Shows
Upon This Rock#107 - Sign-Off: A Pause & Reflection Of Upon This Rock PodcastFather Don and his sister, Barbie, drop a podcast about podcasts, particularly this podcast, Upon This Rock, as we pause operations to assess its impact and how the church can reach people in our twenty-first-century virtual society. They reminisce about messages from the hundred-plus conversations and how we can encourage people to talk with one another about matters of faith and faith that matters to us, our families and friends, our community, and our world.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #f...
2026-01-2147 minUpon This Rock#106 - Prison Ministry: Hope For Individuals Suffering From Limiting CircumstancesJohn Hewitt is the Lansing Correctional Program Director and oversees the Donnelly College, "College In Prison," degree program at the Lansing Correctional Facility in Lansing, Kansas. Originally from Kansas, he has traveled the world, living on various continents and in places during civil upheaval. He speaks numerous languages and has helped unite people from different nations as they assimilate into American culture.He invites listeners to engage their faith by reaching out to prisoners, immigrants, or others who suffer because of circumstances that limit them. If you want to learn more, contact him at jhewitt@donnelly.edu.
2026-01-1849 minUpon This Rock#105 - Bishop Sullivan Center: Food, Relief & Opportunity For People In NeedMichelle Carlstedt is the executive director of The Bishop Sullivan Center (BSC). It has operated for over half a century in Kansas City, Missouri, uniting people in need with people of goodwill who provide food, relief, and countless opportunities for less fortunate citizens. From a small town in Kansas, she was educated both in school and through life experiences in ways that spurred her into the non-profit world of caring for others. If you would like to help the BSC effort, you can contact her at michelle.carlstedt@bishopsullivan.org.Follow Father Don:
2026-01-0840 minUpon This Rock#104 - Being Thompson, Part Two: How Parent Virtues & Lessons Continue To Teach GenerationsMark Thompson is the fourth of Byron and Jeanne’s eleven children. This conversation goes deeper into how the virtues and lessons of their parents continue to teach them, their children, and now their grandchildren. We also discuss in a deeper way how the injuries and deaths of their young sisters impact him and them in lasting ways. As we begin a new year and resolve to do better in the future than we did in the past, Mark offers good advice as we all approach a new beginning in 2026.Follow Fat...
2026-01-0254 minUpon This Rock#103 - Being Thompson, Part One: Joys & Sorrows Of This Life & Trust In The Life That Awaits UsMary Thompson O’Connor was the firstborn of eleven Thompson children. She and her siblings were blessed with a happy childhood and the grace of tremendous parents who taught patience and perseverance. As young adults, they had to endure unexpected suffering when their sister, Amy, was shot in the head by a criminal, and two years later, their sister, Tricia, was hit by a drunk driver, also enduring a major head injury for the remainder of her life. Our conversation reflects upon the joys and sorrows of this life and trust in the life that awaits us. We...
2025-12-2645 minUpon This Rock#102 – Retirement: Rejuvenation & The Joy That God Is One With UsFather Mike Roach retired as a pastor after 45 years of service in the Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph, mainly in the KC Northland. A repeat guest (hear episodes 54 & 61), Fr. Mike has quite a following throughout the local church. On this podcast, he speaks about his current chapter of life and the rejuvenation he embraces beyond collapsing after his final Mass as pastor. His words offer a Christmas message for us, reminding us of the glad tidings of great joy that God is one with us.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.com
2025-12-1934 minUpon This Rock#100 - Where It Began: Childhood Christmases & Family TraditionsVince and Amy Hodes started this audible ministry nearly two years ago by gifting Fr. Don with podcast equipment. They return from the earliest podcasts for this milestone episode #100. Being December, the podcast conversation quickly turns to the journey of Advent, memories of Christmas, reminiscing about the grace of giving, and the privilege of bringing light to a world wrapped in darkness. You’ll enjoy hearing stories of their childhood Christmases and how their family traditions continue.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Pa...
2025-12-1242 minUpon This Rock#101 - Upper Room: Helping Urban Children Excel AcademicallyTonia Gilbert is the Executive Director of The Upper Room (or Upper Room KC), a nonprofit literacy center that helps thousands of urban children each year to excel academically, knowing that it starts with an ability to read and write. The center began at Saint Louis Catholic Church over twenty-five years ago and continues under Tonia’s leadership. Her background as a lawyer and educator assists in her administrative tasks now. She invites us to join her on December 17 for a holiday event where we can learn more about the good things happening in the center of our...
2025-12-0550 minUpon This Rock#99 - A Gentleman: Bringing Peace & Helping The Less FortunateAl Kaine grew up in rural Kansas, met his wife, Kathleen, and settled with their three children in the Kansas City area after a stint in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Al’s dad taught him to be a gentleman, a lesson he lives and passed along to his sons. Their oldest, Tim, became a United States senator and Democratic nominee for vice president. They each gave time and energy to helping less fortunate outcasts in our country or elsewhere. Al brings peace to chaotic situations, light to dark circumstances, and offers some stories for how people might get along better.
2025-11-2542 minUpon This Rock#98 - Sistine Perspective: Appreciating The Holy Eucharist & Other Devotional PracticesMichael McGlinn, founder of Sistine Films, discusses with Father Don the faith that he has deepened through pursuits as a musician, football player, film producer, and Catholic husband and father. Influenced by his parents and grandparents, he has come to appreciate the Holy Eucharist and numerous devotional practices, including the rosary, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and his Divine Mercy apostolate. Visit sistinefilms.com to view the beauty and truth of his ministries.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast
2025-11-1940 minUpon This Rock#97 – Guatemala: Supporting Our Struggling Brothers & SistersSaint Thomas More (STM) Parish has a sister community relationship with San Andrés Itzapa, a rural parish in south-central Guatemala. STM Parishioners Phil Smith and Marla Byrne have visited frequently in recent decades, often leading groups on work retreats and pilgrimages of faith that support foreign friends. The STM group has escorted thousands of Kansas Citians, including over a thousand teenagers, to Central America to encounter brothers and sisters who struggle in ways that open their eyes and hearts.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier P...
2025-11-1455 minUpon This Rock#96 - Nourish KC: Cultivating Community & Empowering PeopleShanita McAfee Bryant speaks with Father Don and Mary Coppinger Orndoff about food waste, food rescue, and food redistribution in the Kansas City area. Shanita is a chef who empowers communities through nourishment. Her groups, The Prospect KC and Nourish KC Community Kitchen, address food insecurities, create culinary employment opportunities, improve nutrition education, and transform lives by connecting people and through economic development. She shares her experiences in helping our city diminish hunger and wants to help various local nonprofit groups work together for the common good. Visit the websites to learn how you might help.F...
2025-11-0454 minUpon This Rock#95 - A Journey Continues: Mysteries Of The Priesthood Part 2Father Greg Haskamp sits down with Father Don one year after their first podcast together to continue talking about the mysteries of the priesthood. Both are in their sixties and look back on a combined seventy years of service as priests in our diocese. They look at priest-characters of the past and the kinds of things that might happen in the church’s future. Both are lifelong learners and want to get better at their vocation while also hoping that the church will become more relevant to young people seeking deeper faith and meaning.Follow Father Do...
2025-10-3051 minUpon This Rock#94 – The Common Man: Important Stages of Life, Faith & FriendshipsMike Kopp rejoins Father Don for his annual October check-in. Mike talks about stages of life and faith, starting with his role as a son to remarkable parents, a brother to ten siblings, a classmate to countless peers and friends from Visitation to Rockhurst to Mizzou. From these growing up communities to current groups in his neighborhood, parish, clubs, and social circles, he emphasizes the importance of friendships. Though incredibly unique, Mike exemplifies the common man who has reached his grandparent stage of life with rejuvenated enthusiasm for living with renewed purpose. Fo...
2025-10-1933 minUpon This Rock#93 - Service To Others: Helping Volunteers Find A Life-Giving PlaceMary Coppinger Orndoff joins Father Don in the first of a two-part discussion about reaching out to those in need. She has volunteered at various nonprofit organizations throughout Kansas City, and through her experiences, discovered that these numerous entities can do more when we work in unison. Realizing that volunteerism has decreased in recent times, she is on a mission to help those willing to volunteer find a place that is life-giving for them and those who will benefit. She makes regular trips to diverse businesses to receive products that they no longer stock. You will enjoy he...
2025-10-1641 minUpon This Rock#92 - Psychedelic Grace: Using Spirituality & Psychotherapy To Find A Healthier & Holier Life d EpisodeAnne Bethune is a licensed clinical social worker who offers ketamine assisted psychotherapy. She explains some medical, psychological, legal, and religious parameters placed upon her work, as well as opportunities that patients are given to encounter spiritual experiences through psychedelic methods, according to religious doctrine. As a Catholic, she hopes that spirituality and psychotherapy will work hand in hand to help people find healthier and holier lives as psilocybin therapeutics become more common in our society.Like this podcast? Please consider donating.Your gift (in any amount) w...
2025-10-0947 minUpon This Rock#91 - Welcoming Communities: Putting Faith Into Action By Serving Those Less FortunateJessica McGannon, a member of Saint Francis Xavier (SFX) Parish in Kansas City, Missouri, comes to the table to reflect upon faith formation in Kansas City, from Saint Peter and Saint Catherine schools to O’Hara High and later at St. Elizabeth and Saint Francis parishes. She reflects on people who influenced her and our call to influence others who follow us. Along with her husband, Paul, they landed at SFX and have found a place that welcomes all and brings the Gospel to life for those who want to put faith into action by serving those les...
2025-10-0333 minUpon This Rock#90 - Opponents & Enemies:Looking To Jesus To Overcome The Enemy For Us & With UsJerry Reardon joins Father Don to bat around some thoughts in our very challenging times, when many people turn their opponents into enemies. Christ reminds us that there is one enemy: it is the devil, it is evil, it is sin and death. Jesus overcame and continues to overcome the enemy for us and with us. They discuss earthly battles, from war, sports, debates, and ideological differences. Jerry reminds listeners that if we are centered in God, we will know how to navigate things that want to separate us; the Bible is our guide.
2025-09-2552 minUpon This Rock#89: Responding to Darkness: Embracing Communications, Problem Solving & Love To Overcome HateLane Lucas joins Father Don to discuss the fallout from a recent blog and podcast that encouraged people to love in imitation of Christ when their instinct directs them toward hate in political exchanges. Rather than ceasing dialogue about controversial topics, they agree that the church needs to encourage discussion while discerning the will of God. And when conversation enters the realm of disagreement or debate, we should do our best not to shut down but employ problem-solving skills and invite wisdom from the Holy Spirit to lead us. Though it is difficult to disagree, we can a...
2025-09-1940 minUpon This Rock#88: Events That Inspire: Help & Hope From The Angel FundFather Don and his sister Barbie Faranan continue their discussion, this time on how people can help one another through their own stories and struggles. They talk about those who have gifts to give, including wisdom and experience, as well as those who just need a little help from a friend or someone unknown to them who is willing to reach out and offer hope. This leads to an invitation to join them for Mass and a Chiefs’ Watch Party Fundraiser on September 21 at the Farnan Spirituality Center; proceeds go to The Angel Fund, which directly assists families and ind...
2025-09-1337 minUpon This Rock#87 - Trump & Dad: Becoming More Forgiving & Soul SearchingBarbie Farnan and Father Don record an awkward conversation about why so many people hate the president and refuse to consider letting go of their bad feelings for him. They compare it to their own father, who shared some of the president’s personality and characteristics. They hope that, after listening to this podcast, those who despise the president will become more forgiving and/or soul-searching.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualitycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLike this podcast? Please con...
2025-09-0233 minUpon This Rock#86 - Public Witness: Proclaiming Gospel Values & Announcing The Good NewsKim Meyer, a member of the Saint Francis Xavier Parish (SFX), talks with Father Don Farnan about the ways in which the Catholic Church is called to announce the Good News, and like Christ, cast out evil from society. Many members of the SFX community do that; one way is through public witness gatherings that proclaim Gospel values based on Catholic Social Teachings and injustices associated with poverty, crime, immigration, education, and other relations that impact us. After listening, you may want to join “Witness on Troost” gatherings: the next one is on September 30 on Troost Avenue in Kansas City...
2025-08-2845 minUpon This Rock#85 - Synodal Leadership: The Kind Of Church Popes & Saints Have Yearned ForPatrick Marrin is the director of synodal life at Saint James Catholic Church in Midtown, Kansas City, Missouri. In this episode, he shares insights on how synodality can be lived in our churches today. From the first ecclesial council in Jerusalem, as the neophyte church was formed, to others that led up to the Second Vatican Council sixty years ago, the universal Catholic community continues to unfold according to Christ’s mission. Pat understands well the history and tradition that brings us to our twenty-first-century way of moving forward together, guided by the Holy Spirit. You will lea...
2025-08-2253 minUpon This Rock#84 - Growing Up Catholic: Daring Religions To Be More Like JesusJohn O’Connor IV joins Father Don Farnan to talk about how a large Catholic family impacted him in many ways, including the ways of faith. One of the oldest of nearly fifty cousins, he bridged generations and, while most of his extended family is very connected to the church now, his questioning mind dares religions to be more like Jesus and less tied to systems and structures that sought to honor, and often diverted from, His message. Johnny’s insights may spur good conversation within families about faith and religion.Follow Father Don:Webs...
2025-08-1419 minUpon This Rock#83 - Father Sam: Getting A Greater Understanding Through God & ReligionSam Miloscia has been ordained for nine years and has served numerous parishes in the Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph. Growing up in a large family steeped in Catholic tradition, he is deeply rooted in structures of faith. His experiences in seminary and parish life, as well as other ventures, have expanded his ability to empathize with people who seek greater understanding through God and religion. His engagement with children, youths, and adults gives hope for a promising future for him and those he encounters.Like this podcast? Please consider donating.
2025-08-0740 minUpon This Rock#82 - 20-Somethings:Passing Our Faith To Our 21st Century FollowersMaggie Viles and Jennifer Harris became friends while mothering children within the Saint Thomas More Parish Community at church, school, and youth group activities. Now their children are in their twenties. This conversation with Father Don contemplates the faith that we received and the faith that we pass along, especially as it relates to young people today. They offer great hope and good ideas for reaching out to, respecting, encouraging, and passing along God’s love through the Catholic Church to those who follow us in our twenty-first century.Like this podcast? Please consider making a do...
2025-07-3152 minUpon This Rock#81 - In the Name of the Father: Strengthening Faith Through Technology & Personal EncountersVince Hodes and his son, Vinnie, join Father Don to converse about the faith they received and the faith they want to transmit. After Saint Ann Elementary and Rockhurst High, Vinnie attended Mizzou, where he discovered that his religious instinct and spiritual perspective got integrated into other activities within his college experience. Now that he is a graduate, Vinnie takes advantage of opportunities to strengthen his faith in technological ways as well as through personal encounters, as his dad does. They have good suggestions for how all Catholics can do the same.Like...
2025-07-2349 minUpon This Rock#80 - McGonigle Part 3: Therapy & Counseling For All in Today’s WorldBecause of listeners’ interest, Mark shares more information about therapy and counseling for common people in today’s world. He offers insights into what those who choose counseling can expect. Not wanting clients to waste their time, he offers paths for us to search for and find a well-suited counselor quickly. He also offers some good ideas and exercises to deal with common anxieties and other negative impulses. There is something in this podcast for everyone who seeks self-betterment.Listen to Part 1 of this Series (Psychology & Spirituality Intertwined)Listen to Part...
2025-07-1756 minUpon This Rock#79 - McGonigle Part 2: Psychology & Spirituality IntertwinedMark McGonigle and Father Don continue their conversation about psychology and spirituality from two weeks ago on the Upon This Rock podcast. They talk about the evolution of counseling in the 21st Century, including EMDR (Eye Movement and Desensitization and Reprocessing) as well as the evolution of faith that expands beyond religious teachings to include mystical relationships with God and the spiritual world. Mark’s sense of the Holy Spirit flowing through us and our world will inspire us to tune in to how we live in sync with both our visible and invisible surroundings.Listen to...
2025-07-1152 minUpon This Rock#78 - Quinn & Cupertino: The Importance Of Faith In The FamilyTodd McCullough and his son, Quinn, join Father Don to discuss the importance of faith in the McCullough Family and how it has helped them navigate life's many challenges. Quinn, who was diagnosed with a learning disability in infancy, excelled in school from Saint Thomas More Elementary to Saint Michael the Archangel High School to Benedictine College. Part of the Cupertino Society, Quinn has served in many leadership roles throughout his education and is now the host of a popular podcast, QDOG Sports. You’ll appreciate hearing his story and achievements.Follow Father Do...
2025-07-0333 minUpon This Rock#77 - McGonigle Part 1: Psychology & Spirituality IntertwinedMark McGonigle grew up in Saint Peter Church in Brookside in the 1970s amidst a large family and supportive neighborhood culture. Influenced by parents, grandparents, family members, and people of faith, Mark’s experiences landed him in a world where faith and personal growth intertwined. His vocation as a counselor and spiritual mentor inspires him to host contemplative prayer sessions on the second and fourth Sunday mornings of each month at Saint Francis Xavier Church. After listening, you may want to join him for these sessions.Listen to Part 2 of this Series (Psy...
2025-06-2652 minUpon This Rock#76: Synodality: Moving Forward Together, Guided By The Holy SpiritFather Don and Barbie discuss synodality, a term that's topical in the Catholic Church in the 2020s but is not well understood by many Catholics, and is even avoided by some because it’s such an unusual word. Hopefully, by listening to their conversation, you will gain a better understanding of synodality (essentially moving forward together, guided by the Holy Spirit) and its importance in our parishes. Pope Francis laid the foundation for the church to enter the process of being synodal, and Pope Leo seems committed to building upon this foundation.Follow Father Don:
2025-06-1930 minUpon This Rock#75 - Catholic Social Teachings: Living By The Social Guidelines Of Our ReligionFather Don offers thoughts about the importance of putting faith into action as Catholic workers commissioned to live by the social guidelines of our religion. With the election of Pope Leo XIV, there is increased interest in them because of his predecessor, Leo XIII, who wrote an encyclical called “Rerum Novarum,” which set a foundation for the teachings of engagement in society to transform our world into a healthier, holier, and more wholesome place. It seems that Pope Leo wants us to take to heart this mission of the church.Follow Father Don:Website: farn...
2025-06-1231 minUpon This Rock#74 - Holy Spirit: The Promise Of Christ & The Gift Of LoveAs we approach the Feast of Pentecost, Father Don and his sister, Barbie, muse about the Holy Spirit as the promise of Christ and the gift of love. We feel this divine energy in numerous active ways, yet most often in quiet, pensive, or prayerful moments, even in times of darkness. We are reminded that God is always with us, and the Spirit of love is closer to us than we can know. Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter...
2025-06-0526 minUpon This Rock#73 - Memorial Day: Honoring Loved Ones & Finding Comfort In Our Future DeathFather Don offers a reflection for Memorial Day as we honor deceased Loved Ones in a directed way at the end of May. In doing so, we celebrate their lives and give thanks. “Opacarophilia,” refers to our attraction to sunsets; spiritualists suggest that we are drawn to sunsets because it helps us find comfort in our future death when the sun sets on our earthly life. The beauty of the sun setting, according to the nature of each day, helps us realize that human nature is to surrender ourselves in a like manner.Follow Father Don:...
2025-05-2225 minUpon This Rock#71 - Marriage, Family, Work: Care, Emotion & Passion at Crucial JuncturesSteve and Nicole Pierce join Father Don and talk about their life together, which moves from their home as parents and spouses to their vocation as proprietors of Muehlebach Funeral Home. They encounter people at times when they are most vulnerable, such as when they lose a loved one, and, through that, they learn much about human care, emotion, and passion at crucial junctures in our earthly existence.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish#farnanspiritualiltycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast...
2025-05-0927 minUpon This Rock#70: Interview Continued: (Part 2): The Life & Formation of Father DonDr. and Mrs. Smith (Tim and Trish) continue the second half of their interview with Father Don as he reflects upon his pastoral assignments: Visitation, Saint Therese Little Flower, Saint Louis, Saint John Lalande, Saint Thomas More, and Saint Charles Borromeo before his return to inner city ministry. He plans to live out the remainder of his priesthood in the urban core because of the great need there.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast
2025-04-3043 minUpon This Rock#68: Reverse Interview (Part 1): The Life & Formation of Fr. DonTim and Patricia Smith of Saint Francis Xavier Parish interview Father Don in this first of a two-part conversation about growing up in a large Catholic family from rural Missouri. Claiming that people who attend his three urban parishes want to know more about his background, they inquire about his life and formation.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast
2025-04-1742 minUpon This Rock#66 - Urban & Suburban Church: A Story Of Dedication To FaithJim Kopp is the fifth of eleven siblings. They grew up in Visitation Parish during the 1950s and 1960s, influenced by the childhood priests and nuns. Jim was inspired to attend seminary high school and college for two years each before starting a family and working for the Kansas City Police Department, and later at various places in North America for petroleum companies. Along with his childhood friends, he now dedicates apostolic time and effort to helping inner-city churches while still being actively involved in his suburban parish. You’ll enjoy Jim’s story of faith and find...
2025-04-0339 minUpon This Rock#65 – Mercy: Forgiving Others & Accepting God’s Divine MercyBarbie Farnan and Father Don continue their discussion from last week as the topic of forgiveness turns to mercy. They speak of Corporeal Works of Mercy and Pope Francis’ desire for the “mercification” of the world. Catholics, through the Penitential Act at Mass and Sacrament of Reconciliation, are inspired to forgive the faults of others and accept God’s divine mercy. Perhaps their dialogue will encourage your conversations with friends or family and lead to acts of forgiveness.Your input is welcome. We would love to hear from you!Please post your...
2025-03-2635 minUpon This Rock#64 - Forgiveness: A Crucial Component Of Living WellAn essential aspect of Christianity, highlighted during Lent, is the concept of forgiveness. Barbie Farnan and her brother, Father Don Farnan, discuss the forgiveness process that is introduced to children at a young age. As we mature and navigate more complex relationships and serious issues, forgiveness becomes an even more crucial component of living well. As you listen in, you may discover personal aid in offering and/or receiving forgiveness.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter #fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast
2025-03-2035 minUpon This Rock#63: Immigrants: Social Justice Ministries Within The ChurchSarah Jurcyk joins Father Don and Michael Sanem, Director of Kansas City’s Ignatian Spirituality Center and Director of Mission & Ministry for Saint Francis Xavier (SFX) Parish, to discuss social justice ministries within the church. Parishioners transform faithful prayer into impactful works by focusing upon the dignity of every human person; this spurs them to accompany migrant workers, asylum seekers, refugees, those who suffer from hunger, poverty, racial discrimination, unfair practices, and other forms of injustice. They invite us to join them.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Fr...
2025-03-1337 minUpon This Rock#62 - SFX Architecture: The History & Beauty of the Historic St. Francis ParishVincent Gauthier, urban planner, developer, professor of architecture and design, and parishioner of Saint Francis Xavier (SFX) Parish, discusses the history and beauty of the historic SFX worship space with Ann Sheridan, parish administrator, and Father Don. “The fish church” at 52nd and Troost tells an interesting story that includes such greats as Frank Lloyd Wright and Archbishop Edwin O’Hara. The seventy-five-year-old structure contains fascinating art and rich symbolism that once united architect Barry Byrnes and sculptor Alfonso Iannelli in a Kansas City structural masterpiece.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlo...
2025-03-0542 minUpon This Rock#61 - Northland Catholics: Lifelong Friends Share Their Hopes For The Church’s Future ImpactKevin O’Rourke joins Father Mike Roach to reminisce about growing up Catholic in Kansas City’s northland and how their education, especially at Saint Pius X High School in the early 1970s, impacted their lives. Years later, they reconnected through parochial sports programs and have remained close friends for the past quarter century. Though they approach business, politics, and religion from different perspectives, they have great hopes for the church’s impact on future generations here and worldwide.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #fa...
2025-02-2739 minUpon This Rock#60 - Death Doula: Helping Families Set Goals & Clarify Life PlansRhonda Osborn moved from health care provider to spiritual director, life coach, and death doula. In these roles, she helps people reflect upon and create plans regarding important matters, e.g., advanced directives, financial insurance, organization of passwords and personal information, care of pets, celebration of life rituals, etc. Founder of This One Life, LLC, she assists and supports individuals and families in setting goals and clarifying plans.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcastLearn More A...
2025-02-2040 minUpon This Rock#59: Life Planning: Stabilizing & Better Orienting Your LifeFather Don and his sister Barbie discuss retreat opportunities for people to review life, make plans for the remainder of life and secure wishes for the end of earthly life. Using some well-thought-out programs, the Farnan Spirituality Center will offer mini-retreats this Lent and Summer that help faith-seekers stabilize and better orient their lives while in good health and direct loved ones and caregivers as they age.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish #farnanspiritualiltycenter#fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast
2025-02-1339 minUpon This Rock#58: STLF Mardi Gras: St. Therese Little Flower’s Annual CelebrationYvette Tunley has been a member of Saint Therese Little Flower (STLF) Parish for most of her life, where she has served in many capacities, from participation in the youth group as a teenager to being youth director and pastoral council chair as an adult. A recently retired city worker, she has developed great organizational skills and uses them to help with many special projects at the parish.On this podcast, she talks about the upcoming annual STLF Mardi Gras party to be held on Friday, February 28, at Pierson Auditorium on the UMKC campus, 5001 Holmes Road. You...
2025-02-0641 minUpon This Rock#57: Centennial Celebration: Journey To 100 At St. Therese Little FlowerSheilahn Davis-Wyatt, originally from Blessed Sacrament Parish in the urban core, has been part of the St. Therese Little Flower (STLF) faith community since 1991 when her family’s church closed. She is co-chairing the “Journey To 100” as STLF, established in 1925, reaches its centennial during this holy jubilee year.There are various opportunities for Kansas Citians who were once associated with the parish and/or the Blue Hills neighborhood to participate in events or provide sponsorship for the social outreach and other good works of the faith community during this year.Follow Father Don:Webs...
2025-01-3034 minUpon This Rock#56: Garozzo’s Feast - How The Meal, Table & Feast Unite UsRestauranteur extraordinaire Mike Garozzo sits down with Fr. Don to discuss how the meal, the table, and the feast unite people—something that Jesus knew so well. An unmistakable voice in Kansas City, Mike speaks with authority and hearty enthusiasm about his Italian roots, his hometown of Saint Louis, his lovely wife and beautiful daughters, his role as grandfather, and his many friends in Kansas City. Though not always rich in money, he is rich in faith and faith in other people.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Fr...
2025-01-2337 minUpon This Rock#55: Navy Priest: A Seedbed of Faith To Every ContinentFather Dan Reardon grew up in Chillicothe, Missouri. His parents and extended family provided a seedbed of faith that Dan embraced and took from his small town to every continent and the waters that connect them as part of the United States Navy. After formative years, he went to Philadelphia and developed an interest in both the military and the priesthood.He served our nation for twenty-six years overseas, helping sailors and other service men and women before returning to the Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph, where he is now assigned as pastor of Our Lady of...
2025-01-1634 minUpon This Rock#54 - Life of Service: A Priest’s Reflections & Hopes For The ChurchFather Mike Roach has served as a parish priest throughout the Kansas City-Saint Joseph area for over forty years, primarily in the northland. His compassion for those who are on the fringes of the church and of society reminds many people of the ways in which Jesus operated.His welcoming attitude, as well as his understanding of the human condition, draws people to him and the church. As he advances in age, he reflects here upon his numerous and varied assignments and his hopes for the church in years to come.Follow Father Don:
2025-01-1038 minUpon This Rock#53 - Ignatian Spirituality Center: Helping Our Urban Core Church Live Out Faith In More Meaningful WaysMichael Sanem is the director of Kansas City’s Ignatian Spirituality Center and director of Mission and Ministry for Saint Francis Xavier Parish. Educated in the Jesuit tradition and inspired by incredible mentors, he embraces a broad sense of faith that he applies as an author, teacher, and pastoral leader.Husband and father to three young children, he discusses the Catholic presence in our urban core and what it means to witness our religious beliefs. This conversation introduces listeners to a “Cathedral of the Streets” concept that might help our church in Kansas City to live out our fa...
2025-01-0142 minUpon This Rock#52: Kansas City: Making Our City More Reflective Of The City Of GodKevin Collison has roots in Omaha and nearby Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota regions. He studied journalism in New York City, and his wife was a news anchor in Buffalo. They came to Kansas City earlier this century, where he first wrote for The Star and later founded CityScene KC, which muses upon topics crucial to our city’s well-being. A member of Saint Francis Xavier Parish, he articulates well the many challenges we face to make our city more reflective of the City of God.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fa...
2024-12-2637 minUpon This Rock#51: Choir of Celebration: How Music Plays A Central Role In Faith & RelationshipsDave Mehl and Jim Harris, along with Jim’s wife, Carol, talk about the importance of music in their lives and how it has played a central role in their worship of God and relationships with others. Carol grew up in Saint Elizabeth Parish, where she was taught by Fr. Bill Bauman, a renowned liturgist and musician.Jim and Dave grew up in now closed parishes on the east side of KC (Immaculate Heart of Mary and Saint Louis), where Sisters of Charity educated them from Leavenworth and encouraged them to develop their talents. This conversation reminds us...
2024-12-1949 minUpon This Rock#50: An Artist’s Heart: John Bukaty - It’s Never Too Late To Reach Your Higher CallingAmerican artist John Bukaty grew up in Kansas City, yet he painted his way around the world and made his home in New Orleans. He has also traveled far in his faith life, including difficult challenges, recovery from addiction, strong friendships, and great inspirations, starting with his parents, Fred and Rita.He offers interesting insights for listeners to follow their heart and the call of a higher power that beckons us to greater heights and deeper understandings.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish
2024-12-1242 minUpon This Rock#49 - More Family Tales: Recollections & Hopes From The Farnan SiblingsFather Don’s sisters, Joan and Veronica, join him on this podcast to recollect their early days growing up on a farm in western Missouri in a region with few Catholics. The sixth, seventh, and eighth children among eleven siblings were caught in the middle of older and younger family groupings that impacted them. The girls, now parents and grandparents, also speak about their hopes for their children and grandchildren.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comSt. Francis Xavier Parish#farnanspiritualiltycenter #fatherdonfarnan#uponthisrockpodcast
2024-12-0639 minUpon This Rock#48 - Faith In Politics: Incorporating Religion With Our Human ObligationThe Roling Family hails from the smallest of many small rural German Catholic settlements near Jefferson City, Missouri. Steve grew up there while incorporating religion with our human obligation to work for a better society; from learning political engagement while on the staff of a U. S. Senator and vice-presidential nominee in the 70s to being friends with our state’s governor-elect, he tries to effect change in positive ways and encourage his children to do the same.His daughter, Susie, and her sister are his biggest fans. A third-time guest on Upon This Rock, she shares how...
2024-11-2845 minUpon This Rock#47 - When The Doorbell Rang: How Tragedy Can Bring Triumph To Our WorldJerry Anselmo’s life changed in September of 2008 when his son, Brian, suddenly died. He dedicates his remaining time on earth to advancing things his son did not have the chance to finish. Along with his wife, Mary Ellen, and their daughters, Julie and Lori, and a throng of friends, he honors Brian through the BMA Foundation that helps other kids, as well as their families and pets.The support that BMA gives not-for-profit groups in Kansas City offers tremendous hope to children in difficult situations; and Jerry’s book, When the Doorbell Rang, presents a po...
2024-11-2248 minUpon This Rock#46 - Hunters: Respecting The Land & God’s Imprint Upon NatureJeff Angold and Kevin Connell have been friends since their early school days. Though they had different experiences, family backgrounds, schools, groups of friends, jobs, and activities, they stayed connected at every stage of life. After childhood, bachelorhood, fatherhood, and now enjoying the stage of being granddads, they offer commentary on what they learned from those who gave them life and taught them love and what they hope to give their offspring who follow them in a not-yet-revealed world. One of their common interests, hunting, unites them with ancestors who respected the land upon which we dwell...
2024-11-1451 minUpon This Rock#45 - Father Gerald Waris: Priesthood Through the DecadesFather Gerald Waris has been a priest for fifty-seven years. Growing up in Saint Joseph, Missouri, before the Second Vatican Council, he was nurtured by a loving family and parents who lived their faith both in praise of God and in outreach to the poor. His five parishes in the inner city, Northeast, Brookside neighborhood, KC Northland, and Cathedral in St Joseph broadened his sense of people and the church that was sharpening its mission after the Council.His commitment to the poor in El Salvador and at home has helped Jerry share his heart with people...
2024-11-0925 minUpon This Rock#44 - Fr. Greg Haskamp: A Priest’s Faith JourneyFather Greg Haskamp, pastor of Visitation Parish in Kansas City, reminisces about his upbringing, the priests who influenced him, his education, and his path to priesthood. He continues to grow and learn “on the job” through various assignments in culturally different parts of our local diocese.Returning as pastor to the two parishes in which he served decades earlier as a young priest, he sees God’s unfolding grace that leaves him optimistic about the future of our church. You will gain insights about your own faith-journey by listening to his.Follow Father Don:...
2024-10-3154 minUpon This Rock#43: Holy Matrimony: How The Church Defines MarriageFather Don reflects on the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony and how the church defines marriage, which is different from the way societies describe it as a civil union. Pope Francis makes this distinction when he suggests that church officials can bless people in civil unions, including same-sex unions, just as we bless children, grandparents, homes, vehicles, crops, animals, and many other creatures and creations.He reminds us that though some Catholics do not qualify for the sacraments of vocation (holy matrimony and holy orders), all people are created in the image and likeness of God and ought...
2024-10-2419 minUpon This Rock#42: Buddies: Uniting With Others To Extend Faith & Assist Struggling FamiliesTom Laughlin grew up in Omaha and was educated by Jesuits; after becoming a doctor, he and his wife moved to Kansas City to work and raise their children. Mike Kopp grew up in KC at Visitation Parish, where his father served as a deacon, and his mother nurtured her eleven children. These friends now straddle the generation before them when discipline, order, and respect reigned with the one which succeeds them that juggles social media and constant distractions with giving little ones a solid foundation in faith.Connecting through basketball and, later, golf, Doc and Mike...
2024-10-1737 minUpon This Rock#41: Virtual Church: Connecting With An Online SocietyLane Lucas and Father Don discuss the church’s existence in our time, which is dominated by social media and online interactions. Lane served as a communications and marketing professional for the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese before doing the same for St. Charles Borromeo Parish in KC’s northland. He now performs this service for the Bishop Sullivan Center, which offers emergency assistance and a helping hand to people in need. They discuss the challenges the church and nonprofits face in a society that interacts online more than in person.Follow Father Don:...
2024-10-1125 minUpon This Rock#40 - Fundraiser Revisited: Rejoicing The Opportunity To Help The Church’s Social MissionFather Don and his sister, Barbie, review the September 28 Angel Fund celebration at Southside Bar & Grille with co-sponsor Dominic Welsh. Raising over $150,000 to assist children, families, and people in need, at the “When September Ends” gathering of friends, they report back on how the fund, started by a small group of guys, now expands to include many Kansas Citians and others who join this team of angels to do good deeds. We thank all who contributed and rejoice in the opportunity to help the church’s social mission.Follow Father Don:farnanspiritualitycenter.comBl...
2024-10-0420 minUpon This Rock#39 - Welsh Revisited: A Portrait of Family Dynamics & BeliefsThis podcast is a follow-up to Episode #22, in which Mary Ann (Rolf) Welsh and her older son, Eddie, speak about family life. In this follow-up feature, her husband, Danny, and younger son, Stephen, further develop the portrait of family dynamics and beliefs received and handed down in their homes.Contemplating lineage, foundations, strong education, and other anchors in faith, father, and son pay tribute to a religious culture that has nourished them and communities that provide strong principles to live by. You will easily relate to their experiences and share their values.Follow Father...
2024-09-2936 minUpon This Rock#38: Peter Clune: His Blessings & More About The Angel Fund FundraiserPeter Clune sits down with Father Don as a follow-up to an earlier podcast with his buddies, Vince Hodes and Donnie Welsh. This time, Peter fills in some blanks about an upcoming celebration and fundraiser, When September Ends, for their group outreach to less fortunate citizens in the Kansas City area. It occurs on September 28 at the Southside Bar and Grille (1144 W 103rd St, Kansas City, MO, in the Watts Mill Plaza).But first, Peter recounts the blessings he received as a child of Pete and Janice (Kopp) Clune while we recount stories about family, including his...
2024-09-2030 minUpon This Rock#37 - Football & Scripture: Student Mentoring & Bible Study To Help Younger Co-EdsMalik Ashford is a graduate student at Avila University and two-time captain of the Eagles football team, where he is known as “preacher.” Growing up in Detroit, he gained a good work ethic and learned perseverance from his parents. Moving to the California desert at eighteen and enduring a period of gloom, he discovered his role as a man of God before coming to Kansas City. Today, he combines student mentoring and bible study to help younger co-eds find their way through academics and life’s challenging moments.Follow Father Don:Farnan Spirituality CenterFa...
2024-09-1230 minUpon This Rock#36 - The Angel Fund: Helping Families In NeedDonnie Welsh & Vince Hodes are part of a men’s group that challenges members in ways of faith and acts together to help people in need. Years ago, they established an “angel fund” to support families in difficult situations that are trying to make ends meet: parents raising children in poverty, individuals facing struggles that seem unbearable, couples temporarily displaced, and students who want a good education through the Catholic school system.Their group is hosting a fundraising event on Saturday evening, September 28, at the Southside Bar and Grille in south Kansas City. We invite you to partici...
2024-09-0523 minUpon This Rock#35: Sisters of Saint Joseph: Passing Along The Gift of FaithSister Marie Joan Harris, CSJ, has served the Catholic Church in a broad capacity—much of her adult life in Kansas City. She shares stories about how her faith was shaped by her Lutheran mother and Catholic father, as well as educators who influenced her, and suggests good ways to pass along the gift of faith to generations that follow us.She discusses the impact of programs at Avila University, Journey To New Life, and The Saint Joseph Educational Ministries. You will also learn more about the Sisters of Saint Joseph and their care for their dear nei...
2024-08-2938 minUpon This Rock#34 – Church Couple: A Life Filled With Adventure and International IntrigueDenis and Jenny Greene are an unlikely couple to be thought of through a stereotypic church lens. His life has been filled with adventure and international intrigue. Hers was altered when, as a young girl, she fell from a ladder and was caught by an older boy who told her that she was too young to go off the high dive.They have been operating on a spiritual high dive much of their adult lives and share with us some stories, from teaching high school girls to studying brain patterns and habits of high achievers, from assisting...
2024-08-2239 minUpon This Rock#33 - Literature: Discovering Messaging and Spiritual Levels of God’s PresenceKeith (Bullhead) Allen, a longtime local high school literature professor, facilitates a book discussion group for men at the Farnan Spirituality Center. We read classical novels as well as modern and local authors.Through discussion, we consider various levels of messaging, and we explore spiritual levels of God’s presence in everyday experiences and encounters. By identifying with characters from the Bible, fiction, local history, and other literature, we discover more about ourselves and our life’s purpose.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.comParish: St. Francis Xavi...
2024-08-1424 minUpon This Rock#32 - Miracle of Innocence: Helping To Free The InnocentDarryl Burton was unjustly accused of murder in 1984 and served twenty-four years in prison, suffering torture and solitary confinement before he was exonerated for the crime he didn’t commit. Susie Roling, the long-time staff member of Journey To New Life, as well as Operation Breakthrough and an ardent activist to end the death penalty, now works with Darryl to advocate the release of prisoners who have been falsely accused and convicted of crimes.Their work at Miracle of Innocence, in conjunction with The Innocence Project, will inspire you with new insights into the justice system across th...
2024-08-0751 minUpon This Rock#31 - Mystical Experiences: Embracing This Intangible GraceAt a very early age, Marilyn Gibson realized that she had a different sense of faith and reality than most people. As an empath, she possessed a keen sense of others’ feelings and spiritual matters. Both a curse and blessing, she embraces the intangible grace that she possesses.In this interaction, she invites those on mystical paths through awakening, darkness, illumination, and union with God (and the spiritual world) to engage in conversations about their experiences as a means to a deeper understanding of the faith journey from this world to the one beyond. Fo...
2024-08-0134 minUpon This Rock#30 - Kansas City Irish Fest: Celebrating A Strong Relationship With The Emerald IslePat O’Neill, whose father was co-founder of the Kansas City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in the early 1970s, along with his daughter, Keli Wenzel, is the founder of the annual Labor Day Irish Fest at Crown Center.Father and daughter speak about the generations of Irish families in the Midwest and how Kansas City has developed a strong relationship with the Emerald Isle, often reflecting its charm through music, prayer, politics, and community care. Learn more about the 22nd annual Kansas City Irish Fest, August 30 to September 1—come and celebrate with us.Follow...
2024-07-2631 minUpon This Rock#29 – St. Francis Xavier Parish: Transitioning From Jesuit To Diocesan Presbyteral LeadershipSince 2014, Ann Sheridan has served as the Director of Work at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church (SFX), located at 52nd and Troost, between the college campuses of Rockhurst and UMKC universities. “Director of Work” is a Jesuit phrase referring to the Chief Executive Officer, what diocesan sites usually call Parish Administrator; in other words, she runs the day-to-day operations of the faith community as SFX transitions from Jesuit to diocesan presbyteral leadership. Ann shares hope that the community can continue to grow in Ignatian Spirituality and spread the over 100-year influence of the Society of Jesus.Foll...
2024-07-1826 minUpon This Rock#28 - Mixing Fun With Faith: Teaching Athletes About Life Through SportsShawn Summe grew up in South Bend, Indiana, in the happy atmosphere of the Catholic faith, with a good education and Notre Dame football. An athlete deeply rooted in religious history, he played college baseball and was greatly influenced by coaches and role models.His career in teaching and coaching took him to many parts of the country before settling here in Kansas City as athletic director at Avila University. There, he is an enthusiastic motivator who mixes fun with faith in teaching student-athletes about life through sports.Follow Father Don:Website...
2024-07-1138 minUpon This RockEpisode #27 - Shannon Connell Fisher: Yoked In FaithShannon Connell Fisher grew up in south Kansas City, where the Catholic faith deeply shaped her family. As a kula yogi instructor, she reminds people of ways in which the physical and spiritual overlap and interconnect as Jesus taught us to be yoked to Him.Yoga is linked with the fontal importance of breathing, which links to the first scene of creation and Christ’s final action on earth, when He breathed upon the Apostles, similar to how the Creator breathed life into Adam. “Kula” implies the importance of belonging and being in communion with one another and God...
2024-07-0336 minUpon This RockEpisode #26 - Mary Mooney Burns & Pasquale Trozollo: Communication & CommunionPasquale Trozollo and Mary Mooney Burns follow up on the Ignatian Conversation and how it applies to real life. In an Upon This Rock episode two months earlier, Mary explained how the spiritual style of conversation that impacts Rockhurst University and other Jesuit institutes can enhance interactions in today’s society, where exchanges are often volatile and suspicious.Pasquale shares how he utilizes this positive engagement style in the business world. Their dialogue will give you tips for communicating in a way that stands in communion with the Christian faith and that you can practice in daily in...
2024-06-2641 minUpon This RockEpisode #25 - Connie Fahey: From Life To Life BeyondConnie Connell Fahey grew up with three brothers to whom she credits her touch of toughness. She has always faced challenges head-on. Drawn to nursing from a young age, she now, as a wife, mother, and grandmother, continues to serve in the health care field. Her focus includes helping people prepare for death.She compares birth into the next world to birth into this world, which none of us knew before we formed memories. She suggests that the thoughts and feelings of joy that surround birth ought to guide our thoughts and feelings as we approach death...
2024-06-1938 minUpon This RockEpisode #24 - The Grimaldi’s: Using Life Foundations To Help Their Children Make A Positive ImpactGerard & Julie Grimaldi are rooted in academics, architecture, law, politics, family values, and faith. Once parents of four children under four years old, their kids are now adults, each discovering their unique way in a complex world of constant change. Julie and Gerard hope that the firm foundation they inherited and pass along will aid their children in experiencing a society in which basic principles and beliefs will allow them to steer through unchartered waters and make a positive impact on their surroundings.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.com...
2024-06-1224 minUpon This RockEpisode #23 - Neighborhood Justice Center: Legal Assistance For Inner-City FamiliesTom Bradshaw has served over half a century in the legal profession in Kansas City. Educated at Saint Louis U High, Rockhurst College, and UMKC Law School, he heads an urban ministry called The Neighborhood Justice Center that assists residents living in poverty who are held back by juridical challenges to them or their families.Housed at Saint Francis Xavier Parish, this group of volunteer lawyers and others in the legal profession helps inner-city residents understand and work through justice systems to get to a place where they can be more productive citizens. To join in their...
2024-06-0622 minUpon This RockEpisode #22 - Being Catholic: Reflections, Hopes & Fears From A Mother And SonMary Ann Welsh and her son, Eddie, sit down with Father Don to reflect upon being Catholic in Kansas City, how their lives have been shaped by local religious culture, and how they would like to pass along a solid faith to their descendants. Mary Ann grew up in rural Missouri in a Lutheran household and made many adjustments as an adult, moving to Kansas City and becoming Catholic.Eddie’s formative years, like his dad’s, were more parochial, offering a solid anchor to weather life’s challenges. With this background, they hold much hope and a few...
2024-05-3028 minUpon This RockEpisode #21 - Catholic Church Rebound: Recovery From Legal and Moral CrisesKansas City lawyers Theresa Crayon and Patrick McInerney deliberate over how the Catholic Church is rebounding from decades of embarrassing, disheartening, and destructive behavior. The sexual abuse crisis that came to light over the past quarter century and rocked the church in America has impacted us in gut-wrenching ways. The Catholic community in Kansas City, as in many other places, has suffered tremendously because of it. This candid conversation may help you to discuss difficult matters surrounding ecclesial sins in light of God’s mercy and, perhaps, to recognize that we are holier and healthier people because we...
2024-05-2238 minUpon This RockEpisode #20 - Psychology & Faith: Touching The Soul & Impacting Our PsycheDr. Gina Staves, a professor of psychology at Avila University, sits down with Fr. Don to discuss how religion touches the soul of humanity and impacts our psyche. A native of Kansas City, Gina grew up in an Italian Catholic family. Gina gives insight into how people are shaped by their environment. As a college instructor, she witnesses young people aspiring to become active contributors to build a better society. Her gentle encouragement for each of us to be open, honest, and loving in conversation and relationships will hearten you.Follow Father Don:Website...
2024-05-1628 minUpon This Rock#19 - Motherhood: It’s Blessings, Joys & SorrowsLinda Neenan and her daughter, Louisa Weinrich, reflect on motherhood's incredible blessings and deep sorrows. Linda grew up in central Missouri and was enriched by her Baptist community of faith and her family of origin, especially her unique relationship with her mother. She married Mike, the oldest of twelve children, and they had eight of their own, including Louisa, who, along with her husband, Jeff, became parents to five and recently entered the world of grandparenting. They ruminate about motherhood and Blessed Mother Mary's role in their vocation.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.com
2024-05-0948 minUpon This Rock#18 – First Year of College: Independence, Opportunities & ChallengesSophia Giorgio and Hadley Price reflect on their first year at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri. Student-athletes from South Dakota and Southeast Kansas came to Kansas City knowing no one while embracing a new world of responsibility and independence with its many opportunities and challenges. During the year, they discovered more about themselves and the world, relationships, and the many facets of education that take place on a college campus. They offer interesting insights into Avila as a college of access.Follow Father Don:Website: farnanspiritualitycenter.comBlog: fatherdonfarnan.com#farnanspiritualiltycenter ...
2024-05-0126 minUpon This RockEpisode #17 - Mary Mooney Burns: A Conversation About ConversationsMary Mooney Burns joins Father Don to talk about Ignatian Conversation and how it can guide healthy discussions, debates, dialogue, disagreements, and discernment. Saint Ignatius of Loyola, in the 16th Century, was called upon by the pope to help the Catholic Church recover from the Protestant Reformation during the Council of Trent; he sent representatives to present guidelines for conversation to help ecclesial leaders move from impasses to paths of progress and growth. These guides are still used today. Mary’s experience in Ignatian dialogue will help families, coworkers, and friends have more wholesome and meaningful exchanges around tables of...
2024-04-2537 minUpon This Rock#16: The Reardon Family: Passing Along Faith Through GenerationsJerry and Joann (Hilbolt) Reardon and their daughter, Megan, talk about the blessings they received from their parents and other ancestors and traditions within their Catholic roots. They recount how their faith journey led them to seek more scripture-based worship services and study gatherings as they deepened their relationship with Jesus. Through many blessings—and a few struggles—religion became more real as part of their daily awareness and encounters. Now Megan and her siblings pass along to their children an enriched faith that benefits them as both searchers and believers.Farnan Spirituality Center - Father Don's Blog ...
2024-04-1831 minUpon This Rock#15 - Mark & Peter McGilley: Helping Families Celebrate The Lives Of Loved Ones Who DieMark McGilley and his son Peter, from McGilley Funeral Homes, talk about four generations of family serving Kansas Citians through death and dying for over a hundred years. The business has been around since the 19th Century. Mark’s grandfather, James P. McGilley, became a partner in the funeral business in 1930; it was handed down to his children and grandchildren. They reflect upon how funeral services have changed over time and offer some sound advice to help us plan to celebrate the lives of Loved Ones at the time of their passing. The McGilleys also take good care of ve...
2024-04-1026 minUpon This RockEpisode #14 - The Whitaker Sisters: Blessings Of A Solid Faith & Family FoundationThe Whitaker sisters, Amy Hodes, Wendy Zoog, and Francie Bradley, speak with Barbie Farnan about the blessings of having a solid family foundation. Each sister, four years apart in age, offers a different perspective on their similar upbringing and many common experiences. They speak of how those formative years influenced their current roles as wives, mothers, and Christian women in Kansas City today. Their appreciation of their past and hope for their future will encourage listeners to strengthen their own relationships, especially with siblings, as we face the world together and with renewed grace.farnanspiritualitycenter.com - fa...
2024-04-0434 minUpon This RockEpisode #13 – Big People Band: Reflections on Music’s Impact On Our Connection To God And OthersMusicians John Ammatelli, Josh Batz, and John Legg from the band Big People join Father Don in discussing the value music plays in spiritual revelations. Now in their fifties, they reminisce about music in their homes while growing up, joining basement or garage bands while in school, and being impacted by music in church worship. They continue to play at local venues in Kansas City and regularly appear at the Brooksider Bar and Grill. Because music touches humanity’s soul, unites people of varying generations and cultures, serves as a universal language, and elevates us to a harmonious connection, th...
2024-03-2732 min
Upon This RockEpisode #11: The Tiehen Sisters: The Importance of Family & Passing Along Religious ValuesSisters Nan Bone and Jane Quarnstrom join siblings Barbie and Don Farnan. They share stories of what it was like growing up in the Tiehen Family household and getting educated formally by Catholic schools and informally by neighborhood and family encounters. Nan’s experience as an elementary school principal and high school president, along with Jane’s ventures as a mother and grandmother, are just a small part of their life-long history as best friends. This episode will inspire you to consider the importance of family and passing along religious values to children and future generations.https://farna...
2024-03-1430 minUpon This RockEpisode #10-Mike Matteuzzi: Discovering God Along Unconventional PathsMike Matteuzzi, trial lawyer, managing partner, guest lecturer, and spiritual facilitator, spent his boyhood in Saint Louis and manhood in Kansas City. He joins Father Don in this podcast to confer about spiritual endeavors at various stages of life. In moving from an insulated Catholic environment of regulations and expectations to authentic mystical experiences, Mike tells of spiritual awakenings that take place within those who discover God along unconventional paths. As a facilitator to a group of mystic misfits and promoter of modern wisdom teachers who guide faith-seekers through Contemporary Spirituality, Mike’s insights will give you direction.
2024-03-0722 minUpon This RockEpisode #8 - The Rosary, A Significant Part Of The Faith TraditionFather Don Farnan reflects upon the rosary, a Catholic devotional prayer that has a significant place in the faith tradition of many families. He shares historical aspects of its development over time and its connection to other religions that embrace prayer beads as a means for connecting to divine realms as we maneuver through the challenges and mysteries of daily living. Mary, the mother of Jesus, the central figure of the rosary, maintains a special honor for many Catholics and serves as an example for people seeking to surrender to God’s will.https://farnanspiritualitycenter.com - http...
2024-02-2220 minUpon This RockEpisode 6 - Faith MattersFather Don Farnan and his sister, Barbie, discuss numerous aspects of their Catholic faith within their family and beyond. The series’ title reminds us that the church was founded upon the rock-solid ministry of Jesus, who named his disciple, Simon, to lead it, saying: “You are Peter (the rock), and upon this rock I will build my church.” This episode discusses family, parental influence, childhood foibles, birth order, spiritual encounters, maternal sacrifice, and how religious backgrounds can influence our society.https://farnanspiritualitycenter.com #farnanspiritualitycenter
2024-02-0926 min
Upon This RockFather Justin Mathews & Reconciliation ServicesFather Don Farnan interviews Father Justin Mathews, an orthodox priest and director of Reconciliation Services in Kansas City, Missouri. Their discussion reveals the history and mission of Reconciliation Services: to transform the Troost Avenue area from a place of division to a place of gathering.Reconciliation Services has served the urban core community of Kansas City for 30+ years. Their programs address the need for affordable food, safe environments, and increased access to social and mental health services. https://www.rs3101.org/ https://farnanspiritualitycenter.com #farnanspiritualitycenter
2023-12-1149 minUpon This RockHow Religious Educational Institutions Shape CommunitiesDr. Rick Janet, longtime chair of the theology department at Rockhurst University, talks with Fr. Don Farnan about Catholic Intellectual Tradition and how religious educational institutions shape communities. He offers great insight into the importance of core curricular studies in theology, philosophy, and other humanities that lift collective minds and hearts to higher realms. This is one of the ways that Rockhurst impacts Kansas City and enhances richer dialogue and discernment through community interactions. #farnanspiritualitycenter
2023-11-0855 min
Upon This RockThe David Brooks InterviewFather Don interviews David Brooks, renowned New York Times columnist, best-selling author, and regular on “PBS NewsHour,” NPR’s “All Things Considered” and NBC’s “Meet the Press.” The discussion reveals how to achieve true joy, purpose, and success in life by embracing God’s life virtues. Brooks is an American cultural commentator. His newest book is “How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others.” #farnanspiritualitycenter farnanspiritualitycenter.com
2023-10-0220 minUpon This RockJourney To New LifeUpon This Rock Episode 1 features an interview with Kathleen Kennedy and Susie Roling from Journey To New Life in Kansas City, Missouri. Journey facilitates people reentering society from prison or other criminal involvement by providing emergency assistance, housing, reentry case management, and employment assistance. Learn more at: https://journeytonewlife.org. #farnanspiritualitycenterUpon This Rock is hosted by Father Don Farnan and produced by Farnan Spirituality Center in Kansas City, Missouri. https://farnanspiritualitycenter.com.
2023-08-301h 03