We have an exciting new podcast from America Media to share with you. It’s called “Preach: The Catholic Homilies Podcast.”  On each episode listeners will first hear an inspiring homily, especially delivered for the podcast, and then take a privileged peek into the heart and mind of the preacher in a conversation with the host, Jesuit priest and America’s associate editor, Ricardo da Silva, S.J.  Whether you’re a preacher looking for inspiration or a Catholic in the pews, who believes like...

After the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2021, thousands of Afghan refugees have been seeking a permanent home in the United States. This is the intimate family portrait of Ali, a child refugee since eleven years old, and his American foster parents, Mary and Mark Kaech.  The episode is based on an article written for America Magazine by J.D. Long-García called  Thousands of Afghan refugees fled to America in search of a new home. Too many are still waiting. Learn more about...

Church Meets World is proud to share the latest podcast in the America Media family: Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas carols. Subscribe to the entire Hark! podcast series online, on apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. It is hard to imagine a midnight Mass on Christmas Eve without Silent Night. Musicians may treat it differently—singing it a cappella, with spare chords on the organ in the background, or to the gentle picking of a guitar as its creators intended—but...

What does it mean to be ruined for life? Join America’s summer intern Amelia Jarecke, as she follows three young women who have spent the last year serving in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. They wrestle with lots of challenges, like: How do you live on a $100 month? Can you live simply and gluten-free without breaking the bank? How do you reconcile being Catholic and bisexual? What happens when your prayer life dries up? And what does it mean to take the Pedro Arrupe prayer seriously- and...

Three years ago, a Pennsylvania Grand Jury report described in graphic detail the abuse of over 1,000 minors at the hands of more than 300 priests. Then, Theodare McCarrick, an influential cardinal in the American Church, was found credibly accused of abusing minors and adult seminarians. For survivors, the news was painful, yet validating. How did this second wave of scandal–the news of both abuse and cover up–affect the Catholic faithful more broadly? What do they  believe caused the...

As the world went into lockdown, the residents at Terence Cardinal Cooke–a Catholic nursing home and rehabilitation center run by the Archdiocese of New York–did too. Many seniors required long-term care while others had only expected to stay for a short period of recovery. The pandemic changed everyone’s experience. Ricardo da Silva, S.J., an associate editor at America, takes us through the center to hear from the residents who not only survived Covid but persevered through a year of...

In a time when so much has been lost, what does it mean to grieve well? In this episode, America’s audio producer, Maggi Van Dorn, turns the mic on herself to capture a more intimate side of a subject that is already pretty personal- the experience of grief. To help her unpack this strange and unpredictable force, she turns to friends and people whose lives have also been visited by grief.  Support this podcast by subscribing to America! Related Links: Ben Perry: Crying as a spiritual...

In 1838, to save itself from financial ruin, the Jesuits at Georgetown University sold 272 enslaved persons. It’s a shameful piece of history and one that the Jesuits are reckoning with like many other communities and institutions today. But the bill of sale that has been recently recovered has enabled thousands of descendants to discover their ancestry and reunite for a better future. And the Jesuits have pledged $100 million to a partnership with those descendants called, the Descendants...

Should college athletes get paid? That’s the question we’re exploring in today’s episode of Church Meets World. It was written, produced and narrated by Kevin Jackson and based on a feature he wrote last year called, “Should colleges pay their athletes? What Catholic social teaching has to say.” This episode of Church Meets World is brought to you by The Great Courses Plus. Sign up for The Great Courses Plus and get an entire month of unlimited access to thousands of video and audio courses...

America's poetry editor Joe Hoover S.J. sits down with Ohio's first poet laureate Amit Majmudar to talk about his poem "Year of the Rat." They discuss the unforgettable year that was 2020, writing during Covid, and mystical parallels between Catholicism and Hinduism. Read 'The Year of the Rat' here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Riana decided to run away from home after getting into an argument with her mother for missing curfew. It was cold and nighttime. She had nowhere to go. Looking for help, she reached out to an older man who had given her his phone number earlier that day... Isabelle Senechal narrates the harrowing story of Riana, a young woman who was manipulated and coerced by a violent sex trafficker. The booming industry is largely hidden, but some faith-based anti-trafficking initiatives are making...

On January 6th, 2021, a violent mob, incited by President Trump, stormed the US Capitol. They were there to disrupt Congress as it was certifying the election of Joe Biden. The mob overwhelmed the capitol police and made their way into the offices and chambers, as elected officials ran for safety. In conversation with Fr. Matt Malone, America’s Editor in Chief, Fr. Bryan Massingale says the insurrection was a direct result of four years of lies from Donald Trump. This interview first aired as...

Is your relationship with work undermining all the other goods in your life? If so, you might have what Jonathan Malesic calls a “demonic work ethic.” He’s not alone in saying so. After years of academic burnout, Jonathan made a trip to the Christ in the Desert monastery, where the Benedictine monks helped him rediscover the sacred rhythms of work and rest. Everyone from Thomas Aquinas to Annie Dillard has written about the importance of leisure, and yet, Catholic Ethicist Conor Kelly says...

On January 20, 2021, President-elect Joe Biden will make history in several ways: He received over 74 million votes, surpassing any presidential candidate in history. Biden is the oldest person and only the second Catholic to become president. And his running mate, Kamala Harris, is the first woman and first woman of color to hold the office of the Vice President. But beyond the polls, numbers and issues, Biden’s Catholic faith has become a subject of great interest. So we’re sharing an...

Just ahead of the election we're sharing the Voting Catholic podcast. To hear the full series, just search "Voting Catholic" wherever you get your podcasts! Voting Catholic Episode 1: "What Happened to the Catholic Vote?" A survey of the evolution of the Catholic vote from the election of JFK in 1960 to the election of Donald Trump. Show links: 8 facts about Catholics and politics in the U.S. US Bishops teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics: "Forming...

On the anniversary of Emmitt Till’s murder on August 28, 1955, we reflect on the present day killing of George Floyd and the litany of Black Americans who have been crucified by racial injustice. In both, we witness how Floyd’s cry for his mama and Mamie Till Mobley’s public outcry at her son’s murder, turns private suffering into a public sin and catalyst for justice.  This episode was adapted from an America Magazine article written by Abraham Nussbaum, which you can read at: ...

Written and narrated by one of America's executive editors, Kerry Weber, the following coronavirus prayer is a reminder of God’s healing presence in a time of great fear and anxiety. Please pray along with us in the language of your choice: A Coronavirus Prayer - In English A Printable Version of "A Coronavirus Prayer" in English Una Oracion por el Coronavirus - En Español Une priere pour le coronavirus - En Francais Una Preghiera per il Coronavirus - In Italiano

In "Plague" journalist Michael O'Loughlin investigates stories of the AIDS epidemic and the Catholic Church. Mike is America’s national correspondent and he’s covered Catholicism for more than a decade. Mike is also gay and Catholic—and he’s curious how others manage this sometimes complex identity. No time in modern history has been more volatile for gay Catholics than the height of the AIDS epidemic. So he spent the last few years interviewing people who were right in the middle of it....

America This Week This is the series finale of "America This Week." Our guest is John W. Miller. We discuss his article "The opioid crisis demands a new solution. Churches are hoping to be part of it."  We also discuss these articles: Social media reinforces clean divisions, but reality is messy. The threat of a climate catastrophe is here. Will U.S. Catholics heed the call? Detroit Catholic schools and parishes to stop all sports on Sunday

This week's guest is Anna Keating. We discuss her article “Why Evangelical megachurches are embracing (some) Catholic traditions.” We also discuss these articles: Pope Francis tells women religious church cannot alter revelation on women’s diaconate Pope Francis’ almsgiver restores power (illegally) to homeless shelter in Italy How Mary can be a bridge between Christians and Muslims Can Christianity in northern Iraq survive after ISIS?

America This Week This week's guest is Jonathan Malesic. We discuss his article "Catholic colleges are searching for new homes in the Southwest. Can they succeed?" We also discuss these articles: Ideological bias cannot taint our approach to sexual abuse  The Mueller Report’s most pressing question: Who will hold Trump accountable? The Editors: Border security will not solve the immigration crisis

This week's guest is Lisa Hendey. We discuss her article "Here's how one Catholic stays faithful in the city of angels."  We also discuss these stories: Sri Lankan cardinal demands answers about security lapses after Easter bombings Seven tips for new Catholics, from one convert to another Two U.S. churches: One is closing down parishes, the other is standing-room only  

America This Week This week's guest is Gerard O’Connell, America’s Vatican correspondent. We discuss his new book, The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Account of the Conclave That Changed History, an excerpt of which America has published.  We also discuss these stories:  Pope Francis kisses the feet of South Sudan leaders The wrong way to ask Catholics for money amid the sex abuse crisis Grieving the fire of Notre Dame during Holy Week    

America This Week This week's guest is Thomas More Garrett. We discuss his article “Can better corporate organization humanize the marketplace? Kickstarter is finding out.” We also discuss these articles:  How the Jesuits’ four new universal apostolic priorities support social enterprise Pope Francis: ‘Build bridges, not walls’ ‘Harry Potter’ books burned at Catholic parish in Poland