Sign Up for Our Newsletter!


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

EPISODE#238
OC CATHOLIC RADIO: TAKING A LOOK AT THE NEW BOOK “NEITHER CRYSTAL NOR GOLD”

Welcome to another episode of Orange County Catholic Radio, featuring host Rick Howick.

On this week’s show, Rick welcomes two very special guests to the program: Tim Busch and Robert Artigo. Tim Busch is an executive, attorney and Catholic philanthropist. He was one of the earliest advocates for the acquisi­tion of the cathedral by the diocese and was integrally involved in negotiating and fundraising for its purchase. Busch commissioned Artigo to write the book, desiring to preserve the building of the cathedral and its acquisition as part of diocesan history.

Robert Artigo is the author of “Neither Crystal Nor Gold.” It explores many facets of the his­tory of how the former Crystal Cathedral came to be built; and, its unlikely transfor­mation into the cathedral for the Diocese of Orange.

This is a fascinating conversation. Be sure to share this podcast with a friend!

 

 

 

 

 

Originally broadcast on 9/18/21

EPISODE #255
EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT: BE NOT AFRAID ONLINE CONFERENCE

Today’s program will certainly have its own unique “flavor.” Get ready for an amazing blessing and incredible teaching from Fr. Augustine Puchner. He is a Norbertine priest, and pastor at St. John the Baptist Church in Costa Mesa, CA.

What is so unique about today’s podcast is the intimacy of the setting. This audio was taken directly from an online conference recently put together by Deacon Steve Greco and the Spirit-Filled Hearts Ministry (based in Irvine, CA).

Fr. Augustine is speaking on behalf of Deacon Steve’s powerful new book, “Be Not Afraid;” as drills down deep on the topic of ‘examination of conscience..’

 

 

 

 

 

Originally broadcast on 8/23/20

EPISODE #249
EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT: “BE NOT AFRAID” – TURNING TO FAITH AMIDST FEAR

Today’s podcast is an important and timely edition of Empowered by the Spirit, as Deacon Steve Greco welcomes two very enthusiastic guests to the studio (Katie Hughes and Martha Garduno).

Our topic of discussion is primarily about Deacon Steve’s brand new book which is hot-off-the-press and so needed for today. It’s called “Be Not Afraid,” which encourages all of us to turn to our faith amidst the pandemic and all the challenges we currently face.

Listen in.. and you’ll surely glean some wonderful insights and encouragement!

 

 

 

 

 

Originally broadcast on 7/12/2020

EPISODE #212
EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT: THE SPIRITUAL DETOXING OF OUR CHILDREN

On this week’s program, Deacon Steve Greco welcomes C.R. (Chad) Stewart to the program. Chad has just completed a book that is already making a big impact in the lives of young people. It’s called “Britfield and the Lost Crown.”

It’s been said that about 90% of all the young adult adventure books on the market are based on occultism, witchcraft, demigods or some sort of nefarious agenda. Our guest today aims to do his part to take back our children’s minds and

hearts.

“Britfield” is a fast-paced young adult adventure novel  that took several years to complete. Tune in and hear all about this fascinating tale!

Visit the web site at: britfield.com

 

 

 

 

 

Originally broadcast on 9/15/19

POPE CALLS FOR NEW ALLIANCE BETWEEN YOUNG, OLD TO CHANGE THE WORLD

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With the launch of a new book, Pope Francis is calling for a new alliance — between young and old — to change the world.

In an effort to counteract today’s “culture of waste” that too easily marginalizes or ignores the young and the elderly, the book by Loyola Press creates a model of storytelling, dialogue, connection and reflection to help inspire these two groups to come together and rediscover older people’s lost “treasure of their wisdom.”

Packed with large full-color photographs of the elder contributors, the coffee-table-style book, titled, “Sharing the Wisdom of Time,” was released Oct. 23 at a book launch in Rome, with the pope scheduled to attend.

The 175-page book fleshes out what Pope Francis said he feels “the Lord wants me to say: that there should be an alliance between the young and old people.”

This alliance entails elders sharing their past experiences, advice, insights and dreams with younger people who are hungry for guidance and support as they prepare for their future, the pope said in the book’s preface.

Older people need to be “memory keepers,” forming a choir of praise and prayers supporting the people around them, he wrote, especially younger people, showing them the secrets to not just survival, but finding meaning and living life to the full, he said.

The pope calls on young people “to listen to and bond with their elders,” and the book offers a starter course, of sorts, offering scores of stories and wisdom from older people from 30 countries and from every walk of life: retired lawyers and engineers, farmers, garbage pickers, activists, refugees and a spiritual elder of the Lakota People in the United States. They speak of their experiences with racism, forgiveness, imperfection, conversion, beauty and joy despite the setbacks.

The stories are spread over five thematic chapters: work, struggle, love, death and hope, and each chapter begins with the pope reflecting on each theme. People’s stories are interspersed with the pope’s own reflections on an individual’s story, showing a model of how to mine its message for nuggets of advice that may mirror or be applied to one’s own life.

The book also includes a few stories by younger people sharing, “What I learned from an elder” and how an older person acted like an anchor, offering hope, support or inspiration in their lives.

The book invites readers to find opportunities to dialogue with elders and to visit www.sharingwisdomoftime.com for ideas and suggestions on how to spearhead intergenerational conversations, events and projects at home, in their communities and their parishes.

Some of the words of wisdom by the pope in the book:

— “Failure is the source of much wisdom,” he said. “No complaining allowed! It does not help. It does more harm than good.”

— “Our life is not given to us as an already scripted opera libretto,” where all the scenes are predetermined and fixed. “Failures cannot stop us if we feel the fire in our heart” to move forward and learn from mistakes.

— “The success of life is not glory but patience. Sometimes you need a lot of it.”

— “Our God wants to join us in our history,” he said. Just being content with survival and “not wanting to make history is a parasitic attitude.”

— Speaking about refugees who have faced insecurity with discernment and courage to leave their homes, they “will not let themselves be overcome by difficulties.” They refuse to accept defeat, “there is no wisdom in just giving up.”

— One person cannot solve all the problems in the world, but she or he can oppose it with being good, kind and caring to oneself and others. “You can fight with the smile and with the readiness to be kind to others.”

— “Learn the wisdom of getting help. You experience the solidarity that allows your heart to dream” and pull one out of despair.

— “Failure is not the last word. Failure always has a door that opens; woe to you if you turn it into a wall. You will never be able to get free.”

— “Sometimes we turn our little misadventures into epic dramas,” but people need to put things into their proper perspective and maybe have a good sense of humor. “Love is creative and it will not be overcome by the disasters and pitfalls of life.”

— “We can look at death and feel rich, because God lavishly ‘wastes’ his grace poured out on us.”

— “If God did not forgive sins, the world would have ceased existing a long time ago.”

— It is easy to judge others who have sinned, but “what I see are people who have lived,” he said. “Hope can be read in wrinkles.”

— On life being like a tapestry, “there is good and bad, death and life. If I look at my life, I like to think that the Lord would say with a smile, ‘Look what I did with all your mistakes,'” giving the tangled threads new shape and meaning.

— “Hypocrites will be scandalized by the miracles God works with our mistakes.” Reversing a situation from sin to grace “is one of the most wonderful ways God acts in our lives.”

— “Complaining rusts out the soul,” so do not pine over lost opportunities and temporal glory, remember the true final destination is to be with God.

— “Faith is not paying a toll to go to heaven.” God wants people to go forward with his love and “give us back to ourselves. God does not want anything ‘from’ us; he wants everything ‘for’ us.”

EPISODE #163
EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT: OVERCOMING ADVERSITY THROUGH MIRACLES

Host Deacon Steve Greco interviews guests on a variety of topics. On this week’s program, Steve welcomes two key team members of the Spirit-Filled Hearts ministry, Katie Hughes and Michael Aimola.

Steve is even more excited than usual today, because of a very special announcement. It’s the launching of a brand-new book he’s written entitled “Overcoming Adversity Through Miracles.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Originally broadcast on 9/9/18

CALL ME CATHOLIC: GUEST IS MIKE AQUILINA – “A HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IN 100 OBJECTS”

A big thank-you to today’s guest, Mike Aquilina! He shared some of the history behind the objects that he and his daughter Grace chose to catalogue in the compelling book, “A History of the Church in 100 Objects.” As it says in the introduction: “Catholicism is indeed the religion of ‘stuff’. Ours is the church of ashes and incense, icons and statues, bread and wine, water and oil, incorrupt bodies, and bones encased in glass.”

Mike helped to put these holy objects into perspective for all our Call Me Catholic listeners.

 

 

 

 

 

Originally broadcast on 9/8/18