Vatican Insider

This week, in what is normally the interview segment of Vatican Insider, I bring you on a pilgrimage with the Via Lucis! After the news segment and the Q&A on the Paschal candle, stay tuned for the special story about the Via Lucis, the Way of Light, basically a post-Easter journey through 14 stations of light, the light that fills our life because of the Resurrection. This devotion is also known as Stations of the Resurrection as it encourages the faithful to meditate on the Resurrection of Jesus and on his post-Resurrection appearances to the disciples and others. The 14 traditional stations of the Via Lucis are: Jesus Rises from the Dead-Matthew 28: 5-6 The Women Discover the Empty Tomb-Matthew 28:1-6 The Risen Lord Appears to Mary Magdalen-John 20:11-16 Mary Magdalen Proclaims the Resurrection the Apostles-John 20: 17-18 The Risen Lord Appears on the Road to Emmaus-Luke 24: 13-16, 25-27 The Risen Lord is Recognized in the Breaking of the Bread- Luke 24: 28-32 The Risen Lord Appears to the Community of Disciples-Luke 24: 36-39 The Risen Lord gives the Disciples Power to Forgive-John 20:21-23 The Risen Lord Strengthens the Faith of Thomas-John 20:24-29 The Risen Lord Forgives Peter and Entrusts Him to Feed His Sheep-John 21:15-17 The Risen Lord Sends the Disciples into the World – Matthew 28: 16-20 The Risen Lord Ascends into Heaven – Acts 1: 9-11 Mary and the Disciples Keep Vigil in the Upper Room – Acts 1: 12-14 The Risen Lord Sends the Holy Spirit – Acts 2: Source: On the road to Emmaus –

Welcome to Vatican Insider as we mark the three holy days of the Triduum and then the glorious news of the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior on Easter Sunday. As we approach Easter weekend, I want to give you a heads-up about the Special I have prepared for the interview segment where I try to answer the question, “Who is the Man of the Shroud?” For decades, as worshipers gather around the world to commemorate Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. scientists have been studying the results of tests made on an object alleged to be directly connected with that passion.

I sincerely hope you can join me on “Vatican Insider” this Palm Sunday weekend and start of Holy Week as I share a very special story about a two-millennia old piece of cloth linked to the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. Known as the the Shroud of Turin, I try to answer the question, “Who is the Man of the Shroud?” For decades, as worshipers gather around the world to commemorate Christ’s passion, death and resurrection, scientists have been studying the results of tests made on an object alleged to be directly connected with that passion. The object of intense religious devotion as well as scientific curiosity is a simple strip of linen known as the Shroud of Turin. It has been venerated by Christians for centuries as the burial cloth that wrapped the body of Jesus Christ in his tomb after his crucifixion and death.

This weekend, in what is normally the interview segment, I offer a mini-pilgrimage of sorts as we visit some of the Lenten Station churches in Rome, very special churches that tell a beautiful story over the 40 days of Lent, a story found only in Rome. I note at the start that, every year on Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent, Popes process from the Benedictine church of Sant’Anselmo on the Aventine Hill to the nearby Dominican basilica of Santa Sabina, thus renewing a centuries-old Roman tradition of celebrating Mass at what are known here as Lenten station or stational churches.

This week in Part II of the interview segment, I again feature two amazing men, two friends, Craig Johring and Danny Leger, who are truly doing the Lord’s work of caring for the least of our brethren through HOPE OF THE POOR, an amazing organization they co-founded in Nebraska with headquarters in Omaha and Mexico City. The motto is “Alleviating the poverty of being unloved.” You will hear Craig and Danny tell absolutely riveting tales of the poorest of the poor whom they try to help in many ways, especially by giving them a sense of their worth and dignity. I spoke to Craig last year on Vatican Insider and Danny joined him on this visit to Rome and in this interview for VI. They speak of their work in Mexico and the U.S. and then share with us why the exciting reasons why they were in Rome. We met midway during their Rome visit after Mass at St. Patrick’s on February 25.

This week in the interview segment I feature two amazing men, two friends, Craig Johring and Danny Leger, who are truly doing the Lord’s work of caring for the least of our brethren through HOPE OF THE POOR, an amazing organization they co-founded in Nebraska with headquarters in Mexico City and Omaha. The motto is “Alleviating the poverty of being unloved” and you will hear them tell absolutely riveting tales of the poorest of the poor whom they try to help in many ways, especially by giving them a sense of their worth and dignity. I spoke to Craig last year on Vatican Insider and Danny joined him on this visit to Rome and in this interview for VI. They speak of their work in Mexico and the U.S. and then share with us why the exciting reasons why they were in Rome.

Join me on “Vatican Insider” as we approach the final stretch of the shortest month of the year, even though 2024 is a leap year and we will have a February 29. This weekend also marks the return of the Pope and Roman Curia officials to work after a retreat that began Sunday afternoon. Papal and curia retreats have their own history and that is what I will look at in a Special I have prepared for what is normally the interview segment. I hope you enjoy that after the news segment and a Q&A on fasting and abstinence rule for Catholics during Lent.

You must tune in this weekend to listen to my two special guests in the interview segment as they talk of their call to the priesthood – what they feel, what they expect but most importantly, the very joy they feel at the mere idea of being a priest! My guests are two remarkable young men, seminarians at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Nicholas Monnin and Patrick Ernst, both of the diocese of Fort Wayne -South Bend. We met during the October 2023 synod on synodality when I invited to dinner Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne, Patrick and Nicholas and two Fort Wayne priests studying at NAC, Fathers Zane Langenbrunner and Samuel Anderson. Patrick and Nicholas will enthral you with their vocation stories and you’ll have a very positive feeling about the future of the Church! The logical conclusion to a great conversation was to continue talking over dinner at La Vittoria!|

You must tune in this weekend to listen to my two special guests in the interview segment as they talk of their call to the priesthood – what they feel, what they expect but most importantly, the very joy they feel at the mere idea of being a priest! My guests are two remarkable young men, seminarians at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Nicholas Monnin and Patrick Ernst, both of the diocese of Fort Wayne -South Bend. We met during the October 2023 synod on synodality when I invited to dinner Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne, Patrick and Nicholas and two Fort Wayne priests studying at NAC, Fathers Zane Langenbrunner and Samuel Anderson. Patrick and Nicholas will enthral you with their vocation stories and you’ll have a very positive feeling about the future of the Church! The logical conclusion to a great conversation was to continue talking over dinner at La Vittoria!|

Join me this weekend for the interview segment of “Vatican Insider “for Part II of my conversation with Msgr. Terence Hogan, Coordinator of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums. As you heard last weekend in Part I, he is a wonderful story teller! This week we learn even more about the Patrons – the Chapters around the world, various restorations projects – tapestries, wood, mosaic, painting, sculpture, etc. and some little known secrets about restoration.

My special guest in VI’s interview segment this week is Msgr. Terence Hogan, Coordinator of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums. He is a wonderful story teller and we learn about the Patrons’ history, the Chapters around the world, various restorations projects – tapestries, wood, mosaic, painting, sculpture, etc. and some little known secrets about restoration. You’ll also learn how to become a patron of the arts in the Vatican Museums and the benefits of membership in the Patrons.

Tune in this weekend to Vatican Insider not only for a Vatican news roundup but to listen to a Special I have prepared in lieu of an interview! For many in Italy – institutions, churches, businesses and families – the Christmas season lasts up to and including the February 2 feast of the Presentation. For decades under Popes John Paul and Benedict XVI, the Christmas tree and nativity scene stayed up in St. Peter’s Square until that date, as did many of the presepe in various Vatican offices, in the Paul VI Hall and places like the Vatican post office, bringing the Christmas spirit of joy to countless people. So, in that prolonged Christmas season and spirit of joy, this week I bring you a special on some extraordinary nativity scenes that you can actually see all year round in Italy. Gather the children around, the young and young at heart, as you listen to this special.

As I wrote last week, I was a member of the Historical Commission for the Cause of Canonization of Servant of God Joseph Dutton who, as you know, worked for 44 years on Molokai with Saints Damien and Marianne caring for the victims of leprosy. When such a commission closes its work, a meeting must be held in the diocese of the cause for canonization with all members present. This is required by the dicastery for the causes of saints to which we our individual reports are sent. Thus, two other members of that commission, Pat Boland of Honolulu and Fr. John Paul Kimes, Canon law professor at the university of Notre Dame, and I met in Honolulu this past December to present our findings and work with Msgr. Robert Sarno, an advisor on the cause. One copy of the findings remain in the diocese of Honolulu and two are sent to Rome for further work by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. Though now retired, when he was on the staff of the dicastery (then the Congregation for Saints) in Rome, Msgr. Sarno also helped with the causes of St. Damien (canonized in 2009) and St. Marianne Cope (canonized in 2012). The diocesan phase of the Joseph Dutton cause will close in Honolulu on January 21st, after which the Roman phase of his causes goes to work. Part I of my conversation with Fr. John Paul aired last weekend. This week, in Part II, he is back with more riveting stories about the life and times of Servant of God Joseph Dutton, a man we both hope and pray will one day join Damien and Marianne at the honors of the altar.

I was a member of the Historical Commission for the Cause of Canonization of Servant of God Joseph Dutton who, as you know, worked for 44 years on Molokai with Saints Damien and Marianne caring for the victims of leprosy. When such a commission closes its work, a meeting must be held in the diocese of the cause for canonization with all members present. This is required by the dicastery for the causes of saints to which we our individual reports are sent. Thus. two other members of that commission, Pat Boland of Honolulu and Fr.. John Paul Kimes, Canon law professor at the university of Notre Dame, and I met in Honolulu this past December to present our findings and work with Msgr. Robert Sarno, an advisor on the cause. One copy of the findings remain in the diocese of Honolulu and two are sent to Rome for further work by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. Though now retired, when he was on the staff of the dicastery (then the Congregation for Saints) in Rome, Msgr. Sarno also helped with the causes of St. Damien (canonized in 2009) and St. Marianne Cope (canonized in 2012). The diocesan phase of the Joseph Dutton cause will close in Honolulu on January 21st, after which the Roman phase of his causes goes to work. You have heard Fr, Kimes before but he is back this weekend with more riveting stories about the life and times of Servant of God Joseph Dutton, a man we both hope and pray will one day join Damien and Marianne at the honors of the altar.

Welcome to Vatican Insider on this Christmas season weekend. Yes, we are still within the twelve days of Christmas! I have a special gift to you this weekend in the interview segment. I will read Pope St. John Paul’s beautiful and compelling 1994 Christmas Letter to Children – still a gift for the young and young at heart all these many years later!