Ave Explores

Week Four Beautiful Places Close By: Visiting the Basilicas of the U.S. with Grady Connolly

October 28th, 2026  |  Season 34  |  41 mins 56 secs

33 days to prepare your heart for pilgrimage, ave explores, basilicas, catholic pilgrimages, corporate travel, david henrie, edmundo reyes, fr. dave pivonka, fr. mark toups, grady connolly, hiking the camino, joan watson, john hale, katie mcgrady, lourdes, paul jarzembowski, pilgrimage, rome, santiago de compostela, the holy land, the way of st. james, verso travel

When Grady Connolly set out to visit all 94 basilicas in the United States, he didn’t expect the adventure to become a test of both personal faith and endurance. Along the way, he discovered that each church tells a unique story about the growth and history of the Catholic Church in America. He captured these stories in his new book, Basilicas: A Pilgrim’s Guide to America’s Most Remarkable Churches. Grady joins the show to reflect on how this pilgrimage became much more than a vacation or sightseeing trip. It was an opportunity to encounter the beauty and goodness of God in the sacred spaces of his own homeland—and to discover how the places close by can open our hearts to something greater.

Week Three World Youth Day, a Pilgrimage of People with Paul Jarzembowski

October 21st, 2026  |  Season 34  |  53 mins 30 secs

33 days to prepare your heart for pilgrimage, ave explores, basilicas, catholic pilgrimages, corporate travel, david henrie, edmundo reyes, fr. dave pivonka, fr. mark toups, grady connolly, hiking the camino, joan watson, john hale, katie mcgrady, lourdes, paul jarzembowski, pilgrimage, pope st. john paul ii, rome, santiago de compostela, the holy land, the way of st. james, verso travel

Pope St. John Paul II created World Youth Day because of his own profound experiences as a youth at large gatherings while on pilgrimage with his peers. Hoping to bring that joy to the masses, World Youth Day was born. Now with the 17th World Youth Day set to be held in Seoul, South Korea in August of 2027, Katie sits down with Paul Jarzembowski to learn how the unique pilgrim’s experience at a World Youth Day is unlike anything else in the Church or world today.

Week Two A Pilgrim’s Heart: How to "Be a Pilgrim" On and Off a Trip feat. Joan Watson (Verso Ministries)

October 14th, 2026  |  Season 34  |  39 mins 20 secs

33 days to prepare your heart for pilgrimage, ave explores, basilicas, catholic pilgrimages, corporate travel, david henrie, edmundo reyes, fr. dave pivonka, fr. mark toups, grady connolly, hiking the camino, joan watson, john hale, katie mcgrady, lourdes, paul jarzembowski, pilgrimage, rome, santiago de compostela, the holy land, the way of st. james, verso travel

St. Augustine coined the term peregrini to describe what it means to be a traveler through this life, making our pilgrimage toward our final home: heaven. This spirit of journeying, with a heart open to what God will do, is essential to pilgrimage. Joan Watson, pilgrimage formation manager for Verso Ministries, explores how a pilgrim’s heart is developed before, during, and after a journey to a specific place—and how we can carry that spirit with us every day.

Hope does not Disappoint with Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN

January 29th, 2025  |  Season 27  |  41 mins 37 secs

ave explores, ave maria press, cardinal michael czerny, csfn, eduard habsburg, elizabeth lev, hungarian ambassador to the holy see, joan watson, jubilee year 2025, katie mcgrady, opening the holy door, sj, sr. josephine garrett, st. peter's basilica, the jubilee year of hope

Join Sr. Josephine Garrett, author of Wilderness Within, as she unpacks the virtue of hope and its transformative power. In this episode, Sr. Josephine reflects on how cultivating hope requires intentionality, patience, and radical trust in God’s promises. With the Jubilee Year of 2025 as a backdrop, discover how this sacred time invites us to assess and deepen our hope in the Lord, making it a guiding force in our daily lives.

BONUS: Joan Watson Reflects on the Panel of the Repentant Women from Luke 7.

January 29th, 2025  |  Season 27  |  1 min 42 secs

ave explores, ave maria press, joan watson, jubilee year 2025, katie mcgrady, opening the holy door, reflections on the holy door panels of st. peter's basilica, st. peter's basilica, the jubilee year of hope

In this reflection from Opening the Holy Door, Joan Watson explains the meaning behind the panel that depicts the repentant woman who washes Jesus's feet with her hair.

For more insight into the meaning of this panel, get your copy of Opening the Holy Door at https://www.avemariapress.com/products/opening-the-holy-door.

To meditate on this, see Panel 8: The Necessity of Love at https://www.avemariapress.com/opening-the-holy-door.

For more insight into the meaning of this panel, get your copy of Opening the Holy Door at https://www.avemariapress.com/products/opening-the-holy-door.

The Global Relevance of the Jubilee Year with Eduard Habsburg-Lothringen, Hungary's Ambassador to the Holy See

January 22nd, 2025  |  Season 27  |  32 mins 41 secs

ave explores, ave maria press, cardinal michael czerny, csfn, eduard habsburg, elizabeth lev, hungarian ambassador to the holy see, joan watson, jubilee year 2025, katie mcgrady, opening the holy door, sj, sr. josephine garrett, st. peter's basilica, the jubilee year of hope

In this exclusive conversation, Hungarian Ambassador to the Holy See, Eduard Habsburg, discusses the significance of the Jubilee year, not just for Catholics, but for all people who long for peace and justice. He reflects on the deep spiritual and global importance of the Jubilee, and shares insights into his journey to becoming a Vatican diplomat. Ambassador Habsburg also provides a glimpse into his daily work, explaining how world leaders and the Vatican engage on key issues. Finally, he offers a powerful message on how we can each create a personal Jubilee within our hearts, with the hope of one day making a pilgrimage to Rome.

BONUS: Joan Watson Reflects on the Panel that Depicts the Encounter of Jesus and Peter, after Peter's Denial

January 22nd, 2025  |  Season 27  |  2 mins 6 secs

ave explores, ave maria press, joan watson, jubilee year 2025, katie mcgrady, opening the holy door, reflections on the holy door panels of st. peter's basilica, st. peter's basilica, the jubilee year of hope

In this reflection from Opening the Holy Door, Joan Watson explains the meaning behind the panel that depicts the encounter of Jesus and Peter, after Peter's Denial.

For more insight into the meaning of this panel, get your copy of Opening the Holy Door at https://www.avemariapress.com/products/opening-the-holy-door.

To meditate on this, see Panel 10: Hope in the Face of Sin at https://www.avemariapress.com/opening-the-holy-door.

For more insight into the meaning of this panel, get your copy of Opening the Holy Door at https://www.avemariapress.com/products/opening-the-holy-door.

BONUS: Joan Watson Reflects on the Parable of the Good Shepherd Panel of the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica

January 15th, 2025  |  Season 27  |  1 min 44 secs

ave explores, ave maria press, cardinal michael czerny, csfn, elizabeth lev, joan watson, jubilee year 2025, katie mcgrady, opening the holy door, sj, sr. josephine garrett, st. peter's basilica, the jubilee year of hope

In this reflection from Opening the Holy Door, Joan Watson explains the meaning behind the panel that depicts the Parable of the Good Shepherd.

For more insight into the meaning of this panel, get your copy of Opening the Holy Door at https://www.avemariapress.com/products/opening-the-holy-door.

To meditate on this, see Panel 12: The Hope of Being Found at https://www.avemariapress.com/opening-the-holy-door.

For more insight into the meaning of this panel, get your copy of Opening the Holy Door at https://www.avemariapress.com/products/opening-the-holy-door.

The Surprises of a Jubilee Year in Rome with Elizabeth Lev

January 15th, 2025  |  Season 27  |  47 mins 10 secs

ave explores, ave maria press, cardinal michael czerny, csfn, elizabeth lev, joan watson, jubilee year 2025, katie mcgrady, opening the holy door, sj, sr. josephine garrett, st. peter's basilica, the jubilee year of hope

Art historian and professor Elizabeth Lev unveils the fascinating history of the Jubilee Holy Doors and reveals how Rome itself has been shaped by Jubilee celebrations over the centuries. As preparations for Jubilee 2025 unfold, Lev explores the city’s rich traditions and the monumental moments of past Jubilees. Discover how these events inspire us to adopt a pilgrim’s mindset, embracing the unexpected blessings and gifts of a Jubilee year.

BONUS: Joan Watson Reflects on the Parable of the Prodigal Son Panel of the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica

January 8th, 2025  |  Season 27  |  2 mins 1 sec

ave explores, ave maria press, cardinal michael czerny, csfn, elizabeth lev, joan watson, jubilee year 2025, katie mcgrady, opening the holy door, sj, sr. josephine garrett, st. peter's basilica, the jubilee year of hope

In this first reflection from Opening the Holy Door, Joan Watson explains the meaning behind the panel that depicts the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15.