Shows
Upon 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 min
Contemporary SpiritualityAnn AllegreDr. Allegre is a pioneer in the fields of hospice care and palliative medicine. She began her career in general medicine and soon became interested in palliative medicine as a result of a personal experience with life-threatening illness. She joined Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care in 1995 and became its first director of medical programs. In 1999, she became the founding medical director of the Palliative Care Consult Team at Providence Medical Center in Kansas City. Colleagues praise her remarkable communication skills, her holistic and spiritual approach to her patients and their families, and her finely honed clinical expertise. Dr...
2023-01-2522 min
Contemporary SpiritualitySimone CurlsSimone Curls is a Kansas City native and the Executive Director of Prospect Business Association. She has over fifteen years experience owning a business consulting firm in Los Angeles. From that experience, she assisted businesses start-up, scale-up, provided one-on-one business consulting, conducted workshops and training. She also worked with various partners, community-based organizations, and public and private sectors to provide resources and support.
2022-02-0135 minContemporary SpiritualityTom CordaroTom Cordaro is the Justice & Outreach Minister for St. Margaret Mary in Naperville, Illinois. Tom coordinates the charity work of the parish and is responsible for educating parishioners about issues of justice and peace as they related to Catholic Social Teaching. Tom served on the national staff of Pax Christi USA and was also a founding member of the Pax Christi Anti-Racism Team which assist Pax Christi USA in transforming itself into an anti-racist multi-cultural Catholic movement for peace and justice.
Tom has been involved with faith-based peace and justice work for over 40 years as a local, r...
2022-02-0150 minContemporary SpiritualityCharles KennedyBoth Charles and Mike were part of a group that completed the Richard Rohr Living School in 2017. His journey includes business success, a battle with alcoholism and his resulting sobriety, including his thoughts on his current battle with cancer. Mike asked Charles to identify some key aspects of his journey and he provided the following – “Finding out I’ve always been okay; I just didn’t know it. Trudging the road of happy destiny. Giving up the merit economy so as to join the economy of Grace. Finally knowing God loves me because He is good not because I am good.
2021-09-1349 min2021-09-1338 minContemporary SpiritualityJohn KurtzJohn has a trial lawyer’s skill, coupled with a servant’s heart. Below in John’s own words is a summary of the essence of his journey.
My feelings about my Maker and my faith seem like unto John Wesley’s expression of his “conversion” experience ---
Aldersgate Day is celebrated on May 24 (or the Sunday closest) to commemorate the day in 1738 when John Wesley experienced assurance of his salvation. Wesley reluctantly attended a group meeting that evening on Aldersgate Street in London. As he heard a reading from Luther's Preface to the Epistle to the Romans...
2021-08-2436 minContemporary SpiritualityMichael Poffenberger, Executive Director CACIn this episode, Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) Executive Director Michael Poffenberger shares how they are building on Fr. Richard Rohr’s vision for the organization and its role in the future of the Christian contemplative movement. Founded by Fr. Richard in 1987 as a “school for prophets,” today the CAC provides spiritual wisdom and guidance to millions of seekers around the world in support of inner and outer transformation.
2021-08-1150 minContemporary SpiritualityFrank CordaroFrank Cordaro 70 yr old Des Moines native, former Des Moines Diocesan Catholic priest for 19 years, co-founder of the Des Moines Catholic Worker in 1976. Frank calls the Berrigan brothers Dan and Phil his rabbis. His 1st arrest on the steps of the Pentagon Aug 9, 1977. Frank’s been arrested hundreds of times, in lots of places, for a wide range of issues over the years, spending over nights, to months in jails or prisons. Collectively Frank has done 6 years of jail and/or prison time, never more than 6 months at a time over the last 44 yrs.
Two weeks after 9/11 in 2...
2021-04-291h 12Contemporary SpiritualityCristo ReyInterview with Cristo Rey's President, John O’Connor, and Director of Corporate Work Study Program, Ted Koppen. Cristo Rey Kansas City provides a Catholic, college and career prep education enhanced by an innovative corporate work study program to culturally diverse, ambitious students with economic need.
In 2006, Cristo Rey Kansas City opened its doors making an intentional investment in students of limited economic means across the metro area. Drawing on the educational experience of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth and the Cristo Rey Network, school leaders set out to make college and career-prep education accessible for ambitious stu...
2021-04-2937 minContemporary SpiritualitySharon and David HooverSharon and David Hoover live in Joplin, MO. David holds a Masters in Theological Studies from the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley, California and Sharon holds a Masters of Counseling Psychology and a Certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy from the California School of Integral Studies in San Francisco.
Both are Spiritual Directors and teach in a Spiritual Direction training program offered by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, California. They lived in Orange County and worked for/with the Sisters of St. Joseph for many years. Sharon worked at Bethany, a transitional living program for...
2021-01-2950 minContemporary SpiritualityBiagio MazzaBiagio Mazza is Pastoral Associate for St. Sabina’s Parish in Belton, Missouri providing for the adult faith formation needs of the parish. Biagio has worked for the church in various positions for over 40 years. Before coming to St. Sabina in May 2006, Biagio was a staff member of the Center for Pastoral Life and Ministry in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, for over 17 years. Prior to joining the staff of the Center for Pastoral Life and Ministry, Biagio worked in catechetical ministry in the Archdiocese of New York for over 12 years.
Biagio published one book and co...
2021-01-2029 minContemporary SpiritualityJohn DearAs you may recall, John Dear did our first interview (July 2020). He was with Pace e Bene then. Recently, on November 1st, John launched a new website www.beatitudescenter.org to offer a wide variety of online zoom programs, classes, workshops, retreats and classes.
Their mission is “To teach and promote the Gospel message that Jesus was totally nonviolent, and that all his followers are called to be totally nonviolent.”
And their vision is as follows: “We strive to help Christians study and live Jesus’ Gospel teachings of nonviolence, especially in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt...
2021-01-0423 minContemporary SpiritualityJerusalem FarmOur podcast’s first panel features Jerusalem Farm founders in a discussion on the formation of the community and each of their journeys to JFarm. Sunny and Jessie were speakers when a Jerusalem Farm panel joined us at Avila in November of 2017, where they spoke about Laudauto Si.
David Armstrong has served as the Director of Mission Effectiveness and Campus Ministries at Avila University for the past 18 years. His personal experiences at Nazareth Farm in West Virginia and his relentless enthusiasm lead him to dream of an urban farm in KC.
Jessie Schiele is the Ex...
2020-12-1453 minContemporary SpiritualityNick PickrellFor those of you who do not know Nick, he is a local pastor, activist, performer, antiracism trainer, and real estate agent in Kansas City. He has over 10 years of experience doing antipoverty, de-escalation, and antiracism work. He serves on the board of Cherith Brook Catholic Worker, and is the founding pastor of The Open Table, a dinner church devoted to peace and liberation. Listen as we discuss how Nick came to be devoted action, contemplation and antiracism, both in his personal life as well as in the life of the church he pastors.
2020-12-0951 minContemporary SpiritualityBill TammeusThe day of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Kansas City Star columnist Bill Tammeus was assigned to write the lead commentary for a special edition of the paper to be published that afternoon. Partway through that task, he learned that his nephew was a passenger on the first plane to smash into the World Trade Center. Now, almost 20 years later, Bill recounts in his new book the multiple traumas his extended family experienced because of that. Love, Loss and Endurance: A 9/11 Story of Resilience and Hope in an Age of Anxiety, to be published Jan. 19 (but available for pre-order now on...
2020-11-3053 minContemporary SpiritualitySr Ilia DelioSr Ilia Delio, a respected academic and theologian, is Josephine C. Connelly Endowed Chair in Theology at Villanova University and the author of nearly 20 books including Christ In Evolution, The Emergent Christ, The Unbearable Wholeness of Being and Making All Things New. She is the founder and vision behind the Omega Center now Center for Christogenesis. She is an internationally sought after presenter speaking on the intersection of Science and Religion and we were honored to have Ilia give weekend retreats in Kansas City (of course, before packed crowds) in 2017 and 2018.
Her recent memoir- Birth of a Da...
2020-11-131h 02Contemporary SpiritualityHollis HanoverHollis is a local Kansas City attorney whose career has included decades of premier trial work followed by decades of exemplar mediation/arbitration work. His work on sexual abuse cases in KC drew national attention. Hollis is most importantly a wise soul and a committed man of faith.
2020-10-2937 minContemporary SpiritualityDan DobbinsFor those who attended the nearly 20 Father Meninger retreats we did in Missouri and Kansas in 2014, 2015 and 2016- you will remember Dan. Dan has been organizing and attending these retreats for Father Meninger throughout the country and abroad since 2010. Do yourself a favor and give this interview a listen. You will hear about Dan’s spiritual journey, his visits to Snowmass and interactions with Thomas Keating, Joe Boyle and others and his insights from over 100 retreats with Father William Meninger. Enjoy!
2020-10-1937 minContemporary SpiritualityKevin KelleyRev. Kevin Kelly is a local pastor and the leader of our Tuesday morning prayer group the Mystic Misfits (although he prefers to refer to himself as part of the leadership team). Kevin’s recently completed doctor of ministry work focused on spirituality in general and the Mystics specifically. Kevin was one of the original members of this contemplative group. This interview includes his journey, vocation and insights.
2020-10-0244 minContemporary SpiritualityFr Carl AricoFr. Carl is a founding member of Contemplative Outreach and a longtime friend of Father Thomas Keating. In this interview, Father Carl- a funny, warm and delightful wise soul, talks about his journey, centering prayer and his time with Thomas Keating.
2020-09-181h 01Contemporary SpiritualitySr Mary Agnes PattersonSister Mary Agnes is the current Director of Development and former prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison Kansas. As a Benedictine nun for the past 51 years, you will not only hear her story but also the story of Mount St. Scholastica. So many of these nuns (now about 110 in number), have been at the Mount for 40, 50 or more years and still “shine like the sun.” Hope you enjoy!
2020-08-2845 minContemporary SpiritualityFr Don FarnanFr. Farnan, ordained in 1987, is pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish. After graduating from Rockhurst College, he received a Master of Divinity from University of St. Mary of the Lake, Chicago, and a Master in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University. He has served as pastor of several parishes, most recently St. Thomas More. Diocesan positions in which he served are Director of Vocations, Director of Priest Personnel, and the College of Consultors. He established the Upper Room, an inner city literacy program for youth and their families. He is author of: Crossroads of Hope:A Priest’s Inner (City) Jou...
2020-08-181h 08Contemporary SpiritualityFr Ron Rolheiser: Up Close and PersonalRead more about Fr Ron Rolheiser here: https://ronrolheiser.com/about-ron/
2020-07-301h 06Contemporary SpiritualityFr William MeningerFr William Meninger is an American Trappist monk who is a spiritual teacher and a principal developer of Centering Prayer, a method of contemplative prayer.
After studying at St. John's Seminary in Boston, Meninger was ordained a priest in 1958 for the Diocese of Yakima in the State of Washington, where he worked on an Indian reservation and with Mexican migrant workers for six years. In 1963 he entered the Trappists at St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts, where he served in the guesthouse for 15 years, as well as teaching scripture, liturgy and patristics to the younger member of t...
2020-07-221h 08Contemporary SpiritualityJohn DearJohn Dear is an internationally known voice for peace and nonviolence. A peacemaker, organizer, lecturer, and retreat leader, he is the author/editor of 35 books, including his autobiography, “A Persistent Peace”. In 2008, John was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. John has been arrested over seventy-five times in acts of nonviolent civil disobedience for peace, and has organized hundreds of demonstrations against war and nuclear weapons at military bases across the country, as well as worked with Mother Teresa and others to stop the death penalty. A former Jesuit, John is a Catholic priest of the...
2020-07-131h 002020-07-1200 min