Today on Kresta - February 17, 2011

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Feb. 17

4:00 – Roman Catholic / Orthodox Relations
The renowned theologian Metropolitan Kallistos Ware is here to discuss Orthodoxy in the Americas and the world. He tells us about his personal journey to Orthodoxy, being Orthodox by choice and not by birth, the state of worldwide Orthodoxy, and the current status of the Roman Catholic / Orthodox dialogue.

4:20 – Spiritual Warfare, the Occult and the New Age
Ordained in 2001, Father Christopher Crotty is a member of the Fathers of Mercy. He has spent the last six years traveling the globe preaching God's love through parish missions, conferences and nights of healing. The Fathers of Mercy were founded in France during the early part of the 1830s with a mission to preach parish missions and retreats, emphasizing the power of the holy Eucharist and confession. Fr. Crotty is here in MI giving a retreat and joins us in studio to discuss spiritual warfare, the Occult and the New Age.

4:40 – Why Christianity Lacks a Holocaust Literature?
Here’s a question that astute observers of the religious landscape find themselves asking these days, and which deserves a serious response: Why doesn’t Christianity have its own Holocaust literature? By that, of course, no one means to minimize the absolute singularity of the Holocaust against the Jews during the Second World War, and the moral imperative of keeping that memory alive. Yet the question persists: Given the harrowing realities of Christian martyrdom during the 20th century, and the rising global tide of anti-Christian violence in the early 21st century, why isn’t there a budding genre of Christian analogs to Night by Elie Wiesel, or Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List”? Vatican analyst John Allen joins us to discuss this question.

5:00 – The “Snowshoe Priest” Bishop Frederic Barraga
Bishop Frederic Baraga was first bishop of the Diocese of Marquette, MI and was the first of many Slovenian missionaries to come to the United States to help build up the American Catholic Church. As a seminarian, the future St. John Neumann, was inspired to come to America after reading Baraga's missionary accounts. We talk to Bishop Alexander Sample, current Bishop of Marquette and vice-postulator of the cause for sainthood for Bishop Barraga, about the life and ministry of this extraordinary pioneer priest.

5:20 – Pope recognizes heroic virtue of American priest, Fr. Nelson Baker
In January Pope Benedict officially recognized the heroic virtues of 20th century American priest Fr. Nelson Baker, which moves the beloved champion for the poor further along in the process towards sainthood. Fr. Baker – who was born in Buffalo, New York in 1842 – lived to be 95 years old and is heralded for building what's been called a “city of charity” in Lackawana, New York. By the time of his death in 1936, his initiatives for the poor included a minor basilica, an infant home, a home for unwed mothers, a boys' orphanage, a hospital, a nurses' home, and an elementary and high school. Today there is a 41-year-old Catholic priest in the Arlington diocese, Fr. Stefan Starzynski, attributes his opening three homes for expectant mothers there to a vision of Fr. Baker he had eight years ago. Fr. Starzynski describes the inspiration he got from this priest he'd never met -- a champion for unwed mothers, their babies, orphans, and children --- in his book, Miracles: Healing for a Broken World. Fr. Starzynski joins us again to talk about Fr. Nelson Baker.

5:40 – “Vocation Boom Radio”
If you think you have a vocation or know someone who might or if you want to better understand the role of a Catholic priest, then don’t miss EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network’s newest series, “Vocation Boom Radio,” which will air Saturdays at 5 p.m. Eastern. Host Jerry Usher brings his lively, breezy, often humorous style with him as he interview priests, bishops, seminarians and their families, and other with a passion for promoting priestly vocations. Jerry joins us to tell us about the show and its aims.