Faith Break: Finding God Moments In Your Every Day

Episode 28 – 6.8.25: Pentecost The Holy Spirit has been so active in our faith community this year! Before we take a summer hiatus from the podcast, Karen and Anne celebrate the birthday of the Church by naming the graces of this year and looking forward to some peaceful time with God thissummer. Scripture References: Acts 2:1-11 Psalm 104 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 John 14:15-16, 23b-26

Episode 27 – 6.1.25: Call Stories It’s Baccalaureate weekend, and in honor of our graduating seniors, Karen and Anne reflect on God’s call for all of us to share our gifts with the world. Our youth ministry intern Sarah joins us as she prepares to take the next step toward God’s call for her. Scripture References: Call of Moses. Exodus 3:1-22 Call of Samuel. 1 Samuel 3:1-18Call of Jeremiah. Jeremiah 1:4-10 Call of the first disciples. Matthew 4:18-22 Call of Paul. Acts of the Apostles 9:1-19.

We are part of a BIG Church, made up of all the believers on earth and in heaven. This week, Karen and Anne, along with our friend Don, geek out about all our favorite saints and how much we love being a part of this eternal family in faith. Scripture References: Hebrews 12:1 Romans 12:4-13 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 1 John 1:3

Our favorite Church nerd Don Smith is back to talk with Karen and Anne about the spiritual significance of pilgrimages within our life-long journeys of faith. God does great things when we move out of our comfort zones and trust Him to guide our steps alongthe road. Scripture References: Psalms 120-134 Genesis 12:1 Exodus 13:21 Luke 2:41-52

Catholics Love Mom! Special Mother’s Day Reflection on Mary. This week, in honor of all who mother, Karen and Anne celebrate Mary’s fierce faith, courageous choices, and beautiful relationship with Jesus. Scripture References: Luke 1-2 John 2 John 19:25-30

Episode 23 – 5.4.25: Celebrating Our Youth: Sacraments Edition. Kids and teens at church say the darndest things! In honor of our young people making their first Holy Communion and Confirmation this week, Karen and Anne share their favorite conversations and moments with our youth. Scripture References: 1 Timothy 4:12 Jeremiah 1:4-10

Episode 22 – 4.27.25: Moving from Doubt to Faith. Today Karen and Anne ask the question, does “doubting” Thomas get a bad rap? What does it look like today to desire the gift of faith for ourselves and others? Scripture references: Acts 5:12-16 John 20:19-31

Episode 21 – 4.20.25: Happy Easter! As we move from Lent into the joyful Easter season, Karen and Anne reflect about what it means to have a Resurrection faith in a world that still feels uncertain. The empty tomb is just the first step toward “Alleluia.” Scripture references: Acts 10:34a-43 John 20:1-9

Passion Sunday. Today, Karen and Anne welcome special guest Deacon Eric Bessette to reflect on the graces of praying Holy Week deeply, the meaning of the Cross, and Jesus’ incredible love for each of us. Scripture references: Luke 19:28-40 John 18:1-19:42 Philippians 2:6-11 John 12:1-11

Finding Renewal in God this Lent. It’s been a long, hard winter, and we are all ready for the freshness and new growth of spring. This week, Karen and Anne reflect on how God is bringing new life into our hearts and into our world during this Lenten season. Scripture references: Isaiah 43:16-21 John 8:1-11

Returning to God This Lent. This Lent we are making a “pilgrimage of hope,” and our Mass readings this week remind us that every journey ends with a homecoming. Karen and Anne reflect on how we create home in spiritual community and find our ultimate home in God. Scripture references: Joshua 5:9a, 10-12 Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Lenten Disciplines: Almsgiving Today. This week, Karen and Anne welcome back Dan Hofford, our Finance Director, to talk about what it looks like to be generous with the gifts God has given us and share creative ways to practice almsgiving this Lent and beyond. Scripture references: Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15 Luke 13:1-9 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 Matthew 25

Lenten Disciples: Praying Today. This week, Karen and Anne ask the question, “What would it look like to let God be in charge of our prayer this Lent?” How can we create favorable conditions for God’s grace to move in our hearts by showing up to prayer with emptiness, not expectations, with stillness, not an agenda? Scripture references: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 Luke 9:28b-36

Lenten Disciplines: Fasting Today. Giving up something for Lent doesn’t just have to be chocolate! This week, Karen and Anne offer creative ideas for going deeper with the practice of fasting to help you let go of what’s cluttering up your heart and make space for God’s Spirit to move. Scripture references: Matthew 6:16-18 Isaiah 58:6 Joel 2:12

Karen and Anne welcome friend and colleague Don Smith, our Diocesan Coordinator of Sacramental Catechesis and Family Life, to share fresh ideas about what it can look like to practice Lent in the real world today. With Ash Wednesday just a few days away, tune in for practical advice to help you set your intentions for your Lenten journey. Scripture references: Joel 2:12-18 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Luke 4:18-19

Even though we’re still in winter, spring is on the way, and Lent is just around the corner. This week, Karen and Anne offer a run down of the many opportunities coming up in our faith community in the coming monthsand invite you to spring forward in faith with us. There’s something for everyone and so much to look forward to! Scripture references: Isaiah 35:1-2 James 5:7 Zechariah 10:1 Song of Songs 2:11-13

It's February 16th and today Karen and Anne welcome their spouses, Jeremy and Brian, to the podcast. Looking back on their decades of marriage, they discuss how they've learned to make it all work, and celebrate loving each other through the seasons of life. Scripture references: Genesis 2:24 Proverbs 31:10 1 Peter 4:8 Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Colossians 3:12-17

On Superbowl Sunday, our hosts Karen and Anne acknowledge the team that is our church and how we all work together to create this beautiful worship experience in our community. We explore: How is the church like a team? What is our mission? How do we show "team" spirit? What does it mean to belong? What does it look like to win? It's gametime! Scripture Connections: 1 Corinthians 12 (whole chapter) 12:4-7: “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the spirit is given for some benefit.” 12: 12 –13: “As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.” Hebrews 10:24-25: “We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.” 1 Corinthians 3:5-9: “What is Apollos, after all, and what is Paul? Ministers through whom you became believers, just as the Lord assigned each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth. Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters are equal, and each will receive wages in proportion to his labor. For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

Karen and Anne and special guest Sarah explore a young adults perpective on today's church. Anne and Karen want to know what it's like to be a teen in today's world and in our church, what adults can do to support teens and what drives Sarah to persue her ministry internship in the church. Sarah asks Karen and Anne about their most influential moments working in youth ministry, why they chose youth ministry, and what they would change in the chuch if they could. Today's scriptural connections include:1 Timothy 4:12. “Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.” Jeremiah 1:4-9 The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.’ ‘Ah, Lord God,’ I said, ‘I do not know how to speak. I am too young.’ But the Lord answered me, ‘Do not say ‘I am too young.’ To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you.’ Pope Francis: “The thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity. I see the church as a field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugars! You have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else. Heal the wounds, heal the wounds. ... And you have to start from the ground up.

Our Top Ten Favorite Faith Things for 2025: This week, Karen and Anne offer our recommendations of all the things we are loving in our prayer lives right now. Take a break with us as we share our picks for music, spiritual reading, prayer practices, and more to help you grow in faith this year. Books referenced: "Rest is Resistance", by Tricia Hersey "We Will Rest: The Art of Escape", by Tricia Hersey "Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times", by Katherine May "The Passion and the Cross", by Ronald Rolheiser "The Holy Longing", by Ronald Rolheiser