Ave Explores - Episodes Archive

The Eucharist is Really Jesus with Fr. Craig Vasek

April 19th, 2023 | Season 20 | 45 mins 9 secs

ave explores, ave maria press, blood, body, eucharistic preachers, eucharistic revival, fr. craig vasek, fr. ryan rojo, heather khym, jake khym, joel stepanek, kathryn whitaker, katie prejean mcgrady, national eucharistic congress, perpetua charles, real presence, sister alicia torres, soul and divinity, source and summit of the catholic faith, the eucharist, timothy p. o'malley

Fr. Craig Vasek, talks with Katie Prejean McGrady about how this life changed after his first authentic encounter with the Eucharist. Vasek also reinforces that the Eucharist is not a holy object, but a person—Jesus—to encounter and love.

Finding Ourselves in Easter with Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR

April 6th, 2023 | Season 19 | 36 mins 11 secs

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In this week's episode, Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR, talks with Katie about finding ourselves in the Easter story. He says that when we embrace an authentic relationship with Christ, we can see how our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving have given space for him to dwell in our hearts.

Embracing Suffering in Holy Week with Sister Miriam James Heidland, SOLT

March 31st, 2023 | Season 19 | 35 mins 2 secs

adore, almsgiving, ave maria press, fasting, fr. john burns, guided lent journal for prayer and meditation, lent, lift up you heart, prayer, return, solt, sr. miriam james heidland

Holy Week not only should be a time for deep contemplation of Christ's suffering but also an invitation to enter into our own hardship. On this week's podcast, Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, discusses how patient suffering is a chance to grow closer to Jesus.

Hearts Broken for the Lord with Rakhi McCormick

March 24th, 2023 | Season 19 | 39 mins 35 secs

almsgiving, ave explores, ave maria press, fasting, fr. john burns, guided lent journal for prayer and meditation, katie prejean mcgrady, lent, prayer, rakhi mccormick, return

In this week's episode, Rakhi McCormick says we can return to the Lord this Lent if we allow the sadness and sorrow Jesus feels for the less fortunate of the world to energize us to work for change.

Anchored in Lent and Life with Stephanie Weinert

March 17th, 2023 | Season 19 | 35 mins 25 secs

adore, almsgiving, ave maria press, fasting, fr. john burns, guided lent journal for prayer and meditation, lent, lift up you heart, mother and home, prayer, return, stephanie weinert

Stephanie Weinert, founder of Mother and Home, talks with Katie about losing her young son, Becket, and how his death brought her to a deeper understanding of suffering, the Cross, and how to navigate hardship with an anchor in Christ.

Leaning into Lent with Paul George

March 11th, 2023 | Season 19 | 34 mins 25 secs

adore, almsgiving, ave maria press, fasting, fr. john burns, guided lent journal for prayer and meditation, holy grit, lent, lift up you heart, paul george, prayer, rethink happiness, return

On this week's podcast, Paul George talks about leaning into intentional prayer and giving generously of our first fruits during Lent. These spiritual practices can sometimes make us uncomfortable, but the Lord can help us grow in that discomfort.

Giving More in Lent with Fr. John LoCoco

March 3rd, 2023 | Season 19 | 40 mins 21 secs

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Fr. John LoCoco, vocations director for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, shares how Lent is a time of giving more and expecting more. By leaning into the suffering of Lent, in even the small things, we're able to more fully return to Jesus with our sometimes fractured and broken hearts.

Returning to Dependence with Britt Fisk

February 25th, 2023 | Season 19 | 34 mins 41 secs

adore, almsgiving, ave maria press, bell road beef, fasting, fr. john burns, guided lent journal for prayer and meditation, lent, lift up you heart, prayer, return

On this week's podcast, Britt Fisk discusses radical surrender and dependence on God during her battle with cancer. Her season of suffering felt like a perpetual Lent, she says. Britt helps us see that trusting the Lord with the big things in our lives can help us trust him with the small ones as well.

Why We Return with Fr. John Burns

February 21st, 2023 | Season 19 | 53 mins 12 secs

adore, almsgiving, ave maria press, fasting, fr. john burns, guided lent journal for prayer and meditation, lent, lift up you heart, prayer, return

Fr. John Burns, author of Return, talks about why returning to the Lord during Lent is important. He explains that when we pursue the spiritual practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we place ourselves before God in a healthy way.

Return to Lent with Mark Hart

February 15th, 2023 | Season 19 | 34 mins 32 secs

ave explores, britt fisk, fr. agustino torres, fr. john burns, fr. john lococo, katie prejean mcgrady, lent 2023, mark hart, paul george, rakhi mccormick, return, solt, sr. miriam james heidland, stephanie weinert

In this special episode of Ave Explores: Lent 2023, Mark Hart, AKA the "Bible Geek," says that we shouldn't start Lent hoping to complete a series of tasks on a list. Rather, we should commit ourselves to growing closer to Jesus.

The Holy Family with The Bulmans

December 17th, 2022 | Season 18 | 38 mins 28 secs

abiding together podcast, ave explorees, avemariapress, behold, fr. josh johnson, jason and rachel bulman, katie prejean mcgrady, michelle benzinger, solt, sr. miriam james heidland

Rachel and Jason Bulman, contributors to Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, discuss cultivating holiness, prayerfulness, and humility in a family. The couple also talks about how your healing journey can be essential to growing in holiness as a family.

The Child Jesus with Michelle Benzinger

December 10th, 2022 | Season 18 | 31 mins 19 secs

abiding together podcast, ave explorees, avemariapress, behold, fr. josh johnson, jason and rachel bulman, katie prejean mcgrady, michelle benzinger, solt, sr. miriam james heidland

Michelle Benzinger, cohost of the Abiding Together podcast, explores how childlike wonder is a source of joy and healing during Advent. Michelle says that as we contemplate the infant Jesus, we are brought into the beauty and simplicity of the incarnation. She also shares her own family's growing sense of delight in God's creation and in one another.

Joseph as Protector with Fr. Josh Johnson

December 3rd, 2022 | Season 18 | 42 mins 37 secs

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Fr. Josh Johnson, host of the podcast Ask Fr. Josh, reflects on the essential role of fathers in families and in the Church. He also discusses how fathers--through their role as protectors and shepherds--can inspire and transform a family.

Mary as Healer with Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT

November 26th, 2022 | Season 18 | 26 mins 30 secs

advent 2022, advent journal, ave explores, ave maria press, behold, katie prejean mcgrady, solt, sr. miriam james heidland

Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, introduces the theme of each week of her Advent reflection journal, Behold. She also explains how allowing ourselves to gaze at God--and inviting God into our lives--is the most fruitful way to begin the Advent season.

Jesus Heals the Whole Person with Jackie Mulligan of Reform Wellness

October 26th, 2022 | Season 17 | 31 mins 40 secs

ave explores, ave maria press, bob schuchts, catholic in recovery, csfn, fr. rob galea, fr. sean kilcawley, healing, heather khym, jackie mulligan, jennifer hubbard, katie prejean mcgrady, leticia ochoa adams, regina boyd, roy petitfils. rachael killackey, sacraments, scott weeman, sr. josephine garrett

Jackie Mulligan, CEO of Reform Wellness, says healing only happens when we know Jesus, rely on him, and allow him to heal us. We come to be healed through this relationship with Jesus.

You Deserve to Be Healed with Heather Khym

October 26th, 2022 | Season 17 | 46 mins 11 secs

ave explores, ave maria press, bob schuchts, catholic in recovery, csfn, fr. rob galea, fr. sean kilcawley, healing, heather khym, jackie mulligan, jennifer hubbard, katie prejean mcgrady, leticia ochoa adams, regina boyd, roy petitfils. rachael killackey, sacraments, scott weeman, sr. josephine garrett

Heather Khym, author of Abide and cohost of the Abiding Together podcast, shares her story of healing and her journey to understand God's love for her. Khym explains why all of us are called to and deserve, an abundant and healed life in Christ.