Explore every episode of the podcast In Goodfaith

In part two of our conversation with Sharon Browning and Brenna McGinnis of Just Listening, we go deeper into the science behind what happens when we truly listen. Sharon and Brenna share insights from neuroscience and physiology—how deep listening shapes our brains, calms the nervous system, and builds empathy. We explore how the simple act of being present can become a practice of justice, healing, and transformation, both personally and collectively.

Whether you’re a ministry leader, teacher, parent, or simply someone who wants to show up more fully for others, this episode offers practical wisdom and inspiring reflection on how listening itself can be a radical act of love.

Learn more about Just Listening: https://justlistening.net

In this episode of Goodfaith, hosts Maggie Smith and Stephanie Peddicord welcome Sharon Browning and Brenna McGinnis, co-leaders of the Just Listening initiative. Together, they explore why deep listening isn’t just a social nicety, but a practice rooted in justice, love, and transformation. Through stories, research, and honest reflections on parenting and community, they invite us to consider how genuine listening can ripple out to transform our lives, families, and the wider world—even when it’s challenging, and especially when it feels most urgent.

1. On the roots of Just Listening “I was… running the pro bono branch of legal services in Philadelphia and realized… even those of us who are engaged deeply in service work and justice work were not listening to each other and didn’t know how…not for want of, really a strong desire to connect, but not really having the skills and also feeling the pressure of time in the work that we do, not taking the time to actually listen to each other.” — Sharon Browning [00:03:00]
2. On listening as a radical act “For me, just listening is yes. It’s something…simple that each of us can do, once we kind of learn how to how to engage with one another. And it can be so, so powerful and bring about this beautiful world that’s characterized by justice and love.” — Brenna McGinnis [00:11:18]
3. On parenting, mutuality, and power “I have certainly learned more from my children possibly than I even have passed on to them. They are primary teachers for me…There was mutuality in it.” — Sharon Browning [00:20:12]
4. On the hardest parts of listening as a parent “My intention for creating that right relationship with my kids has been to notice the moments when, like, they’re telling me something. I’m like, this is not a big deal…And then she says to me, it’s a big deal to me, that helps me click into my listening mode.” — Brenna McGinnis [00:22:21]
5. On shifting away from judgment and fear “So much of our parenting, I think, is rooted in our fear, and we don’t know it…We act on our fear and not our love. Love has no condition. It’s not, well, if you do this, I’ll love you. No. It’s I love you as you are.” — Sharon Browning [00:31:33]

Welcome to “In Goodfaith,” a podcast dedicated to exploring the powerful intersection of faith, justice, and purposeful living. In this introductory episode, hosts Maggie Smith and Stephanie Peddicord provide a glimpse into the heart of the podcast, their mission, and what listeners can anticipate from future episodes.

The podcast’s mission is clear—to build a vibrant community of active faith that contributes to stronger and more equitable communities. As Maggie eloquently states, the journey of transformation, both inside and out, is rooted in the goodness of the gospel (00:00:29).

Stephanie adds depth by inviting listeners to approach the podcast with curiosity, embracing questions that matter for personal and communal growth (00:00:53). Together, they aim to explore stories of transformation, young people’s empowerment, and how these elements can effect positive societal change.

Listeners will journey through “the 4 pathways” outlined by Maggie: experiencing Christ through action and community, walking together in faith, empowering youth, and envisioning a hopeful future (00:01:28). These pathways encourage living faith actively across generations.

Aligned with the teachings of Pope Francis, this podcast advocates for embodying faith in the present—shaping lives and the world in the now (00:02:14).

As “In Goodfaith” prepares for its official launch, Maggie and Stephanie invite listeners to share their stories, questions, and ideas, emphasizing community shaping future episodes. Subscribe and follow them on social media to join this transformative journey in good faith.

Stay tuned for upcoming episodes that promise engaging conversations and practical insights for living a life of faith with purpose and impact. Join Maggie, Stephanie, and the growing Goodfaith community as they navigate this path together.

Key Quotes:

1. “At Good Faith, our mission is to build a vibrant community of faith in action, working to foster stronger communities and a more just and equitable world.”
   • Timestamp: 00:00:29
2. “We’re here to be curious and hold important questions with you.”
   • Timestamp: 00:00:53
3. “You’ll hear about what we call the 4 pathways, encountering Christ through service and community, walking alongside one another in faith, empowering young people as agents of change, and discerning a hopeful vision for the future.”
   • Timestamp: 00:01:28
4. “We’ll take our lead from pope Francis who once said, you are not the future, but the now of God.”
   • Timestamp: 00:02:14

In Part 2 of our inspiring conversation with Marisally Santiago, Director of the Office for Ministry with Youth in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, hosts Stephanie Peddicord and Maggie Smith dive into the nuts and bolts of youth ministry done differently. Discover how the YCAPI (Youth Co-Leadership, Protagonism, and Initiative) initiative empowers teens to identify community needs, step into their agency, and experience lifelong discipleship—all while challenging adults to embrace new, collaborative roles. Hear stories of transformation, candid reflections on church culture, and get practical for parishes eager to foster authentic youth engagement.

Key Quotes:

1. “It’s building something alongside this adult that’s gonna help them. And we eventually, we make them, they have to put together a presentation for their pastor, for the pastoral staff, so they do have to present what this is.” — Marisally Santiago
2. “We wanted to do—I wanted to really emphasize the word mission—because that’s who we are. …We are the missionary militant church here on Earth.” — Marisally Santiago
3. “How do we help them to engage in a life that is, my actions are driven by faith? And that’s really what we want to cement.” — Marisally Santiago
4. “How do we create a culture within parish settings that allows for these two pieces to happen? I would say the two pieces are accompaniment, right, and protagonist.” — Stephanie Peddicord
5. “It’s about young people being church in the parish community. So it’s a lot bigger than that.” — Marisally Santiago
6. “It is the process of transformation that, to the extent that we transform your heart and your mind and your hands to go forth and change the world, that is what will keep you tethered to your faith for the long haul.” — Stephanie Peddicord
7. “It’s as simple as walking with someone so they don’t go by themselves. … If we can recognize…Christ is present in every person…how do I just walk with someone?” — Marisally Santiago

In this episode of In Goodfaith, hosts Stephanie Peddicord and Maggie Smith open the floor to a candid and heartening conversation with Marisally Santiago about “youth protagonism” within the Catholic Church—what it looks like, where it comes from, and why it matters now more than ever.

Drawing inspiration from Pope Francis’ exhortation Christus Vivit, the three of them discuss how shifting the Church’s attitudes about youth, leadership, and faith transmission can bring new life to parishes and communities everywhere.

1. Pope Francis’ Mandate:“The young want to be protagonists of change… You are the ones who hold the key to the future.”
2. Walking Together (Accompaniment):“Accompaniment… means to go with someone so they don’t go by themselves.”
3. Faith as Empowerment, Not Just Education:“We’ve, you know, really looked at faith transmission as a dumping out of information… but we’re gonna walk with you so that you don’t have to process that alone.”
4. Youth Are Already Church — Now:“I am church by virtue of my baptism… By that, I am already commissioned… to go and… preach the gospel.”
5. Why Copy? Be Original!“Why copy someone else when God has made you unique in the world with a unique mission… the teens that went through [YCOPI] identify themselves as white copy, which is fantastic.”

What does it truly mean to accompany the most vulnerable among us? In this pivotal episode of Goodfaith, Stephanie Peddicord sits down with Marlene Lao Collins, a leader with decades of experience in social justice and advocacy, to spotlight the very real challenges facing communities in New Jersey—and the hope that faith and action can bring.

Much of our news cycle focuses on national headlines, but Marlene—drawing on her background in public policy and service—reveals just how closely these decisions hit home.

“What happens at the federal level—budget cuts, executive orders—ripples down painfully fast for organizations like Catholic Charities. People are forced to go without food, housing, health care. That’s not abstract. That’s our neighbors.” [00:20:43]

Marlene’s journey, rooted in her Franciscan upbringing, is all about “accompaniment”—walking beside those in need through crisis, not just providing handouts, but holistically meeting people where they are.

“Our mission focuses on poverty, individuals that are poor and vulnerable. That’s our primary population… we try to address their needs holistically.” [00:12:30]

As government support wanes and needs spike post-pandemic, Marlene paints a vivid picture of what’s at stake:

“The supportive programs… disappear/slash are vastly reduced, and the ability for you to access federal and state funds to provide these services is going down—way down—potentially, at the same time that the need is spiking.” [00:30:33]

Marlene’s personal story interweaves her work and spiritual journey, modeling what it means to “cling to Jesus like a child” even when facing overwhelming odds.

“Our Catholic faith is awesome and calls us to do the best things, in our communities… There’s a lot that’s happened in my personal life. My go-to is Jesus.” [00:45:18]

You don’t have to be a social worker to make a difference. Marlene challenges parishes and individuals alike to step up:

“If you have a plan, it’s a little bit better… Be a reflective listener, encourage [immigrant families], learn their stories. If you want to talk about doing something—pick a topic. Be intentional.” [00:53:17]

• “It is our faith in Jesus, first and foremost, and our belief in the gospel that should guide our actions.” — Stephanie Peddicord [00:01:59]
• “When you have a personal relationship, it’s a lot less easier to go by the rhetoric and demonize a group of people as if they were all the same, when they are not.” — Marlene Lao Collins [01:00:48]
• “That accompaniment process that our human service organizations have honed over decades of work… you start to pull the pieces out and the whole thing comes unraveled.” — Stephanie Peddicord [00:37:36]
• “Name them.” — Marlene Lao Collins, reflecting on knowing the poor personally [01:01:27]
• “Let God worry about it. We gotta go to work. We gotta continue to do what we do best.” — Marlene Lao Collins [00:43:08]

In this insightful episode of “In Goodfaith,” hosts Stephanie Peddicord and Maggie Smith engage with Keith Cieplicki, the executive director of the Jail Ministry of Onondaga County, New York. They explore themes of service, social justice, and the profound impact of simply being present. Keith shares personal stories and the ministry’s compassionate approach, unfolding how small acts of kindness, like letter writing, can transform lives both inside and outside the jail. This episode invites us to challenge our perceptions and live the gospel in our daily interactions.

Key Quotes with Timestamps:

1. Maggie Smith [00:00:23]: “After some internal debate… we decided to lean into and embrace the corporal works of mercy as our primary lens.”
2. Stephanie Peddicord [00:02:45]: “We really want to challenge families to break out of their comfort zones, and to stretch themselves spiritually, imaginatively.”
3. Keith Cieplicki [00:10:04]: “A lot of people don’t understand that, the majority of people in jail are there because they’re poor.”
4. Keith Cieplicki [00:21:40]: “Our success is being with a person.”
5. Stephanie Peddicord [00:34:45]: “True faith in the incarnate Son of God is inseparable from self giving, from membership and community, from service, and from reconciliation with others.”
6. Maggie Smith [00:56:54]: “And to all of our listeners, we’ll be back soon with another episode of In Good Faith.”

In this episode of “In Good Faith,” hosts Maggie Smith and Stephanie Peddicord continue their insightful conversation with Dr. Josh Packard and Megan Bissell from Future of Faith. They dive deeper into the concept of sacred listening, exploring how it can transform ministry, community, and personal relationships. Throughout the episode, the discussion highlights practical applications and the importance of creating meaningful connections within church communities and beyond.

Key Quotes with Timestamps:

1. Maggie Smith [00:01:04]: “How do we give them the tools to find, invite, bring in the community of folks who can help them do that listening so that, yeah, we don’t perpetuate the model where there’s one youth minister ministering in a youth group setting to all of these young people.”
2. Dr. Josh Packard [00:07:11]: “We made a commitment to just actually start talking about them by name during our faculty meetings. It was sort of stunned when we look back at the minutes at the end of the year about how many of those 500 we had actually discussed by name in a faculty meeting.”
3. Megan Bissell [00:11:44]: “The key piece of it is the thing you’re never in practice of doing, the information piece is the first step.”
4. Dr. Josh Packard [00:18:15]: “We don’t really care about cups of coffee. We also don’t really care about pizza parties. What we really care about is our young people getting closer to God.”
5. Stephanie Peddicord [00:19:11]: “What really transforms hearts and minds in the long term is where we want to be, and how do we get there?”

In this episode of In Goodfaith, Maggie and Stephanie explore the concept of accompaniment, focusing on sacred listening, in their ongoing series about the pathways framework. They welcome esteemed guests Dr. Josh Packard and Megan Bissell, cofounders of Future of Faith, an organization dedicated to deepening relationships through sacred listening. With a backdrop of rich research and actionable insights, Josh and Megan share their journey of transforming data into practical tools that are pivotal for genuine relationship-building, particularly with young people. The conversation dives into the importance of redefining traditional models of ministry, emphasizing the need for intentional listening and forming authentic connections. Join us as we unpack these significant themes and discuss actionable steps to embrace a culture of listening and relational ministry. Don’t miss part one of this insightful discussion!

• Maggie Smith [00:00:38]: “We are defining accompaniment as a posture of forming and being in genuine relationship with others rooted in the patient, compassionate, and enduring love modeled by Jesus and the gospel.”
• Dr. Josh Packard [00:05:09]: “Do we need to do some secret listening sessions across your family where we can talk about this and hash it out?”
• Stephanie Peddicord [00:08:53]: “One of the challenges of the church of the last twenty-five years is that we’ve not faithfully listened to the data… we’re trying to climb back out.”
• Maggie Smith [00:20:24]: “The purpose was stop, pause, think now so you can be present to and listen to what each person shares.”
• Megan Bissell [00:25:57]: “The intentionality piece of it is everything… sacred listening is learning, replicable.”

In the second episode of “In Goodfaith”, hosts Stephanie Peddicord and Maggie Smith introduce us to the “Pathways to Discipleship,” a transformative framework designed to deepen the faith experience for individuals and communities. Drawing on years of research and first-hand experiences, they emphasize the need for authentic relationships and community-building in faith practices.

Accompaniment emerges as a crucial factor, described by Stephanie as “really walking with instead of talking to,” fostering a communal faith journey through deep listening and relational approaches. The concept of encounter is highlighted as a necessary first step that “breaks down barriers” and invites personal transformation through service and interaction with others.

Stephanie passionately discusses protagonism, a term inspired by Pope Francis, to describe an individual’s active role in their faith journey. This involves a deep understanding of one’s purpose and potential impact in the world, transcending mere leadership.

Moreover, the concept of spiritual imagination challenges believers to envision and work towards a hopeful future, even amidst current challenges. Stephanie articulately conveys this as the Catholic call to see “the world from a position of hope and of potential.”

Finally, the hosts advocate for a shift from a transactional to a transformational approach in ministry. As community leaders, they urge listeners to question, adapt, and innovate traditional practices, ensuring that they genuinely meet the spiritual and emotional needs of the modern church.

For listeners eager to deepen their understanding of this dynamic faith framework, this episode paves a profound path forward.

1. On the Importance of Accompaniment:
   • Stephanie Peddicord [00:22:24]: “What does that posture of deep listening look like? What does that posture of really walking with instead of talking to look like? And we we put a process and a tangible framework in place for parish communities to live that.”
2. On Encounter as a Path to Entry:
   • Stephanie Peddicord [00:25:16]: “We always lead with encounter. It breaks down so many barriers. It just opens young people up to perspectives and experiences and moments of discomfort in a way that in a way that nothing else does.”
3. On Protagism and Leadership:
   • Stephanie Peddicord [00:26:11]: “We were very specific about using protagonism. It’s Pope Francis’s word… it’s a deep knowing and lifelong exploration of who am I, what’s my place in this world, and who am I called to be?”
4. On Spiritual Imagination and Hope:
   • Stephanie Peddicord [00:36:34]: “How does it what an extraordinary thing that as Catholics, we are called even in our darkest moments of despair… to see the world from a position of hope and of life and of potential and of what could be.”
5. On the Importance of Transformation vs. Transactional Faith:
   • Stephanie Peddicord [00:44:16]: “As a church, we are very comfortable in doing what we’ve always done, whether or not it’s transforming hearts and minds.”

Welcome to the first episode of our podcast “In Goodfaith!” As we embark on this new journey, hosts Maggie Smith and Stephanie Peddicord offer insights into the dynamic transformations happening within New Jersey’s faith communities. Guided by key themes from Pope Francis’s “Christus Vivit,” we are excited to explore a holistic approach to faith that emphasizes engaging young people as active participants in change.

Program Initiatives: The “Next Level” program is a cornerstone of this initiative, emphasizing year-round engagement with both young people and adult mentors. It invites participants to dive deep into addressing local issues like mental health and racial justice, grounded in the Catholic social tradition. Meanwhile, the “Family Matters” initiative aims to weave faith into the fabric of everyday family life, creating a supportive community for parents and children alike.

A New Era of Faith Integration: Gone are the days of short-lived impact; the Goodfaith organization is embracing long-term community involvement. With a focus on head, hands, and heart, these programs look to cultivate experiences rooted in the Gospel, encouraging profound personal transformation for everyone involved.

Join the Conversation: Listeners are encouraged to connect with the podcast through newsletters, social media, and other communication channels. Engage with the stories of transformation and share your questions for future episodes.

Closing Prayer: As is customary, each episode concludes with a prayer to strengthen our spiritual mission and community connection, inviting all listeners to reflect on their faith journeys.

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and actionable insights in upcoming episodes of “In Goodfaith.”

Key Quotes and Timestamps:

1. On Empowerment and Agency (00:10:35):
   • “When young people are empowered to take the lead, extraordinary things happen—change that ripples through communities and hearts alike.”
2. Protagonism in Action (00:18:12):
   • “Protagonism isn’t just about being the main character; it’s about young people owning their faith journey and creating real change.”
3. On Fostering Community (00:27:48):
   • “Our program, ‘Next Level,’ is not just about summer involvement. It’s about creating a sustained community that supports and grows together year-round.”
4. Integration of Faith in Daily Life (00:34:05):
   • “Faith isn’t isolated to Sunday services; it’s woven into the daily fabric of who we are and how we live.”
5. Challenges in Faith-Based Parenting (00:41:50):
   • “One of the biggest challenges for parents today is to integrate faith into everyday activities, not just rely on traditional education.”

Join Stephanie Peddicord and Maggie Smith as they welcome Seán Sanford, founder of the New Jersey Service Project, now known as Goodfaith. In this episode, Sean shares his journey from community organizing to founding a transformative organization that has impacted thousands of lives. Discover the power of encounter, the importance of relationality in faith, and how Catholic social teaching can be woven into everyday life.

Key Topics:

• The origins of the New Jersey Service Project
• The evolution of Good Faith and its mission
• The role of encounter in bridging divides
• Personal stories of transformation and impact
• The intersection of Catholic social teaching and sacramental theology

"Encounter doesn't ask us to set aside our commitments; it asks us to bring our whole selves." "We need to continue to be in meaningful encounter with those on the margins."

#GoodFaith #CatholicSocialTeaching #Encounter #CommunityImpact

Welcome to the first installment of our new parent series, The Confessional. The name comes from the repurposed confessional we use as our recording space, but it also reflects what we hope this series will be: a place for parents to speak honestly about the joys and challenges of raising kids in today’s complicated, noisy world.

In this episode, we sit down with Molly and Benno Lauer, who share how their family created a tradition of annual retreats—weekends away where they step back from daily life to reflect, set goals, and name their shared values. What began during the pandemic, when their oldest turned their house into a “hotel” just to break the routine, has grown into a practice that shapes everything from chores to morning routines to how they hold each other accountable with kindness.

Together, we explore how family discernment can be both practical and faith-filled: creating simple rituals (like “glows and grows”), giving kids ownership of family goals, and remembering that intentionality matters more than perfection.

If you’ve ever wondered what’s possible when a family pauses the chaos and chooses direction together, this conversation is for you.

Join the conversation:

We want to hear from you! What questions or challenges are you facing as a parent or caregiver trying to nurture faith in your family? Share your thoughts and help shape the series by submitting questions through the link or on social media.

Stay tuned for more episodes of the Parent Series!

In Goodfaith Podcast Topic Submissions

In this mini-episode, share some exciting news: the launch of a brand-new series within In Goodfaith focused on the joys and challenges of parenting.

Recorded in our repurposed confessional booth in Trenton, NJ, we discuss some of our own parenting journeys—toddlers, teenagers, and everything in between—and preview the kinds of conversations listeners can expect this fall. From grandparents and single parents, to priests and families navigating sports and spiritual life, this series will highlight the real, messy, hopeful stories of parents raising children in faith today.

Join the conversation:

We want to hear from you! What questions or challenges are you facing as a parent or caregiver trying to nurture faith in your family? Share your thoughts and help shape the series by submitting questions through the link or on social media.

Stay tuned for the first full episode of the Parent Series, dropping soon—and new episodes every other week throughout the fall.

In Goodfaith Podcast Topic Submissions

In this episode, we explore how Catholic teaching shapes the lives of athletes seeking to balance their love of sports with their life of faith. From the discipline of competition to the demands of family schedules, youth sports can both enrich and challenge spiritual life.

Our guest, Father Josh Whitfield of Dallas, Texas, shares pastoral insights and personal experiences on how families can stay grounded in faith while navigating the whirlwind of practices, games, and tournaments. Together, we’ll hear stories and reflections that shed light on what it means to integrate faith and athletics, offering fresh perspectives for parents, athletes, and parish communities alike. In the episode, we discuss Fr. Josh Whitfield's article "Soccer vs. Sunday Mass: How youth sports are undermining religion—and hurting our kids" in America Magazine. Be sure to read his thought-provoking piece!

Learn more about Fr. Josh at his website, where you can find links to his books and other articles.

This episode is Part 2 of our conversation with Angela Patterson from Springtide Institute. We delve into the evolving landscape of faith formation, exploring both the challenges and opportunities it presents. Join us as we discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people's spiritual lives, the importance of community, and innovative approaches in youth ministry.

We also examine how faith intersects with cultural issues, mental health, and the diverse experiences of Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Tune in to discover what's working in faith formation today and how we can support young people in their spiritual journeys.

In Part One of our conversation with Angela Patterson from Springtide Research Institute. Our conversation explores the dynamic shifts in faith and spirituality among Gen Alpha and delves into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by this generation, including the influence of technology, mental health awareness, and the celebration of diversity.

Listen and here how these factors are reshaping spiritual practices and what it means for the future of faith communities. Join us for an insightful conversation that sets the stage for understanding the evolving spiritual landscape. 

In Part Two, coming soon, we discuss the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people, the importance of community, and what's working in youth ministry today. 

Thanks for listening!

In this episode of In Goodfaith, we continue our Parent Series. These conversations don’t offer parenting advice so much as create space for reflection, honesty, and the messy beauty of raising a family in faith.

We sit down with one of our longtime friends and founding board members, Mary Vanderhoof, a mom of three grown daughters and grandmother to eight young grandchildren, to talk about what it means to pass on faith across generations.

Mary shares how her Irish Catholic roots and her father’s work in the early labor movement shaped her lifelong commitment to justice and the Gospel call to love our neighbor. She reflects on the joys of raising faith-filled children and grandchildren, and how small, simple acts—like making First Communion “books of remembrance” or glitter-covered Good Friday crosses—can keep faith alive at home.

Together, we talk about what it looks like to live our faith authentically in a changing Church, to model justice and compassion for our children, and to find joy in the ordinary, sacred moments that form a family’s spiritual life.

Join the conversation:

We want to hear from you! What questions or challenges are you facing as a parent or caregiver trying to nurture faith in your family? Share your thoughts and help shape the series by submitting questions through the link or on social media.

Stay tuned for more episodes of the Parent Series!

In Goodfaith Podcast Topic Submissions

What does it look like to truly discern as a family—not just in theory, but in the real, complicated choices of work, money, parenting, and faith?

In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, we welcome back Keith Cieplicki, Executive Director of the Jail Ministry in Onondaga County, New York. You may remember Keith from our earlier episode on accompanying the incarcerated. This time, Keith joins us for our Family Discernment series to reflect on the radical, uncomfortable, and deeply faithful decisions that reshaped his family’s life.

Keith shares the story of leaving a successful Division I basketball coaching career to work in a homeless shelter and eventually lead a jail ministry—choices that required profound trust, sacrifice, and ongoing discernment within his marriage and family. Together, we explore how values take shape in everyday decisions, how fear can quietly drive parenting choices, and how faith sometimes calls us not toward comfort, but toward transformation.

This episode is especially for parents and caregivers navigating big and small decisions: careers, youth sports, financial security, presence with children, and the courage to say both yes and no with intention.

• What family discernment really looks like in practice

• Letting go of status, security, and consumerism for a faith-rooted life

• Trust, doubt, and learning to “breathe underwater”

• Parenting beyond grades, achievements, and cultural pressure

• The freedom found in simplicity, presence, and relational love

• Why the Gospel often calls us to become uncomfortable

• How children grow when they see faith lived, not just taught

Along the way, Keith reflects on the influence of saints like Dorothy Day, the tension between fear and freedom, and the enduring invitation to “live church” every day.

As Keith reminds us, discernment doesn’t mean having all the answers. It means being willing to take the next faithful step.

If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, share it with someone who might need it, and leave a review. Your support helps these stories reach more families walking the journey of faith together.

Join the conversation:

We want to hear from you! What questions or challenges are you facing as a parent or caregiver trying to nurture faith in your family? Share your thoughts and help shape the series by submitting questions through the link or on social media.

Stay tuned for more episodes of the Parent Series!

In Goodfaith Podcast Topic Submissions

In this episode of In Good Faith, we're joined by two people we deeply admire — Cecilia Flores and Jonathan Lewis — for a rich, wide-ranging conversation about Dilexi Te, the first apostolic exhortation of Pope Leo XIV.

This document has been sitting with us since its release. While it doesn’t introduce new principles of Catholic social teaching, it does something arguably more important: it re-centers them — unapologetically, historically, and pastorally — as the beating heart of the Church’s mission. We wanted voices who could help unpack both the theology and the lived reality behind the text, and Cecilia and Jonathan bring exactly that.

Cecilia Flores is the Executive Director of the Catholic Volunteer Network and a longtime leader in community organizing and faith-based justice work. Jonathan Lewis serves as Mission Strategy Officer for the Paulist Fathers. Both bring deep experience from Rome, the Vatican, and grassroots ministry — and both read this document with eyes wide open.

Join the conversation:

We want to hear from you! What questions or challenges are you facing as a parent or caregiver trying to nurture faith in your family? Share your thoughts and help shape the series by submitting questions through the link or on social media.

Stay tuned for more episodes of the Parent Series!

In Goodfaith Podcast Topic Submissions

In this solo-hosted episode, Maggie talks with Allison Beyer, a multidisciplinary artist, minister, and contributor to Goodfaith’s Family Matters program. Allison shares the story behind her Jesse Tree Advent ritual, which was born during the pandemic as a creative, prayerful practice for her young children.

Together, they explore how art, ancestry, and faith shape the season of Advent, and how remembering the “family tree” of our spiritual tradition can ground us in belonging during difficult times. Allison also reflects on the religious communities that formed her and why beauty and creativity keep us spiritually awake.

The conversation turns toward the current climate around immigrants in the U.S., where both Maggie and Allison name the hope they’re finding in bold, clear leadership from the Church. Maggie also shares a personal story of loss and healing, offering a gentle reminder that Advent meets us exactly where we are.

This episode invites listeners to return to the simple rituals that steady us, trust the God who is with us, and begin again.

Instagram: @allisonbeyermakesart

"Emmanuel!" by Allison Beyer

Jesuit Media Lab

Goodfaith YouTube: Works of Mercy & Five-Finger Examen

Join the conversation:

We want to hear from you! What questions or challenges are you facing as a parent or caregiver trying to nurture faith in your family? Share your thoughts and help shape the series by submitting questions through the link or on social media.

Stay tuned for more episodes of the Parent Series!

In Goodfaith Podcast Topic Submissions

In Part Two of our conversation with Ike Ndolo, we dive even deeper into the fire at the heart of Ike’s work: reclaiming the Jesus who stands with the poor and the oppressed.

We talk about how Ike’s social media presence grew out of heartbreak and awakening, beginning with the killings of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown. He shares what it was like to speak out publicly when so many in his own ministry circles stayed silent, and how telling the truth cost him gigs and jobs, but also connected him to a wider community of justice-minded Christians who refuse to look away.

Together, we explore:

• How Ike’s justice formation “woke back up” during the Ferguson uprising

• Why speaking about race, violence, and Catholic social teaching online still feels radical

• How algorithms shape the false “Jesuses” people encounter

• Why WWJD needs an update—and why “What did Jesus do?” is the better spiritual mirror

• The cost of telling the truth in church spaces (and the freedom that comes with it)

• The 100+ day vigil behind God in the Rubble—and why Ike won’t stop singing until Palestine is free

• The role of music in liberation movements, justice work, and spiritual imagination

• Ike’s new vision for teaching and mentoring through Ike’s Music Makers

• The story and heart behind his new single “City of God”

There’s laughter, lament, resistance, and hope in this episode. Ike’s honesty invites us to re-anchor ourselves in the Gospel, rather than the algorithm, and to remember that following Jesus means standing where He stands.

🎵 God in the Rubble

🎵 City of God (new release)

• Website: www.ikendolo.com

• Instagram: @ikendolo

• Facebook: facebook.com/ikendolo

• Spotify: Ike Ndolo on Spotify

Join the conversation:

We want to hear from you! What questions or challenges are you facing as a parent or caregiver trying to nurture faith in your family? Share your thoughts and help shape the series by submitting questions through the link or on social media.

Stay tuned for more episodes of the Parent Series!

In Goodfaith Podcast Topic Submissions

In this episode of In Good Faith, we sit down with Ike Ndolo — husband, dad, songwriter, and longtime minister — to talk about what it means to hold on to faith, creativity, and justice in a changing Church.

Ike shares how a high school class and a teacher who believed in him unexpectedly sparked his songwriting journey. We trace his path from a youth minister in Missouri to leading worship in Arizona’s charismatic Catholic scene, and how that world shaped (and challenged) his understanding of God, justice, and belonging.

Together we reflect on:

• What happens when our faith traditions fracture into “different flavors” — and how we might learn to breathe with both lungs again

• The tension between passion for worship and the call to justice

• What it’s like to work inside the Church, deconstructing and rebuilding belief while trying to stay rooted in love

• How a mother’s courage for truth and justice can shape a lifelong faith

Ike’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and reorientation — from youth ministry to music to confronting the hard edges of institutional life — and still choosing to believe in a God who shows up “in the rubble.”

🎵 God in the Rubble

🎵 City of God (new release)

• Website: www.ikendolo.com

• Instagram: @ikendolo

• Facebook: facebook.com/ikendolo

• Spotify: Ike Ndolo on Spotify

Join the conversation:

We want to hear from you! What questions or challenges are you facing as a parent or caregiver trying to nurture faith in your family? Share your thoughts and help shape the series by submitting questions through the link or on social media.

Stay tuned for more episodes of the Parent Series!

In Goodfaith Podcast Topic Submissions

What happens when we truly see one another? In this moving conversation, youth minister and theologian Sherine Green and writer and humanitarian Vince Gallagher share stories that reveal the transforming power of mercy and encounter. From mission trips in Jamaica and Latin America to classrooms and communities across the U.S., they reflect on what it means to be present to the suffering and beauty of the world — and to respond with love.

Together, they explore with us how encounter bridges divides, why trust is at the heart of mission, and how even small acts of kindness can pierce the veil and let us glimpse the kingdom of God among us.

Join the conversation:

We want to hear from you! What questions or challenges are you facing as a parent or caregiver trying to nurture faith in your family? Share your thoughts and help shape our parent series by submitting questions through the link or on social media.

Stay tuned for more episodes!

In Goodfaith Podcast Topic Submissions

In this installment of The Confessional, we sit down with Cecilia Flores, Executive Director of Catholic Volunteer Network, to talk about what it really looks like to raise kids in faith and justice — with honesty, joy, and a whole lot of grace.

Cecilia shares stories from her life as the daughter of Filipino immigrants, her years in mission work in Honduras, and the daily realities of parenting her two kids, Kiara and Jacob. Together, we talk about the spaces where Church teaching meets real life — where faith, service, and family all collide in the everyday mess and beauty of love.

Join the conversation:

We want to hear from you! What questions or challenges are you facing as a parent or caregiver trying to nurture faith in your family? Share your thoughts and help shape the series by submitting questions through the link or on social media.

Stay tuned for more episodes of the Parent Series!

In Goodfaith Podcast Topic Submissions

In this special installment of The Confessional on In Goodfaith, Maggie and Tim turn the microphones toward someone listeners know well — Goodfaith president Stephanie Peddicord — along with her husband Chad Peddicord.

Together they reflect on the realities of raising teenagers in today’s hyper-competitive youth sports culture: the joys, the pressures, and the values they’re trying to pass on as parents.

From travel teams and early specialization to sideline behavior and the challenge of keeping family priorities intact, this conversation explores what it means to form young people through sports while remembering that their worth goes far beyond performance. 

Join the conversation:

We want to hear from you! What questions or challenges are you facing as a parent or caregiver trying to nurture faith in your family? Share your thoughts and help shape the series by submitting questions through the link or on social media.

Stay tuned for more episodes of the Parent Series!

In Goodfaith Podcast Topic Submissions

In this special bonus episode, we bring our podcast producer and Director of Communication & Development on to help us talk about the past two years. On February 26th, 2024, The Center for FaithJustice officially rebranded as Goodfaith. The process has been full of gifts and challenges, but has continually brought the organization closer to its mission: to cultivate a vibrant movement of faith in action through transformative experiences centered in Catholic social tradition.

Over the course of this conversation, we reflect on what it meant to discern a new name, honor a deeply loved history, and step into a broader national calling. We talk about programmatic shifts, new partnerships, the launch and growth of this podcast, our move from Lawrenceville to Trenton, and the expansion of our team.

We also share honestly about the realities of leading a Catholic nonprofit in uncertain times while remaining rooted in the richness of Catholic social teaching.

Thank you for walking with us...in goodfaith.

Join the conversation:

We want to hear from you! What questions or challenges are you facing as a parent or caregiver trying to nurture faith in your family? Share your thoughts and help shape the series by submitting questions through the link or on social media.

In Goodfaith Podcast Topic Submissions

In this episode, Jonathan Lewis, Mission Strategy Officer with the Paulist Fathers, joins us to discuss the groundbreaking Communion Project. This is a fresh initiative aimed at fostering real unity within parish communities and beyond. As society grapples with polarization and division, this work reminds us of our call to embody gospel values through active dialogue, relationship, listening, and prayer.

Key Topics

• The origins and mission of the Paulist Fathers, with a focus on American faith and identity
• The impact of polarization on both societal and church life, and how it hinders effective ministry
• The concept of communion in Catholic social teaching, and its importance in healing divisions
• Practical ways to cultivate community, rooted in virtues like patience, kindness, and listening
• The significance of small groups, accompaniment, and spiritual direction in building lasting relationships
• The role of media, algorithms, and social platforms in shaping perceptions and divisions
• Strategies for parish engagement: from awareness to action, starting with the basics
• How broader societal issues—history, injustice, and the common good—intersect with faith efforts
• The importance of patience, discipline, and virtue in long-term cultural and spiritual transformation

Timestamps00:00 - Introduction to the Communion Project and its significance 2:09 - Reflection on the history of the Paulist Fathers and American identity 4:24 - Addressing polarization as a crisis affecting ministry and witness 5:58 - The Catholic vision of communion—unity amidst diversity 8:35 - The roots of American ideals connected to Catholic social teaching 10:00 - When did American Catholics start separating faith from the common good? 12:08 - Prophetic witness versus thermometer: setting the cultural tone 14:04 - The role of accountability and acknowledging historical complicity 16:18 - Reaffirming our call to see and respect human dignity 18:32 - The power of virtues like patience, kindness, and self-control in community-building 22:22 - Building genuine relationships beyond superficial parish hopping 25:27 - Recognizing the impact of algorithms and social media on division 30:28 - Developing moral muscles: listening, holding tension, and conflict resilience 36:45 - The importance of belonging, being known, and parish identity 42:31 - Moving from passive participation to relationship and belonging 46:48 - Practical resources: head, heart, and hands framework for building communion 54:30 - The importance of listening, dialogue, and prophetic witness in justice 58:07 - The patience needed for long-term cultural change and faith growth 60:42 - The call for the church to be a field hospital—living the virtues in action 65:28 - Connecting parishes with the Communion Project—how to get involved 67:38 - The role of spiritual accompaniment and direction in fostering unity 68:17 - What gives us hope amid challenging days? 69:06 - Final encouragement: start small, stay rooted, and walk together in good faithResources & Links

• Communion Project — Official site with resources and ways to get involved

Connect with Jonathan Lewis:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter

Additional Recommendations

• Watch The West Wing episode on division and reconciliation (recommended homework for a deeper cultural context)
• Explore Conflict Resilience by Dr. Bob Bourdone for skills on holding conflict and building resilience

Join the conversation:

We want to hear from you! What questions or challenges are you facing as a parent or caregiver trying to nurture faith in your family? Share your thoughts and help shape the series by submitting questions through the link or on social media.

Stay tuned for more episodes of the Parent Series!

In Goodfaith Podcast Topic Submissions

In this episode of In Goodfaith, we’re joined by Dr. Jeff Thompson and Dr. Mayra Thompson, a husband-and-wife physician team who are reimagining what healthcare can look like when it’s rooted in dignity, accompaniment, and faith.

Jeff and Mayra were recently featured in an article in America Media. They founded the St. Paul Medical Clinic in Lancaster, Texas. The clinic serves uninsured and underinsured neighbors—many of them migrants—through volunteer-driven, relationship-centered primary care.

Our conversation moves from their unlikely love story (Chicago, medical school, and a lot of persistence) to their shared call to serve, and ultimately to the question that changed everything: Why were we traveling overseas on mission trips when the need was right in our own community?

Join the conversation:

We want to hear from you! What questions or challenges are you facing as a parent or caregiver trying to nurture faith in your family? Share your thoughts and help shape the series by submitting questions through the link or on social media.

Stay tuned for more episodes of the Parent Series!

In Goodfaith Podcast Topic Submissions

In this episode of In Goodfaith, we continue our parent series The Confessional, with an honest and hope-filled conversation about parenting, faith, and making room for every family in the life of the Church.

We’re joined by Millet LoCasale, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry at St. Catherine Drexel Parish, longtime Goodfaith partner, and mother of two daughters.

Millet shares her winding vocational path, from a career in engineering to nearly two decades in ministry, and how motherhood reshaped not only her work, but her understanding of success, listening, and trust in God. She reflects candidly on raising a high-achieving teenager alongside her younger daughter, Mia, who is neurodivergent and whose life has been marked by challenges, resilience, and grace.

Millet also shares how her parish community supports families of children with special needs through faith-based parent groups, and offers encouragement to parents who feel isolated or unsure whether the Church can be a home for their family.

Join the conversation:

We want to hear from you! What questions or challenges are you facing as a parent or caregiver trying to nurture faith in your family? Share your thoughts and help shape the series by submitting questions through the link or on social media.

Stay tuned for more episodes of the Parent Series!

In Goodfaith Podcast Topic Submissions

We're grateful to be joined by John Grosso, digital editor at National Catholic Reporter, to reflect on faith, journalism, and the moral responsibility of Catholic witness in a time of deep national and ecclesial unrest.

John joins us in the wake of his widely circulated editorial criticizing Vice President Vance's response to the killing of Renée Nicole Goode in Minneapolis. The piece resonated far beyond Catholic media and ignited conversation across the secular press. He shares how the phrase “a moral stain on our collective witness” emerged, why this moment demanded prophetic clarity, and what it means to speak truth to power when silence feels safer.

Join the conversation:

We want to hear from you! What questions or challenges are you facing as a parent or caregiver trying to nurture faith in your family? Share your thoughts and help shape the series by submitting questions through the link or on social media.

Stay tuned for more episodes of the Parent Series!

In Goodfaith Podcast Topic Submissions

In this episode of In Goodfaith, we’re continuing our parent series--"The Confessional"--with Mike Jordan Laskey and Genevieve Jordan Laskey. We hope you enjoy this warm, honest conversation about parenting, faith, and joy in everyday life.

Rather than offering advice or formulas, Mike and Gen reflect on how faith is formed through ritual, imagination, and presence—bedtime prayers children won’t let you skip, liturgical seasons lived at home, and traditions shaped by touch, sound, story, and repetition. They remind us that faith is often caught rather than taught, and that children learn most by watching how we live.

We also hear about Down By The Bagel, their family band, a creative and joyful project that has become a shared outward expression of connection, hospitality, and sacred joy. Through music and creativity, their family practices something deeply spiritual: creating together and welcoming others in.

This conversation invites us to see parenting not as a project to perfect, but as a relationship rooted in love, surrender, and showing up—again and again.

Join the conversation:

We want to hear from you! What questions or challenges are you facing as a parent or caregiver trying to nurture faith in your family? Share your thoughts and help shape the series by submitting questions through the link or on social media.

Stay tuned for more episodes of the Parent Series!

In Goodfaith Podcast Topic Submissions

In this episode of In Goodfaith, Maggie and Stephanie sit down with journalist and Vatican correspondent Colleen Dulle to reflect on what it looks like to remain rooted in faith while confronting the Church’s hardest realities.

Colleen Dulle is a journalist and Vatican correspondent for America Magazine and co-host of the podcast Inside the Vatican. Her book, Struck Down, Not Destroyed, offers a personal and professional account of faith lived in tension with the realities of the institutional Church.

Drawing from her new book Colleen shares her journey covering the Vatican during moments of crisis, including the 2018 abuse scandal, and how that reporting intersected with her own spiritual life. She speaks candidly about doubt, anger, and the ongoing work of holding both love for the Church and a commitment to truth.

The conversation also explores the evolving landscape of Catholic journalism, the tension between institutional credibility and personal voice, and how motherhood has reshaped Colleen’s understanding of God’s love.

Throughout, a consistent thread emerges: faith is not the absence of struggle, but a willingness to remain in it—with honesty, hope, and trust in the resurrection. Colleen's Links:

Struck Down, Not Destroyed on Bookshop.org

Inside the Vatican Podcast

Instagram

X (Twitter)

Join the conversation:

We want to hear from you! What questions or challenges are you facing as a parent or caregiver trying to nurture faith in your family? Share your thoughts and help shape the series by submitting questions through the link or on social media.

Stay tuned for more episodes of the Parent Series!

In Goodfaith Podcast Topic Submissions

One year after the death of Pope Francis, Maggie and Stephanie welcome back John Grosso, digital editor of the National Catholic Reporter — this time calling in from paternity leave with a two-week-old at home.

John shares where he was when Francis died (at his desk in a bathrobe at 3am), reflects on how Francis's legacy is still being fought over, and makes the case that Pope Leo XIV is building on that foundation.

Then we get into the current moment: Trump's attack on Pope Leo XIV, JD Vance challenging the Pope on Just War Theory while standing in the homeland of St. Augustine, the American cardinals on 60 Minutes, and a USCCB slowly finding its footing. We end with the bigger question underneath all of it: what this moment is really asking of American Catholics, and what it means to choose the gospel over your politics.

Also: a baby who may owe her potty training breakthrough to Pope Francis, and John's promise to review JD Vance's book the moment he's back from leave. Follow John Grosso online:

• National Catholic Reporter
• Threads
• BlueSky
• LinkedIn

In this episode of In Goodfaith, Maggie and Stephanie sit down with writer, theologian, and speaker Laura Kelly Fanucci for a conversation about faith, grief, parenting, and hope in uncertain times. Drawing from her life as a mother of five, her experience navigating crisis in her community, and her new book Living Easter: 50 Days to Practice Resurrection, Laura reflects on how faith takes shape in the middle of real life.

Together, they explore what it looks like to raise compassionate kids in a complicated world, how community becomes a lifeline in times of fear and division, and how the Resurrection provides a path through suffering

Laura Kelly Fanucci is a writer, speaker, and theologian whose work focuses on faith in everyday life. She is the author of several books, including Living Easter: 50 Days to Practice Resurrection. Laura lives in Minnesota with her husband and five sons, where she writes and shares reflections on faith, grief, and hope.

• Living Easter: 50 Days to Practice Resurrection by Laura Kelly Fanucci

• Follow Laura (@thismessygrace) for daily reflections and Gospel-based insights

In this episode of In Goodfaith, we sit down with Meghan Hatcher, Senior Director of Ministry Strategies at the Ministry Leadership Center, to explore a question that has shaped years of shared work between our organizations: What does real transformation actually look like in the life of a church?

Together, we unpack the difference between transactional ministry (focused on numbers, attendance, and outputs) and transformational ministry, which centers on belonging, encounter, and lived change in people’s lives.

Drawing from Meghan’s experience in church planting, pastoral leadership, and congregational strategy, we reflect on the moments that revealed the limits of traditional metrics, as well as the deeper stories of grace, healing, and community that often go unseen. 

We also introduce the Transformational Ministry Assessment, an innovative new tool developed in partnership between Goodfaith and the Ministry Leadership Center, designed to help leaders name, measure, and grow the kind of transformation that actually reflects the heart of the Gospel.

This conversation is for anyone who has felt the tension between what’s counted and what truly counts—and who believes the Church is still becoming something new.

1. The problem with “success metrics” in ministry

Many churches rely on attendance, giving, and growth as primary indicators of health—but those measures often miss the deeper movement of the Spirit in people’s lives. 

2. Transformation vs. transaction

Transformation is about real change—how people think, feel, act, and relate. Transactional ministry focuses on participation and outputs. Both exist, but only one reflects the fullness of discipleship.

3. A defining story: when a church was “failing”… but lives were changing

Meghan shares a powerful story of a church plant that was shut down for not meeting financial and attendance benchmarks—even as people were experiencing belonging, healing, and faith for the first time. 

4. We are resurrection people—but often tell Good Friday stories

Much of church culture focuses on decline and survival. But the Gospel calls us to notice where new life is already breaking through.

5. The Church is people, not a place

The early Christian idea of ecclesia points to a gathered people, not a building. Transformation often happens beyond the walls—on playgrounds, in homes, and in relationships.

6. What people are actually longing for

Belonging. Being known. Being accompanied. Not programs.

7. A new imagination for ministry

Across the country, leaders are rethinking what church can look like—partnering with communities, listening first, and creating spaces that respond to real human needs.

Developed through years of shared research and practice, the Transformational Ministry Assessment helps ministry leaders:

• Reflect on where transformation is already happening

• Identify gaps between intention and impact

• Shift from transactional to transformational focus

• Engage stakeholders in meaningful conversation

• Reimagine ministry through the lens of the Gospel

It explores transformation across four dimensions:

• Head (thinking)

• Heart (feeling)

• Hands (action)

• Community (relationships)

This tools enables churches to see more clearly, name what matters, and move forward with intention.

👉 Learn more: https://wearegoodfaith.org/transformational-ministry-assessment/

This conversation is a special one for us.

We first met Sister Norma Pimentel years ago through our Magdalene Circle, and later had the chance to spend time with her at the border in South Texas. Those encounters changed us. They shaped how we understand accompaniment, what it looks like in practice, and what it asks of us.

Sister Norma has spent her life walking with migrants and refugees through Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley. In moments of overwhelming need, she has helped lead a response rooted in presence and focused on meeting people as they arrive, caring for them, and helping them take the next step forward.

In this episode, she shares what she has seen over the years, how things have shifted recently, and what it means to keep showing up when the world feels heavy and uncertain.

More than anything, this conversation brought us back to something simple and demanding: our faith calls us to love the person in front of us.

Join the conversation:

We want to hear from you! What questions or challenges are you facing as a parent or caregiver trying to nurture faith in your family? Share your thoughts and help shape the series by submitting questions through the link or on social media.

Stay tuned for more episodes of the Parent Series!

In Goodfaith Podcast Topic Submissions

Rosie Chinea Shawver didn't embrace faith until college. She grew up in a Puerto Rican and Cuban household where faith was present but not personal, like a piece of furniture. It took a persistent friend, a cute guy in the choir, and a priest who took her out for froyo to change all of that. Now, nearly 20 years into campus ministry and serving as Executive Director of the Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA), Rosie has given her life to making sure young people have the same kind of encounter she did.

In this conversation, we talk with Rosie about what it really takes to accompany young adults in faith and why that slow, deeply human work is exactly what the church needs more of right now.

One year ago, white smoke rose over the Sistine Chapel and the world met Pope Leo XIV — the first American pontiff in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church. A lot has happened since then.

To mark the anniversary, we're joined again by Colleen Dulle. Colleen is the Vatican correspondent for America Magazine, co-host of the Inside the Vatican podcast, and author of Struck Down, Not Destroyed: Keeping the Faith as a Vatican Reporter. Colleen reported live from Rome during the Conclave and has been tracking Leo's papacy ever since. She joins us from the middle of an international move with her young family, and we are so grateful for her time.

Colleen's Links:

Struck Down, Not Destroyed on Bookshop.org

Inside the Vatican Podcast

Instagram

X (Twitter)

What does it look like to walk alongside young Latino Catholics at this particular moment in the life of the Church — and in the life of the United States? That's the heart of today's conversation with Juan Escarfuller and Elisabeth Roman from Instituto Fe y Vida, a Lasallian ministry founded in 1994 to form young Latinos as servant leaders in the Church and society.

From WhatsApp groups that outlast retreats to banner-making retreats that reunite teens with their parents, Juan and Ellie paint a vivid picture of what formation rooted in community, culture, and faith actually looks like on the ground. They also speak candidly about the fear, grief, and resilience spreading through Latino parishes in the current political climate, and what they witnessed firsthand when a delegation of over 90 migrants was received by Pope Leo at the Vatican.

In our newest installment of our parenting series The Confessional, Maggie and Stephanie sit down with Kate and Anthony, a Philadelphia couple raising three daughters while doing deeply meaningful, demanding work in Catholic higher education and climate justice. From meeting at the National Catholic Youth Conference at age 17 to building an intentional family life rooted in faith, justice, and community, this conversation is warm and deeply real.

Kate is the Director of the Center for Common Good at Villanova University. Anthony co-founded Taproot, a climate justice nonprofit working on issues of self-determination and climate reparations. Together they're basketball teams, navigating the Catholic Church's complicated moment, and trying to raise kids who understand why their faith compels them to care about the world.

Join the conversation:

We want to hear from you! What questions or challenges are you facing as a parent or caregiver trying to nurture faith in your family? Share your thoughts and help shape the series by submitting questions through the link or on social media.

Stay tuned for more episodes of the Parent Series!

In Goodfaith Podcast Topic Submissions

Tim joins Maggie in the host seat for a rich conversation with Karen Bortvedt Estrada, a somatic stress release practitioner and founder of Wish You Knew. Karen helps us notice the things we override all day, the clenched jaw, the tensed shoulders, and makes the case for "humaning" instead of performing.

The three get honest about the cost of caregiving work, and the scripts (capitalism, perfectionism, "your reward will be great in heaven") that keep ministers, teachers, and nonprofit folks running until they collapse. Karen's reframe is freeing: you are not broken, you're feeling the symptoms of a broken system, and naming that is where healing begins.

The episode closes on the church itself, with Karen sharing what she wishes faith communities understood about the body, intuition, and letting their people be human, messy, and rested rather than endlessly productive.

In this episode of In Goodfaith, Maggie and Stephanie sit down with researcher and ministry trainer Charlotte McCorquodale to explore what 25 years of research reveal about the changing realities of Catholic youth and young adult ministry.

Drawing on her longitudinal study, Illuminating Trends, Charlotte describes a field marked by expanding responsibilities, declining professional support, unequal compensation, and a growing leadership gap. Together, they examine why relational ministry is difficult to measure, how attendance-based metrics can obscure genuine transformation, and why accompaniment requires shared responsibility across the entire parish community.

Charlotte McCorquodale leads Ministry Training Source and has spent decades studying and supporting Catholic ministry leaders. Her newest resource translates the research into guided conversations about the pressure points facing ministers and the balancing actions churches can take in response. She encourages ministry leaders to assess their own realities, identify trusted allies, and use data to begin honest conversations that can lead to meaningful change.

• 0:00–6:15 Opening, guest introduction, and the story behind the research

• Theme: how Charlotte’s doctoral work grew into a 25-year study of youth and young adult ministry

• 6:15–11:30 What has—and has not—changed

• Declining formation budgets, limited benefits, role confusion, and the continual need for ministers to justify their work

• 11:30–19:10 Valuing those who accompany young people

• The formation and expertise ministry requires; expanding job descriptions; research as a source of clarity and agency

• 19:10–29:30 Moving beyond “magical thinking”

• Why old ministry models no longer work; cultural change, relational discipleship, and the limits of attendance as a measure of success

• 29:30–34:40 Measuring transformation and supporting accompaniment

• Transactional versus transformational metrics; performance reviews, ministry structures, and using data to start conversations

• 34:40–40:30 The challenge of finding volunteers

• “People power,” shared mission, pastor support, and inviting adults into meaningful relationships with young people

• 40:30–48:10 Reimagining youth and young adult ministry

• Innovation, continuity through leadership transitions, young people as protagonists, and promising new ministry models

• 48:10–56:00 Building parishes of accompaniment

• Relational work as productive work; knowing people by name; baptism, belonging, and the responsibility of the whole community

• 56:00–1:03:15 A leadership gap in Catholic ministry

• Compensation, benefits, generational expectations, work-life balance, and why younger ministers are planning shorter tenures

• 1:03:15–1:15:30 Gender inequity and sustainable ministry

• The persistent pay gap, changing expectations among women and younger generations, family life, leave policies, and intergenerational support

• 1:15:30–1:22:55 Practical next steps and a new conversation resource

• Assessing ministry realities, finding allies, practicing difficult conversations, and addressing pressure points with balancing actions

• 1:22:55–1:26:26 Sources of hope and closing reflections

• The joy of accompanying young people, the commitment of ministry leaders, and an invitation to share and support the podcast

In this episode of In Goodfaith, Maggie and Stephanie sit down with Sister Nancy Usselmann, FSP, a Catholic media educator and advocate for AI literacy, to explore how Catholic social teaching speaks to artificial intelligence today.

They discuss what AI is, how the Church has engaged with AI ethics, and practical steps pastors, educators, and families can take to navigate a world where technology increasingly shapes work, education, and relationships. The conversation anchors itself in Pope Leo’s encyclical and CST, calling for human-centered discernment, subsidiarity, and the dignity of the human person as central guides.

Sister Nancy Usselmann, FSP, is a Daughter of Saint Paul and director of Pauline Media Studies. She teaches AI literacy and media mindfulness, speaks nationwide on AI ethics, and helps Catholic communities think critically about how to use technology for mission and evangelization. She also references the Catholic faithai.com platform, which offers formation guides and an AI mindfulness wheel for virtue-centered use of AI.

- 0:00–4:50 Opening and guest introduction - Theme: setting the frame for AI ethics through CST and human dignity - 4:50–12:00 What AI is and why it matters to Catholics - Clarifications: machine learning, large language models, prompts, and the non-neutral character of AI - 12:00–15:25 The Church’s engagement with AI - Rome Calls for AI ethics; Vatican and CST as ethical voices in tech - 15:25–21:00 Practical formation and resources - Catholic Faith AI platform; AI mindfulness wheel; guidance for parishes, catechists, and educators - 21:00–28:10 Real-world implications: education, work, environment - Data centers, water use, subsidiarity, and implications for jobs and learning - 28:10–33:50 Discernment and practical guidance - Augmenting thinking vs outsourcing; empowerment vs dependence; CST in daily tech decisions - 33:50–40:00 AI in church life: liturgy, catechesis, youth ministry - The human witness remains central; accompany with AI tools thoughtfully - 40:00–49:55 Big-picture hope and what excites Sister Nancy - Positive apps for catechesis, accessible teaching, and mission-driven use - 50:00–54:43 Closing reflections and calls to action - Summaries, prayers, and where to find resources

In this episode, Maggie and Stephanie sit down with Dr. Guilherme Lopes just days after his CTU graduation to talk about how Catholic social teaching shaped his life long before it became his academic focus. Guilherme shares his story as a Brazilian immigrant raised in the Bronx, formed by the Salesians of Don Bosco through a tuition exchange at Holy Rosary parish, and how that early experience of being fed, clothed, and welcomed by a religious community planted the seeds for a career spent at the intersection of faith, justice, and youth ministry.

The conversation moves through his unlikely path: a criminal justice degree born out of grief after losing his best friend to a drunk-driving accident, a hard stretch as a juvenile probation officer, and the moment at a Thursday art program for detained teens that redirected him toward ministry. From there, Guilherme traces his work revising the Salesians' Gospel Roads immersion program, his pivot away from "flashy," consumer-style youth ministry programming toward authentic, justice-oriented service experiences, and his eventual move to Newman University, where he now directs campus ministry and teaches theology.

Maggie and Stephanie connect his story to Goodfaith's own immersion work, comparing notes on snack-cabinet rules, DoorDash bans, four-minute showers, and what it means to form a generation raised on curated, on-demand experiences. 

Two social media posts started a movement. Less than a year later, the Dorothea Project counts more than 1,100 Catholic women across 75 dioceses.

We sit down with founder Katie Holler and project leader Krista Varney to talk about how a grassroots network of Catholic women grew out of one mom's refusal to stay silent. Katie, a social worker in Steubenville, started the Dorothea Project after the second Trump administration's immigration enforcement hit her during her postpartum maternity leave. She made two Facebook posts asking if anyone else felt the same. Dozens of women answered, most of them saying some version of "I thought I was the only one."

Named for Dorothy Day and Sister Thea Bowman, the Dorothea Project educates Catholics on Catholic social teaching and moves them to act in defense of vulnerable people. The conversation digs into why CST stays the so-called "best kept secret of the Church", what happens when you start treating your bishop like a constituent who needs to hear from you, and why building a movement means getting comfortable with tension instead of waiting for everyone to agree on everything.

We get into the work of organizing at both the national and local level, the new CST-based voter guide the group is building ahead of the midterms, and why the laity coming to know their own power might be the real shift the Church needs.

What does Catholic social teaching have to say about artificial intelligence, and what might the Church offer a culture increasingly shaped by screens, algorithms, and polarization?

Kim Daniels, director of Georgetown University’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, joins Maggie and Stephanie to explore the Church’s role in safeguarding human dignity amid rapid technological change. Drawing on her work at Georgetown, her participation in the global Synod on Synodality, and Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, Kim offers a hopeful vision rooted in listening, dialogue, solidarity, and care for people who are poor and vulnerable.

The conversation also considers the promise and real-world harms of AI, from algorithmic bias and exploitative labor to the environmental costs of data centers. Kim reminds us that human beings are more than their productivity or cognitive ability—and that our limitations, relationships, and embodied lives are not problems to optimize away.

At a time of constant digital connection, even gathering for Mass becomes a countercultural witness: people coming together without devices to pray, celebrate the Eucharist, and encounter one another in an embodied community.

00:37 — Introducing Kim Daniels 04:23 — The origins and mission of Georgetown’s Initiative 05:34 — Kim’s journey from law to Catholic public life 12:46 — Discovering the depth of Catholic social teaching 20:34 — Pope Francis and the call to become a poor Church for the poor 24:45 — Dialogue and bridge-building in a polarized culture 28:38 — Lessons from the global Synod on Synodality 34:02 — Moving from listening to concrete action 35:54 — The Church’s mission in the digital environment 38:23 — Parenting and forming young people in a digital culture 47:05 — Pope Leo XIV’s vision for AI and human dignity 53:26 — The real-world justice implications of artificial intelligence 59:13 — Vulnerability, grief, joy, and the gift of being human 1:05:42 — Why Mass is countercultural in the age of AI 1:09:27 — Catholic social teaching as a source of hope 1:12:49 — What is giving Kim hope today

Kim Daniels is the director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University and an adjunct professor in Georgetown’s Department of Theology and Religious Studies. She has served as a member of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication and participated in the 2021–2024 Synod on Synodality as an expert participant. She also coordinated the Synod study group examining the Church’s mission in the digital environment.

A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Chicago Law School, Kim has advised Catholic leaders and institutions on issues including religious liberty, immigration, human life and dignity, and care for creation.

• Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life

• Kim Daniels at Georgetown University

• Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence

• The Synod study group’s report on the Church’s mission in the digital environment

• “What A.I. Has to Do With Poverty and Human Dignity” by Kim Daniels

• “In Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo Delivers a People-First Vision for AI” by Kim Daniels