Ave Explores - Episodes Tagged with “Op”

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.

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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.

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Fourth Sunday of Advent: The Wonder of the Journey with Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP

Ave Maria Press — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0500

In the final days of Advent, Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, reflects on Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem—sudden in appearance, yet deeply intentional and necessary. Their path invites us to consider our own journeys during this liturgical season and throughout life, and to recognize the deeper purpose meant to be received with wonder.

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Third Sunday of Advent: Joy in the Chaos of Advent with Rachel and Jason Bulman

Ave Maria Press — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0500

With six kids, busy schedules, and long to-do lists, Deacon Jason and Rachel Bulman understand what it means to try and slow down in the Advent season, and how even best laid plans to slow down are often thwarted. In today's episode, they share how Jesus actually finds us in that chaotic family life, is present to us, and shows us his tenderness and brings joy even when we feel like everything is moving too fast.

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2nd Sunday of Advent: A Peaceful Aesthetic with Eliza Monts

Ave Maria Press — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 14:00:00 -0500

Walk into any Target or Home Goods and you'll see nothing but perfectly curated Christmas décor selling you the right kind of holiday aesthetic, all in pursuit of a perfect Instagram post. Eliza Monts, a popular Substack writer and Instagram influencer, shares how we can't let perfect be the enemy of good while pursuing peace and harmony in the Advent season.

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1st Sunday of Advent: Finding Wonder in Advent with Katie Cavadini

Ave Maria Press — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

The season of Advent can become far busier than we'd like it to be, if we aren't careful. Author of Behold the Wonder, Katie Cavadini, offers insights into how incorporating lectio and visio divinia and allowing ourselves to be immersed in the moments of the nativity story throughout the season can provide us numerous opportunities to behold the wonders the Lord wants to show us in this season of hopeful anticipation.

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NEW SERIES! Teaser: The Advent of Christmas with Matt Maher

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Matt Maher takes Advent seriously, not only because he spends the season touring cathedrals across the country leading evenings of prayer and praise, but because Advent invites us to remember the gift and majesty of Mary’s “yes.” In this conversation, Matt reflects on how her courageous response shapes our own call to live the faith with renewed trust, hope, and openness each day.

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SPECIAL EPISODE: Remembering Pope Francis with Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP

Ave Maria Press — Tue, 06 May 2025 11:00:00 -0400

When plans to attend the canonization of Bl. Carlo Acutis shifted following the death of Pope Francis, Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, traveled to Rome to report for Our Sunday Visitor, while Katie Prejean McGrady stayed in the U.S. to cover events for CNN and SiriusXM.

In this special episode of Ave Explores, Katie and Fr. Patrick reflect on the life and legacy of Pope Francis, share personal stories of meeting him, and discuss what may lie ahead for the Church as the 2025 conclave approaches.

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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 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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Preparing for the Mass with Mark Hart

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Mark Hart discusses how being open and prepared for Mass—even in the midst of our busy lives—allows us to fully experience the fruits of the Eucharist and to understand the gift of the Mass.

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The Mass as a Weekend Experience with Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran

Ave Maria Press — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran—coauthors of the bestselling Rebuilt—discuss how the culture of their parish was transformed when they began to focus on Mass as a weekend experience that begins in the parking lot and culminates in the celebration of the liturgy. The two also share how they help families engage in worship.

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How the Mass Converted a Family with Amber Casey

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Ave Maria Press, Ave Explores, Katie Prejean McGrady, The Mass, Fr. Patrick Briscoe, OP, Mark Hart, Fr. Michael White, Tom Corcoran, Fr, Tim Grumbach, Paula Huston, Amber Casey, Fr. Joshua Whitfield, Susan Timoney, Timothy P. O'Malley, Shannon Wimp Schmidt, Deacon Greg Kandra, Emily Stimpson Chapman, Fr. Ajani Gibson Links:

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The Latin Mass and Novus Ordo with Fr. Tim Grumbach

Ave Maria Press — Fri, 27 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

During the pandemic, Fr. Tim Grumbach, a priest of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, learned how to say the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, also known at the Latin Mass. He reflects on how saying both the Latin Mass and the Novus Ordo--the Mass most Catholics participate in today--enhanced his appreciation for the liturgy and helped him become a better priest.

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Cultural Experiences in Mass with Fr. Ajani Gibson

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 25 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Fr. Ajani Gibson, a newly ordained priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, discusses how culture can permeate the liturgy in beautiful ways. He says that when we make space for cultural expression in the Mass we elevate our worship and the body of Christ becomes more united.

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Overcoming Distractions During Mass with Shannon Wimp Schmidt

Ave Maria Press — Fri, 20 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Have you ever been distracted by the many sights and sounds at Mass? Shannon Wimp Schmidt, a mother who also has more than a decade of experience in youth and parish ministry, says you can overcome distractions by building holy habits and engaging in contemplative prayer.

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How the Laity Can Prepare for Mass with Fr. Joshua Whitfield

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 18 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Fr. Joshua Whitfield, pastor of St. Rita Catholic Church in Dallas, Texas, provides practical tips for preparing for Mass. He also discusses his conversion from the Anglican Church to Catholicism.

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How the Eucharist Grounds Us with Timothy P. O'Malley

Ave Maria Press — Fri, 13 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Theologian Timothy P. O'Malley provides an overview of the USCCB's Eucharistic Revival and discusses how the Mass should not only be integral to the life of the parish, but also in our everyday lives.

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What is the Mass? with Susan M. Timoney

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 11 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, theologian Susan M. Timoney discusses the history and structure of the Mass. She will help you understand why worship at the altar is the most essential form of prayer for believers.

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Why the Mass Matters with Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, O.P.

Ave Maria Press — Wed, 04 May 2022 08:00:00 -0400

Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, says the Mass is important because it is there that we stand at the foot of the Cross and are transformed. It's also the place where we meet in community with fellow Catholics.

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