Episode 063 – Beauty, Belonging, and Doing Church Everywhere with Gabby Del Rio

Episode 064 – Magnificent Humanity: A Conversation on Magnifica Humanitas with Nick Stein

In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Nick Stein, International Director of Young Adult Ministry for the Sisters of Bon Secours of Paris and Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Institute for Ministry with Young Adults, through the NFCYM Podcast Network. Nick returns to the show for his second appearance, this time to dig into Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas — "On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence." Signed on May 15, 2026, the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum, the document situates the AI revolution within the full tradition of Catholic Social Doctrine and calls the Church and the world to protect human dignity in a time of rapid technological change. Together, Christopher and Nick explore how to read and approach a papal encyclical, what the document actually says (beyond the headlines), and what it means for ministry leaders, catechists, and anyone trying to live faithfully in a digitally saturated world. They also walk through the encyclical's two guiding biblical images — the Tower of Babel and Nehemiah's rebuilding of Jerusalem — and surface some of its most challenging and practical insights. For more visit us at https://thechurchpodcast.org

Episode 063 – Beauty, Belonging, and Doing Church Everywhere with Gabby Del Rio

In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Gabby Del Rio, owner of Simplicity Beauty Bar and former diocesan youth ministry coordinator for the Diocese of Raleigh, through the NFCYM Podcast Network. Gabby shares how two seemingly different careers — cosmetology and Catholic ministry — were always connected by the same through line: love and identity in God. Originally from Zacatecas, Mexico, she grew up in a deeply faith-filled family and carried that foundation through her work as a cosmetology instructor, a parish youth minister, and eventually a diocesan leader before following a clear prompting from the Lord to open her own salon. Together, Christopher and Gabby explore what it means to do church outside the walls of a parish, how the Recharge model shaped her approach to youth ministry, and what it looks like to build a business that doubles as a place of genuine encounter. They also unpack the fears, the faith, and the unexpected gifts that came with leaving a stable diocesan position to step into something new. For more visit us at https://thechurchpodcast.org

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