Catholic Chicago

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Wayne Magdziarz. The topic of the environment is revisited in this show, with emphasis on the Church’s teaching on safeguarding the environment, including the themes of common responsibility, lifestyles and a new look at food production. Guests: Scott McLarty and Dave Madden.

Host: Wayne Magdziarz. Our show today focuses on the annual collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious, which will be taken up in parishes this weekend, December 10 and 11. The fund assists congregations of both men and women in their efforts to care for aged, sisters, priests and brothers and carry on their ministries. Guests: Fr. Bernard Scianna, OSA; Sr. Barbara Mass, SLW.

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Graziano Marcheschi. Today’s program centers around how parishes can improve their ministries and outreach to people with special needs. Guests: Deacon Don Grossnickle; Deacon Tom Lambert.

Host: Graziano Marcheschi. Segment I: Jim Vodak joins us in studio to discuss the Partners for Sacred Places program. Partners describes itself as "the only national, non-sectarian, non-profit organization devoted to helping congregations and their communities sustain and actively use older and historic sacred places." Some of our parishes are currently involved in a training program with Partners. Segment II: Mercy Home for Boys and Girls is hoping to find more mentors for the children it serves. Guests: Katie Keller-Smith; Nick O’Grady.

Hosts: Graziano Marcheschi and Wayne Magdziarz. Segment I: Fr. Lou Cameli joins us in-studio to talk about his latest book, "The Devil You Don’t Know: Recognizing and Resisting Evil in Everyday Life". Segment II: Sr. Julie Vieira, IHM and Sr. Maxine Lollasch, IHM, members of the Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, will discuss their award-winning website and promotional approach to informing people just what religious life is all about.

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Wayne Magdziarz. Guests: Sr. Joan McGuire; Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos; Asyo Horibo; Andrew Lyke; Dr. Vanessa White.

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Wayne Magdziarz. Guests: Julie Haskel; Sr. Linda McClenehan; Fr. Matt Foley.

Host: Fr. Greg Sakowicz. The topic today is contemplation and spirituality…and forming spirituality ministries at the parish level. All four guests are from St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Gurnee. Guests: Peter Wells; Bridget Purdome; Michelle Shaffer; Sister Peg Scholle.

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Wayne Magdziarz. Segment I: Sr. Patricia Crowley, O.S.B., Prioress of St. Scholastica Monastery, is in studio to discuss the 150th anniversary of the Benedictine Sisters. Segment II: Sr. Anita Baird, director of the Office for Racial Justice, and Esther Hicks of the Catholic Schools office join our hosts to talk about the 10th anniversary of the Cardinal’s pastoral letter on racism, "Dwell in My Love."

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Graziano Marcheschi. Segment I: The Chicago Catechetical Conference is scheduled for Oct. 21 and 22 at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. Guests: Pat Redington; Dr. Melanie Barrett. Segment II: Sr. Mary Paul McCaughey calls from Washington D.C. where she is attending the National Catholic Educational Association Conference. Cardinal George is receiving a St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award for his dedication to Catholic Education. Segment III: Fr. Bob Hutmacher talks about all the observances going on at his parish that revolve around the Feast of St. Francis on Tuesday.

Host: Graziano Marcheschi. Segment I: The USCCB-Justice for Immigrants is participating in an inter-faith initiative called Dream Sabbath. Dozens of dioceses are developing educational activities to create awareness on the realities of undocumented students. This initiative is from September 25 to October 9. Guests: Elena Segura; Quintiliano Rios; Kevin Appleby; Dr. Michael J. Hogan. Segment II: Conductor Timothy Woods will be a guest to discuss his upcoming concerts featuring Byzantine music at St. John Cantius parish, Annunciation Parish in Homer Glen and at Rockefeller Chapel at the University of Chicago. He is also reviving the Musicam Sacram Choir under the new name of Ecclesia.

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Graziano Marcheschi. Segment I: Guests: Fr. John Harvey; Peg DeWilkins; Donna Albert. The Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conference for Chicago is scheduled for Oct. 7-9 at the Westin Chicago North Shore. Segment II: Guest: Thomas Levergood. The Lumen Christi Institute and the Committee on Social Thought are co-sponsoring a symposium on Thursday, Oct. 6 from 4-6 p.m., on God, Freedom and Public Life. Cardinal George, who recently authored God in Action: How Faith in God can Address the Challenges of the World is among the speakers.

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Graziano Marcheschi. Segment One: Our guest for the first segment is Dr. Ann Solari-Twadell, curently an assistant professor at Loyola University and the former director of the International Parish Nurse Resource Center. Ann enlightens us on the ministry of parish nursing-it’s history and development, the status locally and nationwide and the training for and nature of this important parish-based work. Segment Two: Guest is Nestor Popowych, co-chair of the St. Nicholas Eparchy’s Golden Jubilee Committee. Nestor has been leading the planning and implementation of the program events for over a year. He describes for the listeners some of the many colorful events that include a traveling icon, a procession in Ukrainian Village and a Pontifical Liturgy with Cardinal George and other dignitaries of the eastern rite Catholic churches.

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Wayne Magdziarz. The first segment is about the 50th anniversary of the St. Nicholas Eparchy, and the differences between the Byzantine and Latin rites. Guests: Fr. Basil Salkovky and Maria Kulczycky. The second segment talks about the Annual Benefit Dinner of the Society of St. james the Apostle. Guests: John Racila and Dan Chorney.

Hosts Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Graziano Marcheschi. Today’s show is dedicated to remembering the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Wayne Magdziarz. Segment I: Cardinal George has appointed Rev. James O’Brien as the Archdiocese of Chicago’s official representative/liaison to the 50th International Eucharistic Congress which will be held in Dublin, Ireland, from June 10 through June 17, 2012. Fr. O’Brien discusses the importance of the IEC and gives listeners details of the pilgrimage he will lead to Ireland. Segment II: Franciscan Father Bob Lombardo and Sr. Alicia Torres join our hosts and talk about the renovations of Our Lady of the Angels Church that are in progress with hopes of reopening this historic Church by Christmas of this year. The Franciscans still need to raise about $50,000 to finish the first phase of reconstruction and about $130,000 total to complete the project. Our Lady of the Angels School, of course, was the site of the tragic school fire that left 92 students and three nuns dead in 1958. The Franciscans currently operate a mission/community center at that location.

Host: Wayne Magdiarz. Segment I: Father and Son Conference. Guests: Pat McCaskey; Frank J. Casella. Segment II: Interview with Fr. Richard Ho Lung, founder of Missionaries of the Poor.

Three Young Adults from Amate House talk about service, faith and being a Catholic young adult in the Archdiocese. Ali Schlereth, Melissa Carnall, and Michaela Pease devoted one year to simple, communal living while offering their talents to schools and programs in Chicago. Listen to them tell their inspirational story from our radio broadcast on August 24, 2011.

Hosts Graziano Marcheschi and Wayne Magdziarz. Segment I: Guests Fr. Brian Kerr, MOP and Fr. Paul Vilangappara, MOP (Missionaries of the Poor) discuss two upcoming concerts at St. Emily Church and Holy Trinity Church (August 20 and 21) to support the order’s Good Shepherd Center, an orphanage, in Kenya and their Crisis Center in Jamaica. Segment II: Adrienne Curry and Fr. Maina Waithaka give listeners a perspective on the drought and near famine occuring in Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia and East Africa and the latest information about what CRS is doing in this area to prevent starvation and improve conditions.

Host: Graziano Marcheschi. Every Friday evening in August St. Michael Parish in Chicago hosts the St. Michael Film Festival, an event that promots the "culture of life" through film. Guests: Dr. Joseph Fitzpatrick; Jason Jones. Peter and Paul ministry is a new ministry in the Archdiocese of Chicago that focuses on young adults and social media. Guests: Devin Jones; Ashley Collins.

Host Graziano Marcheschi spends the hour in conversation with retired bishops Timothy Lyne, Thad Jakubowski; John Gorman and Raymond Goedert.

Host: Graziano Marcheschi. The first half of today’s program plumbs the depths of Liturgy Training Publications for resources to appreciate the new Roman Missal. Guests: Anna Manhart; Danielle Knott. The second half of the program is an interview with a very dynamic young man on how to improve our lives by keeping the agreements we make with ourselves. Guest: Peter Mockaitis.

Host: Graziano Marcheschi. In the first half-hour of today’s program we hear about REFLECT, a unique retreat developed just for singles of a "seasoned" age. Guests: Libby Richart and Mike Garr. In the second half-hour offers some good insights on what causes domestic violence and how to reduce it in our society. Guests: Frank Hannigan; Rita Kattner; Fr. Chuck Dahm, OP.

Hosts: Graziano Marcheschi and Wayne Magdziarz. Segment I: The Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth are celebrating 125 years of service in the Catholic Church. Joining our hosts in studio to talk about the wonderful work of this religious order are: Sr. Barbara Jean Wojnicki; Sr. Virginette Rypniewski; Sr. Maria Sophia Gerlach. Segment II: Youth Ministry Coordinator Tiffany Swann-Covington talks about Word Youth Day Chicago Style, August 20-21 at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in Des Plaines.

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Wayne Magdziarz. Segment I: Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Chicago has a bereavement team that assists parishes in setting up bereavement ministries. Guests: Eva Bustamante and Martha Tressler. Segment II: Tom Tuohy, President and Founder of Dreams for Kids discusses the work of his organization that makes dreams come true for children with physical and mental challenges.

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Graziano Marcheschi. Segment I: Guest: Fr. Bruce Wellems. Fr. Wellems will share with us the good word about new group homes for at-risk youth that he is helping to build in the Back of the Yards neighborhood, and how this inspiring project will help the effort to keep child welfare cases out of the courts. Segment II: Sr. Nancy Swanson. Sr. Nancy’s Courage Project at St. Germaine Parish in Oak Lawn is for single, pregnant women and for single mothers with young children. It’s unique for several reasons. Segment III: Tom Howard announces and explains the Justice and Life Youth Leadership Summit that will take place on July 25 and 26.

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Wayne Magdziarz. On today’s Catholic Community of Faith broadcast we learn to balance the head and the heart as we learn about programs that help teens and young adults make and keep healthy relationships, and then we learn some very pleasant ways to balance work and prayer in the great outdoors this summer. Segment I: Elsie Radtke. Segment II: Dr. Mary Amore.

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Graziano Marcheschi. The first half-hour is spent with the Archdiocese of Chicago’s newly named bishops, Rev. Andrew Wypych and Rev. Alberto Rojas. The second half-hour is spent with Dr. Jack Lynch with the Rev. Robert McLaughlin Faith Foundation.

Host: Graziano Marcheschi. On July 1 the Archdiocese of Chicago begins the "Year of Teens and Young Adults", the first focus of it’s five-year Strategic Pastoral Plan: Reflect Christ’s Light. So, it’s appropriate that we talk about summer service projects designed for teens and young adults and about Catholic scouting that serves a portion of this same age group. The first segment is about summer service trips. Guests: Dan Lawler; Rudy Gomez; David Heimann. The second segment is about scouting. Guest: Bill Tworek.

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Graziano Marcheschi. Segment One guest is Tom Howard who talks about the work he is doing to increase the capacity of parishes and vicariates to do the social ministry of the Church and, in particular about how he’s doing that this week in Palos Heights. Segment Two guest is Deacon John Green. Deacon John talks about his new book, Streetwalking with jesus: Reaching Out in Justice and Mercy.

Host: Graziano Marcheschi. Today’s show honors those who serve our country. Guests: Dan Olipra; Caesar Hill; Bert Smith; Fr. Matt Foley

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Wayne Magdziarz. Segment I: Bereavement Counseling. The first guest on this show is Amy Florian, nationally-recognized liturgist and bereavement consultant who works as a teacher, trainer, and grief coach. Amy is a Fellow in Thanatology (the study of death and grief) in the Association for Death Education and Counseling and the founder of Corgenius. She is an adjunct professor at Loyola, Dominican and Xavier universities. In addition, she is the author of over 90 articles and two books. Segment II: Parish Operations Office. If you want to know more about parish financial management, stay with us because in segment II of this program we have three guests who will enlighten us on this subject. Guests: Taffie Iwaniki; Debbie Finley; Lauren Zitlow

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Graziano Marcheschi. This program is dedicated to the Beatification of Pope John Paul II. Guests: Fr. William Woestman; Jan Lorys; Sr. Joan McGuire; Rabbi Herman Schaalman.

Host: Graziano Marcheschi. Segment I: Holy Name Young Adult Board. Guests: Eleanor Strong; Boldi Lassu. Segment II: Discussion of Anglican Church. Guest: Fr. Thomas Baima

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Wayne Magdziarz. Segment I: Formation in Ministry. Guests: Megan Deichl; Deacon Dennis Brown; John Ellgas. Segment II: Strategic Pastoral Plan. Guest: Msgr. John Canary

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Wayne Magdziarz. Segment I: Guests Dr. Troy Martin and Joan McKamey talk about forgiveness. Segment II: Fr. Ron Lewinski talks about reconciliation.

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Graziano Marcheschi. Segment I: Faith and the Environment. Guests: Mark Potosnak; Dan Misleh. Segment II: Mary Elizabeth Sperry.

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Wayne Magdziarz. Segment I: The Port Ministries. Guests: Mary Armato and David Krug. Segment II: Friends of the Poor. Guests: Anna Kawa; Mary Anne Downing; Olga Kolata

Hosted by Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Wayne Magdziarz. In the first segment of this show Elena Segura, Director of the Office for Immigrant Affairs and Immigration Education joins us in studio with a couple of religious sisters. One of the topics will be jail ministry to undocumented immigrants. We have a large group of religious sisters who visit people in detention. The Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants (representing 57 religious orders) will have a conference in April on various issues of immigration. www.sistersandbrothersofimmigrants.org Fr. Robert Barron joins our hosts in segment two and gives an update on The Catholicism Project and talks about his Word on Fire ministry, including topics of his blog and his efforts to bring the message of the Catholic Church to a secular media audience. www.wordonfire.org

The Center for World Catholicism and Intercultural Theology at DePaul University is hosting "World Catholicism Week 2011". There will be events held from April 11-14. One of the main events in Chicago will be a celebration of the life of Blessed Chiara Luce Badano, a Focolare member and the first teenager of the XXI century to be beatified. Guests for this segment are Tom Masters, Gina Citron and Adam Kelley. The second segment of the show is a conversation with Graham Ward, the Samuel Fergusson Professor of Philosophical Theology and Ethics at the University of Manchester in England. During World Catholicism Week he will give a talk entitled "Urban Studies in the Mirror of World Catholicism".

Hosts Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Graziano Marcheschi spend the first half-hour of this show talking with Fr. John Moulder of St. Gregory the Great Parish in Chicago who is once again organizing the Chi-Town Jazz Festival. It will be held March 22 to March 26 at various jazz venues in Chicago and the suburbs. The Chi-Town Jazz Festival began in 2010 and involves the collective effort of the jazz community to support hunger relief in Chicago. It showcases an array of outstanding jazz artists in some of the Chicago area’s finest jazz venues. Through the generous contributions of musicians donating their time and talent, and clubs and concert halls donating their space, the funds raised directly benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Catholic Charities who work together for hunger relief. In the second half-hour our hosts are joined by Neil Windt, Music Director at St. Patrick Parish in Lemont, who will discuss "Redeemed!", a Lenten concert presented by the St. Patrick Music Program. There are great expectations attached to this event as it is the first one to be opened to the community at large in Lemont and beyond. The hope is that it will be an ANNUAL event, connecting the parish and it’s music with the local community.

Hosts Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Graziano Marcheschi join Adrienne Curry in a discussion about Operation Rice Bowl, the official Lenten program of Catholic Relief Services. In the second half-hour Fr. Birtto Berchman discusses the talk he will give to jump start the Lenten season. His talk is called "Carrying the Cross of Jesus".

Hosts Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Graziano Marcheschi talk with Fr. Thomas Loya during the first half of the show about the upcoming Lenten Missions he will be conducting at Holy Name Cathedral during Lent this year. Fr. Terry Keehan and Colin Collette join our hosts in the second half of the show to talk about the life-size replica of La Pieta that is on display for the next 3 months in the narthex of Holy Family Parish in Inverness. Cardinal George participated in the unveiling ceremony and Mass this past Wednesday.

Hosts Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Graziano Marcheschi talk with Fr. Peter Snieg and Tony Cascino about the groundbreaking ceremony to be hold on Monday, February 21 on the Loyola University Lake Shore campus for the new St. Joseph College Seminary. The second half-hour is a discussion with Rich Daniels about the Shamrocks for Kids event that benefits the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

Hosts Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Graziano Marcheschi spend the first half-hour of this program talking about Parish Leadership Day with Rita Kattner, Dennis Marks, and Jim Boyd. This year’s Parish Leadership Day will take place on Saturday, February 26 at Maria High School. The second half-hour of the program explores "World Marriage Day" with the director of Family Ministries, Frank Hannigan.

Hosts Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Wayne Magdziarz host. The first half of the show is about "pastoring multiple parishes". Guests are Rita Kattner, Fr. Patrick Lee, and Fr. Fredde Washington. The second half of the show is a conversation with Al Gini, author of the book Seeking the Truth of Things: Confessions of a (Catholic) Philosopher.

Hosts Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Graziano Marcheschi host this show before the big Bears/Packers NFC Championship game. For the first 20 minutes they talk with Fr. Nick Marro, long-time chaplain for the Chicago Bears, and Fr. Jim Baraniak, chaplain for the Green Bay Packers. In the second part of the show Fr. Greg and Graz talk with Vicki Quade, producer of all those Catechism shows that have entertained audiences for years.

Hosts Graziano Marcheschi and Wayne Magdiarz. First segment discusses January as Respect Life Month. Guests: Margie Manczko Breen and Emily Warpinski. Segment Two is about School on Wheels. Guests: Debbie Brandt; Mary Peranteau

Host Graziano Marcheschi spends the first half-hour talking with Ray Coughlin and Barbara Shea Collins about the 2011 Catholic Appeal. Graz spends the second half-hour with Sr. Joan McGuire discussing the upcoming Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.