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 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.

Episode 38: Teach a Sister, Touch the World - How Eucharistic devotion can transform the world.

May 21st, 2024  |  35 mins 37 secs

beauty, catholic, church, evangelization, goodness, ministry, mission, prayer, service, truth

Jen speaks with Sister Marie Pauline Demek, SCC, President of Assumption College of Sisters in Denville, New Jersey about the work of Evangelization accomplished at ACS as springing from the founder of the Sisters of Christian Charity, Blessed Pauline von Mallinckrodt.

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 35: Ep 35: Blessing your house with God's Love and Mercy - with Lisa Lawmaster Hess

January 29th, 2024  |  54 mins 51 secs

catholic, evangelization, family life, forgiveness, gospel, home, imperfection, jesus christ, love, mercy

Jen interviews child psychologist, author, college professor and Catholic mom Lisa Lawmaster Hess about taking a Catholic view of organizing yourself and your family in love and mercy. Hess's book "Know Thyself: An Imperfectionist's guide to organizing your stuff" gives practical advice for accepting your own strengths and helping those who share your space work together to identify ways to make our homes places of functional sustainable organization by approaching each other in love and mercy.

Episode 34: Ep 34: Perfect Love Drives out Fear - Mercy House and Respect Life with Cheryl Riley

January 16th, 2024  |  30 mins 15 secs

Jen grabs a few moments with Cheryl Riley, director of the Office of Respect Life and Mercy House initiatives in the Archdiocese of Newark, in between her non-stop ministry to help women and families choose life. Cheryl's own healing came through Rachel's Vineyard retreats, which inform all of her work in ministry.

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.