Among The People

There's no question that today's episode of Among the People is going to leave you in awe as we sit down with Maryknoll Brother, Marty Shea. He's a missionary from Chicopee Falls, who's worked with the indigenous poor of Guatemala for over 50 years. His missionary journey since 1985 has taken him through the massacres in the jungles of El Peten to exile in Mexico to return with the people to their homeland in 1998. In today's episode, Brother Marty talk’s about his life with the people in Guatemala and in the Mexican refugee camps, and his unique reflections on the refugee crisis that we face in America, Guatemala, Mexico and realities of those refugees.

Interview with award winning author, Lynn Monahan In this episode, Fr. Joe Veneroso and Megan Fleming sit down with Maryknoll Magazine editor-in-chief and award winning author Lynn F. Monahan. You will be inspired by Lynn’s reflections from reporting in Central and South America, along with his time spent with missioners in Asia and Africa. Only someone in his unique role at Maryknoll can share with us such a range of transformational experiences from the lives in service of Maryknoll missioners in the field. We are also excited to share with you details about his recent award-winning fiction novel, Pistaco: A Tale of Love in the Andes, which was inspired by his time living in Peru. His book received the 2018 Catholic Press Association first-place award for novels. We know you are going to enjoy this interview with Lynn F. Monahan.   SHOW NOTES Contact Lynn: lmonahan@maryknoll.org Book: Pistaco: A Tale of Love in the Andes or directly from the publisher at https://actapublications.com/pistaco/   Visit Marykno

When I got there, this reality was already present. I just happened to be assigned there, because the Bishop learned that given my Central American background, being born in El Salvador, I speak Spanish, come into the United States, becoming an American, I learned English ... Eventually I was sent to the Philippines by Maryknoll before this assignment, and I learned the language of the south of the Philippines, and also Japanese, which I studied as soon as I got there. I studied it for three years, full time. And so with that in mind, he said that he needed to move me to this particular new assignment, so that I will pay attention to the new reality of the Catholics in Japan, because that's what is happening. The Japanese Catholic population is declining, due to the aging population, and the low birth rate, but the Catholic population of migrants is making it to go up. So we have now a different reality than let's say right after the war, where everyone was Japanese Catholic. Now we have 56% of the Catholic p

Today we’re joined by Fr. Daniel Kim, one of our newest Maryknoll Missioners, who was ordained in 2017. You might know Fr. Daniel from our Lenten Reflections on Social Media.  Fr. Daniel is originally from Southern California and recently served in Mission in Hong Kong.  In this episode you’ll learn how our own Fr. Joe Veneroso is Fr. Daniel’s “Spiritual Grandfather,” and we’ll also discuss how a traumatic event at the age of 22, influenced his vocation to the priesthood. ­

We're here today with Karen Bortvedt, who is the Recruitment and Relationship Manager for the Maryknoll Lay Missioners.  Karen coordinated various immersion trips while in college – including one to Nicaragua. She served with the Border Servant Corps for one year and has since worked with various non-profit organizations.  She worked at the Deaf Development Program as the Communication Coordinator. On any given day, she was found developing the communications strategy; documenting DDP’s many activities through photos and videos; visiting the provinces to document the field work of DDP; ‘playing Facebook’ as they say in Cambodia to share DDP’s work; writing blogs; creating mini-videos about the Deaf community; welcoming visitors; or coordinating volunteers. You can check out more of Karen’s work by liking the DDP Facebook page, following them on Twitter, or reading the weekly blog updates.

Interview with Maryknoll Missioner, Fr. David Smith, M.M.

For those of you who are fans of Maryknoll, you know Fr. Finch from the weekly Journey of Faith reflection he sends you every Sunday.  Originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., Fr. Finch was inspired by one of Maryknoll’s first priests and fellow Brooklynites, Bishop Francis Xavier Ford, who was martyred in China in 1952.  Fr. Finch was one of the first students to attend the school in Brooklyn named in honor of the martyr, Bishop Ford High School.  Journey with us to the highlands of Peru, where Fr. Finch worked with the indigenous Aymara community for over 20 years.   Fr. Finch reminds us that in mission we have to meet people where they are, not where we want or expect them to be. 

Newly ordained Maryknoll Fr. Jonathan Hill's path to mission began when he was very young. Influenced by his jet-setting grandparents who read bedtime stories to him from the Encyclopedia Britannica, Jonathan knew early in his life that he wanted to help people - with childhood dreams of becoming a Veterinarian in the Serengeti, living as a cowboy in Wyoming, or becoming a missionary. Fr. Jonathan, who was raised a Baptist, was inspired by the work of St. Teresa of Calcutta and found a strong calling to Catholicism. As he shares with us the details of his journey following signs from God, we see Fr. Jonathan’s dreams of helping others and living near the Serengeti coming true as he prepares for his life in mission in Tanzania.  To read the transcript of this episode, please go to Maryknoll Podcasts Maryknoll Magazine article: Called To Share God's Grace and Love

In this episode we sit down with Fr. Robert Wynne who celebrates his 50th Jubilee as a Maryknoll Missioner this year.  His 50-years of Mission work have included Hawaii as well as Cambodia, an active missionary country of which Fr. Wynne requested to join at the age of 68 in 2007.  Fr. Wynne share's stories of his missionary work and the transformative qualities of the people he’s worked with during his career as a Maryknoll Missioner.  

In this episode of Among The People, we are excited to welcome the newly ordained Maryknoll Brother, Br. Ryan Thibert.  Although Br. Ryan recently took his permanent oath to a life of service with the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, he has already had a substantial amount of experience as a missioner. With life changing experiences situations in Jamaica and Bolivia, Br. Ryan learned early in his mission experience that 'being present' for those most in need has helped not only those he serves, but also himself during the most difficult times in mission.    About Br. Ryan Thibert, M.M. Brother Ryan Thibert acknowledges that he felt an attraction to religious life growing up in a strong Catholic family. He sought direction from his parish priest, who knew Maryknoll and thought it might be a good fit for his mission-oriented parishioner. Brother Ryan Thibert is a native of Ontario, Canada. He was born a minute after his twin brother, Aaron, and four years after their sister, Jennifer. He credits his parent

Fr. John Bath has been a Maryknoll Missioner for 28 years and has extensive mission experience working with refugees in Cambodia and South Sudan.  In this episode, you will hear how Fr. Barth built a successful program in Cambodia to train the blind in massage therapy. This program was so successful that it is still active in both Cambodia and now Peru.  Seventeen years later, Fr. Barth is now working with the South Sudanese refugees in Uganda, delivering food and supplies to villages and schools.  Join us as Fr. Barth shares his journey from an unfulfilling government job in Albany, NY to his Calling to make the world a better place through his ministry. 

We are joined by Gerard O'Connell, associate editor and Vatican correspondent for America Magazine, who recently authored Orbis Books' the Election of Pope Francis, an Inside Account of the Conclave that Change History. Gerry, who's covered the Vatican for nearly 35 years, brings special insight into the current pope as he and his wife, who's also a Vatican correspondent from Argentina, were friends with Cardinal Bergoglio before he was elected in 2013. Contrary to the predictions of most Vatican watchers, both Gerry and his wife predicted Bergoglio might well become the next pope. We hope you enjoy this fascinating and detailed perspective of the historic 2013 Vatican conclave.  Gerard O'Connell is an associate editor and Vatican correspondent for America magazine.  He has covered the Vatican since 1985, reporting for a number of English-speaking news outlets, including The Tablet (UK), Our Sunday Visitor, The National Catholic Reporter, and Inside the Vatican.  He is the author of Do Not Stifle the Spirit:

Hello everyone, it's Father Daniel Kim here. Thank you so much for your questions. According to this list, it seems like the most common question is, surprise, surprise, why do we give up things for Lent? Well, I'll give you the short answer. It's because Christians, we are called to imitate the life of Christ, and that involves the time he spent in the desert, where for 40 days he was not only tempted by the Devil, but through self denial prepared himself for the ministry, the very public ministry that lay ahead. As baptized faithful, we do believe that God has a specific calling for each and every one of us. By not indulging in the things that we normally do, helps us reexamine our spiritual lives, the quality of our spiritual lives, and to really get closer to Christ, which is basically what we are all called to do, ultimately. One Lent I remember, I gave up meat. Not just on Fridays, but for 40 days. It was tough, but during the process, especially when I got cravings, I was like, 'If Christ could give up

On this episode of Among The People, we sit down with Father Russ Feldmeier, a Maryknoll missioner who spent 36 years on foreign mission assigned to Korea following his time with the Peace Corps. He is currently heading the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers formation house in Chicago. Our co-host, Fr. Joe Veneroso and Fr. Russ have a deep history with each other, both serving in the Peace Corps in Korea prior to joining Maryknoll. We will also talk about the Catholic Church’s past and future in Korea. The interview also touches on how the acceptance of international seminarians are shaping the future of Maryknoll and how it can serve a better world.

Father Mike is an actor. Always has been, always will be. He’s also a missionary with a vast array of experiences in Latin America, Asia and Africa.   Turn your dial up and learn about the versatile and spiritually gifted Father Michael Bassano, M.M., who currently works with refugees in a UN-run camp in South Sudan. Follow his exciting and remarkable journey from Chile to Thailand to Tanzania and beyond as a Maryknoll missioner of unshakable faith and calling.   In this deeply moving podcast, the ebullient priest gives his testimony as to how God tugs on us until we answer; how He prepares us for our real calling through everything we do beforehand, and how “…all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)   From his humble days in the Diocese of Syracuse, the small town pastor felt a nudge—no, a shove—to “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15). But just how would that happen in the context of his cozy parish?

From the streets of Chile, during the protest demonstrations against torture, to caring for HIV/AIDS patients in Thailand and now serving the people of Sudan, Fr. Mike Bassano share his reflections and stories as a Maryknoll missioner.

On this special episode of Among The People, we recognize the celebration of International Children's day by interviewing Father Frank Breen, M.M. Father Breen shares with us his extensive work in Africa and here in the United States serving immigrants and refugees. 

In this episode we speak with Fr. Alejandro Marina M.M., one of the newest Maryknollers, though he celebrated twenty five years as a priest prior.  Coming from Argentina, Fr. Alejandro offers a unique perspective on the growing challenges of doing mission throughout Latin America. He explores the reasons why in a part of the world where most of the people are christian, many face terrible situations of injustice, poverty and oppression. Fr. Alejandro also shares many of his thoughts on such topics as mission in Latin America, Cuba and his feelings on Pope Francis.   About Padre Alejandro Marina, M.M. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Maryknoll Father Alejandro Marina was ordained a priest in 1993 in the Diocese of San Isidro. He was director of missions in his diocese and, as part of that work, he was sent as a missionary to Holguín, Cuba, for four years. He has a degree in Dogmatic Theology and has specialized in the area of Missiology. He is currently the director of the Maryknoll Mission Center in Latin Ame

“Its a good feeling knowing that the universal church is recognizing his life as a prophet, as a priest, and as a martyr.” This is how Franciscan Br. Octavio Duran describes soon-to-be canonized Archbishop Oscar Romero. Br. Octavio personally knew Bishop Romeo, often interviewing him at the Catholic Radio Station in San Salvador, accompanying him in pastoral visits, and documenting the Bishop’s life and work in photographs. In addition to this episode, you’ll be able to read more about Br. Octavio’s time and work with the soon to be canonized Archbishop in Romero: Saint for the World found in our September/October issue of Maryknoll Magazine. Brother Octavio is a dear friend of Maryknoll and we’re honored to have had him on “Among the People” and hope you enjoy his unique story and tales of Bishop Romero.    Episode Notes: Romero: Saint for the World