Deacons Pod

In this episode of Deacons Pod, Deacon Mike Hayes and Deacon Patrick Murphy-Racey, both of whom are Paulist Deacon Affiliates, have a conversation about some recent issues in the news. They begin by discussing the failed execution on September 30, 2026, of convicted murderer Christa Pike in Tennessee. "If we ever wanted a case to show that capital punishment is stupid, let's just start here," says Deacon Mike. "There is a difference between justice and revenge. And revenge never solves anything."

"You never know how God is going to work – and the way he is going to use you," says Deacon Greg Kandra. "Every moment of your life is formation." An award-winning journalist, author, blogger, and speaker, Deacon Greg is our special guest on this episode of Deacons Pod. He speaks with Deacon Mike Hayes and Deacon Mike Berstene (both of whom are Paulist Deacon Affiliates) about his new book "Peace Be with All of You: The Mission and Message of Pope Leo XIV" from Word Among Us Press. Deacon Greg also reflects on his career as a writer at CBS News; his discernment to become a deacon; ministry at his new parish in Central Florida; and the state of media today. He also shares about his recent experience as a cancer survivor, noting that September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

The recent death of legendary musical artist and humanitarian Dolly Parton, as well as this week's 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, inspired this episode of Deacons Pod about the experience of collective grief. "It's just a different kind of grief that sort of spills over into the lives of us all," says Deacon Mike Hayes, who co-hosts the episode with Deacon Mike Berstene. Both deacons are Paulist Deacon Affiliates.

Earlier this summer, the Paulist Deacon Affiliates' group chat came alive with a discussion of a thought-provoking essay in Commonweal magazine called "From Summit to Source: On a Eucharistic Dialogue With the World" by Kathryn Muensterman. In her essay, Muensterman, a PhD student in systematic theology at the University of Notre Dame, considers the statement "the Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life" and asks what it means for the work of Christian discipleship. Deacon Mark Asselin and Deacon Drew Dickson continue the conversation with Muensterman in this episode of Deacons Pod.

How should Christians respond when Scripture verses are used as tools (and as weapons) in political debates? That question is raised in this episode of Deacons Pod featuring Thomas Bolin, author of the Liturgical Press book "An Inspired Word in Season: Reading the Bible Responsibly in a Polarized World," which received a first-place honor in the Catholic Media Association's 2026 Book Awards in the "Religion in the Public Square" category. Dr. Bolin joins Deacon Mark Asselin and Deacon Patrick Ouellette (both of whom are Paulist Deacon Affiliates) for this timely conversation.