Ascension Roundtable (your Catholic Ministry Podcast)

Victims of sexual abuse often feel overwhelmed with intense feelings of worthlessness, despair, and loneliness. Many times it’s hard for them to even consider sharing what happened and how they feel. Today, Joann shares her childhood sexual abuse story, from the deep wounds of abuse, to finding peace, hope, and healing in Jesus. In this episode, you will learn what to look for and how to help those around you who may have been afflicted without you even knowing. If you have experienced child abuse, know that you are not alone, and there is hope and healing to be found in Jesus. We are praying for you!

Sometimes we get so caught up in the organizing and executing of ministry duties that we forget that one of the most powerful things we can do is stop to pray with and for the people we encounter in our days. In today’s episode, we speak with Deborah Molina, who shares stories about praying with people on the streets of various cities. In giving us a glimpse of these different experiences, Deborah relates several very simple tips to help us minister to people through intercessory prayer.

In this episode, we identify five major things that cause small groups to fail, and then we suggest ways to avoid those pitfalls. From losing focus on the bigger purpose of the small group to facilitation faux pas, you’ve probably seen these issues at play in a small group near you. When you’re finished listening, make sure to write to us at ascensionroundtable@ascensionpress.com with your tips for a successful small group.

What would you do if we told you that a simple smile, a family meal, or a weekly chat could make a dramatic difference in the life of a young minister (or any minister, for that matter)? It is all too easy to forget that even ministers sometimes need the people they serve to reach back out to them. Today Lauren Joyce, a young DRE, returns to the Ascension Roundtable to share seven ways you can support millennials who are working in ministry. If you would like to learn more about Lauren or have her come speak at your parish, you can find her online at www.LaurenJoyce.net

Today’s conversation isn’t just for the young minister; anyone can benefit from the experiences and insights shared by today’s guest. The reality is, our parishes are supposed to be intergenerational, supposed to act like a family and include people from different ages and stages in life. Many times, as a parishioner or minister we can get caught up in one way of thinking about ministry and forget that every generation feels connected to the community in different ways. And it’s no secret that younger generations are more disconnected from the parish than ever before. Today we talk to Lauren, a young DRE at a thriving parish. She shares three survival tips to help new or young ministers overcome challenges and become the best instruments they can possibly become in the hands of the Lord. Learn how to minister across all generations, stay tuned!

In ministry, we all know how hard it can be to get a practicing Catholic to commit to a weekly Bible study, youth group, or service project. So, how can we reach out to those who do not actively practice their faith, or someone who has left the Catholic Faith all together? A few weeks ago Marisa spoke with a man named Frank, a former Catholic. He candidly shared with us his personal experience with Catholicism and the reasons he left the Faith. Between his thoughts, Allen and Marisa provide commentary on what we can learn from him and how we can apply his experiences to improving our ministries. In order to reach people we need to know their story, and our conversation with Frank is a perfect example.

Blessed Triduum and Happy Easter by Ascension

Does feeling burned out in your personal life affect how you approach your ministry? In this episode, we discuss three important aspects of a holistic life and ministry. Discover what aspects of your life and ministry may need revitalization and then take a few simple yet practical steps to strengthen them. Any Catholic, whether a DRE, parent, or student can benefit from these helpful steps.

Catholic formation isn’t just about teaching the brain; it has to do with the development of a whole person spiritually, physically, mentally, and socially. The Church has long recognized that this formation best happens in a Christian community. In this episode, you’ll learn why knowing Church teachings isn’t enough—you have to allow your whole self to be transformed by Christ, including your prayer life, your personality, how you interact with others, and even the food you put in your body. Whether you’re a DRE, youth minister, parent, grandparent, or Bible study leader, this episode will help you take steps towards your own holistic formation and empower you to build a community where others can experience the fullness of true Catholic formation. We’d Love to Hear from You Do you have comments, questions, or topic suggestions for the Ascension Roundtable hosts? Use the comment box below or email us at ascensionroundtable@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episo

In last week’s episode with Fr. Philip Bochanski, we talked about the principles of ministering to those who experience same-sex attraction. In this episode, Father takes those principles and applies them to situations you might find yourself in. How do you respond when someone shares their story with you? What kind of language should you use? How do you help someone recapture chaste friendship with someone else of the same sex?

Many people think there’s no place in the Catholic church for people who experience same-sex attraction. Others hope that the Church changes her teaching on this issue. Today’s interview with Fr. Philip Bochanski will introduce you to a ministry that is fully Catholic, fully pastoral, and spreading quickly in parishes across the world. This ministry, called Courage, seeks to understand its members’ experiences of same-sex attraction, anchor them in Christian community, and help them experience the joy that comes from a life of chastity. Listen and learn how Courage practically accomplishes this mission. Stay tuned till the end to hear Fr. Philip address questions from our listeners about transgender ministry, therapy that seeks to re-orient a person’s sexual attractions, and how to talk to Catholics who want to change Church teaching in this area.

Learn about new ways to understand addiction with therapist Mike Ciaccio. Discover his research on the prevalence of sex addiction in Christian communities. You will find out why he is hopeful that Christians can overcome whatever darkness we face in this realm. His methods have successfully helped people experience Christ’s healing in this area of their lives. Empower yourself with the latest research in Catholic sexual addictions.

Statistically, there are over eleven million single parent families in the USA. Single moms are the only head of household for about twenty-three percent of American children, and single dads make up another six to eight percent. Whether it is a teenage mom who decided to not have an abortion, or a middle-aged mom who has finally left an abusive relationship, or the man whose wife has left him and the kids for someone else, the stories are unique, but the needs are real. Single parents have all the usual stressors of life and parenthood, along with the special crosses that fall on the single parent. Today we sit down with Christine Therese, single mom of six, who helps us better understand this life of single parents. She shares four “don’ts” when it comes to outreach to single parents, and she ends the episode by giving us practical suggestions for helping to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of single parents in our communities.

On average, military families move every three years. Which means every three years these families leave behind their homes, their communities, and their friends to once more build a new life in a new town. More than just being physically exhausting, it is also emotionally and spiritually difficult. In this episode, we chat with Air Force major Gerard Carisio and his wife Kara about how they live their marriage and family vocation through the realities of their military life. In the first part of the episode, they explain how their lifestyle has reminded them that—as Christians—all of us are pilgrims on our way to heaven. In the second part of the episode, Kara and Gerard give advice as to how you can reach out to help make any military family quickly feel welcomed into a new community. WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU Do you have comments, questions, or topic suggestions for the Ascension Roundtable hosts? Email us at ascensionroundtable@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podc

Catholic convert and Bible study guru Sonja Corbitt sits down with us to talk about how Bible study changes lives, builds community, and breaks down walls between us and our Protestant brothers and sisters. Whether you’re a bold Bible geek or you feel like you don’t even know how to start reading the Bible, Sonja gives tips for building a culture of Bible study at your parish.

Juggling work, family, and friends can make life feel too busy to squeeze in anything but Sunday Mass and ministry obligations. But the key to increasing your faith and bearing fruit despite all the hustle and bustle involves one simple (but difficult) change of heart. Here’s the thing: we should only have one priority, and that is Christ. Instead of trying to squeeze time with Christ into our busy lives, we should schedule the rest of our life around time spent with him. In today’s episode, Fr. Josh gives you several concrete steps you can take to make Jesus the most important relationship in your life, and explains how no matter how hard you try to serve him, you won’t be happy until you truly know him. We’d Love to Hear from You Do you have comments, questions, or topic suggestions for the Ascension Roundtable hosts? Email us at ascensionroundtable@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

While some engaged couples have a great Catholic marriage prep experience, there’s no denying that many couples resent it, feeling like it’s just a meaningless hoop to jump through. How do we change the status quo and make marriage prep an opportunity to evangelize, connect with, and genuinely support engaged and newly married couples? Scott Seibert from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis shares his diocese’s journey to adjust its model of marriage preparation so it can more effectively introduce couples to and prepare them for the beauty of Christian marriage. Looking for a great marriage prep program? Check Ascension’s new and revised Joy-Filled Marriage.

Leaving an old home and relocating to a new town is tough, but building a new community from scratch once you get there is even more daunting. Scott and KC Seibert, along with their four children, recently moved to Indiana and found themselves in this very situation. Today they share with us their journey of building a small, imperfect, and beautiful community of young families in their new parish. Whether you are someone who wants to make your fellow parishioners feel welcomed, a single person or married couple moving for work and wanting to find friends, or a family needing to build a community for all ages, you will walk away from this episode with practical tips and advice on how to feel at home in your new home.

Merry Christmas from all of us here at Ascension! We will be back the second week of January with a whole new season of the Ascension Roundtable Podcast.

In today’s episode, Brian Butler - a seasoned youth minister, speaker, and trainer - shares practical ways in which you can better minister to youth and young adults in a culture that has become desensitized to the reality of the person. We discuss how to look at someone and see their good instead of devaluing them and seeing them as simply a sexual being. At the end of this episode, you will be able to explain what it means to be a man and a woman, each once created in God’s image and likeness. WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU Do you have comments, questions, or topic suggestions for the Ascension Roundtable hosts? Email us at ascensionroundtable@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode! LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE ASCENSION ROUNDTABLE (YOUR CATHOLIC MINISTRY PODCAST) ITUNES | STITCHER | SOUNDCLOUD | GOOGLE PLAY