Ave Explores

Influencer Culture in the Church with Grady Connolly of The Social Thomist

July 23rd, 2025  |  Season 29  |  59 mins 59 secs

abiding together podcast, alex jones of hallow, ave explores, ave maria press, daughters of st. paul, digital evangelization, ewtn, focus, grady connelly, heather khym, katie mcgrady, kaylee stoll, michelle benzinger, montse alvarado, solt, sr. miriam james heidland, sr. nancy usselman, the digital continent, the social thomist

Grady Connolly, a Gen Z Catholic influencer and digital strategist, shares key principles for discerning how to use social media well—especially when representing the Church. Drawing from his experience managing multiple social platforms for content creators and apostolates, Grady makes a bold claim: if influencers and digital missionaries aren't Christ-focused, they shouldn't be doing the work at all. In this episode, he unpacks the heart behind authentic digital ministry, tells the story of how he got started, and explains why everyone online has the power to influence others in ways they may never realize.

Week One: Phones Pushing us to Prayer with Alex Jones of Hallow

July 16th, 2025  |  Season 29  |  1 hr 1 min

abiding together podcast, alex jones of hallow, ave explores, ave maria press, daughters of st. paul, digital evangelization, ewtn, focus, grady connelly, heather khym, katie mcgrady, kaylee stoll, michelle benzinger, montse alvarado, solt, sr. miriam james heidland, sr. nancy usselman, the digital continent, the social thomist

Katie sits down with Alex Jones, CEO and co-founder of the Hallow app, to explore how one of the world’s most popular Catholic apps is transforming lives through digital prayer. Once an agnostic, Alex shares his powerful reversion story and how it inspired him to create a tool that helps people encounter Christ right where they are—on their phones. Hear how Hallow is using technology to make prayer more accessible, engaging, and meaningful in today’s fast-paced world.

NEW SERIES Teaser: Exploring the Digital Continent: Why the Catholic Church Cares About the Internet

July 8th, 2025  |  Season 29  |  31 mins 6 secs

abiding together podcast, alex jones of hallow, ave explores, ave maria press, daughters of st. paul, digital evangelization, ewtn, focus, grady connelly, heather khym, katie mcgrady, kaylee stoll, michelle benzinger, montse alvarado, solt, sr. miriam james heidland, sr. nancy usselman, the digital continent, the social thomist

The Vatican has begun using a powerful new phrase to describe evangelization in the digital age: digital mission on the digital continent. As people spend increasing amounts of time online—scrolling, streaming, and searching for meaning—the Church recognizes that the internet isn’t just a tool but a place, a mission field where the Gospel can be shared.

In this teaser episode of Ave Explores: Digital Evangelization, host Katie McGrady introduces the theme of this series and unpacks why the Catholic Church is taking digital evangelization seriously. Why does it matter? Who is being reached? And what does it mean to be a digital missionary today?

Tune in as we begin this essential conversation about faith, presence, and purpose in the digital world.

4th Week of Advent: Seeing and Showing Jesus with Msgr. Roger Landry

December 20th, 2024  |  Season 26  |  31 mins 18 secs

advent with heather khym, ave explores, ave maria press, encountering emmanuel, fr. dave pivonka, fr. john burns, jackie angel, katie mcgrady, msgr. landry, solt, sr. miriam james heidland

In the summer of 2024, Msgr. Roger Landry embarked on an extraordinary mission as the full-time chaplain for the Seton Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. For sixty consecutive days, he and a group of dedicated pilgrims walked alongside Jesus in the Eucharist, journeying from Connecticut to Indiana. Together, they brought Christ to bustling city streets, quiet rural landscapes, and unsuspecting hearts, sparking moments of grace and transformation.

In this episode, Msgr. Landry reflects on the profound impact of carrying Jesus in the monstrance through towns, over rivers, and into the lives of people—both those eagerly awaiting the Eucharistic procession and those surprised by the encounter. He shares how this pilgrimage reshaped his ministry and deepened his approach to Advent and Christmas, inspiring him to see Jesus more vividly and reveal him to others in new and meaningful ways.

Prepare to be inspired by this powerful testimony of faith in action and the beauty of bringing Christ to the world!

3rd Week of Advent: Scripture Shows us Jesus with Jackie Angel

December 13th, 2024  |  Season 26  |  40 mins 54 secs

advent with heather khym, ave explores, ave maria press, encountering emmanuel, fr. dave pivonka, fr. john burns, jackie angel, katie mcgrady, solt, sr. miriam james heidland

Amid the hustle and bustle of this time of year, it’s easy to lose sight of the heart of Advent—and the true meaning of Christmas: Jesus. In this episode, Jackie Angel, author of the upcoming Memorize Scripture, shares how immersing yourself in Sacred Scripture—through daily reading and simple memorization—can transform your experience of the season. Discover how slowing down with God’s Word can help you embrace the joy of Advent, prepare your heart for Christmas, and encounter Christ in a deeper, more personal way.

2nd Week of Advent: Pursuing Holiness Together with Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, and Fr John Burns

December 6th, 2024  |  Season 26  |  37 mins 9 secs

advent with heather khym, ave explores, ave maria press, encountering emmanuel, fr. dave pivonka, fr. john burns, jackie angel, katie mcgrady, solt, sr. miriam james heidland

Advent is more than just a season—it’s an invitation to journey together as a Church, pursuing divine life with the Lord. In this episode, Fr. John Burns and Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, share their powerful ministry work with priests and religious sisters. They also offer heartfelt encouragement for all vocations, reminding us that holiness is a shared pursuit.

Join us as we explore how Advent calls each of us—whether single, married, or consecrated—to grow in unity and prepare our hearts for Christ.

1st Week of Advent with Heather Khym

November 30th, 2024  |  Season 26  |  38 mins 49 secs

advent with heather khym, ave explores, ave maria press, encountering emmanuel, fr. dave pivonka, fr. john burns, jackie angel, katie mcgrady, solt, sr. miriam james heidland

Advent is a chance to encounter Jesus in a new way, and Heather Khym offers advice on how to settle into the new liturgical season and embrace it as a time of reflection and resolution.

Teaser: Starting Advent with Fr. Dave Pivonka

November 26th, 2024  |  Season 26  |  26 mins 11 secs

ave explores advent with heather khym, encountering emmanuel, fr. dave pivonka, fr. john burns, jackie angel, katie mcgrady, solt, sr. miriam james heidland

In the first episode of Ave Explores Advent with Heather Khym, Fr. Dave Pivonka, president of Franciscan University, reflects on his favorite traditions of the Advent season and offers practical ways we can embrace the slow and intentional moments in the beginning of the new Liturgical year.

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.

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.