About the show

The Heart of the Ark podcast is an initiative from the Office for Evangelization in the Archdiocese of Newark. We're coming to you to bring knowledge and courage as we voyage through this life as missionary disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Hosted by Fr. John Gordon, Director of the Office for Evangelization and Secretary of Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Newark, and Jennifer Behnke, Associate Director of Evangelization, our aim is to help equip our listeners to better know, love and serve God.

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Episodes

  • Episode 51: Dilexit Nos in a Year - Session 2

    February 21st, 2025  |  14 mins 15 secs
    beauty, catholic, church, evangelization, goodness, ministry, mission, prayer, service, truth

    In the first Chapter of Dilexit Nos, Pope Francis traces the historical and philosophical idea of the heart as locus of reason and desire that forms the core of being of a human. We explore Chapter 1 - Paragraphs 2-4.

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    Episode 50: Dilexit Nos in a Year - How is this going to work?

    February 20th, 2025  |  17 mins 45 secs
    beauty, catholic, church, evangelization, goodness, ministry, mission, prayer, service, truth

    It is through the Dilexit Nos in a Year from the Heart of the Ark, that we will seek to ask questions and pray together that Jesus Christ may do the transformative work in our hearts necessary to move from initiated believer, to abiding discipleship, to dwelling place of the spirit which serves in sacrificial self-gift.

  • Episode 49: Dilexit Nos in a Year - Why do it?

    February 19th, 2025  |  15 mins 5 secs
    beauty, catholic, church, evangelization, goodness, ministry, mission, prayer, service, truth

    Dilexit Nos in a Year - Why read it? Why did Pope Francis write it? What does it have to do with Evangelization?

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    Episode 48: Dilexit Nos in a Year - What is it?

    February 18th, 2025  |  10 mins 45 secs
    beauty, catholic, church, evangelization, goodness, ministry, mission, prayer, service, truth

    Dilexit Nos, We Are His Witnesses, and the spiritual and communal work of responding to the heartbeat of Jesus.

  • Episode 47: Dilexit Nos in a Year - Session 1

    February 14th, 2025  |  9 mins
    beauty, catholic, church, evangelization, goodness, ministry, mission, prayer, service, truth

    The Title of Dilexit Nos comes directly from this passage of the first letter of John Chapter 4, verse 10. “He Loved Us”. A meditation for the beginning of the year ahead with the Title and paragraph 1 of Pope Francis's Encyclical Dilexit Nos.

  • Episode 46: Ep 46: Live life well - A Story of Resilience in Adversity with Howard Walker

    December 17th, 2024  |  33 mins 17 secs
    beauty, catholic, church, evangelization, goodness, ministry, mission, prayer, service, truth

    Jen visits Dr. Howard Walker, a Catholic husband and father, and elementary school principal and educator who wants to spread wisdom for resilience in the face of adversity. Dr. Walker has struggled with his own childhood trauma and has learned from his own life and career some tips for learning to persevere despite grief. CONTENT WARNING - this episode covers discussion of childhood trauma and abuse, mental illness, self-harm and suicide. Sensitive listeners please be aware.

  • Episode 45: Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room - A case for taking Advent spiritually seriously

    November 25th, 2024  |  31 mins 53 secs
    beauty, catholic, church, evangelization, goodness, ministry, mission, prayer, service, truth

    Fr. John and Jen discuss the ways in which we can better prepare for the coming joy of Christmas by fully embracing the Advent practices and prayer time that can help us ready our hearts for the Nativity.

  • Episode 43: Ep 43: The Rosary - The powerful weapon of Saints, and why you need to "get on the beads"

    October 21st, 2024  |  34 mins 30 secs
    beauty, catholic, church, evangelization, goodness, ministry, mission, prayer, rosary, service, truth

    Fr. John and Jen share some personal experiences, wisdom from saints and insights into how they both became converted to the power of the Rosary later in life. Through the ages, saints have pointed to the importance of saying the Rosary, but why? What can it teach us today, and how can we make the most of this spiritual practice in our lives.

  • Episode 42: A Sunday Kind of Love - Giving the Lord's Day a Renewed Focus

    September 17th, 2024  |  38 mins 33 secs
    beauty, catholic, church, evangelization, goodness, ministry, mission, prayer, service, truth

    Fr. John and Jen start season 3 of The Heart of the Ark with a call back to Sunday. Making the Lord's day a priority for our lives and our families in order that we may live Monday through Saturday well.

  • Episode 41: Ep 41: Ahhh...September - Back to Seminary? A conversation with James McElroy

    August 22nd, 2024  |  35 mins 24 secs
    beauty, catholic, church, evangelization, goodness, ministry, mission, prayer, service, truth

    Jen and Fr. John team up to speak to James McElroy who began his studies at the Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University this past week. James is a 24 year-old "normal guy" who has spent a full year of discernment before entering the major seminary. He gives us all a fresh perspective for tackling the school year ahead and inviting God into your life.

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    Episode 40: A Father's hopes for Summer Vacation - Fun, Faith and New Perspectives with Brian Caldwell

    July 4th, 2024  |  37 mins 30 secs
    beauty, catholic, church, evangelization, goodness, ministry, mission, prayer, service, truth

    Jen speaks with Brian Caldwell, Director of Family Life Office at the Archdiocese of Newark, and Adjunct Professor at Caldwell University about the importance of making faith an integrated part of family life, and not just an add-on once a week for an hour on Sundays.

  • Episode 39: Ep 39: Alan Hommerding - "There are many gifts including yours. There are many gifts, not only yours."

    June 11th, 2024  |  43 mins 37 secs
    beauty, catholic, church, evangelization, goodness, ministry, mission, prayer, service, truth

    Jen speaks with Liturgical Composer, Hymn text writer and Senior editor at GIA Publications about the disciplines of writing and humility formed throughout a lifetime of ministry work. Alan once referred to himself rather dismissively as a "Catechist with a Rhyming dictionary", but has spent his career striving to bring the work of evangelization and mission to everything he does.