Shows
Called to Serve with Kathy BarransA Conversation with Bishop Mark O'Connell (Season 2 Episode 4)Bishop Mark O'Connell talks about his experience in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, NY in his first two months as our Bishop, sharing the challenges and joys. He also shares his plans for our Diocese moving forward.
2026-02-0625 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransPlanning a Holy Thursday Pilgrimage (Season 2 Episode 3)Fr. Dan Quinn, pastor of several parishes in Albany, NY, shares information on how to plan a Holy Thursday Pilgrimage. He organized a pilgrimage in his area last year. He even created a passport that participants were able to have stamped at each of their stops. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, NY is sharing this information, along with a downloadable, printable link to the passport at https://www.rcda.org/holy-thursday-pilgrimage for anyone who wants organize a pilgrimage in their area.
2026-01-3024 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransSacred Sparks: Speed Dating for Young Adults (Season 2 Episode 2)Casey Vincelette and Jac Domingos, two young adults in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, NY are on the team organizing this year's Sacred Sparks Speed Dating event. In this episode, they talk about last year's inaugural Sacred Sparks event, how young adults can get involved this year, and how the young adult community continues to grow in the Albany Diocese.
2026-01-2225 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransHealing and Hope for Grieving Mothers (Season 2 Episode 1)Shaunda Penny, co-founder of the Miscarriage Ministry in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, NY https://www.rcda.org/miscarriageministry shares her personal story of loss and how she and Katie Grogan are now working to help others to find healing. Shaunda also shares about A Day of Healing and Hope - a retreat for women experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss. It happens on January 24, 2026, 9am-4pm at St. Clement's Church in Saratoga Springs, NY.
2026-01-0924 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 25: The Purpose Behind the PodcastWe turn the tables on this one. Brigid Beck, Communications Specialist in the Communications Office for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, NY, interviews Communications Director and podcast host, Kathy Barrans, asking how the Called to Serve Podcast came about.
2025-11-2425 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 24: Young Adult Groups Grow & InspireYoung adult groups continue to grow across the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, New York. In this episode, we sit down with two young adults, Brigid Beck and James Marra, who share about their personal relationship with Jesus Christ and how these young adult communities enhance their faith journey.
2025-11-0724 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 23: National Vocations Week (Nov. 2-8, 2025)We are all called to a vocation, but what does that mean? I am blessed to welcome three people serving God in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, New York - Fr. Stephen Yusko, Sr. Angela Marie Leo with the Sisters of the Resurrection, and Dave Stagliano who serves the diocese as a single person. Each shares how they heard and answered God's call to serve.
2025-10-3125 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 22: What is Evangelization?We often hear about the importance of evangelizing, but what does that really mean and how do I do it? Tom Acemoglu is the Pastoral Associate for Evangelization and Catechesis at St. Ambrose Church in Latham, NY. He shares thoughts that can help all of us.
2025-10-2425 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 21: A Young Adult Shares His Deep FaithMatt Levine is a young adult, and a parishioner in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, NY. His wife listens to the Called to Serve Podcast and thought her husband's faith journey would be an inspiring story to share. She was correct!
2025-10-1624 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 20: The Value of Christian CommunityCarter Gooley is the new Communications Coordinator for Blessed Sacrament, Mater Christi, All Saints and the Shrine of the Americas in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, NY. He talks about the value of Christian community which he experienced personally while doing mission working in Colorado.
2025-10-1024 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 19: Celebrating St. Carlo AcutisPaul Heckman, a parishioner at Immaculate Conception Church in Glenville, NY and Fr. Tom Konopka, Pastor of St. Joseph Church in Scotia, NY and the Director of the Consultation Center in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, NY, talk about a 40 Hour Devotion at Immaculate Conception (Oct 10-12, 2025) celebrating the Feast Day of St. Carlo Acutis. They share the impact that St. Carlo has had on them personally and on their parishes.
2025-10-0124 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 18: Don't Fear ChangeMarcia Caryofilles, a parishioner in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, New York, says don't fear change. Throughout the history of our faith, God has called His followers to change. That call can lead us closer to Him and help us to better serve Him in the world today. This episode mentions the Remade for Mission effort in the Albany Diocese. To learn more: https://www.rcda.org/remadeformission
2025-09-1625 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 17: A First Year Deacon Shares His ExperienceDeacon Alex Turpin, a transitional deacon in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, New York, talks about his experience since being ordained in May of 2025.
2025-09-0324 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode16: Hearing God's Call In The Midst of Great LossFr Mike Melanson, a retired priest in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, NY, continues the story of how God called him to the priesthood at one of the lowest moments in his life. As he shared beautifully in Episode 15, he had just lost the love of his life, his wife, to a battle with breast cancer. He said the love of his family, friends, and God, carried him through the pain and helped him to hear and answer God's call to become a priest.
2025-08-2524 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 15: Hearing God's Call Through PainFr. Mike Melanson, a retired priest in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, NY, shares the story of how he heard God's call to become a priest through one of the toughest experiences of his life. He is so honest about the emotions he experienced and how family, friends, and God, led him through the pain, to find a joy he couldn't have imagined. That joy comes from serving God.
2025-08-1824 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 14 Summer SeminariansThree seminarians in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, New York, Franklin Anyanechi, Justin Hollingshead, and Anthony Leo, share what their formation entails in the summer months.
2025-08-0724 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 13 The Vocations ProcessSeminarian Franklin Anyanechi explains the vocations process in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, NY
2025-08-0124 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 12: Christian Joy: What it is and how you can share itSister Teresa Grace Baillargeon, the Vocations Directress for the Sisters of the Resurrection talks about Christian Joy, what it is, how to recognize it, how to nurture it, and the importance of sharing it.
2025-07-0325 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 11: Remade for MissionFr. Rendell Torres, Rector at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, NY, has been inviting members of his staff and parish network to share ideas about how they can be more mission-focused. He listens and learns, and together they are already moving forward with some of those ideas. It's part of the Remade for Mission initiative that Bishop Edward Scharfenberger has launched in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.To learn more, log onto https://www.rcda.org/remadeformission
2025-06-2724 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 10: A Love of ScriptureTom Acemoglu, Pastoral Associate for Evangelization and Catechesis at St. Ambrose Church in Latham, New York shares his love for Scripture, the people who inspired that love, and the lessons he's learned as a result.
2025-06-2324 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 9: Bishop Edward Scharfenberger talks about what it means to be mission-focusedBishop Edward Scharfenberger, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, NY talks about what it means for a church to be mission-focused.
2025-06-0525 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 8: How to have a personal relationship with Jesus ChristPope Leo XIV has said the New Evangelization of the Catholic Church needs to begin with a personal encounter with Jesus. Bishop Edward Scharfenberger of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, New York, shares thoughts on how each of us can nurture that relationship.
2025-05-2725 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 7 Loving God and Finding Joy in ServiceDeacon Gary Riggi, serving in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, NY shares how he feels called to serve, his deep love for God, and the joy he finds in serving Him. Deacon Riggi serves as deacon at Our Lady of the Valley in Middleburgh, NY. He is the Director of Engagement at City Mission in Schenectady, NY; Director and Retreat Master at the Joshua House in Altamont, NY; and he serves as a spiritual director.
2025-05-1425 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 6 Solitude on a Busy HighwaySr. Sue Zemgulis, Administrator of the Dominican Retreat and Conference Center in Niskayuna, N.Y. talks about how she feels called to serve and what the Dominican Retreat and Conference Center has to offer. Check out all the programs offered and how you can take part in person or online https://www.dslcny.org/
2025-05-0725 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 5 A New Priest Reflects On His First YearFr. Tom Fallati reflects on his first year as a priest. He was ordained in May 2024 in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, New York. https://www.rcda.org/
2025-04-2524 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 4 Spiritual Direction: What is it all about?Kris Rooney, a spiritual director in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, NY shares what it is all about and why anyone can consider it. It's not just for people who want to get into religious life.
2025-04-1725 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 3 The National Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs, Auriesville, NYExecutive Director, Julie Baaki talks about the history of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs, the national designation by the USCCB, and the many blessings people experience on the grounds.
2025-04-0224 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 1 Discerning a Vocation to the PriesthoodJustin Hollingshead is discerning a vocation to the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, NY. In this episode he talks about how working as a standup comic, struggling college student, and filmmaker led him to become Catholic and consider the priesthood.
2025-03-2725 minCalled to Serve with Kathy BarransEpisode 2 "The Carpenter's Son"John Gray, TV News Anchor in Albany, NY, talks about his new novel, "The Carpenter's Son," and shares the role faith plays in his life and this project.
2025-03-2725 min