Ave Explores

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

March 2nd, 2026  |  Season 32  |  48 mins 23 secs

ali hoffman, ave explores, ave maria press, fr. gregory pine, fr. jerónimo espinosa, fr. patrick mary briscoe, katie mcgrady, laura fanucci, lenten journal, lenten video and podcast series, mary lenanburg, meg hunter-kilmer, op, pete burak, witness

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.

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

February 21st, 2026  |  Season 32  |  48 mins 36 secs

ali hoffman, ave explores, ave maria press, fr. gregory pine, fr. jerónimo espinosa, fr. patrick mary briscoe, katie mcgrady, laura fanucci, lenten journal, lenten video and podcast series, mary lenanburg, meg hunter-kilmer, op, pete burak, witness

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.

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

February 17th, 2026  |  Season 32  |  50 mins 43 secs

ali hoffman, ave explores, ave maria press, bishop andrew cozzens, fr. gregory pine, fr. jerónimo espinosa, fr. patrick mary briscoe, katie mcgrady, laura fanucci, lenten journal, lenten video and podcast series, meg hunter-kilmer, op, witness

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.

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

February 12th, 2026  |  Season 32  |  42 mins 22 secs

ali hoffman, ave explores, ave maria press, bishop andrew cozzens, fr. gregory pine, fr. jerónimo espinosa, fr. patrick mary briscoe, katie mcgrady, laura fanucci, lenten journal, lenten video and podcast series, meg hunter-kilmer, op, witness

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.