Gratia Plena: A St. Mary Catholic Parish Podcast

We begin our jubilee year of St. John Paul II by examining his vision for labor and work. In honor of Labor Day, we begin this jubilee year with a discussion on St. John Paul II's encyclical Laborens Exercens (The Exercise of Work). His advice inspires us to embrace the process of sanctification that is our labor and toil and to learn how to see our work as a sharing in God's creative power as we are made in His image and likeness.

Michelle Wong, a graduate student at the Augustine Institute who is completing her leadership practicum here at the parish joins us to discuss her conversion to the faith and her experience in the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) process.We talk about the Lenten season and how it parallels the Period of Purification & Enlightenment for the Elect preparing for the Easter Sacraments as well as the possibility of God calling us all to purification and enlightenment during the current Coronavirus outbreak.

Father Stefan Zarnay, Parochial Vicar and School Principle at St. Mary Catholic Church, offers advice on how to fully invest ourselves in the Lenten Season. Do not be afraid!

Father Armando Marsal, the Parochial Vicar at St. Mary Parish, joins us to discuss the Virtues. We explore what they are, the different "types" of virtues, how they can help us achieve true happiness and how to grow in virtue. Only when we follow God's will in our lives will we gain authentic and fulfilling happiness.

Teresa Birdsall, our Liturgy Coordinator, is the guest for this month’s episode as we look further into the topic of the 3rd Commandment in the context of Advent and the Liturgical Calendar of the Church. Teresa talks to us about how we can better dispose ourselves to enter into the Liturgical seasons and how we can implement these celebrations more in our homes. We also talk about how Mary's life helps us to more fully invest in the Mass.