Catholic Conversations at St. Joseph Podcast

Welcome to the Catholic Conversations at St. Joseph podcast page. If you would prefer to follow us on Spotify, click here. If you prefer to follow on Apple Podcasts, click here. If you wish to view this in video format, follow us on YouTube. Click on the title below to listen to a recent episode on Spotify or watch the most recent episode here.

1. Can We Talk? Why Christians Need to Have the Hard Conversations

   Can we talk?

   As we begin September and a new message series at St. Joseph’s, Randi Hochenberger welcomes Father Melwin Matthew back to Catholic Conversations for a conversation about something we all need—but seem increasingly to be losing: the ability to truly talk and listen to one another.

   Father Melwin explains synodality as “walking together” and connects it to the Christian call to listen, discern, correct one another, and speak the truth in love. The conversation gets very practical as Randi and Father Melwin explore the difference between real conversation and the one-way communication we often settle for through texting, social media, and email.

   When someone we love is going down the wrong path, do we have the courage to say something? Can we listen without immediately judging? And what might change if we remembered that Christ is present when we gather together?

   The September message series, “Can We Talk?”, will explore these questions throughout the month.

   And Father Melwin offers a simple challenge: Talk to God. Listen to God. Then talk and listen to one another.

   
   

   00:00 – Welcome and Introduction of Father Melwin01:40 – Father Melwin’s experience on Long Island04:23 – What it means to be a "Bethanian"08:25 – Introduction to the message series: "Can We Talk?"09:31 – Explaining "Synodality": Walking and talking together11:50 – Fruit of the Second Vatican Council: Sensus Fidelium13:14 – Religious as "experts of synodality14:34 – Defining synodality: Speaking truth in love17:33 – Reflections on the First Reading (Ezekiel): Being a guardian18:17 – Correcting our brothers: Sin and communal discernment21:13 – The dangers of gossip and talking about people22:48 – The "Stop Texting and Talk" challenge26:31 – Jesus’ example: Correcting Martha at Bethany28:20 – The importance of listening and mutual humility31:50 – Communal reconciliation and the "Chapter of Faults"34:12 – The need for incarnational encounters over digital screens37:28 – Discernment: Finding what is right, not who is right39:18 – Parish updates and upcoming events at St. Joseph41:16 – Preview of Father Melwin's two-day Parish Retreat43:40 – Final reflections: Talking to God44:00 – Closing Prayer and Blessing

2. You're Not Finished Yet: How God Can Use What You Already Have

   What has God already given you that you could offer back to Him?In this episode of Catholic Conversations at St. Joseph, Father Peter sits down with Jean Marie Gibbs, a parishioner who wanted to become more involved at St. Joseph’s but wasn't quite sure where she fit. What began with a simple conversation eventually became the Guardians of the Gardens, a group of parishioners who care for the grounds of the church—and, along the way, have discovered friendship, community, service, and a deeper connection with God.Jean Marie shares her own journey of faith, the role Scripture has played during difficult moments, her experiences as a wife and mother in a military family, her devotion to the Blessed Mother, and the ways she has learned to keep moving forward rather than looking back.Father Peter and Jean Marie also talk about something every Catholic should consider: Are we simply consumers of our faith, or are we contributors to the life of the Church?You may not be called to garden. You may not be called to sing, teach, or serve in the same way someone else does. But God has given you something. A talent. A passion. An experience. A willingness to work.What has God given you to give?As we continue our Formed, Not Finished series, this episode is a reminder that none of us are finished—and God can use what we already have to help build up His Kingdom.If this conversation speaks to you, like the video, subscribe to Catholic Conversations at St. Joseph, and share it with someone who might need to hear it. And tell us in the comments: What is one thing God has given you that you could offer back to Him?#CatholicConversations #Catholic #CatholicChurch #Faith #Jesus #CatholicLife #Discipleship #FormedNotFinished #StJosephs #GardeningForGod00:00 – Introduction and welcoming Jean Marie01:35 – Jean Marie’s call to get involved at St. Joseph’s02:45 – The "Guardians of the Gardens" initiative04:29 – The importance of small Christian communities and beauty in the Church06:45 – Encouragement to "evaluate what I can do" for the parish08:03 – Discovering untapped talents in the pews09:39 – Jean Marie’s spiritual journey: Not looking back (Lot’s Wife)12:11 – Finding strength through Scripture during a triathlon13:50 – Maintaining faith through life's darker moments15:19 – Faith as the "glue" for military and first responder families18:05 – Progress in the spiritual journey: "Formed, not finished"21:14 – Overcoming worry with Luke 12:2522:32 – Reflections on military life and family faithfulness25:31 – The power of the Rosary and Mother Mary’s example28:42 – Debunking the "Prosperity Gospel": Finding beauty in struggle30:57 – The role of media and YouTube in spreading the faith32:38 – How to support the podcast and community35:58 – Concluding prayer and blessingParish Page - https://stjoekp.comParish Livestream Page - https://stjoekp.com/liveMake a donation - https://stjoekp.com/donateFollow us on Facebook - https://facebook.com/stjoekpFollow us on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2g1BsHSK7cyLDPgeYKAHHk?si=YIAuBwAUQtGBX_TOmW6dtAFollow on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-conversations-at-st-joseph/id1829773212The Sunday Readings - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/083026.cfm

3. You’re Not Finished Yet: What St. Peter Teaches Us About Faith

   In this episode of Catholic Conversations at St. Joseph, Father Peter and Randi continue the “Formed, Not Finished” series by looking at one of the great turning points in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus asks His disciples the question every Christian eventually has to answer: “Who do you say that I am?”Peter’s confession of faith is a breakthrough—but it isn't the end of his formation. His story reminds us that the spiritual life isn't a straight line. We grow, we stumble, we learn, and we grow again.Father Peter and Randi also explore:• Why Jesus repeatedly teaches the disciples the same lessons• The meaning of the “leaven of the Pharisees”• Why Jesus takes the disciples to Caesarea Philippi and the “gates of hell”• Jesus establishing Peter as the rock upon which He will build His Church• The Catholic understanding of Peter's role and the papacy• What “Jesus-colored glasses” mean for how we see the world• Why the Church must be formed together, not in isolation• The difference between ministry and apostolate• Why ordinary parish service—including gardening and cleaning—can be genuine Christian ministry• How taking ownership of our parish helps build a healthy parish familyAnd as summer comes to an end, they also talk about the upcoming blessing of the backpacks and the new classical Christian homeschooling community coming to St. Joseph's campus.If this conversation helps you, please like the video, subscribe to Catholic Conversations at St. Joseph, and share it with someone who could use the reminder that God is still forming them.00:00 - Welcome and Introduction: Father Peter and Randy Hawkenberger.00:25 - Call to Action: Comment ideas, like, subscribe, and share.00:51 - The Turning Point: Jesus turns his face toward Jerusalem.01:17 - Recap of Recent Passages: The miracle of the loaves and fish, and the sign of Jonah.02:12 - The Leaven of the Pharisees: Understanding the insidious nature of negative influence.04:15 - Formation and Repetition: Why Jesus cycles through lessons with his disciples.04:44 - The Midterm Test: "Who do people say that I am?"05:08 - Peter’s Declaration: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."05:54 - Formed, Not Finished: St. Peter's growth and regression as a model for us.07:05 - Keeping Our Eyes on the Prize: Answering the central question of who Jesus is daily.08:29 - The Papacy and the Key of Knowledge: References to Isaiah 22 and Father Mike Schmitz.11:00 - Discussion on 'The Chosen': Artistic interpretation vs. theological accuracy.14:04 - The Gates of Hell: Physical location in Caesarea Philippi and its spiritual meaning.17:34 - Seeing Through Jesus-Colored Glasses: Moving from defensive to offensive faith.19:16 - Formation in Community: Relying on each other within the Body of Christ.20:23 - The Magisterium and Synodality: How the Pope leads in concert with the Church.22:16 - Parish Updates: Blessing of the Backpacks and a new homeschooling group (PEL Prep).25:34 - Classical Christian Education: Forming the mind, soul, and whole person.31:16 - Christian Discipleship: Taking ownership of the parish family through service.34:57 - Redefining Ministry: The Apostolate of the laity in the world.37:44 - Closing Prayer and Blessing.Parish Page - https://stjoekp.comParish Livestream Page - https://stjoekp.com/liveMake a donation - https://stjoekp.com/donateFollow us on Facebook - https://facebook.com/stjoekpFollow us on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2g1BsHSK7cyLDPgeYKAHHk?si=YIAuBwAUQtGBX_TOmW6dtAFollow on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-conversations-at-st-joseph/id1829773212The Sunday Readings - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082326.cfmLinks referenced in this episode:Day 202 from the Bible in a year - https://youtu.be/pW46C2gV3tQ?si=4THmlBkKHvFJm9H1Pel Prep Home School Organization - https://pelprep.orgEvery Knee Shall Bow episode 334 - https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/334

4. Who Is Forming You? | Formed, Not Finished

   Who is forming you?In this episode of Catholic Conversations at St. Joseph, Father Peter and Randi look at the encounter between Jesus and the Canaanite woman in Matthew’s Gospel—and discover a much bigger question: Who or what is shaping the way we see the world?Jesus challenges his disciples to move beyond human traditions, assumptions, and prejudices. The Canaanite woman, meanwhile, demonstrates remarkable faith and persistence. Her encounter with Jesus becomes a powerful reminder that the Kingdom of God is not limited by the boundaries we create.That question is just as important for us today. We are constantly being formed by our families, our communities, our parish, our culture, our entertainment, social media, and the ideas we encounter every day. The question is whether we are allowing Christ to form us, or whether we are allowing the world to form us without even realizing it.Father Peter and Randi also discuss the difference between information and transformation, the importance of being teachable, why suffering cannot simply be avoided, and how Catholic formation requires a willingness to look beyond the surface and ask not only what we believe, but why.The conversation also turns toward OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) and the importance of walking with people through the process of becoming fully initiated into the Catholic Church.We are formed, not finished. The journey of becoming a disciple never ends.If this conversation helps you, please like, subscribe, comment, and share it with someone who might benefit. And if you are able, please consider supporting the work of St. Joseph’s Parish.⏰ 00:00 – Welcome to Catholic Conversations: Summer Parish Update🌞 01:05 – No Vacation from Vocation: Faith in Every Season🏺 02:08 – Introduction to the "Formed, Not Finished" Series📖 02:55 – Gospel Context: Jesus and the Canaanite Woman⚖️ 05:01 – Divine Traditions vs. Human Traditions🌍 07:18 – Expanding the Mission: The Kingdom is for Everyone📱 09:44 – Modern Programming: The Impact of Secular Ideology👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 12:47 – Parenting and Protecting Values in a Digital Age✝️ 15:21 – Finding Meaning in Suffering and Reality🛡️ 18:44 – Safety, Training, and Protecting the Vulnerable❤️ 22:25 – Information vs. Transformation in Faith🕊️ 25:05 – OCIA: Walking the Journey of Faith as an Adult⛪ 33:58 – Closing Thoughts and Weekly Parish Invitations🙏 34:53 – Closing Prayer and BlessingParish Page - https://stjoekp.comParish Livestream Page - https://stjoekp.com/liveMake a donation - https://stjoekp.com/donateFollow us on Facebook - https://facebook.com/stjoekpFollow us on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2g1BsHSK7cyLDPgeYKAHHk?si=YIAuBwAUQtGBX_TOmW6dtAFollow on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-conversations-at-st-joseph/id1829773212The Sunday Readings - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081626.cfm

5. The "Impossible Math" of God's Generosity

   In this episode of Catholic Conversations, Father Peter and Randi discuss the profound miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 and what it reveals about our own lives today.

   Have you ever felt like what you have to offer—your time, your talent, or your resources—simply isn't enough? Join us as we explore the "impossible math" of God’s generosity. We look at how, when we offer our "five loaves and two fish" to the Lord, He doesn't just add to them; He multiplies them in ways we could never imagine.

   In this video, we discuss:

   - The beauty of our parish campus and why it matters for evangelization.

   - The "Impossible Math" of the Kingdom of God.

   - Insights from Dallas Jenkins (The Chosen) on the miracle of the loaves and fish.

   - How to keep our eyes open to God's activity in our daily lives.

   - Why nothing can separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8).

   - We are all "Formed, Not Finished" on this journey of faith.

   We hope this conversation inspires you to trust God with whatever you have today.If this conversation encouraged you, please Like, Subscribe, and Share it with someone who needs a reminder that God can do great things with even the smallest offering.#StJosephKingsPark #catholicfaith #gospelreflection #miracles #christianliving #thechosen

   0:00 – Welcome and Summer Parish Life2:20 – "Adopt a Bed": Growing Our Parish Beauty6:32 – The Evangelization of a Beautiful Campus8:06 – Why Beauty is Essential to Faith10:07 – Eyes Wide Open: Seeing God’s Activity11:02 – Feeding the 5,000: From Human Lack to Divine Plenty12:20 – Co-operators with the Kingdom: The "Impossible Math" of God14:06 – Dallas Jenkins and the Five Loaves & Two Fish Testimony18:44 – How Art and Film Draw Us into the Mystery22:14 – Strength in Faith: Facing Modern Challenges24:36 – Romans: Nothing Can Separate Us from the Love of Christ28:16 – "Formed, Not Finished": The Journey of a Disciple31:39 – Stewardship and Supporting the Mission33:19 – Closing Prayer and BlessingParish Page - https://stjoekp.comParish Livestream Page - https://stjoekp.com/liveMake a donation - https://stjoekp.com/donateFollow us on Facebook - https://facebook.com/stjoekpFollow us on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2g1BsHSK7cyLDPgeYKAHHk?si=YIAuBwAUQtGBX_TOmW6dtAFollow on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-conversations-at-st-joseph/id1829773212The Sunday Readings - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080226.cfmLinks from items mentioned:Heaven in Stone and Glass - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHyViQuX93EThe Resurrection of Gavin Stone - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMmCyA8jcSQDallas Jenkins Story - https://youtu.be/tp7TQJ2q5QE?si=gADPq4YkVXhLqzpRThe Chosen Season 6 Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6mhb5UsZN0