Ave Explores - Episodes Tagged with “Meg Hunter Kilmer”

Easter: Feast after the Fast with Laura Kelly Fanucci

Ave Maria Press — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:00:00 -0400

We usually arrive at Easter ready to stop "counting the days" of Lent and happy to end our fasting. Laura Kelly Fanucci's new Easter devotional, Living Easter encourages us to enter the 50 days of Easter with the same focus and purpose as we did for the 40 days of Lent.

Get your copy of Witness today, with a foreword by Jonathan Roumie from The Chosen.

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Holy Week: The Shock of Holy Week with Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP

Ave Maria Press — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Holy Week arrives with a sudden silence—marked by darkness, stillness, and striking liturgical traditions—that invites us to enter more deeply into the mystery and memory of Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, helps us prepare for the intensity of the week by sharing the rich Holy Week traditions of the Dominican Order.

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5th Week of Lent: Lent Makes Us Courageous with Pete Burak

Ave Maria Press — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Author of A Man on Purpose, Pete Burak shares how courage doesn’t begin with heroic moments, but with daily faithfulness. In this episode, he explores how small, sometimes difficult Lenten practices—like fasting—form us to respond when God calls us to step forward in bigger ways.

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4th Week of Lent: The Cross is Humbling with Meg Hunter-Kilmer

Ave Maria Press — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Crucifixion was meant to be a humiliating death, a public sign of defeat. Yet Jesus transforms the Cross into the place of ultimate victory. In this episode of Ave Explores, Meg Hunter-Kilmer reflects on how gazing upon the Cross humbles us—revealing both the depth of Christ’s love and the saving power found in what once seemed like failure.

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3rd Week of Lent: Suffering with Christ featuring Mary Lenaburg

Ave Maria Press — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0500

When we stand at the foot of the Cross, we encounter true compassion—literally, “to suffer with.” Mary Lenaburg knows this compassion intimately. Having experienced profound sorrow and deep joy, she understands that suffering is not a season to escape but a place to remain with Christ. While her life has not been a perpetual Lent, she has learned how to walk through it—standing beside Jesus at the Cross and discovering there a love that redeems every trial.

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2nd Week of Lent: Friendship at the Cross with Fr. Jeronimo Espinosa and Ali Hoffman

Ave Maria Press — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Lent invites us to stand at the foot of the Cross—but never alone. The Christian life is meant to be lived in communion, alongside companions who help draw us closer to the Lord. In this episode, Fr. Jerónimo Espinosa and Ali Hoffman reflect on how friendship and community have shaped their faith over the years. Through their shared journey, they reveal the beauty of growing in intimacy with Jesus through genuine relationships and the transformative grace that comes from encountering the Lord together.

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1st Week of Lent: Dignity at the Cross with the Sisters of Life

Ave Maria Press — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0500

Rooted in their mission to uphold the dignity of every human person, the Sisters of Life witness to the truth that no one is beyond God’s love and mercy. During Lent, we are invited to stand at the foot of the Cross and encounter the Lord’s loving gaze, even in his suffering. Sr. Cora Caeli and Sr. Magnificat Rose share how they live Lent as religious sisters, reflecting on why the cross is not something to avoid but to embrace—especially as we repent, convert, and cling to Christ throughout these forty days.

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Ash Wednesday: Starting Lent with a Plan with Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, and Tommy McGrady

Ave Maria Press — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Lent invites us to trust God’s providence—but it also calls for intention. In this episode, Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, author of Witness, joins Katie and her husband, Tommy, to reflect on approaching the season with purpose. Fr. Patrick shares how writing a Lenten reflection journal helped him contemplate the Cross more deeply and why we’re invited to stand at its foot—ready to receive all the grace the Lord desires to give through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

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NEW SERIES: Not a Fan of Lent? You’re Not Alone with Fr. Gregory Pine, OP

Ave Maria Press — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0500

In this teaser episode of Ave Explores: Lent with Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, host Katie McGrady sits down with Fr. Gregory Pine, OP, to name a familiar tension: many of us resist Lent, even while longing for the work God wants to do in us. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving aren’t ends in themselves—they’re pathways into deeper participation in the divine life and a renewed ability to recognize God in the ordinary.

Fr. Gregory invites us to begin simply, with an honest prayer: Lord, I need you.

This conversation sets the tone for our Lenten series inspired by Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe’s book Witness. Throughout Lent, we’ll walk alongside those who encountered the Passion firsthand, with weekly videos featuring Fr. Patrick and companion podcast episodes with guests including Bishop Andrew Cozzens, Meg Hunter-Kilmer, Ali Hoffman, Fr. Jerónimo Espinosa, Laura Fanucci, and more.

This Lent, don’t get stuck in what you dislike about the season. Let God meet you where you are—and lead you where he is calling you to go.

Get your copy of Witness today, with a foreword by Jonathan Roumie from The Chosen.

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Week Six: Monks, Nuns, and Their Habits with Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Religious orders wear a wide variety of habits, from brown robes reminiscent of Jedi attire to white robes with black capes similar to Gandalf’s. With so many distinct styles, it’s hard for anyone to keep track of them all.

Beyond their attire, religious communities are diverse, unique, and an enriching part of the Church—though they may seem a bit unusual at first. Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, a Dominican of the Eastern Province in the United States, shares insights into the vows, rituals, and histories of these orders, highlighting their profound and beautiful impact on the Church.

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Week Five: A Baptist Becomes Catholic Because of the Bible with Sonja Corbitt

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Catholic author and speaker Sonja Corbitt embraced Catholicism after a lifetime of being a Southern Baptist, and she did so because of the Bible. Her entrance into the Church, which included a deep study of some of the stranger teachings of the Faith, became a source of both inspiration and consternation in her own family, and her love of her faith today is even deeper as a result. Sacred scripture can sometimes seem odd or contradictory, but it reinforces all our weird Catholic beliefs. Sonja explains how in today’s episode.

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Week Four: Big Honkin' Candles and Fun Feast Days with Steffani Aquila

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Why do we bake cakes for Shrove Tuesday or use chalk to mark our doors on the Epiphany? Why do we crown statues of Mary with flowers or sing hymns to the biggest candle of them all, the Paschal Candle, on Easter Vigil?

Steffani Aquila, author of Festive Faith, walks us through the liturgical year and explains some of the most cherished, and oddest, liturgical living traditions and practices to help us embrace living a festive faith in our somewhat odd Church.

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Week Three: The Oddities of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

When we declare that Catholicism is two thousand years old, we must do so knowing that this means the earliest days of the Church were, at times, peculiar and challenging. The liturgy had to be developed, sacramental practices clarified, disputes settled, and the life of the Church established as we now know it.

Mike Aquilina, Catholic scholar and prolific author, discusses the unusual practices of the Church's first few hundred years and how they led to some of today's most cherished traditions.

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Week Two: Unveiling the Mystery of Relics with Sean Pilcher and Sharing Holy Stories with Jonathan Roumie

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Sean Pilcher, from Sacra, an apostolate focused on the restoration and recovery of relics, shares the meaning and importance of relics for all Catholics. Sean discusses how relics are verified, what it looks like to restore relics that have been damaged, and offers insight into how relics impact our spiritual lives.

Then, in a special bonus Ave Explores exclusive, Katie sits down with Jonathan Roumie, award winning actor from The Chosen and executive producer of the new film Heart of a Servant: The Father Flanagan Story to discuss how the joy of his Catholic faith guides him in his career and helps him discern good projects to work on, and he tells the story of meeting Pope Francis, who called him “Jesus.”

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Week One: How Saints are Studied and Made with Meg Hunter-Kilmer and Deacon David Keene

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Join Meg Hunter-Kilmer, author and storyteller of saints, and Deacon David Keene, an archeologist and canon lawyer, as they delve into the fascinating process of uncovering the lives of saints. From researching their stories to studying their relics, they explore the challenges and discoveries that bring these holy figures to life.

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Week Seven: On Pilgrimage in the U.S. with Tim O'Malley and Chenele Shaw

Ave Maria Press — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0400

Catholicism is incarnational and tactile. We exist in reality, and so does our faith. Remembering that is essential to growing in our Catholicism, and Timothy P. O’Malley explains how “matter matters” in the places and spaces we worship. This summer, Catholics in the United States will have the chance to experience that incarnational reality on the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, spanning four routes from coast to coast, converging in Indianapolis in July for the National Eucharistic Congress. Chenele Shaw, former host of Ave Spotlight, shares the story of the pilgrimage and what we can expect along the way.

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Week Six: Forming Young Minds and Serving Those in Need with Fr. Tim Anastos and Kerry Robinson

Ave Maria Press — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 13:00:00 -0400

The Church in the U.S. has made a lasting impact on education and social services. From universities and lay apostolates that educate and form young adults to networks of Catholic Charities offices that provide essential help to those in need, Catholicism in the U.S. is not naval-gazing or self-centered. The Church in the U.S. seeks to serve. Fr. Tim Anastos, chaplain at the University of Illinois, and Kerry Robinson, CEO of Catholic Charities USA, share how the missions of formation and charity are a significant part of the story of Catholicism in this country.

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Week Five: Catholicism on the California Coast and in the Colorado Mountains with Stephen J. Binz and JoAnn Seaman

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

St. Junipero Serra evangelized California and St. Frances Xavier Cabrini evangelized Colorado. Their influence extends up and down the West Coast and throughout the Rocky Mountains, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire today. In this episode, Stephen J. Binz, a pilgrimage leader to the California Missions, and JoAnn Seaman, director of the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, CO, share the stories of these two remarkable saints and the places where their impact is still felt.

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Week Four: Southern Suffering and Sanctity with Fr. Korey LaVergne and Sr. Mary Michael Fox, OP

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

From the inspiring faith of little Charlene Richard, a twelve-year-old girl who died of Leukemia and is now on the path to canonization, to the enduring resilience of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia during the Civil War and the culture wars of today, Catholicism in the South is far from just a cultural norm—it embodies a story of suffering and sanctity. Fr. Korey LaVergne, pastor of St. Edward’s Church in Louisiana and Charlene Richard’s home parish, and Sr. Mary Michael Fox, OP, offer profound insights into the vibrant and joyful reality of Catholicism in the Southern United States.

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Week Three: The Holiness of Bl. Michael McGivney and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton with Brian Caulfield and Amy J. Cattapan

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 29 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

The stories of saints in the United States are diverse and dynamic. The first American born female saint, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and the founder and first chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, Bl. Michael McGivney, show us how holiness is found in a unique way. Brian Caulfield and Amy J. Cattapan share the stories of these two holy American heroes that introduce us to Catholicism on the east coast.

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Week Two: Our Lady in the Midwest with Fr. Edward Looney and Fr. Nate Wills, CSC

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 22 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Whether it’s the Lady who appeared in a forest to young Adele Brise or the Lady atop a golden dome visible for miles from a college campus in northern Indiana, the Blessed Virgin Mary is revered, cherished, and celebrated in the American Midwest. Fr. Edward Looney, author and priest in the Diocese of Green Bay, and Fr. Nate Wills, CSC, chaplain to the University of Notre Dame football team, share the story of Catholicism in the Midwest of the United States, through the lens of Marian devotion and midwestern grit.

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Week One: The Places and People of the U.S. Catholic Church with Kevin Schmiesing and Meg Hunter-Kilmer

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 15 May 2024 11:00:00 -0400

What places hold significance, and who are the key figures in the narrative of Catholicism in the United States of America? From both a historical and modern perspective, the story of the Church in the US is expansive, diverse, and compelling. Authors Kevin Schmiesing and Meg Hunter-Kilmer share their insights and expertise on the noteworthy locations and influential figures shaping the Church in the United States today. Explore must-visit shrines and churches, delve into the inspiring tales of Americans on the path to sainthood, and embark on a captivating journey through Catholicism in America.

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Teaser NEW Series: Catholic Hope in the US with Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 08 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, the 10th Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York, shares his favorite Catholic churches and places in the United States of America. He offers insight into the current challenges facing Catholics, from a perspective of the historical Catholic Church, and reasons for his abundant hope in the Church in America today.

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Week Four of Prepare Your Heart: Holding Jesus like Mary in Advent with Sr. Zelie Maria Louis, SV

Ave Maria Press — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0500

Mary opened her arms to the child Jesus, and we are called to do the same. Sr. Zelie Maria Louis, a Sister of Life serving pregnant women in Manhattan, reflects on how we can look to Mary as a perfect example of holiness and love of the Lord in the final days of Advent.

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Week Three of Prepare Your Heart: Building a Home like Joseph with Bobby and Jackie Angel

Ave Maria Press — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0500

Jackie and Bobby Angel, authors, speakers, and podcasters, share how the spirit of hospitality and a charism of welcome are essential in order to enter into Advent. When we open our homes to others, and when we work to build a home of love, we are embracing the spirit of St. Joseph.

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Week Two of Prepare Your Heart: Holy Witnesses in Advent with Meg Hunter-Kilmer

Ave Maria Press — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Meg Hunter-Kilmer offers insights into how the stories of the saints can help us more purposefully enter into Advent, preparing our hearts with the witness of faithful men and women who have spent their lives preparing to meet Jesus.

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Reading Scripture Daily with Meg Hunter-Kilmer

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Author and itinerant missionary Meg Hunter-Kilmer says daily reading of Scripture inspires a greater appreciation of Church tradition and a more robust understanding of Christ. Hunter-Kilmer has shared her reflections on daily Scripture on Instagram for two years. She explains how her life of faith has been changed by using the Bible as an anchor of her daily prayer.

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Broken Saints for Broken People with Meg Hunter-Kilmer

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Meg Hunter-Kilmer, author of the forthcoming Pray for Us, loves to tell stories of the saints, especially those who are not as well known. She shares how growing close to holy men and women has helped her to love Christ more. Hunter-Kilmer says each saint she’s grown close to has been a unique match during particular challenges in her life.

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Trusting Providence with Meg Hunter-Kilmer

Ave Maria Press — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 01:00:00 -0400

Katie Prejean McGrady and Meg Hunter-Kilmer talk about what it’s like to travel all the time (especially when living out of your car), how to trust in God’s providence, and how Mary is an example of what radical trust in God can, and does, look like.

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