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Podcasts
More 2 Life is a radio program that brings the Theology of the Body teachings of John Paul II into the practical, everyday experience of life. Dr. Greg and Lisa will help you solve your problems with relevant, relatable and achievable tools and solutions straight from the genius of the Theology of the Body.
More 2 Life Podcast
- More2Life - 08/16/22 - How Could You? August 16, 2022We’re talking about frustration. Are you dealing with a frustrating situation or having to cope with a frustrating person? We’ll help you find peace. Dr. Greg and Lisa will help you solve your problems with relevant, relatable and achievable tools and solutions straight from the genius of the Theology of the Body. It is the […]Greg & Lisa Popcak - Hosts
- More2Life - 8/15/22 - The Art of Understanding August 15, 2022Are you caught up in a misunderstanding? Confusion causing conflict/ We’ll help you hear and be heard. Dr. Greg and Lisa will help you solve your problems with relevant, relatable and achievable tools and solutions straight from the genius of the Theology of the Body. It is the life you were meant to live! To […]Greg & Lisa Popcak - Hosts
- More2Life - 08/12/22 - Labels August 12, 2022Feeling trapped by the labels that are getting stuck on you? Or that you are feeling stuck with? We're going to help set you free. Dr. Greg and Lisa will help you solve your problems with relevant, relatable and achievable tools and solutions straight from the genius of the Theology of the Body. It is […]Greg & Lisa Popcak - Hosts
- More2Life - 8/11/22 - Have No Fear At All August 11, 2022We’re living in anxious times. Are the “what ifs” and “worst case scenarios” overtaking your mind? We’ll help you find peace and courage! Dr. Greg and Lisa will help you solve your problems with relevant, relatable and achievable tools and solutions straight from the genius of the Theology of the Body. It is the life […]Greg & Lisa Popcak - Hosts
Parenting is not a clean-cut, simple process for those who like to follow the rules. Family life is messy and unpredictable, but it is the greatest adventure you will ever have. We are Mike and Alicia Hernon, parents of 10 children ranging from 6 to 23 and we would like to invite you into some of the conversations we have had with each other about marriage, parenting, and Catholic family life.
Messy Family Podcast
- MFP 203: Will My Kids Ever Get Along? August 15, 2022“The family is where children discover how to be human. It’s where they learn how to respect and love other people.. where they discover their place in a family story larger than themselves.” -Archbishop Charles Chaput We meet parents … Continue reading The post MFP 203: Will My Kids Ever Get Along? appeared first […]Mike and Alicia Hernon : Catholic Marriage Parent and Family
- MFP 202: I Hate Being a Parent (sometimes) August 8, 2022Family communion can only be preserved and perfected through a great spirit of sacrifice. – St. John Paul II Let’s be honest. Parenting is hard. Some studies have shown that up to 18% of American parents regret having children. … Continue reading The post MFP 202: I Hate Being a Parent (sometimes) appeared first […]Mike and Alicia Hernon : Catholic Marriage Parent and Family
- MFP 201: Dinner Conversation with Fr. Leo Patalinghug August 1, 2022Food is love, but it’s only love if it’s shared. ~ Fr. Leo Patalinghug Family dinner is something so simple yet so important and foundational in your family culture. We need to constantly be reminded and encouraged to take … Continue reading The post MFP 201: Dinner Conversation with Fr. Leo Patalinghug appeared first […]Mike and Alicia Hernon : Catholic Marriage Parent and Family
- MFP 200: A Living Legacy – the Role of Grandparents in the Family July 25, 2022Blessed is the house where an older person lives! Blessed is the family that honours the elderly! – Pope Francis, from his message for the Second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly None of us live in a … Continue reading The post MFP 200: A Living Legacy – the Role of Grandparents […]Mike and Alicia Hernon : Catholic Marriage Parent and Family
The Catholic Sprouts Podcast is a daily podcast for Catholic kids. The short episodes are designed to plant one seed of faith each day. Topics covered include Catholic Feast Days, Morality, Catholic Theology, the saints and the sacraments.
Catholic Sprouts Podcast
- CS 1031: How Do You Become a Saint? Tuesday August 16, 2022Join us in the Be A Saint Kid's Club! Enrolling Now! https://shop.catholicsprouts.com/products/be-a-saint-kids-club-enrollment Thanks for listening to Catholic Sprouts! Please consider sharing this with another Catholic Parent, or Catholic Teacher so that we can all work together to plant seeds of Faith. Let us help you build your Domestic Church! Join us inside our NEW APP […]Nancy Bandzuch
- Consecration Day! August 15, 2022Please join us as we prepare to totally consecrate ourselves to Jesus Through Mary. Following the 33 days of preparation for consecration designed by St. Louis de Montfort, we will be spending 33 days together preparing to make this consecration. When done, on August 15th, our family will be consecrating ourselves and we will also […]Nancy Bandzuch
- CS 1030: Saturdays with Sir Roland August 13, 2022Training Guild link: https://www.extraordinarymission.com/dragonslayers contact email: john@extraordinarymission.com Dragon Slayers book: www.dragonslayersbook.comNancy Bandzuch
- Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary, Day 33 August 12, 2022Please join us as we prepare to totally consecrate ourselves to Jesus Through Mary. Following the 33 days of preparation for consecration designed by St. Louis de Montfort, we will be spending 33 days together preparing to make this consecration. When done, on August 15th, our family will be consecrating ourselves and we will also […]Nancy Bandzuch
- Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary, Day 32 August 11, 2022Please join us as we prepare to totally consecrate ourselves to Jesus Through Mary. Following the 33 days of preparation for consecration designed by St. Louis de Montfort, we will be spending 33 days together preparing to make this consecration. When done, on August 15th, our family will be consecrating ourselves and we will also […]Nancy Bandzuch
Faith, pop culture, and headline reflections from Fr. Mike Schmitz.
CLICK HERE to view the Fr. Mike Schmitz podcast episodes on the Ascension Presents website.
Ask Fr. Josh is the podcast where I hear you out and do my best to help you navigate the tricky times in life when our Catholic Faith doesn’t give you an easy “fill-in-the blank” answer. On this show, we’ll listen to one another, problem solve together, and ultimately entrust everything to our Lord.
CLICK HERE to view the Ask Fr. Josh podcast episodes on the Ascension Presents website.
Catholic Answers Life podcast is a radio show where people call in with questions about Catholicism and morality. The radio show hosts answer those questions.
Catholic Answers Live
- #10764 Open Forum - Karlo Broussard August 17, 2022Questions Covered: 01:42 – How do I show my protestant friends that there are more than 2 sacraments? 10:10 – I don’t think God could have saved us in any other way. Is there evidence for that? 20:15 – Who were the sons of God in Genesis? 32:00 – How do I build up trust […]Catholic Answers
- #10763 Open Forum - Karlo Broussard August 16, 2022Questions Covered: 03:55 – Is it possible for sacramentals to have the same graces as sacraments? Can we make our own sacramentals? 13:45 – I’m protestant. What is the Catholic doctrine on the atonement? 19:10 – Why are some Catholics not supportive of the Catechism? 24:30 – How could we claim that the Church’s teaching […]Catholic Answers
- #10762 Open Forum - Karlo Broussard August 16, 2022Questions Covered: 01:14 – How do you answer a former Mormon regarding how the church has so much money and distributes it? Why don’t they give more of it to the needy? 07:30 – Could you share your thoughts on Sirach 42:14 “Better is the wickedness of a man than a woman who does good; […]Catholic Answers
- #10761 Open Forum - Karlo Broussard August 15, 2022Questions Covered: 11:25 – What is the difference between the Father ‘begetting’ the Son and the Father ‘willing’ the Son? 22:18 – Which approved miracles could I use in conversation with an atheist when discussing evidence for God? 29:00 – Can you explain how the Sacraments work? Especially confession. 34:08 – In the bible there […]Catholic Answers
- #10760 Can Church Teaching Change? - Michael Lofton August 13, 2022Questions Covered: 13:07 – How do I as a non-Catholic understand the issues going on in Germany and the changes with the Synodal way? 16:06 – How do we distinguish the similarities and differences between the development of doctrine of Catholicism and the explication of doctrine as understood by the Orthodox? 19:56 – What do […]Catholic Answers
Join Bishop Robert Barron for a podcast on faith and culture.
Find more podcast episodes at https://www.wordonfireshow.com/
Word on Fire Podcast with Bishop Barron
- WOF 347: Understanding the Present Moment #3 (Jean-Paul Sartre) August 15, 2022Friends, today on the “Word on Fire Show,” we continue our series of discussions called “Understanding the Present Moment.” Brandon Vogt and I are examining four massively influential figures who together help explain our present moment, how we arrived at where we are today. The ideologies undergirding much of the unrest in our culture stem from these […]Bishop Robert Barron
- WOF 346: The 3 Tasks of the Church August 8, 2022Friends, today we share the homily I gave for my installation Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Rochester, Minnesota. Celebrating the Feast of Sts. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, I correlated those three disciples to what Pope Benedict XVI identified as the three tasks of the Church: worship, service of the poor, […]Bishop Robert Barron
- WOF 345: Understanding the Present Moment #2 (Friedrich Nietzsche) August 1, 2022Friends, today on the “Word on Fire Show,” we continue our series of discussions called “Understanding the Present Moment.” Brandon Vogt and I are examining four massively influential figures who together help explain our present moment, how we arrived at where we are today. The ideologies undergirding much of the unrest in our culture stem from these […]Bishop Robert Barron
- WOF 344: Seeking the Good and the Beautiful July 25, 2022Today we share the second half (listen to the first half here) of Bishop Barron’s presentation titled “Breaking Through the Buffered Self,” which he offered for the prestigious 2022 Albert Cardinal Meyer Lecture series hosted at Mundelein Seminary back in March 2022. In the talk, Bishop Barron looks at the intellectual matrix that has made […]Bishop Robert Barron
- WOF 343: Bishop Barron’s New Diocese in Minnesota July 18, 2022Friends, as you may have heard, Pope Francis recently appointed me the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester (Minnesota). I will be formally installed on July 29. On today's episode of “The Word on Fire Show,” Brandon Vogt and I discuss how I found out, how the process works, how it will affect Word […]Bishop Robert Barron
Books & Articles
Talking to Kids about Death
Gina’s father just passed away having lost his long battle with cancer. She is devastated but even harder is trying to decide what to do about her children, ages 8, 5 and 2. Some of her friends are telling her to keep the children away from the funeral while others are insisting that it is important to include them in some way. Gina, reeling from her loss, doesn’t know what to do and doesn’t have a great deal of energy to figure it out. She feels confused and overwhelmed by everything that’s happening around her.
No one wants to talk about issues related to death and dying. We especially don’t want to have to talk about it with our children. As Christians, however, the month of November, with the Feasts of All Saint’s and All Soul’s Days, gives us a wonderful opportunity to take charge of our fears and teach our children some important lessons about life, loss, and God’s abundant love.
What is Death?
We were not created to die. The Catechism states that it was not God’s intention that we would experience bodily death.
“Even though man’s nature is mortal, God had destined him not to die. Death was therefore contrary to the plans of God the Creator and entered the world as a consequence of sin. ‘Bodily death, from which man would have been immune had he not sinned’ is thus ‘the last enemy’ of man left to be conquered” (CCC#1008).
As human beings, we are said to be “ensouled.” That is, the body and soul were meant to be integral and complimentary to each other. It isn’t entirely correct to say that we “have” a soul. The soul and the body are one and weren’t designed to be separated.
Metaphorically speaking, what parts of ice cream are ice? What parts are cream? The ‘ice’ and the ‘cream’ are integral and complimentary to one another. Together, they make ice cream what it is. Of course, a soul is much more to a body than this, but my point is that it should seem even more absurd to think of them as separate things. St. Thomas Aquinas taught that death represented the unnatural separation of the body and soul. They were never meant to be apart from one another. Both, together, make us what we are.
That’s why Christians are sad when someone dies. Even though it is a wonderful thing to be able to hope that the person who has passed has, through God’s love, gone to Heaven, we recognize that we were never meant to be separated from our bodies even for a second, and we ache for the resurrection of the body which will occur when Christ comes again.
Parents should not be afraid to talk to children about death. Although we must approach the topic sensitively, the Christian understanding of death is characterized by a profound sense of hope and a deep connection with God’s love. As the Catechism puts it…
“the obedience of Jesus has transformed the curse of death into a blessing. Because of Christ, Christian death has a positive meaning… In death, God calls man to himself” (CCC #1008-1011).
Here are some things to keep in mind when sharing these deep truths with your children.
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Be Sensitive
Whether your child’s first experience of death is a pet or a loved one or even just a topic of discussion that arises because of All Saints or All Souls, avoid any tendency to launch into lectures or even well-intentioned attempts to take away your child’s feelings. As parents, seeing our children hurt is unbearable, but children don’t want moms and dads to deny their pain. They want them to understand it and love them through it.
Ask your children how they feel about their loss. Let them lead the discussion as much as possible. If they share something, ask where they learned to think what they do and how those thoughts make them feel. Be sure to understand as much of the child’s experience before you offer your own thoughts, and begin by answering questions or filling in any gaps.
If your child doesn’t know what to think, you can share how losing someone you love makes you feel. Explain that people sometimes feel lots of other things too. Some people feel sad, and others feel angry, and others feel scared and others feel something else- even nothing. Let your child know that whatever he or she feels is OK. Hold your child in your arms. When your child has shared whatever he or she can, tell your child you understand how he or she is feeling and that you are proud of your child for telling you.
Without trying to talk your children out of what they are feeling, remind your children that even though death is a sad thing, God loves us so much that he promises us that anyone who loves him will get to live with him forever in Heaven and that he loves us so much that one day, he will fix things so that we can even be reunited with our bodies. In fact, he’ll make our bodies even better than before.
You may wish to read John 20:15, John 21:4, and/or Luke 24:13-35.
In each of these passages, the disciples did not recognize the resurrected Jesus at first because he was in his glorified body. Someday, we too will receive our glorified body. Even though we will be perfect in our appearance, everyone who loved us and knew us on earth will be able to recognize us, just like those who knew and loved Jesus recognized him.
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Should Children Attend the Funeral?
There is not one, good answer to this question, as it depends a great deal upon your child’s temperament.
In general, however, I recommend allowing children to participate, as much as you reasonably think they can handle, in the funeral rituals that attend the loss of a loved one.
Children need transitions to feel secure. Having someone simply disappear from their lives-especially someone they saw often- can be deeply upsetting. Letting even your smallest children participate in at least a limited way in the viewing, and/or the funeral liturgy and/or the wake can allow them to understand, on an experiential level, what is going on. Don’t force them to do more than they want to, but, in general, don’t exclude them entirely.
If you feel your child cannot handle some or all aspects of the funeral, consider giving your child some way to say “goodbye” to the person who has passed. Perhaps your child can draw a picture, make a card, or write a letter to the deceased. For younger children, simply hanging the picture in the refrigerator may be a sufficient memorial. Let your child know that his or her loved one is with God now and can see everything your child does and, as such, is right here with your child.
For older children, you may wish to take the letter (or other project) to the cemetery, or burn it and let the smoke rise to Heaven, or tie it to a helium balloon. Work with your child to create a ceremony that will be meaningful for him or her. Be sure to include at least a brief prayer reminding them that God is with their loved one and that he loves all of you very much and is taking care of you through this time and always.
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Grieving Means Connecting.
One thing people often get wrong about grieving is that they believe it means letting go of the person that passed on. In reality, the real challenge of healthy grieving is finding a way to stay connected tothe person even though he or she has passed on. Talk with your child about how he or she can stay connected to the person who has passed away.
Some people like to have material reminders of the person who has passed. Did your loved one give your child a particular toy? Is there some knicknack that belonged to your loved one that may have special meaning to your child?
Physical reminders of our loved ones can be very important. That’s why Catholics value relics so much. They are physical reminders of the saints, our brothers and sisters in the Lord who have gone on before us.
Of course, you can remind your children that they can talk to their deceased loved one any time. Let your child know that your loved one is with God and can hear anything your child would like to tell him or her. And, since your loved one is with God, they can pray for your child in an even more special way he or she did when he or she was alive.
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Does Your Child Need Special Attention?
Children rarely sit parents down and say, “Mom? Dad? I’m having a tough time with this.” Instead, their behavior changes. Remember, as a rule, children behave well when they feel well.
If your child isn’t behaving well, is more intense, disobedient, harder to get under control, or just extra rambunctious, don’t see that as a discipline problem as much as a cry for your loving attention.
Certainly, offer whatever gentle corrections you must, but make sure to provide extra affection and time together with you. Encourage the unusually overactive child to engage in quieter pursuits with you. Do a craft project together. Read a book together. Pray together. Just cuddle. Anchor the child in the safety and security of your arms.
When they encounter death, some children worry about your possible passing. The best way to reassure a child that they are safe and that you are not going away too is to simply be as physically present as you can.
If your child’s behavior doesn’t improve or worsens, seek professional assistance. Likewise, if, after a couple of weeks, you’re seeing something about your child’s behavior that makes you wonder if you should talk to a professional, that’s probably a good sign that you should at least seek an evaluation.
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What About Pets?
The loss of a pet is often the first experience a child has with death. Following all the recommendations I’ve made so far will help your child in dealing with this loss as well. Young children, especially, tend to think of their pets very much the same as human beings and will mourn the pet’s loss in a similar way. Having some kind of funeral to say goodbye, discussing ways to remember the pet, and providing ample comfort and presence will be important here too.
One question children often ask is whether their pet has gone to Heaven.
Although, as Christians, we believe that human beings are the only creatures God willed for himself, the truth is, we don’t know with absolute certainty what Heaven will be like. I recommend simply saying to your child that God loves us so much that he will make sure that whatever we need to be happy with him in Heaven will be there with us.
Be Not Afraid!
Although talking about death with our children is never something parents look forward to, we don’t have to be afraid. God is with us. The more sensitive, understanding, gentle, and forthright we can be, the more our children will come to see us as a reliable and credible source for all the questions they have about living life to the full.
About The Author
Dr. Greg Popcak is a therapist, radio host, and author of many books. The director of the Pastoral Solutions Institute, he and his staff provide Catholic counseling by telephone to clients around the world. He is devoted husband to Lisa and father of three.
CatholicCounselors.com , Faith on the Couch
By Dr Gregory Popcak|January 8th, 2018
Feeding Your Teenager’s Faith
OCTOBER 14, 2019 BY RACHAEL POPCAK AND DR. GREGORY POPCAK – From Faith on the couch by Dr. Gregory Popcak online
Faith evolves in stages. Knowing how to foster your teenager’s faith begins with understanding the unique spiritual food that nourishes an adolescent’s faith-development.
Teens occupy what’s called the “Synthetic-Conventional” stage of faith, but we like to call it the “Relationship & Mission Stage”
Teens are focused on figuring out their place in the world. So, they tend to believe something is “true” if it facilitates their relationships and helps them feel like they can make a difference. In the same way, they believe something’s “false” if it complicates their relationships or seems to be a source of conflict and division in their lives.
When parents focus too much on what our faith doesn’t allow us to do, or who our faith doesn’t allow us to hang out with, teens get the message that faith is an obstacle to either having relationships or discovering their purpose. The stronger they feel that way, the more likely it is that they’ll fight against the faith–or reject it altogether.
Instead of becoming too focused on the “Thou Shalt Not’s,” concentrate on giving your teens experiences that prove their faith can help them have fulfilling relationships AND make a positive difference in some way.
The most important way to do that is to make sure your teens see how your Catholic faith is having a positive impact in your home and family life. They need to see that your faith is helping you get along better–and care for each other more–than other families that don’t live the faith the way you do. Additionally, it’s important to help teens find faithful peers they can associate with, and causes they can put their faith and energy behind.
The more you can help your teen discover how their faith can enable them to build strong relationships and a healthy sense of mission, the more you’ll be giving your teens the spiritual food they need to grow into a faithful adulthood.
Want more ways to help your kids fall in love with the faith? Check out Discovering God Together: The Catholic Guide to Raising Faithful Kids.
About The Author
Dr. Greg Popcak is a therapist, radio host, and author of many books. The director of the Pastoral Solutions Institute, he and his staff provide Catholic counseling by telephone to clients around the world. He is devoted husband to Lisa and father of three.
CatholicCounselors.com , Faith on the Couch
By Dr Gregory Popcak|January 8th, 2018
Talking to Children About Racism
Dear Parents,
I wanted to share an email from Mrs. Okula, the Principal of St. Jane School:
Dear Parents,
The tragic deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, and subsequent events that have unfolded in recent weeks have deeply affected our nation and no doubt have touched the hearts of our school/parish community. I personally have been at a loss - I am saddened by the disregard for human life, have been confused on how to best engage in conversations about racism, and as I often do, have turned to prayer for guidance.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Okula
I agree completely with the principal.
As a parent of four children, our conversations at home have been both difficult and grace-filled talking about these topics.
Please know that my family is praying for your family, peace from God, and the end to racism of any kind.
Here are some online resources that maybe helpful:
Bishop Alfred Schlert Homily – June 7th:
Bishop Alfred Schlert Homily - ‘There are No Valid Reasons for Racism, which is evil. None.’
Ascension Presents Podcasts:
Healing the Racial Divide – Ask Fr. Josh Johnson Podcast
Reconciling the Body of Christ (with Fr. Josh Johnson) – Fr. Mike Schmitz
Other Podcasts:
Racism, Riots, & a Catholic Response – Counsel of Trent
Talking to your kids about Racism, Riots, and Real Reparation – Messy Family Podcast
PBS:
https://www.pbs.org/parents/talking-about-racism
Healthy Children:
NAECY:
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/may2018/teaching-learning-race-and-racism
God bless,
Kevin Kimmel
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About Us
St. Jane Parish is a family rooted in our faith in Jesus Christ and our devotion to his Church. We strive always to be a welcoming community, with our doors open to all who seek the Lord.
Address: 4049 Hartley Avenue
Easton, PA 18045
Phone: 610-253-3553
Fax: 610-253-5711
Email: info@stjanesofeastonpa.com
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