The Church Podcast

Episode 062 – AI, Faith, and the Future of Hispanic Ministry with Dr. Patty Jiménez

In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Dr. Patty Jiménez, Visiting Professor at the University of San Diego and Founder of Recetas, a spirituality and wellness community for U.S.-born and raised Latinas, through the NFCYM Podcast Network. Patty shares her 27-year journey in pastoral ministry — from parish volunteer to doctoral theologian specializing in Hispanic/Latino theology — and how her curiosity about technology eventually led her from web development to building AI-powered platforms for Catholic organizations across the country. Together, Christopher and Patty explore what the Church has always gotten right about engaging new technology, where AI presents genuine opportunities for under-resourced Hispanic ministry, and why the biggest risks have less to do with robots and more to do with what happens to human relationships, critical thinking, and local charisms when we stop being intentional.

Episode 061 – Helping Loved Ones Return to the Faith with Molly Schorr

In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Molly Schorr, Membership Coordinator for NFCYM and Founder of Return Faith Ministries, through the NFCYM Podcast Network. Molly shares her 25-year journey in parish ministry — from a pre-med student in Minnesota who felt a clear call to theology, to building a nonprofit apostolate born out of adoration and a prayer intention book overflowing with one request: help my loved one come back to the faith. Together, Christopher and Molly explore what it actually takes to accompany someone back to the Church — why the issue is rarely the issue people think it is, what gets in the way of honest faith conversations, and how Return Faith equips ordinary parishioners to do this work without burning out or forcing it. For more visit https://thechurchpodcast.org

Episode 060 – Families, Faith, and the Field: Parish Ministry with Scott Osterle

In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Scott Osterle, Parish Engagement Specialist at Enkindle Catholic, through the NFCYM Podcast Network. Scott brings an unconventional path to ministry — twenty years in the family construction business, followed by a surprise invitation from his pastor that launched him into parish life as a pastoral associate, part-time business manager, and facilities director all at once. That on-the-ground experience now shapes how he helps parishes and dioceses rethink family ministry from the inside out. Together, Christopher and Scott explore what it really means to accompany families as a parish, why programs alone can never make disciples, and how the same things that draw families to youth sports — community, shared experience, skill development, and belonging — are exactly what the Church is called to provide. They also dig into the critical role of seniors as an untapped missionary resource, the difference between compliance and conversion, and why building a team before building a program is the key to sustainable ministry. For more visit https://thechurchpodcast.org

Episode 059 – Fighting the Pornified Culture with Fr. Allen Hoffa

In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Fr. Allen Hoffa, priest of the Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and speaker and advocate with Integrity Restored, through the NFCYM Podcast Network. Fr. Hoffa shares how nearly two decades of parish ministry — and a defining moment involving a student whose private images were shared without consent — led him to dedicate the last ten years of his priesthood to traveling the world addressing the epidemic of pornography. As a priest, football player turned lineman for truth, and co-architect of the Lumen Christi Commission in his diocese, Father Hoffa brings both pastoral depth and practical urgency to one of the most critical issues facing families and the Church today. Together, Christopher and Father Allen explore the five A's that make pornography the most pervasive threat in our culture, what a comprehensive diocesan strategy actually looks like in practice, how parents and parish leaders can begin having honest conversations without shame or fear, and why the Church's silence on this issue is itself a victory for the enemy. They also discuss betrayal trauma, the connection between pornography and human trafficking, and the recent Supreme Court win that may reshape how pornography is regulated online.

Episode 058 – The Pros and Cons of Social Media Usage in Ministry with John Rinaldo

In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with John Rinaldo, Catholic speaker, writer, and former co-host of The Church Podcast, for a Reboot Episode revisiting one of the most downloaded conversations from the show's original run. John brings years of experience in Catholic ministry, communications, and social media — including early adoption of platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace, and a history of leading diocesan workshops on responsible social media use. His thinking on the subject has evolved significantly over time, and this conversation captures that honest evolution in real time. Together, Christopher and John revisit the pros and cons of social media for ministry leaders — covering the shift in algorithms, the personal toll of comparison culture, the challenge of posting with charitable intent in a negative online environment, and what responsible, strategic use of these platforms actually looks like today. The conversation is sparked by a real-life moment: a tweet John posted during the Notre Dame Cathedral fire in 2019, and whether Christopher thought it was too soon. For more visit us at https://thechurchpodcast.org