For our last episode of Season 4:  Fr. Mattingly sits down with Rey Wilkinson, where Rey shares about making his way back to the Catholic Church through the graces of great communities in Kansas City. Rey was raised Catholic by his grandma and mom, though he sparingly went to Mass. Upon graduating college, he moved to Kansas City and through a few invitations got connected with a good community of young adults.  Rey attributes the his reversion to the Church through the intentionality of...

Justin & Kaylene Brown sit down with Fr. Mattingly, to share of their individual testimonies which coincide in a mutual conversion to the fullness of the Catholic Church. Justin grew up in a small town, with a lively Catholic Church, but Justin notes that there seemed to be a general sense of culture over faithfulness. Kaylene grew up in a home with one Catholic parent and one non-Catholic parent.  Justin and Kaylene had their own experiences and encounters with the Lord prior to meeting...

Miss Catherine Kluempers hailed from Atchison, KS to sit down with Fr. Mattingly and Taylor Furrer. This episode is steeped with goldmines of truth and encouragement in learning to more clearly hear the Father's voice in prayer! Catherine started off with a story of when she was in kindergarten. When asked what she would want to be when she grew up, she answered 'Saint Catherine of the Rainbow' spreading joy wherever she goes. And it is true that she does so!  Catherine shares of her...

Madi Abbott shares of her humble beginnings on a farm in Oklahoma, learning to love the simplicity of life. Before too long, she fell into the allure of secular success and desire to be the best in all she did. At the beginning of high school, a broken foot led to being benched for the season... and Madi shares that one by one, her idols were smashed!  Through life experiences, Madi has learned that the Lord did not need to create her... but He did, and continues to give gift after gift in...

Esteban Rubio sits down with Father Mattingly to share of his conversion from a protestant to Catholic in his recent past. After growing up in Houston and moving to Kansas City to attend a Bible School, his mind opened up to receive answers he was seeking. ​​​​​​​​ Through his formation in Bible School, he began asking some big questions and seeing robust answers: Who is Jesus Christ, What defines the Trinity, What is the Church. Which led him to entering into the Catholic Church in 2019....

Miss Samantha sits down with Fr. Mattingly and Taylor Furrer, to share how in childhood she experienced, first, and intellectual conversion. Having been raised Catholic, she was exposed to transcendental media and had a great love of reading. Moving from high school to college, she experienced her first realm of temptation - having a lot of choices to make on her own for the first time.  Through her time at Purdue University, Sam experienced conversion on many levels. She was recruited to...

Nick and Maddie Occhiogrosso, both transplants from the Northeast, sit down with Fr. Mattingly to share their stories of conversion.  Maddie recalls never really doubting her faith in Jesus, even from childhood, attributed to a nurturing beginning and firm family foundation. Nick, too, grew up in a family rooted in the Catholic Church... though he shares of his overcoming of the vice of pride. Together they speak to their dating relationship and the temptations they faced, and the very...

Allie Freese vulnerably shares of her conversion, which took place over time and included a conversion of the heart and then the head. Allie's conversion of heart stemmed from accepting that she struggles with depression and had to work to love herself when it seemed most difficult. Allie has a unique perspective, having had personal experience, but is now studying to become a counselor!  Allie's conversion of head soon followed with newfound free time when COVID-19 struck, as she dove into...

Michael Collins hangs out with Fr. Mattingly and shares about his life story, from having been raised Catholic to needing to develop Faith in Jesus and the Church for himself.  At the very end of college, Michael shares that for about one year he did not identify as Catholic. Michael shares some deep reflection on the top three reasons why he strayed from the Faith, but notes that good friendship saved him. Michael shares how he and friends continue to band together and pursue the Lord...

Fr. Mattingly sits down behind the voice of the City on a Hill Podcast intro & outro - Seth Slayman and his wife, Tori. They welcomed their first baby boy, John, just a few weeks prior to this podcast release!  Seth shares about his conversion over time, which led him toward the vocation of marriage with Tori. While Tori shares how she experienced a conversion over time, which now allows her to see the daily opportunities each day to grow in holiness.  Show Notes:  Frequent...

Lauren Bauer shared with Fr. Mattingly and Taylor Furrer about her own conversion of heart, which began with her head and then moved to her heart. After having been raised Catholic, Lauren's parents separated and attended different churches. Lauren was faced with a decision, but chose to remain Catholic and defend the faith with her knowledge.  After reading a book about Pope Saint John Paul II, Lauren's head learned that Jesus is a friend and desires relationship with her. So her heart...

Fr. Andrew Mattingly sits down with Diego Payan to share of his conversion, which hinged on a decision to begin attending daily Mass. One Monday evening, he wasn't sure if he would find a daily Mass to attend after a long day of work. After using MassTimes.org (shout out!), he found a quaint little chapel tucked in Kansas City, Kansas - the Little Sisters of the Lamb.  The Community of the Lamb is a humble little religious community, that is nestled in the streets of Kansas City, KS. Diego...

Shelby Hennen shares a very relatable testimony about placing her worth in accomplishments and her work. However, a sudden turn of events left her questioning her identity in Christ. When we place our worth in our treasures, rather than in God, and those things are taken away, it has the potential to lead to a pivotal moment in a person’s life. Tune in to hear how Shelby navigated these challenges and strives to live on mission every day. Shelby shares how she pursues a relationship with...

Andrew & Ellen Holzum sit down with Fr. Mattingly to discuss all the ways they are pursuing Sainthood in Kansas City! They each share how they eventually came to make the faith their own—sending each of them on the pursuit for Catholic community, which they ultimately found in City on a Hill. They both recently decided on a Plan of Life and share the benefits and struggles of sticking to it. Ellen also shares her practice of mental prayer and the personal apostolate she started at the...

This week, Fr. Mattingly and Taylor Downey sit down with Jordyn Kukla as she shares how the Lord has pursued her heart over the last few years. Hear how Jordyn uncovered her feelings of unworthiness and the way it extended into her life. The promptings of the Lord and those around her pointed her towards a more accurate depiction of how God truly sees her. Jordyn shares the ways she worships the Lord daily and one thing she does to grow in humility that may surprise you! This episode is...

We are back with Season 4 of the City on a Hill Podcast! Kicking off the first episode is Dr. Luke Murray! He is the headmaster at Chesterton Academy in Kansas City! He shares how he first had an intellectual conversion during his early years of college, which was later followed by a heart conversion while attending Steubenville. Dr. Luke shares what lead him to his current position at Chesterton Academy and his heart behind it. If you are interested learning more about classical education,...

As many may know, City on a Hill has been led by Father Andrew Mattingly as Director & Chaplain of City on a Hill since the summer of 2016. Through mutual discernment with Bishop Johnston and Fr. Mattingly, in the summer of 2021 City on a Hill became its own, independent lay apostolate. In light of this shift, one of the next goals was for the newly formed board of directors to hire a full-time lay director. It is only fitting that a lay apostolate would be led by a lay director, allowing...

Jeff Shields sits down with Fr. Mattingly to chat about how his faith has been strengthened over the years. Jeff shares how he is striving for holiness on a daily basis by acknowledging that every person we encounter is a child of God. Changing his perspective has deepened his own faith and relationships with those around him. Show Notes:  - Tuesdays at the Boulevard : 6 times a year, 200+ young adults attend Mass together, complete with beautiful music. Following Mass, we walk across the...

Madison Allen shares her journey with Christ as he revealed himself to her in a number of unique experiences. She speaks about her time of discernment and what it was like to transition back to “normal” life after living at the Madonna House in Ontario, Canada for a brief time (an apostolate of a Catholic community of men, women and priests, dedicated to loving and serving Jesus Christ in all aspects of everyday life). Madison continues to serve those around her in the little ways and by...

After a few impactful experiences in his classical high school education & Great Books program, Gabe LeBeau started on an intellectual pursuit which lead him to want to study philosophy at Benedictine College in Kansas. Most people are drawn to one of the transcendentals—truth, beauty, and goodness. Gabe realized he specifically encounters the Lord through pursuing Truth, which has guided him along the way. After College, Gabe has since moved to Kansas City and is currently studying to...

Kendall Nick shares how just a few moments of courage set her on a path of healing and began to transform her relationship with Jesus Christ. Once she started talking to God as a friend, her relationship with Christ became more intimate and personal, which ever so subtly began to change her life. Kendall is actively pursuing sainthood by living out the words of Mother Teresa, “Do small things with great love.” Kendall shares how Feeding Homeless Friends got started, a personal apostolate she...

Sam and Adrienne Volkmer chat about their lives in Kansas City since moving here, meeting each other while on a run, getting married, and starting their family. They both share similar stories from living their faith lukewarm to being surrounded by people who encouraged them to pursue Christ on a more intimate level. They are currently striving for holiness by praying with scripture, saying a daily rosary, and praying together as a couple. They also discuss the apostolate of the dinner table...

Jackson McElroy shares how his faith has slowly strengthened over the years through constant pursuit of the capital “T” (Truth). Although Jackson learned the what of the Catholic faith growing up, once he started learning more about the how and why in college, he began to think about things in a deeper way. His gradual persistence in keeping the faith let God open his eyes to think and love better. Jackson is a Kansas City native and now works as a Data Analyst at Hallmark. Jackson and Fr....

Jessica Le grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and shares how a few positive peer influences growing up nudged her to seek out the faith on a deeper level. By making a conscious effort to just show up, Jess was amazed how the Lord worked in her life during college and continues to do so. She has made a conscious effort to have a personal encounter with each person she interacts with daily and shares practical tips on how to do so. Jessica chats with Fr. Mattingly and Taylor Downey about how to...