Hugh's on First with the Catholic Church

Marriage, Mercy, and the Making of "Catholic Joe"

Steve Thomas shares the inspiration behind 'Catholic Joe, Superhero': to bolster men and promote the Catholic faith. Dive into a gripping tale where Joe fights to save his brother's marriage and challenges misconceptions about divorce. A story of hope and redemption. #CatholicJoe [https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/catholicjoe?__eep__=6%2F&__cft__[0]=AZYhqQhNQC6kPGJ0_Jj1hEUxEyqcS1-oG1nPTuDlhKD2gBDOr002S0FKeQSmH-BO1lJpR8T8RRM0ePWhf2JlnWjJVrm9EhCZEuVi3xaFa1p67lL0K_g_JwmW5qtloXB47XAGgE0bo6UvvQ6ZY0dSzhToaNYYAOPg7MYPyz_1bM--hf3QvhEK6WFFOlYujYL-DYIWxos9emfoxwWGUzLxP4Fg&__tn__=*NK-R] #Marriage [https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/marriage?__eep__=6%2F&__cft__[0]=AZYhqQhNQC6kPGJ0_Jj1hEUxEyqcS1-oG1nPTuDlhKD2gBDOr002S0FKeQSmH-BO1lJpR8T8RRM0ePWhf2JlnWjJVrm9EhCZEuVi3xaFa1p67lL0K_g_JwmW5qtloXB47XAGgE0bo6UvvQ6ZY0dSzhToaNYYAOPg7MYPyz_1bM--hf3QvhEK6WFFOlYujYL-DYIWxos9emfoxwWGUzLxP4Fg&__tn__=*NK-R] #Faith [https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/faith?__eep__=6%2F&__cft__[0]=AZYhqQhNQC6kPGJ0_Jj1hEUxEyqcS1-oG1nPTuDlhKD2gBDOr002S0FKeQSmH-BO1lJpR8T8RRM0ePWhf2JlnWjJVrm9EhCZEuVi3xaFa1p67lL0K_g_JwmW5qtloXB47XAGgE0bo6UvvQ6ZY0dSzhToaNYYAOPg7MYPyz_1bM--hf3QvhEK6WFFOlYujYL-DYIWxos9emfoxwWGUzLxP4Fg&__tn__=*NK-R] #Redemption [https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/redemption?__eep__=6%2F&__cft__[0]=AZYhqQhNQC6kPGJ0_Jj1hEUxEyqcS1-oG1nPTuDlhKD2gBDOr002S0FKeQSmH-BO1lJpR8T8RRM0ePWhf2JlnWjJVrm9EhCZEuVi3xaFa1p67lL0K_g_JwmW5qtloXB47XAGgE0bo6UvvQ6ZY0dSzhToaNYYAOPg7MYPyz_1bM--hf3QvhEK6WFFOlYujYL-DYIWxos9emfoxwWGUzLxP4Fg&__tn__=*NK-R] #Hope [https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/hope?__eep__=6%2F&__cft__[0]=AZYhqQhNQC6kPGJ0_Jj1hEUxEyqcS1-oG1nPTuDlhKD2gBDOr002S0FKeQSmH-BO1lJpR8T8RRM0ePWhf2JlnWjJVrm9EhCZEuVi3xaFa1p67lL0K_g_JwmW5qtloXB47XAGgE0bo6UvvQ6ZY0dSzhToaNYYAOPg7MYPyz_1bM--hf3QvhEK6WFFOlYujYL-DYIWxos9emfoxwWGUzLxP4Fg&__tn__=*NK-R] #Catholic [https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/catholic?__eep__=6%2F&__cft__[0]=AZYhqQhNQC6kPGJ0_Jj1hEUxEyqcS1-oG1nPTuDlhKD2gBDOr002S0FKeQSmH-BO1lJpR8T8RRM0ePWhf2JlnWjJVrm9EhCZEuVi3xaFa1p67lL0K_g_JwmW5qtloXB47XAGgE0bo6UvvQ6ZY0dSzhToaNYYAOPg7MYPyz_1bM--hf3QvhEK6WFFOlYujYL-DYIWxos9emfoxwWGUzLxP4Fg&__tn__=*NK-R] #Superhero [https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/superhero?__eep__=6%2F&__cft__[0]=AZYhqQhNQC6kPGJ0_Jj1hEUxEyqcS1-oG1nPTuDlhKD2gBDOr002S0FKeQSmH-BO1lJpR8T8RRM0ePWhf2JlnWjJVrm9EhCZEuVi3xaFa1p67lL0K_g_JwmW5qtloXB47XAGgE0bo6UvvQ6ZY0dSzhToaNYYAOPg7MYPyz_1bM--hf3QvhEK6WFFOlYujYL-DYIWxos9emfoxwWGUzLxP4Fg&__tn__=*NK-R] https://catholicjoesuperhero.com/ [https://catholicjoesuperhero.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExTXVLUnh0Q3hNMGpXQThkSHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5fl2Hh9U4_fnmJctO_eaqHvHTVe4gcSErffSpQu-RSfqTrSN7q0Q-M9bDrmQ_aem_fueoHt5wOcUUqpf4EFJ1Xg] Special thanks to John McGuire for his assistance in arranging this interview.

An American Knight: Colonel John Ripley

Author Norman Fulkerson discusses the life of Colonel John Ripley, a Marine known for his exceptional courage and deep Catholic faith. We discuss how Ripley's faith influenced his actions in combat, his leadership style, and his commitment to family and fidelity.

From Shame to Mercy: The Catholic Heart of Pro-Life Across America

In this inaugural episode of Hugh’s on First with the Catholic Church, host Hugh Macken speaks with Mary Ann Kuharski, founder of Pro-Life Across America, and her daughter Angie Johnson, the organization’s associate director. Together, they share the inspiring Catholic vision behind an apostolate known for its gentle, truth-filled outreach—offering mercy without shame to mothers, fathers, and families in crisis. Mary Ann recounts how frustration over politics led her to start Pro-Life Across America in 1989 with just 42 billboards and a dream to change hearts through compassion and facts—not condemnation. Today, their ministry reaches across 46 states with 10,000+ billboards, a 24/7/365 hotline, and digital ads offering hope and help rooted in Catholic faith and love. Angie explains how their positive, non-political approach—grounded in St. John Paul II’s call to build a culture of life and love—invites women and men alike to healing and conversion. Filled with touching stories of lives saved, families transformed, and the quiet power of prayer, this conversation reminds us that the Gospel message is not one of guilt, but of grace—and that even a simple billboard can become a beacon of mercy. Listeners can learn more about Pro Life Across America at https://prolifeacrossamerica.org/ [https://prolifeacrossamerica.org/] This episode was sponsored by VMR Communications in association with Catholic365.com