Finding God in the Wilderness: The Incredible Story of John Banovich

Finding God in the Wilderness: The Incredible Story of John Banovich

In this episode of Catholic Education Matters, host Troy Van Vliet chats with renowned wildlife photographer, filmmaker, and St. John Paul II Academy parent John Banovich to explore an extraordinary journey of faith, suffering, resilience, and purpose. John shares the life-changing story of surviving a devastating head-on collision with an impaired driver that left him clinically dead, severely injured, and facing years of recovery and more than 140 surgeries. He reflects on how the experience deepened his faith, inspired his work with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and led him to speak to over 100,000 students across Canada. The conversation also touches on John's experiences during the Croatian War, the lessons he learned about mercy and forgiveness, and how encounters with God's presence in the wilderness shaped his award-winning career in wildlife photography and filmmaking. Through powerful stories of survival, service, and spiritual renewal, John reveals how suffering can become a path to purpose and how the beauty of creation can draw us closer to God. If you are interested in our school, make sure to check out our website: 🌐 https://www.sjp2academy.com/ [https://www.sjp2academy.com/]Follow us on social media: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjp2academy/ [https://www.instagram.com/sjp2academy/?igshid=YmJhNjkzNzY%3D]📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sjp2academy [https://www.facebook.com/sjp2academy]🐦 X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/SJPIIAcademy [https://x.com/SJPIIAcademy] * (00:00) - Intro * (03:56) - Surviving a Deadly Head-On Collision and Miraculous Recovery * (10:33) - From “Why Me?” to Trusting God’s Plan * (17:35) - Serving in the Croatian War and Rediscovering Faith * (21:33) - The Bishop’s Powerful Lesson on Mercy in War * (24:42) - Transitioning from Trauma to Photography and Filmmaking * (29:09) - Encountering the Holy Spirit in Canada’s Wilderness * (34:08) - Creating Award-Winning Wildlife Art and the New Photography Book * (37:31) - Exclusive Wildlife Prints and Limited Edition Art Collection * (42:24) - Why I Never Photoshop My Wildlife Photography * (43:45) - Finding God Through Nature and Catholic Education * (45:02) - Wildlife Photography Adventures: Bears, Helicopters, and Remote Wilderness * (49:12) - Life on the Road: Chasing Wildlife Across British Columbia * (52:20) - Upcoming Art Show, Books, and Final Reflections * (53:25) - Outro

Why Catholic Education Matters More Than Ever in Today’s World

In this special live panel discussion on the future and importance of Catholic education, host Troy Van Vliet brings together an outstanding group of Catholic educational leaders including Dr. Gerry Turcotte of Corpus Christi College and St. Mark’s College, Scott Roy of Catholic Pacific College, Anthony Walters of St. John Paul II Academy, and Mich DesLauriers for a thoughtful and engaging conversation about why Catholic education matters now more than ever. The panel explores the challenges facing young people in today’s increasingly secular and digitally driven culture, including loneliness, confusion around truth and identity, and the search for meaning and purpose. Throughout the discussion, the speakers explain how Catholic education offers students something deeper than academics alone — providing hope, authentic community, moral formation, spiritual grounding, and a clear sense of purpose rooted in faith in Jesus Christ. Drawing from decades of experience in Catholic schools, colleges, and universities, the panelists share personal stories and powerful insights about the role of prayer, service, virtue, leadership, and authentic Christian witness in shaping young people. The conversation dives into important themes such as objective versus subjective truth, the importance of living faith through action, the integration of intellectual and moral formation, and how Catholic schools help students develop confidence in their beliefs while engaging respectfully with a world that often challenges Christian values. From classroom culture and athletics to service projects and daily prayer, this discussion highlights how Catholic education seeks to form not only successful students, but compassionate, resilient, and faith-filled leaders prepared to serve their communities and live with integrity in today’s world. If you are interested in our school, make sure to check out our website: 🌐 https://www.sjp2academy.com/ [https://www.sjp2academy.com/]Follow us on social media: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjp2academy/ [https://www.instagram.com/sjp2academy/?igshid=YmJhNjkzNzY%3D]📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sjp2academy [https://www.facebook.com/sjp2academy]🐦 X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/SJPIIAcademy [https://x.com/SJPIIAcademy] * (00:00) - Intro * (00:30) - Welcome & Introduction of the Catholic Education Panel * (02:07) - Introducing the Educational Leaders and Their Mission * (09:12) - Why Catholic Education Matters More Than Ever * (10:12) - Hope, Loneliness, and the Crisis Facing Young People * (12:27) - Meaning, Purpose, and Objective Truth in a Secular Culture * (17:22) - Why Parents Continue to Choose Catholic Schools * (21:16) - Beyond Academics: Formation, Prayer, and Character Development * (30:18) - Faith in Action: Living the Gospel Through Service and Community * (41:25) - Incarnational Education and the Crisis of Despair * (43:26) - Forming Service-Minded Graduates Through Faith in Action * (46:46) - Why Catholic Schools Must Prioritize Relationships Over Technology * (50:15) - How the Alpha Program Reintroduces Students to Jesus Christ * (52:25) - The One Virtue Young People Need Most: Grit * (57:10) - AI, Human Connection, and the Future of Education * (01:00:01) - How Catholic Schools Keep Their Identity and Faith Alive * (01:09:09) - Answering Difficult Questions About the Catholic Faith with Confidence

Building Better Men: How Glenwood Is Shaping Faith, Purpose, and Leadership

In this episode of Catholic Education Matters, host Troy Van Vliet speaks with Mauricio Morales, director of Opus Dei’s Glenwood Centre in Vancouver, a vibrant character-building community for men focused on integrating faith into everyday life. Morales shares how Glenwood provides mentoring, spiritual direction, residence, and formation programs for high school students, university students, and professionals, all rooted in the vision of “sanctifying ordinary life” inspired by Saint Josemaría Escrivá. Through personal accompaniment, practical guidance, and strong community life, the Centre helps men grow in virtue, leadership, and purpose—especially amid modern cultural confusion about identity and masculinity. The conversation highlights the power of authentic friendship, mentorship, and living faith with intention, showing how small, consistent efforts toward excellence and integrity can transform lives and positively influence others in subtle but profound ways. If you are interested in our school, make sure to check out our website: 🌐 https://www.sjp2academy.com/ [https://www.sjp2academy.com/]Follow us on social media: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjp2academy/ [https://www.instagram.com/sjp2academy/?igshid=YmJhNjkzNzY%3D]📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sjp2academy [https://www.facebook.com/sjp2academy]🐦 X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/SJPIIAcademy [https://x.com/SJPIIAcademy] * (00:00) - Intro * (00:49) - What Is Glenwood? Mission and Formation for Young Men * (02:40) - Mauricio’s Journey: From Peru to Canada * (05:08) - What Is Opus Dei? “God’s Work” Explained * (07:16) - Life Inside Glenwood: Programs, Mentorship & Community * (10:01) - Living at Glenwood: A Home for University Students * (13:07) - A Day in the Life: Formation, Study, and Brotherhood * (15:19) - Finding God in Ordinary Life: The Core Message * (21:13) - Real Impact: Stories of Transformation Through Faith * (28:48) - Challenges Facing Young Men Today * (31:31) - Forming Leaders: Virtue, Excellence, and Purpose * (36:26) - Beyond the Building: The True Mission of Opus Dei * (37:24) - Bringing Faith Anywhere: Living the Message in Daily Life * (37:32) - Can Opus Dei Gatherings Happen Outside Glenwood? * (39:09) - How Schools Can Partner with Opus Dei * (40:32) - The Critical Role of Teachers in Catholic Formation * (42:00) - Why Faith Must Be Woven Into Every Subject * (45:18) - Forming Students to Live Faith in the Real World * (49:00) - Leading by Example: Faith in Action at Catholic Schools * (54:12) - Outro

From Secular to Sacred: Restoring Faith in Higher Education

In this episode of Catholic Education Matters, host Troy Van Vliet welcomes Dr. Geri Forsberg, a distinguished scholar in media ecology and communication, to share her remarkable journey from humble beginnings to earning a fully funded PhD at New York University and her work as a professor at Western Washington University. Dr. Forsberg reflects on the stark contrast between Christian and secular education, her efforts to build a faith-based community among professors, and her decades-long mission to reintroduce Christian thought into higher education. The conversation explores concerns about ideological influence in universities, the loss of moral and historical grounding in society, and the importance of restoring truth through education, publishing, and cultural engagement. Together, they emphasize the urgent need to bring faith, critical thinking, and a strong moral compass back into schools, while offering hope through grassroots initiatives, renewed scholarship, and a growing movement to reclaim the spiritual foundations of Western education.   If you are interested in our school, make sure to check out our website: 🌐 https://www.sjp2academy.com/ [https://www.sjp2academy.com/]Follow us on social media: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjp2academy/ [https://www.instagram.com/sjp2academy/?igshid=YmJhNjkzNzY%3D]📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sjp2academy [https://www.facebook.com/sjp2academy]🐦 X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/SJPIIAcademy [https://x.com/SJPIIAcademy] * (00:00) - Intro * (02:40) - From Farm Life to Fully Funded PhD Journey * (05:12) - Transition from Christian to Secular University * (07:21) - Building a Christian Community on Campus * (10:05) - DEI Training, Ideology, and University Culture * (12:13) - The Loss of Truth and Moral Foundations in Society * (16:27) - Restoring Faith in Universities and Education Systems * (21:08) - Biblical Literacy, Art, and Reclaiming Cultural History * (25:08) - “Professing Christ”: Bringing Faith Back into Universities * (27:22) - The Battle of Ideas: Competing Worldviews in Academic Publishing * (31:27) - Faith-Based Media & Taking Action (Angel Studios Example) * (34:28) - The Role of the Christian Professor in a Secular World * (39:02) - Questioning Technology: What It Means to Be Human Today * (44:08) - How Technology Has Transformed Human Thinking * (49:19) - From Radio Imagination to Passive Screen Consumption * (50:48) - AI: Tool for Truth or Threat to Humanity? * (52:25) - The Future of Work and Purpose in an AI World * (58:21) - Social Media, Anxiety & the “Anxious Generation” * (01:10:24) - A Culture Searching for God Again * (01:19:30) - Outro

Faith, Fun, and the Canucks: Clay Imoo’s Journey of Faith and Connection

This episode of Catholic Education Matters features a rich and engaging conversation with Clay Imoo, a longtime youth ministry leader in the Archdiocese of Vancouver, who shares his journey from a non-religious upbringing to a life transformed by his Catholic faith after his conversion in 1993. Drawing on nearly three decades of experience, Clay discusses his current role supporting children, youth, and families across parish ministries, equipping leaders through training, resources, and mentorship. He highlights his passion for forming young people through authentic relationships, emphasizing that true evangelization begins with listening, accompaniment, and genuine care—captured in his key message that people won’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Clay reflects on the pivotal experiences that shaped his vocation, including World Youth Day, his early involvement in parish youth ministry, and even professional setbacks that redirected him toward ministry work. He also shares powerful stories of impact, including young people who have gone on to religious vocations and leadership roles, underscoring the lasting fruit of investing in youth. The conversation explores the importance of strong Catholic identity in schools, the role of clergy presence and the sacraments, and how youth ministry helps foster openness to all vocations—priesthood, religious life, marriage, and single life. Blending insight, humor, and personal storytelling, Clay ultimately reveals a mission rooted in helping others encounter Christ and live a life of purpose, faith, and lasting impact. If you are interested in our school, make sure to check out our website: 🌐 https://www.sjp2academy.com/ [https://www.sjp2academy.com/]Follow us on social media: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjp2academy/ [https://www.instagram.com/sjp2academy/?igshid=YmJhNjkzNzY%3D]📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sjp2academy [https://www.facebook.com/sjp2academy]🐦 X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/SJPIIAcademy [https://x.com/SJPIIAcademy] * (00:00) - Intro * (00:48) - Clay’s Role in the Archdiocese & Passion for Youth Ministry * (02:27) - Supporting Parishes: Training Leaders & Children’s Liturgy * (05:47) - Working with Youth: Retreats, Schools, and Speaking Engagements * (07:26) - What It Means to Truly Witness Your Faith * (10:07) - Canuck Clay: YouTube, Parody Songs, and Building Community * (11:38) - Humour in Ministry & Building Trust with Church Leaders * (16:18) - Clay’s Conversion Story: From High School to Catholic Faith * (18:16) - World Youth Day & Discovering a Life of Ministry * (23:20) - Going Back to School: Growth Through Theology Studies * (25:59) - Impact Stories: Vocations, Leadership, and Changed Lives * (28:46) - The Lesson That Changed Everything * (30:14) - Building Trust: Listening Before Leading Youth * (31:08) - Why Youth Ministry Matters for Vocations * (35:09) - The Impact of Priests’ Presence in Catholic Schools * (41:15) - Family, Faith, and Forming the Next Generation * (47:30) - Outro