Candid Catholic Convos

Candid Catholic Convos

by Diocese of Harrisburg

Christianity Religion

Back to Basics: An Introduction to Catholicism - feat. Deacon Scott Root

In the spirit of the new year, let’s make a resolution together to get back to basics on all things Catholic. Deacon Scott Root, senior theology teacher at Trinity High School, will be sitting down with us today and throughout 2025 to dive deep into the foundations of Catholicism, helping us get back to basics and revitalize our commitment to our faith, starting with an introduction to Catholicism, how it’s different from other Christian denominations, and how why someone should consider becoming Catholic or coming back to the faith after stepping away.

Bishop Senior's Annual Christmas Special - feat. Michael Parks, WHP 580

Michael Parks of WHP 580 joins Bishop Senior for our annual Christmas episode to discuss all the recent happenings in the Diocese as well as looking into what we can expect in the new year.

Tapping Into Joy This Advent - feat. Fr Stephen Logue

Today is the third Sunday of Advent, next week is Christmas already. Society tells us “its the most wonderful time of year,” that we’re just expected to be happy and smiling and joyful because its Christmas. But for many people, this is a very hard time of year. So how can we experience true joy, not just temporary holiday happiness? Father Stephen Logue, campus minister at Millersville University and Franklin & Marshall College, and Chaplain at Lancaster Catholic high school, joins us today to define what joy really is and how we can tap into it throughout the year.

How to Find (and Hold Onto) Peace This Advent - feat. Fr. Kevin Key

We tend to place a lot of pressure on ourselves this time of year to do all the things in the name of preparing for Christmas. And by its definition, Advent is a season of preparation, but are we preparing the right way or are we being distracted? Making the cookies and sending the cards and putting the tree up in November isn’t really helping us prepare for Jesus’ first or second coming. It’s just stressing us out, and Jesus didn’t come to stress us out. He came to bring peace to the whole world. So how do we find that peace, practically speaking? How can we reframe our Advent so the rest of the season is filled with this peace He promised us? Today we're chatting with Father Key from St. Joan of Arc Parish in Hershey to unpack the meaning of peace, how to embrace it throughout the rest of Advent and we can hold on to it into the new year.

What is Advent and How Can We Find Hope This Season - feat. Fr. Bill Forrey

Advent is a season of waiting, and God does some of His best work in our waiting seasons, but we have to have hope, and we have to trust in Him that the wait is worth it. To kick off this season of joyful anticipation, we're excited to welcome Father Bill Forrey, pastor at Holy Name of Jesus Parish, to dive deeper into the meanings of Hope and the first week of Advent.

Cultivating Gratitude All Year Long - feat. Sr. Geralyn Schmidt, SCC

Thanksgiving is upon us, and with it, all those reminders to be grateful. But what is gratitude, and how can we practice it throughout the year? Sister Geralyn Schmidt joins us today to unpack this virtue with tangible tips to practice it.

"You Can't Drive a Parked Car:" Discerning Your Vocation in Life - feat. Fr. Josh Weaver

We will never have all the information. We aren’t meant to. That’s why we have faith. Martin Luther King Jr. is famously quoted as saying “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” To wrap up Vocations Awareness week, we have the honor of speaking with Fr Josh Weaver, Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Harrisburg to help us fill in the gaps of what a vocation is, how to know if we’re called to one, and most importantly, how to actually take that first step. Vocations - Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg (hbgdiocese.org) Father Weaver's book recommendations: “To Save a Thousand Souls” by Fr. Brett Brannen “Discerning your Vocation” by the Community of the Beatitudes www.DiocesanPriest.com and www.VocationNetwork.org

Election Indecision - feat. Eric Failing, PA Catholic Conference

The end of this election won’t come with sunshine and rainbows and everyone skipping hand and hand into the sunset. What matters isn’t what’s on the news today—it’s what we choose to do about it, and the effect that choice has on our eternal souls. Today’s episode is a repeat with Executive Director of the PA Catholic Conference and regular guest on our show, Eric Failing. Normally we don’t air repeat episodes so close to their original air date, but Eric brings a terrific sense of humor, heart and humble faith to the often-overwhelming topic of politics and it is absolutely vital that we exercise our right and our responsibility as Catholics, show up to the polls and vote.

BONUS! Spooky Catholic Beliefs - feat, Fr Sawicki

It’s no secret we Catholics can be a little macabre – we pray in front of bones and send them on little tours, we dig people up to check out their body sometimes before canonizing them, we believe in the reality of demons, angels and the dearly departed, we also really love reminding people they will die one day. So why do we do it? Father Jonathan Sawicki, pastor at Saint Theresa’s Parish in New Cumberland to continues his conversation with us from Sunday as we dive into the details of each of these uniquely Catholic traditions to get you in the spooky spirit for today’s Halloween festivities.

Yes, Halloween is Catholic - feat. Father Sawicki

Halloween, unfortunately has been long associated with spirituality and the occult. Christians and non-Christians alike are convinced of Halloween’s pagan origins, and with the abundance of violence, gore, sensuality, occultism, and demonic aspects now associated with Halloween, it’s hard not to. But is Halloween a pagan holiday or is it a hijacked holy day? How does the Catholic church feel about it? And since we’re talking about ghosts, are they even real and is believing in them in accordance with our Catholic faith? Today we're excited to welcome back to the program Father Jonathan Sawicki, pastor at Saint Theresa’s Parish in New Cumberland to talk through the history of this fascinating holiday and find out if it’s all, in fact, just a bunch of "hocus pocus."

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