Today on Kresta - August 5, 2010

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Aug. 5


Live from the Catholic Marketing Network Trade Show

4:00 - Murder in the Vatican: The Church Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes / The Catholic Writers’ Guild
A sudden death in the Vatican. An international incident over stolen artifacts. A priest’s wrongful imprisonment for murder. In this collection of three as yet untold tales, hinted at in the original Holmes stories, the voices of Dr. John H. Watson and the legendary Pope Leo XIII reveal how the great Sherlock Holmes brought these grim ecclesial cases to startling and poignant conclusions. Author Ann Lewis joins us.

4:40 – The Catholic Church and the New Media
Father Roderick Vonhoven’s foray into new media communications began while podcasting from St. Peter’s Basilica during the death of our beloved John Paul II and the subsequent conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI. His unique audio recordings and the access granted by his collar provided a special connection to the events that the global press could not provide. He then founded the Star Quest Production Network with the mission of ‘Leading the Way in Catholic New Media’. He hosts and produces several audio, video and live streaming shows and more than 200,000 SQPN shows are downloaded every month by Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Father Roderick was also named one of seven leaders in Catholic New Media by Steubenville University in 2007. He gave lectures on Catholics and New Media in Winnipeg (University of Manitoba: St. Paul’s College), Steubenville (Franciscan University of Steubenville) and Rome (Santa Croce University). Now he shares his expertise with us.

5:00 – No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy
Many who know of Fr. Donald Calloway know him because of his conversion story. He has spoken of it at conferences, on television, radio, online, and wherever he can spread the message. His new book finally captures in print how Divine Mercy, through the intercession of the Blessed Mother, touched his life. In his own words, No Turning Back recounts Fr. Donald's personal story of conversion after reading a book about Our Lady. Though today he is a devout Catholic Marian priest, Fr. Donald's early years were no indication of what was to come. Before his conversion to Catholicism, he was a high school dropout who had been kicked out of a foreign country, institutionalized twice and thrown in jail multiple times. We look at how Our Lady led to his conversion and ardent love of Mary and the Church.

5:20 – Catholic Scripture Study International
Catholic Scripture Study (CSS) is ideal for any parish or group looking for an inspiring Bible study that is completely faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church. The study commentaries are written by leading Scripture scholars and authors, and each study contains references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, papal encyclicals, and writings of the early Church Fathers and the saints. Additional resources are available to study leaders and students on the CSS Program Website, including an Ask the Author forum, as well as maps, pictures, and articles. The full-length program includes lectures on DVD that accompany each week's lesson. The lectures are given by Catholic priests. Best of all, because the program and Study Leader Kit provides all the tools, one need not be an experienced catechist to implement and lead a CSS class. Any lay person can establish this truly life-changing program in their parish or community. Founder Gail Buckley joins us.

5:40 – Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life
Many times one sees Roman Catholicism explained using either closely reasoned theology or an appeal to ancient writers of the Church. While both are legitimate approaches, the average reader looking to explore the faith is often left cold. In their collaboration, Why God Matters, Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian, delineate the Catholic Faith as experienced by a pair of average, everyday people like the great majority who make up the 24 percent of Americans who share this religion. In the stories of this pair, one sees both ways people come to Catholicism, by birth ('cradle Catholics') and by conversion. Their descriptions of their separate paths thankfully lack the religiosity of the all too common 'and then a miracle takes place' school of religious experience. Rather than blasts of light, fiery swords, spiritual fistfights, and angelic choirs, theirs is the long religious slog of the everyday. The effort that one must put out each day in the long trek to Heaven. What is Catholicism really like? One would be hard-put to find a better verbal painting of the faith so many call their own.