On the Spot

Faith on the Frontier: Episode 2 - A Changing Landscape

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2606670/fan_mail/new] As Catholic mission work spread east across Montana, the story took on a different shape. In this episode, we move into eastern Montana and the Billings region, where permanent missions did not take root until the 1880s, decades after St. Mary’s. By this time, Native nations had been forced onto reservations, and life had been profoundly disrupted. At places like St. Xavier Mission (founded in 1887 among the Crow), missions became centers of faith, education, and daily life. They offered stability, learning, and community. But they also existed within a larger system, one that reshaped culture, language, and identity for Native peoples across the region. This episode attempts to explore that tension honestly and respectfully, including: * The growth of early Catholic schools * The role of mission communities in a time of change * And the beginnings of an educational system that would continue to expand across Montana

Faith on the Frontier: Episode 1 - Where the Story Begins

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2606670/fan_mail/new] The story of Catholic education in Montana begins long before classrooms, systems, or school buildings. It begins with people, and with a relationship. In this opening episode, we travel to the Bitterroot Valley in the early 1840s, where the first Catholic missionaries arrived at the invitation of the Salish people. Together, they founded St. Mary’s Mission in 1841, the first Catholic mission and first permanent settlement in what would become Montana. But this is not just a story about missionaries. It is a story of encounter. Of curiosity. Of faith shared across cultures. You’ll hear how Indigenous communities actively sought out the “Black Robes,” how early mission life took shape, and how this moment laid the foundation for everything that would follow. And yet, this is only the beginning. Because as the story moves east, the context changes.

Faith on the Frontier: A New Miniseries Premiering June 24

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2606670/fan_mail/new] Description: Before there were schools… there were stories. Before there were systems… there were relationships. This series explores the story of Catholic education in Montana, not just how it was built, but how it began, how it changed, and why it still matters today. From the Bitterroot Valley in 1841, where the first mission was founded at the invitation of the Salish people…  to the plains of eastern Montana, where missions emerged in a very different moment, during the reservation era…  to the rise of parish schools, and the challenges that nearly brought the system to its brink... this is a story shaped by faith, culture, sacrifice, and resilience. It is a story of encounter.  A story of tension and transformation.  And ultimately, a story of renewal. Because Catholic education in Montana is not just about the past. It is about the mission we carry forward.

13 - Summer Reading

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2606670/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Rooted & Rising, Andrew McDonald sits down with Katie Day, K–8 librarian, to talk about how families can keep kids engaged, curious, and learning throughout the summer months. The conversation explores the importance of reading beyond the school year, what the “summer slide” really means, and how small, consistent habits can make a lasting difference. Katie shares practical, realistic ideas for families: how to encourage reading without turning it into a chore, how to help reluctant readers reengage, and how to create an environment where curiosity can grow naturally. Together, they reflect on the role of stories in forming young minds and why fostering a love of reading is about more than academic success, it’s about helping students discover, imagine, and grow. It’s a helpful and hopeful conversation for families looking to make the most of summer while keeping learning alive.

12 - Mission & Catholic Identity

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2606670/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Rooted & Rising, Andrew McDonald shares portions of the final meeting of the year for the Mission & Catholic Identity Committee, offering a reflective look into the heart of how mission guides the life of our schools. Through conversation and shared reflection, committee members look back on the year, naming meaningful moments, celebrating progress, and considering the ongoing work of strengthening Catholic identity across the system. Their discussion highlights the importance of intentional governance structures that keep mission at the center of decision‑making, ensuring that faith remains not just a value, but a lived reality in classrooms, relationships, and leadership. This episode provides a rare and thoughtful window into how Catholic schools remain grounded, accountable, and forward‑focused, rooted in tradition while continually discerning how to grow and respond to the needs of students and families. It’s a quiet but powerful reminder that strong schools are not shaped by programs alone, but by shared purpose, engaged people, and a deep commitment to mission.