Beyond The Headlines

Deacon David Keene is a canon lawyer who serves as chancellor of the Archdiocese of Chicago, but he also holds a doctorate in archeology and is an expert in the exhumation of human remains. Before he retired, federal, state, county and local officials regularly called him when remains were found and needed to be preserved or relocated. The archdiocese called on him to conduct the exhumation of the remains of Venerable Father Augustus Tolton in 2016. He also led the 2021 exhumation of Father Patrick Ryan, whose canonization cause is underway in the Diocese of Knoxville, Tennessee. He recently sat down with editor Joyce Duriga to talk about the church’s history of preserving relics of saints and the exhumation of Father Tolton.

Editor Joyce Duriga interviews Sue Olafson, executive director of Hope Ministries, about the House of Hope Resale Shop that has raised over $600,000 this year to support outreach efforts at St. Anne Parish in Barrington.

Host Joyce Duriga talks with Fr. Carl Morello, Pastor of both Ascension-St. Edmund and St. Catherine of Sienna-St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish, also in Oak Park, and Celine Woznica from Ascension-St. Edmund Parish in Oak Park, about the work being done in welcoming the stranger as they accompany migrant families who are trying to find a better life.

Host Joyce Duriga spends time talking with Bishop Joseph Perry about how the Church is working to confront racism.

Host Joyce Duriga talks to Vince Gerasole about his career in the media and his current role as Director of Multi Media Content at the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Host Joyce Duriga talks to Michelle Martin, Staff Writer at the Chicago Catholic newspaper.

Host Joyce Duriga has a conversation with the award winning band director at Marian Catholic High School, Greg Bimm.

Host Joyce Duriga has a conversation with Fr. Dominic Grassi, Pastor Emeritus at St. Josephat Parish

Host Joyce Duriga talks with Daniel Palmeri and Daniel Harris about the work they do building beds for kids in need.

Host Joyce Duriga is joined by author Dawn Eden Goldstein

Host Joyce Duriga is joined by Franciscan Sister Alicia Torres and Kambra French from Carmel Catholic High School.

Host Joyce Duriga is joined by Melissa Moroko and her dog Patrick

Host Joyce Duriga is joined by Lauretta Froelich from Charismatic Renewal

Host Joyce Duriga, Editor of Chicago Catholic newspaper, is joined by Michelle Martin, journalist at Chicago Catholic, and Karen Callaway, photographer at Chicago Catholic. Together they revisit some of the stories that were covered in the newspaper during 2022.

Christ the King Jesuit College Prep in the city's Austin neighborhood has created a state-of-the-art innovation lab and makers space to help prepare its students for the next generation of jobs. Chicago Catholic editor Joyce Duriga interviews Clement Martin, president of CTK, about the new center and how it benefits the students, many of whom will be the first in their families to go to college.

Chicago Catholic editor Joyce Duriga interviews John O’Malley, longtime director of legal services for the archdiocese and now special counsel, about the formation of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s policies to protect children from clergy sexual abuse that also laid the foundation for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. They discuss the history of these protections, lessons learned and today’s practices.

A group of parishioners from St. Josephine Bakhita Parish in the city’s South Shore neighborhood is taking action to reduce violence by training youth in middle school and high school to identify violence in their lives and communities and respond with nonviolence. Guests: Elfriede Wedam and Andre Rawls, parishioners at St. Josephine Bakhita Parish in South Shore

Chicago Catholic editor Joyce Duriga welcomes Conventual Franciscan Friar Robert Cook, pastor of Mary, Mother of God Parish, and Mark Franzen, director of St. Gregory's Hall, to talk about new unique, geographical parish ministries that emerged out of a Renew My Church unification.

Anthony Holter, President of Empower Illinois, talks to host Joyce Duriga about tax credit scholarships and how one local parish is raising $800,000 in tax credit scholarships for it's sharing school.

Sr. Donna Liette, C.PP.S. discusses her ministry and how women religious are now holding monthly vigils to pray for homicide victims.

The new Vicar for Deacons in the Archdiocese of Chicago, Deacon James Norman, joined host Joyce Duriga to talk about the diaconate in Chicago.

Sr. Alicia Torres from the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels joined host Joyce Duriga to discuss the National Eucharistic Revival.

Guests: Sean Reilly and Danielle Pitzer

The chapel at the University of Illinois at Chicago recently underwent renovations and was dedicated by Cardinal Cupich on Jan. 8, 2022. The chapel renovation was part of a larger renovation of the center that included the addition of a coffee bar and updated gathering space.

Host Joyce Duriga talks to Michael Le Chevallier from the Lumen Christi Institute about the catholic programming and discussions that are available on college campuses.

Our Lady of the Mount Church in Cicero is now home to relics of three Mexican martyrs killed during the Cristero War in the late 1920s, Sts. Turibio Romo, José Luis Sánchez del Río and José María Robles. The relics will be permanently installed in a new altar at the completion of ongoing renovations.

Host Joyce Duriga talks to Katie Joy Daufenbach about the brand-new Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture, opening in the building adjacent and pertaining to St. Alphonsus Parish, on Wellington. If you don’t know the building, it includes a beautiful 900 seat proscenium stage built in 1911.

Vince Gerasole, Director of Multimedia Content for the Archdiocese of Chicago, leads a conversation with Chicago Catholic Editor, Joyce Duriga, about the stories and topics featured in the latest edition of Chicago Catholic, with a focus on "the year in review."

Host Joyce Duriga talks with Denis McNamara about how Cardinal Mundelein wanted the architecture of Mundelein Seminary to be a response to American society.

Members of the God Squad‚ a team of volunteers from Chicago-area parishes, assembled the Nativity at Daley Plaza on Nov. 27, 2021. The annual tradition, now in its 36th year, is the only traditional display of the Nativity Scene in downtown Chicago’s public square. The group has launched a fundraising campaign to restore the statues and replace the major portions of the scene, some of which are over 30 years old. www.chicagocatholic.com

Guests are Darlene Duggan, vice president of the FIRE Foundation of Greater Chicago, and Michael Kendrick, principal of St. James School in Arlington Heights

Host Joyce Duriga sits down with Ellen Skerrett to talk about Fr. Damen and the impact of the Chicago fire on Catholics.