first-century virtual society. They reminisce about messages from the hundred-plus conversations and how we can encourage people to talk with one another about matters of faith and faith that matters to us, our families and friends, our community, and our world.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLike this podcast? Please consider donating.Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible

John Hewitt is the Lansing Correctional Program Director and oversees the Donnelly College, "College In Prison," degree program at the Lansing Correctional Facility in Lansing, Kansas. Originally from Kansas, he has traveled the world, living on various continents and in places during civil upheaval. He speaks numerous languages and has helped unite people from different nations as they assimilate into American culture.He invites listeners to engage their faith by reaching out to prisoners, immigrants, or others who suffer because of circumstances that limit them. If you want to learn more, contact him at [email protected] Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLearn More About John & Donnelly College:John HewittDonnelly College WebsiteDonnelly College In Prison ProgramLike this podcast? Please consider donating.Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. 

Michelle Carlstedt is the executive director of The Bishop Sullivan Center (BSC). It has operated for over half a century in Kansas City, Missouri, uniting people in need with people of goodwill who provide food, relief, and countless opportunities for less fortunate citizens. From a small town in Kansas, she was educated both in school and through life experiences in ways that spurred her into the non-profit world of caring for others. If you would like to help the BSC effort, you can contact her at [email protected] Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLearn More About Bishop Sullivan Centerhttps://www.bishopsullivan.orgLike this podcast? Please consider donating.Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. 

Mark Thompson is the fourth of Byron and Jeanne’s eleven children. This conversation goes deeper into how the virtues and lessons of their parents continue to teach them, their children, and now their grandchildren. We also discuss in a deeper way how the injuries and deaths of their young sisters impact him and them in lasting ways. As we begin a new year and resolve to do better in the future than we did in the past, Mark offers good advice as we all approach a new beginning in 2026.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLike this podcast? Please consider donating.Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. 

Mary Thompson O’Connor was the firstborn of eleven Thompson children. She and her siblings were blessed with a happy childhood and the grace of tremendous parents who taught patience and perseverance. As young adults, they had to endure unexpected suffering when their sister, Amy, was shot in the head by a criminal, and two years later, their sister, Tricia, was hit by a drunk driver, also enduring a major head injury for the remainder of her life. Our conversation reflects upon the joys and sorrows of this life and trust in the life that awaits us. We also touch on the impact of Country Club Bank, which became an essential aspect of family life.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLike this podcast? Please consider donating. Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. 

Father Mike Roach retired as a pastor after 45 years of service in the Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph, mainly in the KC Northland. A repeat guest (hear episodes 54 & 61), Fr. Mike has quite a following throughout the local church. On this podcast, he speaks about his current chapter of life and the rejuvenation he embraces beyond collapsing after his final Mass as pastor. His words offer a Christmas message for us, reminding us of the glad tidings of great joy that God is one with us.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLike this podcast? Please consider donating. Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. 

Vince and Amy Hodes started this audible ministry nearly two years ago by gifting Fr. Don with podcast equipment. They return from the earliest podcasts for this milestone episode #100. Being December, the podcast conversation quickly turns to the journey of Advent, memories of Christmas, reminiscing about the grace of giving, and the privilege of bringing light to a world wrapped in darkness. You’ll enjoy hearing stories of their childhood Christmases and how their family traditions continue.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLike this podcast? Please consider donating. Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. 

Tonia Gilbert is the Executive Director of The Upper Room (or Upper Room KC), a nonprofit literacy center that helps thousands of urban children each year to excel academically, knowing that it starts with an ability to read and write. The center began at Saint Louis Catholic Church over twenty-five years ago and continues under Tonia’s leadership. Her background as a lawyer and educator assists in her administrative tasks now. She invites us to join her on December 17 for a holiday event where we can learn more about the good things happening in the center of our city.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLearn More About Upper Room:Like this podcast? Please consider donating.Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. 

Al Kaine grew up in rural Kansas, met his wife, Kathleen, and settled with their three children in the Kansas City area after a stint in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Al’s dad taught him to be a gentleman, a lesson he lives and passed along to his sons.  Their oldest, Tim, became a United States senator and Democratic nominee for vice president. They each gave time and energy to helping less fortunate outcasts in our country or elsewhere. Al brings peace to chaotic situations, light to dark circumstances, and offers some stories for how people might get along better.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLike this podcast? Please consider donating.Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. 

Michael McGlinn, founder of Sistine Films, discusses with Father Don the faith that he has deepened through pursuits as a musician, football player, film producer, and Catholic husband and father. Influenced by his parents and grandparents, he has come to appreciate the Holy Eucharist and numerous devotional practices, including the rosary, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and his Divine Mercy apostolate. Visit sistinefilms.com to view the beauty and truth of his ministries.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLearn More About Michael McGlinn:Sistine Films  Face of Mercy Adore Him Daily Like this podcast? Please consider donating.Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. 

Saint Thomas More (STM) Parish has a sister community relationship with San Andrés Itzapa, a rural parish in south-central Guatemala. STM Parishioners Phil Smith and Marla Byrne have visited frequently in recent decades, often leading groups on work retreats and pilgrimages of faith that support foreign friends. The STM group has escorted thousands of Kansas Citians, including over a thousand teenagers, to Central America to encounter brothers and sisters who struggle in ways that open their eyes and hearts.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLearn More About The Guatemala Project:Saint Thomas More Parish STM Guatemala StoryLike this podcast? Please consider donating.Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. 

Shanita McAfee Bryant speaks with Father Don and Mary Coppinger Orndoff about food waste, food rescue, and food redistribution in the Kansas City area. Shanita is a chef who empowers communities through nourishment. Her groups, The Prospect KC and Nourish KC Community Kitchen, address food insecurities, create culinary employment opportunities, improve nutrition education, and transform lives by connecting people and through economic development.  She shares her experiences in helping our city diminish hunger and wants to help various local nonprofit groups work together for the common good. Visit the websites to learn how you might help.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLike this podcast? Please consider donating. Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. Learn More About Shanita McAfee Bryant:Chef Shanita: https://shanitamcafeebryant.com  Nourish KC: https://www.theprospectkc.org 

Father Greg Haskamp sits down with Father Don one year after their first podcast together to continue talking about the mysteries of the priesthood. Both are in their sixties and look back on a combined seventy years of service as priests in our diocese. They look at priest-characters of the past and the kinds of things that might happen in the church’s future. Both are lifelong learners and want to get better at their vocation while also hoping that the church will become more relevant to young people seeking deeper faith and meaning.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLearn More About Fr. Haskamp:Father Greg Haskamp Visitation Parish Like this podcast? Please consider donating.Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. 

Mike Kopp rejoins Father Don for his annual October check-in. Mike talks about stages of life and faith, starting with his role as a son to remarkable parents, a brother to ten siblings, a classmate to countless peers and friends from Visitation to Rockhurst to Mizzou. From these growing up communities to current groups in his neighborhood, parish, clubs, and social circles, he emphasizes the importance of friendships. Though incredibly unique, Mike exemplifies the common man who has reached his grandparent stage of life with rejuvenated enthusiasm for living with renewed purpose. Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLike this podcast? Please consider donating. Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. 

Mary Coppinger Orndoff joins Father Don in the first of a two-part discussion about reaching out to those in need. She has volunteered at various nonprofit organizations throughout Kansas City, and through her experiences, discovered that these numerous entities can do more when we work in unison. Realizing that volunteerism has decreased in recent times, she is on a mission to help those willing to volunteer find a place that is life-giving for them and those who will benefit.  She makes regular trips to diverse businesses to receive products that they no longer stock. You will enjoy her ideas for eliminating waste in our city.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLike this podcast? Please consider donating.Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. Learn More: Nourish KC       The  Prospect KC  

Anne Bethune is a licensed clinical social worker who offers ketamine assisted psychotherapy. She explains some medical, psychological, legal, and religious parameters placed upon her work, as well as opportunities that patients are given to encounter spiritual experiences through psychedelic methods, according to religious doctrine. As a Catholic, she hopes that spirituality and psychotherapy will work hand in hand to help people find healthier and holier lives as psilocybin therapeutics become more common in our society.Like this podcast? Please consider donating.Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLearn More About Anne Bethune

Jessica McGannon, a member of Saint Francis Xavier (SFX) Parish in Kansas City, Missouri, comes to the table to reflect upon faith formation in Kansas City, from Saint Peter and Saint Catherine schools to O’Hara High and later at St. Elizabeth and Saint Francis parishes. She reflects on people who influenced her and our call to influence others who follow us. Along with her husband, Paul, they landed at SFX and have found a place that welcomes all and brings the Gospel to life for those who want to put faith into action by serving those less fortunate.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLike this podcast? Please consider donating. Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. 

Jerry Reardon joins Father Don to bat around some thoughts in our very challenging times, when many people turn their opponents into enemies. Christ reminds us that there is one enemy: it is the devil, it is evil, it is sin and death. Jesus overcame and continues to overcome the enemy for us and with us. They discuss earthly battles, from war, sports, debates, and ideological differences. Jerry reminds listeners that if we are centered in God, we will know how to navigate things that want to separate us; the Bible is our guide.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLike this podcast? Please consider donating.Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible

Lane Lucas joins Father Don to discuss the fallout from a recent blog and podcast that encouraged people to love in imitation of Christ when their instinct directs them toward hate in political exchanges. Rather than ceasing dialogue about controversial topics, they agree that the church needs to encourage discussion while discerning the will of God. And when conversation enters the realm of disagreement or debate, we should do our best not to shut down but employ problem-solving skills and invite wisdom from the Holy Spirit to lead us. Though it is difficult to disagree, we can all agree that God directs us toward love. Let that be our guiding light.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLike this podcast? Please consider donating. Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. 

Father Don and his sister Barbie Faranan continue their discussion, this time on how people can help one another through their own stories and struggles. They talk about those who have gifts to give, including wisdom and experience, as well as those who just need a little help from a friend or someone unknown to them who is willing to reach out and offer hope.  This leads to an invitation to join them for Mass and a Chiefs’ Watch Party Fundraiser on September 21 at the Farnan Spirituality Center; proceeds go to The Angel Fund, which directly assists families and individuals who can use a helping hand.Learn more about the Angel Fund & the FSC Fall CelebrationLike this podcast? Please consider donating. Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast

Barbie Farnan and Father Don record an awkward conversation about why so many people hate the president and refuse to consider letting go of their bad feelings for him. They compare it to their own father, who shared some of the president’s personality and characteristics. They hope that, after listening to this podcast, those who despise the president will become more forgiving and/or soul-searching.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLike this podcast? Please consider donating. Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. 

Kim Meyer, a member of the Saint Francis Xavier Parish (SFX), talks with Father Don Farnan about the ways in which the Catholic Church is called to announce the Good News, and like Christ, cast out evil from society. Many members of the SFX community do that; one way is through public witness gatherings that proclaim Gospel values based on Catholic Social Teachings and injustices associated with poverty, crime, immigration, education, and other relations that impact us.  After listening, you may want to join “Witness on Troost” gatherings: the next one is on September 30 on Troost Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLike this podcast? Please consider donating.Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible.

Patrick Marrin is the director of synodal life at Saint James Catholic Church in Midtown, Kansas City, Missouri. In this episode, he shares insights on how synodality can be lived in our churches today. From the first ecclesial council in Jerusalem, as the neophyte church was formed, to others that led up to the Second Vatican Council sixty years ago, the universal Catholic community continues to unfold according to Christ’s mission. Pat understands well the history and tradition that brings us to our twenty-first-century way of moving forward together, guided by the Holy Spirit. You will learn about the kind of church that popes and saints yearned for and is now being actualized.Like this podcast? Please consider donating. Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. Donate now. Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLearn More About Pat Marrin:View his recent National Catholic Register Feature ArticleEnjoy his Francis Comic StripLearn more about St. James Catholic Church

John O’Connor IV joins Father Don Farnan to talk about how a large Catholic family impacted him in many ways, including the ways of faith. One of the oldest of nearly fifty cousins, he bridged generations and, while most of his extended family is very connected to the church now, his questioning mind dares religions to be more like Jesus and less tied to systems and structures that sought to honor, and often diverted from, His message. Johnny’s insights may spur good conversation within families about faith and religion.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLike this podcast? Please consider donating. Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. 

Sam Miloscia has been ordained for nine years and has served numerous parishes in the Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph. Growing up in a large family steeped in Catholic tradition, he is deeply rooted in structures of faith. His experiences in seminary and parish life, as well as other ventures, have expanded his ability to empathize with people who seek greater understanding through God and religion. His engagement with children, youths, and adults gives hope for a promising future for him and those he encounters.Like this podcast? Please consider donating. Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast

Maggie Viles and Jennifer Harris became friends while mothering children within the Saint Thomas More Parish Community at church, school, and youth group activities. Now their children are in their twenties. This conversation with Father Don contemplates the faith that we received and the faith that we pass along, especially as it relates to young people today. They offer great hope and good ideas for reaching out to, respecting, encouraging, and passing along God’s love through the Catholic Church to those who follow us in our twenty-first century.Like this podcast? Please consider making a donation. Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. Give now.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast

Vince Hodes and his son, Vinnie, join Father Don to converse about the faith they received and the faith they want to transmit. After Saint Ann Elementary and Rockhurst High, Vinnie attended Mizzou, where he discovered that his religious instinct and spiritual perspective got integrated into other activities within his college experience. Now that he is a graduate, Vinnie takes advantage of opportunities to strengthen his faith in technological ways as well as through personal encounters, as his dad does. They have good suggestions for how all Catholics can do the same.Like this podcast? Please consider making a donation.Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. Give now.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter  -  #fatherdonfarnan - #uponthisrockpodcastResources From This Podcast:Holy Family School of Faith Dr. Mike Scherschlight Daily Rosary MeditationsBible Chat AppEvangelizio App Relevant RadioCatholic Radio NetworkIn Conversation With God (7 Book setSuscipe By St. Ignatius of Loyola 

Because of listeners’ interest, Mark shares more information about therapy and counseling for common people in today’s world. He offers insights into what those who choose counseling can expect. Not wanting clients to waste their time, he offers paths for us to search for and find a well-suited counselor quickly. He also offers some good ideas and exercises to deal with common anxieties and other negative impulses. There is something in this podcast for everyone who seeks self-betterment.Listen to Part 1 of this Series (Psychology & Spirituality Intertwined)Listen to Part 2 of this Series (Psychology & Spirituality Intertwined)Like this podcast? Please consider making a donation. Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. Give now.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter  -  #fatherdonfarnan - #uponthisrockpodcastLearn More About Mark McGonigle:Mark’s WebsiteMark on Linkedin 

Mark McGonigle and Father Don continue their conversation about psychology and spirituality from two weeks ago on the Upon This Rock podcast. They talk about the evolution of counseling in the 21st Century, including EMDR (Eye Movement and Desensitization and Reprocessing) as well as the evolution of faith that expands beyond religious teachings to include mystical relationships with God and the spiritual world. Mark’s sense of the Holy Spirit flowing through us and our world will inspire us to tune in to how we live in sync with both our visible and invisible surroundings.Listen to Part 1 of this Series (Psychology & Spirituality Intertwined)Listen to Part 3 of this Series (Therapy & Counseling For All in Today’s World)Like this podcast? Please consider making a donation.Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible.  Give now.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter  -  #fatherdonfarnan - #uponthisrockpodcastLearn More About Mark McGonigle:Mark's WebsiteMark on Linkedin

Todd McCullough and his son, Quinn, join Father Don to discuss the importance of faith in the McCullough Family and how it has helped them navigate life's many challenges. Quinn, who was diagnosed with a learning disability in infancy, excelled in school from Saint Thomas More Elementary to Saint Michael the Archangel High School to Benedictine College. Part of the Cupertino Society, Quinn has served in many leadership roles throughout his education and is now the host of a popular podcast, QDOG Sports. You’ll appreciate hearing his story and achievements.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastCheck Out Quinn's QDog Sports NetworkLearn More About Todd McCullough

Mark McGonigle grew up in Saint Peter Church in Brookside in the 1970s amidst a large family and supportive neighborhood culture. Influenced by parents, grandparents, family members, and people of faith, Mark’s experiences landed him in a world where faith and personal growth intertwined. His vocation as a counselor and spiritual mentor inspires him to host contemplative prayer sessions on the second and fourth Sunday mornings of each month at Saint Francis Xavier Church. After listening, you may want to join him for these sessions.Listen to Part 2 of this Series (Psychology & Spirituality Intertwined)Listen to Part 3 of this Series (Therapy & Counseling For All in Today’s World) Like this podcast? Please consider making a donation. Your gift (in any amount) will help us continue this show, reach our mission, and lift the Farnan Spirituality Center into a future filled with hope, progress, and success. All contributions are secure and tax-deductible. Give now.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish # farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLearn More About Mark McGonigle:Mark's WebsiteMark on Linkedin

Father Don and Barbie discuss synodality, a term that's topical in the Catholic Church in the 2020s but is not well understood by many Catholics, and is even avoided by some because it’s such an unusual word. Hopefully, by listening to their conversation, you will gain a better understanding of synodality (essentially moving forward together, guided by the Holy Spirit) and its importance in our parishes. Pope Francis laid the foundation for the church to enter the process of being synodal, and Pope Leo seems committed to building upon this foundation.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast

Father Don offers thoughts about the importance of putting faith into action as Catholic workers commissioned to live by the social guidelines of our religion. With the election of Pope Leo XIV, there is increased interest in them because of his predecessor, Leo XIII, who wrote an encyclical called “Rerum Novarum,” which set a foundation for the teachings of engagement in society to transform our world into a healthier, holier, and more wholesome place. It seems that Pope Leo wants us to take to heart this mission of the church.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast 

As we approach the Feast of Pentecost, Father Don and his sister, Barbie, muse about the Holy Spirit as the promise of Christ and the gift of love. We feel this divine energy in numerous active ways, yet most often in quiet, pensive, or prayerful moments, even in times of darkness. We are reminded that God is always with us, and the Spirit of love is closer to us than we can know. Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast

Father Don offers a reflection for Memorial Day as we honor deceased Loved Ones in a directed way at the end of May. In doing so, we celebrate their lives and give thanks. “Opacarophilia,” refers to our attraction to sunsets; spiritualists suggest that we are drawn to sunsets because it helps us find comfort in our future death when the sun sets on our earthly life. The beauty of the sun setting, according to the nature of each day, helps us realize that human nature is to surrender ourselves in a like manner.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast

Ruth Dakotas grew up in western Kansas, influenced by family, farming, faith, and food. Honoring her past, she promotes a “kitchen spirituality” today that nourishes both body and soul. Driving a significant distance for church services and events, Ruth and her husband, Dan, find nourishment and sacred energy at Saint Therese Little Flower, 58th Street and Euclid Avenue, where she is currently co-chairing the community’s hundredth anniversary celebrations.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter #fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastMore About St. Therese Little Flower Parish:WebsiteSTLF Journey To 100

Steve and Nicole Pierce join Father Don and talk about their life together, which moves from their home as parents and spouses to their vocation as proprietors of Muehlebach Funeral Home. They encounter people at times when they are most vulnerable, such as when they lose a loved one, and, through that, they learn much about human care, emotion, and passion at crucial junctures in our earthly existence.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish#farnanspiritualiltycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastMuehlebach Funeral Home:

Dr. and Mrs. Smith (Tim and Trish) continue the second half of their interview with Father Don as he reflects upon his pastoral assignments: Visitation, Saint Therese Little Flower, Saint Louis, Saint John Lalande, Saint Thomas More, and Saint Charles Borromeo before his return to inner city ministry. He plans to live out the remainder of his priesthood in the urban core because of the great need there.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast

One year after our first interview at the end of their freshman year (episode #18), Avila students Hadley Price and Sophia Giorgio update listeners on their college experience. Still playing for the Eagles’ volleyball and baseball programs, they busy themselves as student athletes. Their housing situation changed from the first cycle, and they have broadened their circle of friends. Now they look ahead to planning for life after college.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLearn More About Avila University:https://www.avila.edu  

Tim and Patricia Smith of Saint Francis Xavier Parish interview Father Don in this first of a two-part conversation about growing up in a large Catholic family from rural Missouri. Claiming that people who attend his three urban parishes want to know more about his background, they inquire about his life and formation.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast

Tim and Jean Donaldson grew up in Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Redemptorist) Parish on Broadway at Linwood Boulevard. They reminisce about their formative years in that Irish Catholic community and the lasting influence it made on them. Their daughter, Katie, the second of four sisters, had a similar experience growing up in south Kansas City at Saint Thomas More School and Church, where her (and her sisters’) children now attend. In this podcast, they share stories from their circle of friendships in the circle of life and faith.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLearn More About St. Thomas More Parish

Jim Kopp is the fifth of eleven siblings. They grew up in Visitation Parish during the 1950s and 1960s, influenced by the childhood priests and nuns. Jim was inspired to attend seminary high school and college for two years each before starting a family and working for the Kansas City Police Department, and later at various places in North America for petroleum companies. Along with his childhood friends, he now dedicates apostolic time and effort to helping inner-city churches while still being actively involved in his suburban parish. You’ll enjoy Jim’s story of faith and find a way to relate it to your own story of faith.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish#farnanspiritualiltycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast

Barbie Farnan and Father Don continue their discussion from last week as the topic of forgiveness turns to mercy. They speak of Corporeal Works of Mercy and Pope Francis’ desire for the “mercification” of the world. Catholics, through the Penitential Act at Mass and Sacrament of Reconciliation, are inspired to forgive the faults of others and accept God’s divine mercy. Perhaps their dialogue will encourage your conversations with friends or family and lead to acts of forgiveness.Your input is welcome. We would love to hear from you!Please post your questions and comments here.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter #fatherdonfarnan #uponthisrockpodcast

An essential aspect of Christianity, highlighted during Lent, is the concept of forgiveness. Barbie Farnan and her brother, Father Don Farnan, discuss the forgiveness process that is introduced to children at a young age. As we mature and navigate more complex relationships and serious issues, forgiveness becomes an even more crucial component of living well. As you listen in, you may discover personal aid in offering and/or receiving forgiveness.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter #fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast

Sarah Jurcyk joins Father Don and Michael Sanem, Director of Kansas City’s Ignatian Spirituality Center and Director of Mission & Ministry for Saint Francis Xavier (SFX) Parish, to discuss social justice ministries within the church. Parishioners transform faithful prayer into impactful works by focusing upon the dignity of every human person; this spurs them to accompany migrant workers, asylum seekers, refugees, those who suffer from hunger, poverty, racial discrimination, unfair practices, and other forms of injustice. They invite us to join them.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast

Vincent Gauthier, urban planner, developer, professor of architecture and design, and parishioner of Saint Francis Xavier (SFX) Parish, discusses the history and beauty of the historic SFX worship space with Ann Sheridan, parish administrator, and Father Don. “The fish church” at 52nd and Troost tells an interesting story that includes such greats as Frank Lloyd Wright and Archbishop Edwin O’Hara. The seventy-five-year-old structure contains fascinating art and rich symbolism that once united architect Barry Byrnes and sculptor Alfonso Iannelli in a Kansas City structural masterpiece.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter #fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLearn More About Vincent GauthierSt. Francis Building History

Kevin O’Rourke joins Father Mike Roach to reminisce about growing up Catholic in Kansas City’s northland and how their education, especially at Saint Pius X High School in the early 1970s, impacted their lives. Years later, they reconnected through parochial sports programs and have remained close friends for the past quarter century. Though they approach business, politics, and religion from different perspectives, they have great hopes for the church’s impact on future generations here and worldwide.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast

Rhonda Osborn moved from health care provider to spiritual director, life coach, and death doula. In these roles, she helps people reflect upon and create plans regarding important matters, e.g., advanced directives, financial insurance, organization of passwords and personal information, care of pets, celebration of life rituals, etc. Founder of This One Life, LLC, she assists and supports individuals and families in setting goals and clarifying plans.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLearn More About Rhonda Osborn:Rhonda on LinkedinThis One Life

Father Don and his sister Barbie discuss retreat opportunities for people to review life, make plans for the remainder of life and secure wishes for the end of earthly life. Using some well-thought-out programs, the Farnan Spirituality Center will offer mini-retreats this Lent and Summer that help faith-seekers stabilize and better orient their lives while in good health and direct loved ones and caregivers as they age.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast

Yvette Tunley has been a member of Saint Therese Little Flower (STLF) Parish for most of her life, where she has served in many capacities, from participation in the youth group as a teenager to being youth director and pastoral council chair as an adult. A recently retired city worker, she has developed great organizational skills and uses them to help with many special projects at the parish.On this podcast, she talks about the upcoming annual STLF Mardi Gras party to be held on Friday, February 28, at Pierson Auditorium on the UMKC campus, 5001 Holmes Road. You can reserve your tickets at stlfkc.org.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLearn More About St. Therese& Their Mardi Gras Event:www.stlfkc.orgMardi Gras Event