Outside the Walls

Where's that in the Bible? Catholics & Scripture - Kenny Burchard

Kenny Burchard serves as the Director of Development at The Coming Home Network, and is a co-host on the podcast ON THE JOURNEY with Matt, Ken, and Kenny
Out of a passion to help Catholics answer the often-asked question, "Where's That in the Bible?" he launched the growing Catholic Bible highlights video series on YouTube in August of 2024 which has grown to nearly 12,000 subscribers in three months. (https://www.youtube.com/@KennyBurchard)Today we talk about the Catholic perspective on Scripture, and discuss methods for engaging with Bible Study.

We Are Only Saved Together - Communal Faith: Dr. Colin Miller

Dr. Colin Miller is the Director of the Center for Catholic Social Thought in St. Paul, MN, and lives at the Maurin House Catholic Worker in Minneapolis.  
We talk about book We are Only Saved together: Living the revolutionary Vision of Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker Movement published by Ave Maria Press. 
This book is not a call to become a strange, marginal, or fringe Catholic; it is a call to become fully Catholic by embracing the essential traditions that have always been at the heart of the Church and finding Christ in the places he promised to meet us: in worship, in community, in the poor. Following the little way of St. Thérèse of Lisieux (one of Dorothy Day’s favorite saints), Miller shares practical ideas to consider when seeking to encounter Christ in these places, such as
exploring the power of shared meals and feasts;
reframing our encounters with people in poverty through a surprising look at the Good Samaritan parable;
ideas on how to live close to the land;
discerning the qualities that bring dignity to our work; and
steps to embrace voluntary simplicity.

Festive Faith - Celebrating in Community: Steffani Aquila

Steffani Aquila is a Catholic wife, national speaker, upcoming author, theologian, educator, and expert in the field of liturgical life and Catholic culture. For the past 15 years, she has dedicated her work to Catholic parishes, schools, and institutions, taking on roles in both ministerial and administrative capacities.
She invites families and parish communities into a vibrant celebration of the liturgical year through her website https://www.hisgirlsunday.com/
Today we talk about her book, Festive Faith, available on Ave Maria Press. Festive Faith is a treasury of more than seventy festive traditions celebrated in various cultural groups during specific seasons or on particular days of our liturgical year. For each one Steffani shares a brief history, a description of what the custom involves, and practical adaptations for celebrating it today.

Strengthening the Will - Steps to Holiness: Bo Bonner

Bo Bonner is the Mission Officer at Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, IA and the Co-host of the UnCommon Good. He recently reposted a brief statement on strengthening the will, which began, "When it comes to the will and the spiritual life, much emphasis is placed on immediately turning away from temptation with a decisive act of will. Indeed, asceticism is rooted in this hope, that saying 'no' to things, even good ones, will make our wills no longer weak but, with the grace of God, able to withstandthe onslaughts of the tempter in every day life. But in some ways in contemporary spirituality discussions this has been hi-jacked..." We talk through his post and explore ideas about avoiding extremes when it comes to forming the will, and land on some practical, achievable ways of growing in holiness.

A Journey through the Catechism - Fr. Daniel J. Mahan

Fr. Daniel J. Mahan, a priest of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, is the first director of the USCCB’s Institute on the Catechism.  He holds a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm.He joins today to discuss his book A Journey through the Catechism: Unveiling the Truth, Beauty, and Goodness of the Catholic Faith Published by Ave Maria Press. There are corresponding videos and curriculum aids available.

Political Engagement as a Catholic - Dr. Taylor Patrick O'Neill & Dr. Matthew Kuhner

This political season is the perfect time to engage more deeply with the Church's theological and magisterial documents on how best to order society toward the pursuit of the common good.
Today we talk with Dr. Taylor Patrick O'Neill and Dr. Matthew Kuhner about an upcoming class "Political Engagement as a Catholic: Principles, Sources, and Historical Engagements" which seeks to unfold the Church’s vision of political authority, the nature and demands of the political community, and the responsibility of the Catholic vis-à-vis political action. The class meets online every other Tuesday, and the registration deadline is September 6.

Pilgrims on the Way: FollowMyCamino.com - TJ Bogan

TJ Bogan is the founder of FindMyCamino.com. He shares with us his experiences as a pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago, and the work he does to facilitate pilgrimages for others.

Discerning a Helpful Response to Blasphemy - Joe Heschmeyer

This week, the "socials" have been abuzz in response to a provocative scene in the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. There were hot takes by those offended, and hotter takes ridiculing those offended. In this week's conversation, we won't spend much time looking at the inciting events, We won't definitely answer the question of whether blasphemy occurred or not. Rather, I want to take a step back and discern what a holy, and helpful response to Blasphemy and offense might be.I'm joined by Joe Heschmeyer, a staff apologist for Catholic Answers, a frequent guest of this show, and someone I consider a friend. Joe has a proven track record of approaching prickly topics with thoughtfulness and grace. It is my hope that you will find this discussion both edifying and enlightening. Listen and Share.