Catholic Review Radio

From Russian prince to American frontier priest

In the early years of the Catholic Church in the United States, few figures were as unlikely — or as fascinating — as Prince Demetrius Augustin Gallitzin. Born into Russian nobility with Catherine the Great as his godmother, Gallitzin became a Catholic priest on the American frontier, earning the title "Apostle of the Alleghenies." Catherine O’Donnell, a historian at Arizona State University, joins host George Matysek to discuss the extraordinary life of one of the most fascinating figures in the early U.S. Catholic Church. Gallitzin arrived in Baltimore in the late 18th century and came under the guidance of Bishop John Carroll, the first Catholic bishop in the United States. After serving briefly at St. Joseph in Taneytown, he ministered in even more remote areas of rural Pennsylvania. O’Donnell discusses Gallitzin’s unusual upbringing, his difficult relationship with his strong-willed mother and the deep faith that drew him to the priesthood. The conversation also explores his tensions with Bishop Carroll, his efforts to build a distinctly Catholic community in frontier America and his writings defending the faith. Guest: Catherine O'Donnell Host: George P. Matysek Jr. Producer: George P. Matysek Jr. Copyright © 2026 Catholic Review Media

May 17, 2026 | Saying yes to God's plan

Gregg Landry, founder of Blue Rock Productions and president of the Catholic Business Network of Baltimore, didn't set out to be a faith leader. He came to UMBC to play baseball and ended up doing suicide crisis counseling and working in Baltimore's most troubled neighborhoods. Looking back, he sees God's hand in all of it. Mark Viviano talks with Landry about how saying yes has shaped everything since. They discuss how a single reflection question at a men's faith group — what have you said no to that could have been a blessing? — led Landry to eucharistic ministry at Good Samaritan Hospital and, eventually, prison ministry. Whether filming celebrities, praying with hospital patients or gathering teammates before an ultimate Frisbee tournament, Landry's message is the same: bring Christ into every interaction. Guest: Gregg Landry Host: Mark Viviano Producer: George P. Matysek Jr. Copyright © 2026 Catholic Review Media

May 10, 2026 | Why a world-class pianist gave up a promising career to become a priest

He was once a rising concert pianist, performing for audiences around the world—until he answered a call he could not ignore. Catholic Review Managing Editor George Matysek speaks with Sulpician Father Paul Maillet about his journey from the concert stage to the priesthood. A former student of the legendary Leon Fleisher, Father Maillet reflects on the discipline and demands of a professional music career – and how a vocation first sparked in high school gradually took hold through prayer, service and discernment. Now a faculty member at St. Mary's Seminary and University in Roland Park, he continues to integrate music into his life and ministry, describing it as a powerful form of prayer. He also previews his upcoming concert at the Baltimore Basilica and offers practical insight on listening for God’s call and finding lasting peace.

May 3, 2026 | Catholic author Emily Stimpson Chapman on wine, monasteries and the art of hospitality

What do monks, monasteries and a great bottle of Bordeaux have in common? More than you might think. On this episode of Catholic Review Radio, host Rita Buettner speaks with Emily Stimpson Chapman, a bestselling Catholic author who has spent years tracing the deeply intertwined histories of winemaking and the Church in her new coffee table book, "Sacred Wine: The Holy History and Heritage of Catholic Vintners." Chapman explains how monks preserved and elevated winemaking after the fall of the Roman Empire – and why the Mass was central to their motivation. She also discusses her remarkable recent output of four books in six months, including "The Story of All Stories," a salvation history Bible for young Catholics, and "Around the Catholic Table," a cookbook rooted in her family's charism of hospitality and adoption. Throughout, Chapman reflects on how motherhood, prayer and a lifelong sense of calling have shaped her life as one of Catholic publishing's most prolific voices.

Apr. 26, 2026 | Pope Leo XIV's biographer shares insights on the Augustinian who became pope

When white smoke rose over the Sistine Chapel last year, Elise Ann Allen was one of the few journalists who already knew the man stepping onto the balcony. The Rome-based correspondent for Crux had first met Cardinal Robert Prevost in Peru years earlier while covering the Church's response to the abuse crisis — an encounter that eventually led to a dinner with the future pope and, after his election, the first in-depth interview with Pope Leo XIV. George Matysek talks with Allen about her new biography of Pope Leo XIV, published this April in English. She traces how his years as an Augustinian missionary in crisis-torn Peru shaped his pastoral vision, his instinct for synodality and his quiet but effective leadership style. She also reflects on his evolving relationship with Pope Francis, his approach to the Latin Mass debate, and his recent, pointed calls for peace.