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.

Episode 36: Ep: 36: Christ's love is perfect, mine is not - Planning your imperfect Lent

February 7th, 2024  |  41 mins 1 sec

alms, catholic, conversation, evangelization, faith, fasting, gospel, imperfect, jesus christ, lent, mercy, prayer, repentance

This year, Christians observe Ash Wednesday as secular society celebrates Valentine's Day. The paradox of these two celebrations can help us understand the consolation of God's mercy. We give a brief history of the season of Lent, some biblical and liturgical considerations we will encounter, and the ways in which we can enter deeper into our journey toward an Easter of transformation.

Episode 33: A Thrill of Hope for the weary world - Letting ourselves be loved as a child of God

December 18th, 2023  |  27 mins 5 secs

advent, carols, catholic, christmas, conversation, evangelization, gospel, holidays, jesus christ, ministry, prayer, repentance

Fr. John and Jen sit down together again (finally!) for one last conversation of hope before Christmas.
Fr. John gives us a surefire way to be renewed in hope and joy this Christmas by bringing our repentant hearts to the manger this year.
Jen and Fr. John read from some of the carols of the season that give us strong theology for discipleship once we get past the well-known first verse.

Episode 31: Ep 31 - Prepare your thankful heart

November 21st, 2023  |  20 mins 45 secs

catholic, christmas, conversation, evangelization, family, gospel, holidays, jesus christ, prayer, thanksgiving

Fr. John recently attended a prayer meeting with a reflection led by Fred Bunsa. In the midst of all of your holiday preparation this week, we offer a 20 minute practical guide to give the gift of hope to the people whom you spend time with at Thanksgiving.

Episode 28: Ep 28: The Artists way and the Synodal Way with Eric Hunter

October 10th, 2023  |  35 mins 22 secs

catholic, conversation, evangelization, gospel, jesus christ, kerygma

Jen speaks with Eric Hunter, pianist, teacher and composer, about the ways in which an artist's outlook and a disciple's outlook overlap. Eric is the composer of our theme, which has been expanded to a full work and has marked a big change in his compositional voice.

Episode 25: Ep 25: Lord, Teach us to pray!

August 15th, 2023  |  35 mins 24 secs

Fr. John and Jen discuss the upcoming School of Prayer classes beginning September 20 and continuing for seven sessions through May 2024 to offer fresh insight, experience and opportunities for growing in the spiritual life.

Episode 23: "His Heart beats for every single one of us" - Fr. John and Jen on the Devotion to the Sacred Heart

June 15th, 2023  |  43 mins 29 secs

adoration, catholic, devotion, eucharist, evangelization, gospel, incarnation, jesus christ, love, sacred heart

Fr. John Gordon and Jen share insight into the great gift of God's Love in the Eucharist and its representation in the devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. They close with the Litany of the Sacred Heart and the Prayer of Reparation to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Episode 19: Ep 19: School of Prayer -Building your spiritual tool box with Fr. John Gordon

May 19th, 2023  |  31 mins 2 secs

catholic, conversation, evangelization, faith, family, gospel, jesus christ, prayer, repentance, spirituality

Fr. John and Jen introduce the new in person series coming in the Fall from the Office For Evangelization - The School of Prayer.