Catholic interview

A 931 Word Interview with Fabiola Garza

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Fabiola Garza via phone call on April 23rd, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given. 

Tell me a little about your faith journey. 

I was born a cradle Catholic and come from a pretty strong Catholic family in general. I actually only went to one year at a Catholic school due to my family moving a lot. I lived in Mexico, Columbia, and Istanbul. I always thought you lived faith on your own and wasn’t aware of youth groups. 

In college I started dating a Protestant Evangelical and this gave my dad some pause. He gave me some Scott Hahn books to read. His language is accessible and added depth to helping me understand my faith. I eventually got involved in youth groups in Boston. 

What got you interested in art? 

I was an artistic kid, always loved drawing. I loved animated movies as a kid and my main interest was to work for Disney. I was absolutely mesmerized by the art of animation. Art was a thing I was good at and understood. I loved creating characters and creating stories. 

How did you get started with Disney? 

After college, I worked several jobs including a video game and toy company. Finally, I found a job at Disney Creative Group. We did the art for all the merchandise that goes out to retail stores. I worked in that division for ten years.

How does your Catholic faith inform your approach to character design, especially when working on secular projects at Disney?

I only designed one character at Disney. I always like putting myself in a place of prayer before work. But with Mickey, you just draw Mickey. Thankfully, I was never put in a position to have to worry about having the work on a project that would conflict with my conscience. 

Could you share how creating “The Story of Saint John Paul II” differed from your other artistic projects, both technically and spiritually?

The great part of doing saint stories is you get to delve into their stories. You can’t help but be changed by learning about their stories and writing. When I am creating saint stories, I ask the Saint for intercession and how they would be presented and in the best way for children. It’s really interesting and wonderful to bring the saints along in the process. 

The saints are not dead, they are alive!

My portrayal of the Saint is only a glimpse of their amazing life. It’s like a movie. You can only capture an aspect to bring children to understand the saints more as they grow. I do try to approach the creation of the saint story like a movie. 

Are there specific Catholic artistic traditions or sacred art styles that have influenced your personal work?

Growing up, I never really looked at artwork as being separate from religious and non-religious art. To me anything that is beautiful is of God. That’s my view on art. Sometimes we as Catholics feel forced to love certain religious art over others. 

For instance, I love Da Vinci and the Renaissance. I don’t compartmentize art, I don’t feel like putting a wall between my work and the Holy Spirit. I think a truly Catholic person is going to make truly Catholic art without it being thematically religious. It is important for me to never confuse my work with what I am doing spiritually. You could be a terrible person and do spiritual/religious work. 

The Lord cares about your heart. It can be a temptation when you are working in a Catholic sphere. 

Art nouveau is a style I love. The most famous artist is Alphonse Mucha in this movement. He has a mastery of anatomy and these beautiful romantic shapes. It reminds me a lot of the elven architecture in the Lord of the Rings. It is very dreamy and has a magical soft quality. It is based on natural shapes. This movement preceded Art Deco which has more harsh/rigid lines and shapes. It has more structure and architecture. 

How has working in the entertainment industry shaped your perspective on creating media that resonates with Catholic audiences?

I think you need to make beautiful things. Catholic audiences are also looking for quality and good stories made with care and time. A lot of Catholic audiences are tired of entertainment media that isn’t up to par with the rest of the industry. 

We want to create things that are good and beautiful. Nothing can substitute for a good story. You can have all the money in the world and technology, but it needs a good story. 

What advice would you give to young Catholic artists who want to pursue careers in mainstream creative industries while staying true to their faith?

I think it is important to have a faith community. When I moved to Orlando I plugged myself into the local Catholic community. You aren’t meant to live out your faith alone. Your community keeps you accountable. 

Is there a particular saint or biblical figure whose story you’d love to bring to life through your art in the future?

So many, I have a whole list! I can tell you one that didn’t make it into the princesses of Heaven. I really want to make a story and art for Hildegard of Bingen. She was so smart and was so cool. She’s definitely one saint that I would love to portray. 

Do you have a saint quote? 

During my tough “hell” year, before work I prayed the prayer (The Mission of My Life) by Saint Cardinal Henry Newman. 

Where can my audience learn more about your work?

Instagram: Fabiolagarzacreates

Website: Fabiolagarza.com

About Fabiola: 

Fabiola Garza is the author and illustrator of the children’s book best-seller Princesses of Heaven: The Flowers. She worked as a character artist at the Walt Disney Company for over a decade. Her other work includes A Boy Who Became Pope: The Story of Saint John Paul II, Pixar/Disney’s Little Golden Book Coco, and the cover of A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of the Most Magical Place on Earth. Fabiola has lived all over the world. Born in Mexico City she eventually settled in Orlando, Florida. She loves fairytales, London Fog lattes and France. 

Thank you for sharing!

An Interview with a Malankara Catholic

/ chicoinematt

Describe your faith journey. 

I am a cradle Catholic. In my childhood, my parents would take me to Sunday Catechism classes. During my college years, I fell away from the Church. I think mainly because it was due to not having Catholic friends. Most of my friends were Hindu or Atheist. For about six years I was a nominal Catholic. In 2022, I came back to the Church. I went to some Latin Rite Masses when I was far away from my home. During Covid I was getting used to the online Masses, but eventually I stopped going. I met a woman who asked me if I was going to Mass. I had a powerful experience when I returned back to the Church. After about a month, I had a desire to go to Confession. There was only one Mass on Sundays and Confession was before it. The lines were long for Confession and by the time I got to the confessional, the priest told me that he was out of time and had to be ready for Mass. 

In 2022, I found my first Catholic friend who referred me to another priest who had the time to administer the sacrament of Confession in October. He told me after my Confession, “Welcome home!”. That was the first time I felt back in the Church. In the months prior to my Confession, I was studying the Scriptures and attending the Mass.

This is my home parish: St. Thomas Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, Nalanchira, Trivandrum.

The Malankara Catholic Church represents a fascinating blend of Eastern Syrian tradition and Indian cultural elements. Could you describe some distinctive features of your liturgy and how it reflects both your Syrian heritage and Indian identity?

Saint Thomas came to India 52 A.D. In the 15th century the Portuguese came to India and started missionaries. This is out when the Latin Church was first brought. We were under the guardianship of the bishops. When the Latin missionaries and bishops came there were some problems in the Indian church as they were following some Hindu. The Synod Diamper (1599 A.D.) gave the church more restrictions. There were a variety of reasons beyond religious for the synod, including political. A lot of the Syrian textbooks were burned, they Latinized the Mass, while keeping the Syrian language, they changed some elements. 

Many people didn’t like this and protested the changes. During the synod no one opposed it due to fear of excommunication. But about 50 years later, protests started. “Coonan Cross Oath”. The protesters pledged to not be under Portuguese rule. They wanted a bishop from Rome, not a bishop from Portugal. After many years, a split happened in the church. Some stayed with the Latin bishop (the older faction) and those who opposed the Latin bishop (new faction). The new faction is no longer under the umbrella of the Catholic Church. Syro-Malabar Church was a name for the old faction. 

The new faction wanted to be under a Syrian bishop and didn’t want to be Latinized. No bishops were coming, but eventually a Western Syrian bishop, from the Jacobites, came to India. What happened was that the new faction joined this Western Syrian bishop. Again a split happened in 1912. The new faction wanted to have self-governance not under a Jacobite bishop. Some people in the new faction said they would be under the Jacobite bishop and the others would be under the Indian Metropolitan. The Metran faction formed under the Indian Metropolitan. And the others under the Jacobite patriarch were known as the patriarch faction (eventually known as the Jacobite-Syrian Church). And the Metran faction became known as the Indian Orthodox Church. 

  In 1930, Rome accepted the request by the Indian Orthodox Church to be under their governance. One priest was the primary contact in this communication and he became the first bishop of the Malankara Church. His name was PT Geevarghese and became Mar Ivanios.  My great-grandfather’s family was one of the first to join the Malankara Church. Also my grandfather was a personal assistant to Mar Ivanios near the end of his life. 

There was a college started during Mar Ivanios’ tenure. My aunts and uncles attended this college along with my mom. 

What role does the Syriac language play in your liturgical celebrations, and how has the balance between Syriac, Malayalam, and other languages evolved in your worship practices?

Initially it was all Syriac. Later, everything was in the vernacular. Now it is fully in Malayalam (it’s a newer language). About 20 percent of the liturgy is in Syriac. People are comfortable with Malayalam because they know the songs. They also like singing in Syriac. 

Who are the saints your rite has a particular devotion to (besides Saint Thomas)? 

Not really, we have a devotion to all the Catholic saints. Some of the popular saints are Saint George. Before the Synod, there were many Churches named after the Syriac saints, but after the synod many churches had their names changed to Roman saints.

Many Catholics in the West are unfamiliar with Eastern Catholic traditions. What aspects of Malankara spirituality, devotional practices, or theological emphases do you wish were better understood by the broader Catholic community?

These things I came to know about recently, the basics of the Western Church is the emphasis on reasoning and Scholasticism. Compared to that, the Eastern Catholic Church has more of a focus on mysticism. We called the Mass Quarbana. It has a meaning called “offering”. We also use the term Divine Liturgy. In the Malanakara Liturgy the first thing that happens is the offering. And it occurs behind the curtain. The priest will be offering the bread and wine. The first service is called Melcizdek and the second service is Aaron. He will incense the offering and after that we will start the Mass. Once the curtain is open the public life of Jesus is presented. We say a shorter version of the Creed. There is a short prayer (Trisagion). After the readings happen (Two Epistle and Gospel). There is no Psalm reading. The Old Testament reading is read at the beginning of the Liturgy before the preparatory service. 

After the Liturgy of the Word, prayers from the priest are like a catechism (it’s like 10-15 minutes), followed by the Creed (we don’t use the filioque clause- because our church came from the Orthodox, and this was a compromise made with Rome), anaphora is next it’s where the service of offering happens. During the anaphora the Institution of the Eucharist happens. 

Immediately after the anaphora we have the intercessory prayers. Then the Service of Fraction (meaning the Crucifixation of Jesus) and during this time the curtain is closed. After this, the curtain is open to symbolize the Resurrection of Jesus and we sing many songs (devoted to Mary, saints, faithful departed, priests). It’s more like a chain of songs. 

After the songs the priest starts a procession for the congregation to Adore Jesus (this was  a tradition started before the widespread use of Eucharistic Adoration Chapels). Then the faithful receive Communion. A similar procession happens after Communion. This procession is more of a thanksgiving. Closing prayers happen and the Divine Liturgy concludes. 

Thanks for sharing your experience with my audience! Any words of encouragement or thoughts about the Eucharist to share with my readers? 

Whenever I think about the Holy Mass inside one of the songs there is a line that is similar to this quote by Saint Maximilian Kolbe, “If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion” –-St. Maximilian Kolbe

Additional information: 

The Divine Liturgy of the Malanakara Church is kind of like a minor scale whereas the Syro-Malabar and Latin Masses have more of a major chord and happy tone. 

We don’t kneel during Sundays because we are celebrating the Resurrected Jesus.

About Jibin:

Jibin Jose, Mechanical Design Engineer from Kerala, India, settled in UAE, Syro Malankrite.

Thank you for sharing!

A 580 Word Interview with Joan Watson

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Joan Watson via phone call on April 9th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

What drew you specifically to the Holy Door panels as a framework for spiritual reflection?

I have been to Rome about ten times and lived there twice. I studied in my Junior year at Christendom College and a semester when I was a graduate student at Franciscan University. I had been drawn to one panel in particular, it was the Good Shepherd. This panel drew me into the rest of the door. Ave Maria Press reached out to me about doing a book on the Jubilee. 

All of my writing and speaking focused on how the Bible should stay with us and change our life. I wanted a book of how the Jubilee can impact our life. 

How has your experience as a tour guide in Rome informed your approach to these scriptural reflections?

I wasn’t strictly a tour guide, I led a series of pilgrimages. These experiences helped me notice places in Rome where God could use them as conduits of grace. There’s so many things on pilgrimage He can use as doors to grace so why not the Holy Door. And I wanted this book to speak to all people, not just daily Massgoers, about how Scripture can be part of our life. 

Of the sixteen panels on the Holy Door, which one resonates most deeply with you personally, and why?

It was interesting to pray with all of them. Each panel spoke to me differently. Besides the Good Shepherd, probably the panel of the Good Father (in the Prodigal Son story) reminded me to focus on the Father. 

Some of the panels are unique and some aren’t as unique, but they are still good reminders like the Prodigal Son to come home to the Father.

How might readers who cannot physically visit St. Peter’s Basilica experience the spiritual significance of crossing a threshold during this Year of Hope?

So that was one of the reasons I wrote the book. Everyone is called to celebrate the Jubilee whether they can go to Rome or not. The world gives us so many reasons to despair even within the Church so many are voices of doom and that the world is ending. Regardless of what the pope or the president or what the stock market does, Jesus is our Savior. 

The book connects ancient biblical narratives with our modern spiritual lives. What surprised you most about these connections while writing?

I think the theme that I wanted to bring out is that there’s nothing new under the sun. The Bible is active and not dead. Sometimes we think we have discovered something new or are in “unique times”. But the Scriptures speak to our time and what we need. 

Many Catholics may be unfamiliar with the tradition of the Holy Door. What would you like them to understand about its significance in our faith?

I love the quote (JPII- the door is Christ). The door is an outward manifestation of our life. This door is an expression that we are going to start again. That our pilgrimage is just beginning when we go through. What door do you need to open to Christ? 

Outside the Jubilee Year the door is closed, what door have you closed to God? Maybe during this Jubilee Year do you need to tear down and open yourself up to Christ? 

Where can the audience find more of your work? 

My website is joanwatson.faith. This can link to my YouTube channel and my other work. 

“It is Christ who is the true ‘Holy Door’; it is he who makes it possible for us to enter the Father’s house and who introduces us into the intimacy of the divine life.”

– Pope St. John Paul II (6 January 2001)

About Joan:

Joan Watson is a Catholic speaker and author who loves to make Scripture, theology, liturgy, and history accessible and applicable. With degrees from Christendom College and Franciscan University of Steubenville, she has worked for the Church and various religious apostolates for almost 20 years. She is currently the Pilgrim Formation Manager at Verso Ministries. In addition to hosting two podcasts, she is the Associate Editor of Integrated Catholic Life, where she writes weekly. Propelled by Luke 12:48, she is passionate about helping others encounter Christ and enter into friendship with Him through the daily circumstances of life. Her first book, Opening the Holy Door: Hope-Filled Reflections from St. Peter’s Basilica is available from Ave Maria Press.

Thank you for sharing!

An 880 Word Interview with a Maronite Catholic and His Roman Catholic Wife

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Amanda and Anthony Sloan via phone call on March 31st, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

Tell your faith journey as a married couple. 

Amanda: On my first date, I learned that Anthony was Maronite Rite. He invited me to this liturgy. We opted to go to a Roman Rite for our marriage. We wanted to get married in a Maronite church but the priest was out of town the weekend we were going to get married. 

Anthony: Baptism is a separate Sacrament from Chrismation. Most kids receive both Sacraments from a young age. I am learning more and more about the Maronite Rite as an adult. For me, growing up my father was Roman Catholic and my mother was Maronite. Once I went to college and left the state, I went to a Roman Catholic liturgy due to there not being a close Maronite parish. About ten years ago I started receiving more access to the Maronite liturgy. And around four years later when we moved to South Carolina there was a Maronite church close by and my faith became alive in a way that was incredible.

Growing up my family would do a mix of the two liturgical calendars. So for when I got reacquainted with the Maronite Rite in the weeks leading up to Christmas we don’t have Advent. It’s the Season of Announcement.

Amanda: It’s six weeks long and the color is blue. Blue is related to Mary and you are traveling with her this season. 

Anthony: It’s like a journey with Mary. So many of the Maronite hymns and songs are connected to Mary. In these ancient hymns we hear her voice and see things through her eyes. 

Image from Wikipedia Commons.

Who are your favorite feast days and sacred art?

Anthony: Saint Charbel (Maronite). My favorite sacred art piece is “Saint Charbel” by Heart of IVSUS.


Amanda: Our Lady of Guadalupe (Roman), Commemoration of the Righteous and the Just (Maronite – its basically the equivalent of All Saints Day, but there is more emphasis on souls that haven’t necessarily been canonized yet). And my favorite sacred art is “Pentecost” by Jean Restout the Younger.

What’s another major difference between Roman and Maronite?

Amanda: Maronites have more Holy Days of Obligation. All of Holy Week is its own season. There’s more different liturgies during Holy Week, there’s a burial of Christ liturgy. 

Anthony: There’s a coffin that the congregation brings to the parish and roses are put into the coffin. If there’s a corpus to come off the crucifix or a crucifix is placed in the coffin. Usually four strong men from the parish carry the coffin around the church. There’s these songs of mourning. More of the hymns are in Arabic. In my opinion, one of the most powerful days is Good Friday.

And the “Holy Saturday” which in the Maronite tradition is referred to as the “Saturday of Light” there’s a ceremony that’s called the prayer of forgiveness and it celebrates the forgiveness won by the death of Jesus Christ. Parishioners are encouraged to go to confession ahead of time.

Wednesday of Job is the Wednesday of Holy Week. Since Job is a prefigurement of Christ, this day is a reminder that Christ willingly sacrificed himself for us like Job willingly suffered in the Old Testament.

What’s another difference between the two Rites in terms of structure?

Amanda: There are two eparchies in the United States. And these are like the equivalent of the diocese in the Roman Rite.


Are there particular feast days or celebrations that hold special significance in the Maronite?

Amanda: In terms of feasts, Saint Maron is a major feast on March 9. 

Anthony: Probably the Season of the Glorious Birth of Our Lord.”

Amanda: Maronites are passionate about the names of their seasons There’s no Ordinary Time. And even with Lent it is called “Great Lent”. 

Anthony: Which is interesting because in the Latin Rite, Ordinary Time is such a long period of time.

What challenges have you encountered as an inter-ritual family?

Amanda: I think when we moved here the transition to the Maronite liturgy was tougher because it was a bit longer than the Roman Rite. And the order of the liturgy is different.

Anthony: And on the flip, there’s a lot more music to the (Maronite) liturgy. There’s not a lot of variance with the patterns, but it has a depth. Even our two-year old was able to pick up on the hymns and sing at home. Our bishop mentioned in a homily that much of the Maronite hymns were written for a farming community. They were designed to be prayed/sung during the movement of the day and your work. 

Amanda: And the tune is the same each week although the words of the hymns change each week.

How has being inter-rite enhanced your understanding of the universal Church?

Anthony: I love that our Church is so diverse. There’s so much beauty that while there’s different liturgies that we all adhere to the same core truths. 

You experience that the same words/language Christ used at the Last Supper is the same in both rites. There’s so much depth to our Catholic Church and our faith! 

Amanda: I would say that a broadening of understanding of liturgy occurred. Being able to experience the other lung of the Church as Pope Benedict XVI referred to it was so beautiful. There’s so many beautiful expressions of our faith we miss if we only see things one way. There’s a richness to our Catholic faith. 

About Amanda and Anthony:

Amanda is a wife and mother to four daughters, and two more souls in Heaven. Channeling her years in parish ministry as well as her background in theology, Amanda is the Owner and Creative Director of Worthy of Agape, a Catholic business that aims to encourage families to become Saints together! 

Anthony is a Maronite Catholic as well as a FOCUS Missionary. After moving to various campuses around the country, Anthony and his family now call South Carolina home, where they’ve been able to dive deeper into their Maronite roots. Anthony enjoys tending to their family chickens as well as spending time exploring with his wife and daughters.

Thank you for sharing!

A 1045 Word Interview with the Carmelite Homemaker

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Cecelia Allen via phone call on March 26th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

You spent nearly a year in a Carmelite monastery before discerning a different path. Can you share more about that spiritual journey and how you recognized God’s call shifting in your life?

I started discerning religious life when I was little. I first wrote to the monastery when I was 14. Because they were cloistered I couldn’t visit, but when I was 16 I was able to stay in their guest room. I entered the monastery when I was 19 and felt a tug towards throughout High school. Eight months after I entered, I started feeling a tug towards some type of ministry, a more active service or retreat ministry. At first I thought this was another phase in the adjustment of contemplative life. I continued to feel this draw towards more active ministry. I really struggled to leave because I loved all aspects of that. I was given this advice by a priest, “to discern where you find peace.” When I left the monastery I felt peace but I still miss it. 

When I left that cloistered community I was thinking of joining another religious community. I realized that such women’s communities were either cloistered or very active in teaching 8 hours a day. 

I learned through the call to marriage that I could make my home a cloister, a type of miniature contemplative community. 

What was the most profound lesson you learned during your time in the monastery that continues to shape your life today?

Living the liturgical year. Being at the monastery when you are praying to the Divine Office your whole existence is centered on the liturgy. While I have been Catholic my whole life and received great catechesis, when I was at the monastery, it felt like it was my first Christmas as a Catholic. This was because Advent was such a profound time to prepare for Christ’s birth. It felt like Heavenly time where earthly time stopped and we entered more deeply into the life of Christ. 

You describe carrying “the little cloister” in your heart. How do you practically integrate Carmelite spirituality into your daily life as a homemaker? Are there specific practices, prayers, or rhythms you’ve adopted from monastic life?

I prioritize the Divine Office in my prayer life. I love the whole thing, but one hour I prioritize as a family is Night Prayer. Personally, I do enjoy Morning Prayer. 

St. Therese of Lisieux, a Carmelite saint, is known for her “little way” of finding holiness in ordinary moments. How do you see this spirituality manifesting in your role as a wife and homemaker? Could you share an example of how you’ve found extraordinary grace in seemingly mundane tasks?

Actually, it has been so amazing to study Carmelites from the perspective of a wife and mother. The more I study this spirituality, the more I realize it is applicable to our life in the world. Living in the presence of God undergirds all the Carmelite spirituality. I have been so encouraged by reading Teresa of Avila’s writings, The Way of Perfection, for everyone! This contemplative living is accessible for everyone. 

Carmelite spirituality emphasizes contemplation and interior life. In the midst of the busy responsibilities of home and marriage, how do you maintain a deep prayer life and sense of interior stillness?

That’s a good question, it’s definitely a work in progress. I have learned that in terms of maintaining a strong payer life it is not going to look like the days before. The other day I prayed the Divine Office but I was pacing up and down the hallway with my baby on my shoulder. Having that communication with your spouse to have them watch the kids while you pray is something I am working on. The big thing is accepting that prayer life isn’t the same as before marriage. 

For interior silence, I have Gregorian chant in the background playing. I used to think that silence, no background noise, was the way to draw into that interior silence. But I found that my mind wandered. When I have the chant playing in the background I am more drawn to focus on the silence. 

Your husband encouraged you to bring your Carmelite experience into your marriage. How has this unique spiritual background influenced your relationship?

I think it’s allowed me to see how a lot of people see religious life as the ultimate sacrifice. But having come from that religious life perspective I have become more aware of how marriage is also a vocation and a gift of yourself. The gift of totality in my marriage is something I learned, or became more aware of, due to my experience in the monastery. It’s that awareness our vocation (no matter which one you’re called to) is meant to stretch you to make you holy. 

Many young Catholics struggle with understanding their vocation. Having experienced both religious and married life, what wisdom can you share about discernment and listening to God’s call?

The biggest thing is to what the priest told me, “follow your peace.” If you are feeling a consistent tug towards religious life don’t be afraid to take action to pursue it. The postulant period (about the first year) is that time of discernment. Don’t be afraid to take the next step in discernment and don’t be afraid to discern out.

I realize that there’s two different tugs to marriage: the natural and the draw that’s indicative towards a vocation. And to ask God to help me discern the difference between the two. 

Who is your favorite Carmelite saint and why?

My favorite is Elizabeth of the Trinity because of her writings on living in the presence of God. Her main focus is the indwelling of the Trinity in our souls due to our Baptism and living in that presence always. I found this so accessible as a wife and mother. 

I also enjoy the work of John of the Cross and Terese of the Andes. Teresa of Avila and Therese of Lisieux would round out the top five (please don’t be mad at me!)

Where can my followers learn more about your ministry? 

I have a YouTube channel, Instagram profile and I have a blog. Links to these can be found at: Carmelite Homemaker.

About Cecelia: 

After discerning religious life in my high school years, I entered a Carmelite monastery when I was 19 years old. A year later, I discerned out, feeling called from the solitude of Carmel to some form of ministry. 

I am now a wife and mother, but my love for the monastery remains a deep part of who I am. I have made it my mission to bring the beauty of monastic life into my life in the world, and help others do the same.

Thank you for sharing!

A 686 Word Interview with Greg Perea

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Greg Perea via phone call on March 5th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

Your Instagram focuses on making Catholic content “sharable” and relatable. What inspired you to use social media as a platform for sharing your faith, and how do you balance humor with serious theological messages?

When I first started Instagram it was mainly family, just posting about my life. When I got into the content game, I started out with health and fitness. Everything just seemed to click once I focused my content to the most important aspect of my life: my Catholic faith.

There’s already a lot of good Catechesis content out there, so I wanted to be more relatable to the average Joe who wants to share his faith and love his family. 

Can you tell us about the mission behind His Glory Co? 

His Glory started in 2018. I was looking for a way to make some extra money and stumbled across the print on demand process. I came across this brand “Not of this World” a few years ago and wanted to create something like this for the youth that appeals to Catholics. 

Clothing is a way we communicate without saying anything. It’s definitely a way to evangelize. The founder of Not of this World had all these statistics on how what we wear can spread the Gospel. Around 2020 I shortened the brand to His Glory Co (originally called All for His Glory).

You were at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. What were some of the most powerful moments or insights you gained from that experience?

I think the most powerful was Eucharistic Adoration every night. I loved how the event organizers stayed true to our faith and tradition. The first night was contemporary music, the second was Gregorian chant, the third was silence, and the final night was provided by Matt Maher. It displayed the universality of the Catholic Church. 

How do you see it impacting Catholic engagement today?

I think there’s more of a yearning for the Eucharist, particularly in Adoration. In my own diocese of Los Angeles and Diocese of Orange we are seeing more opportunities for the laity to visit Jesus in Adoration. The revival has sparked more interest in the Blessed Sacrament and the realization that we all need Jesus. 

Many people find Catholic doctrine complex or intimidating. How do you approach making the faith more accessible and understandable, especially through your memes, reels and content?

That’s a good question! I dove into the Catechism after my Confirmation. I don’t know if it’s a charism, God grants us these various gifts and unless we try them out we never know. I’m an educator at heart. I taught 9 years at a Catholic school. So I have a natural knack for teaching, making it fun and relatable while staying true to the Catholic teaching. 

As a Catholic influencer, you likely encounter both supporters and critics. What’s the most challenging misconception about Catholicism that you find yourself constantly addressing?

Obviously, the one about Catholics “worshipping” Mary. A second misconception is the idea of the Church exclusively as the Body of Christ but not while being the official institution. It’s both!

Why do you believe humor can be an effective tool for spiritual communication?

It’s a light way to introduce heavy topics because a lot of Catholic teachings are misunderstood. If you can meet people where they are at, it can help teach people about the faith. 

For someone who might be curious about Catholicism but feels overwhelmed or unsure where to start, what would be your advice?

I would say a starting point would be Catechism in a Year because it’s not invasive. Fr. Mike breaks it down in easy to digest sessions. Listening to a good Catholic podcast is a good starting point. 

Who are your favorite Catholic saints? 

Saint John Paul II, Saints Joseph, and Saint Michael the Archangel. 

Any last words of encouragement for my readers? 

In the first paragraph of the Catechism, Be attentive to where God is calling you. 

Where can my audience find more of your work? 

Check out my Instagram at @gregperea and for good Catholic clothing at His Glory Co.

About Greg:

Greg Perea is a Catholic influencer, entrepreneur, and evangelist dedicated to helping families grow in faith. Through his Instagram platform, he shares inspirational content, Catholic parenting tips, and faith-filled resources designed to help busy parents teach and live the faith with their children.

As the founder of His Glory Co., Greg creates Catholic apparel and resources that make evangelization simple and accessible for families. His mission is to equip parents with practical tools to incorporate their faith into daily life, especially during Mass and family prayer time.

With years of experience in faith formation and catechesis, Greg blends theological depth with real-life parenting wisdom. His content is relatable, encouraging, and rooted in Church teaching, making him a trusted voice for Catholic families looking to strengthen their faith. Whether through motivational reels, faith-based discussions, or Catholic product recommendations, Greg’s online presence is a beacon of encouragement for those seeking to grow closer to Christ while raising their children in the faith.

Thank you for sharing!

A 1296 Word Interview with Jose Pulido

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Jose Pulido via phone call on March 7th and 14th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

Your personal journey from being a “staunch, articulate atheist” to Catholic evangelist is fascinating. Could you share more about that mystical encounter with the Holy Family that changed your life?

Absolutely, it was December 24, 2011. Christmas Eve The Gothic Cathedral in Barcelona, Spain. In my Colombian tradition, it was tough to celebrate together with my family. My sister and mother were back home. My brother and father were with me in Spain but decided not to come to Mass. I was wandering the city and was talking to the poor and offered them prayers since I didn’t have money on me. I heard the Mass bells ringing and I entered the church and started making my way to the front. Looking back on this experience, it was an exercise of spiritual poverty and grace. I thought I was going to be with my family during Christmas Eve Mass. The Spanish used at Mass was a different dialect (Cataline) that I wasn’t used to speaking so I only understood every tenth word. This wasn’t what I wanted at that moment because I felt down and like I failed. 

Very clearly I heard the voice of Satan. He was gloating about how he separated my family and that I lost and that I would never have a whole family. 

I oriented my heart toward the Lord during this time to help from not having a breakdown. During this time, the Blessed Virgin Mary spoke to me telling me that I have always been part of the Holy Family and that I alway had the perfect family. This experience happened to me while I was still in Mass. During the collection, I had two coins and Satan came back telling me that I didn’t have the right offering and was a sinner. How could I be a member of the perfect family if I was imperfect? I felt this weight again and went back to the Lord. I felt consolation from Mary and Joseph. 

They again encouraged me that I have an inheritance and have the right to ask for the graces. 

This was a pretty emotional experience, I had tears and snot, I was not attractive at the moment. Again, Satan tempted me telling me that while the Holy Family might accept me that the Church wouldn’t. I felt crushed again. 

I again felt Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in my heart encourage me to give this Church a chance. During the sign of Peace, there was a lady who still gave me the sign of peace despite my appearance. So Satan went away.

The next message I was sent was that Jesus was present in the Eucharist. On the way back to the hotel, I received the fifth message, I was coming down with traveler’s sickness. The person who was taking care of me was my dad. I came to this realization that in order for me to experience the love of Saint Joseph and Mary that you need to go to your parents. Some people think the Holy Family is a replacement for your family and parents. And maybe that is in extraordinary circumstances like Saint John Paul II, but in most ordinary cases you need to love your parents to find the love of the Holy Family. 

Holy Family

In your book, you mention combining Sacred Tradition with modern behavioral science. How do these two seemingly different approaches work together to create effective evangelization methods?

Many Catholics feel intimidated or unprepared when it comes to sharing their faith.

What’s one common misconception about evangelization that you’d like to dispel?

That evangelization has to be awful or a fight. Evangelization can be joyful and loving! There’s no contradiction between joyfulness and truth. 

You’ve taught thousands of people through workshops across North America. What’s the most surprising transformation you’ve witnessed in someone applying your evangelization techniques?

The most surprising thing is the upside up transformation. Adult children go from not wanting to go to Mass to now volunteering with their mom with local religious orders. 

I was coaching this mom and she and her daughter were yelling at each other about the faith. After one coaching session and three weeks later, they were going to Mass and hugging each other. 

When you approach it with a craftsmanship of love. For example, grandma’s cookies aren’t great because she is perfect, it is because she has developed her craft of baking over decades. And that is how my work has been effective, not because I’m perfect but because I took the time to learn this craft with love. 

And we have this language used by the Holy Family, found in Scripture. It feels good to evangelize, it’s kind of controversial to say, but it should feel good to evangelize our faith. It is the work of the Holy Spirit! 

We always talk about the evangelizee, but never the evangelizer. This book is about how parties thrive. We have to love ourselves (not just the person we are evangelizing or just ourselves). It is both/and.

Your background includes Ivy League education and corporate experience. How has your secular professional background influenced your approach to Catholic evangelization?

Mass is not boring
Mass is unboring…bring your coworker to daily Mass this month!

Immensely! In two ways. The first way it really opened my eyes to ways of what was possible with evangelization. Routinely, I would bring my colleagues to daily Mass. 

The second ways was uncovering the means to accomplish this good. I had various companies talking about religion during the lunch hour. It wasn’t because I was unique, it was because I really wanted to evangelize and I developed this craft. Anybody can learn this. The craft is to dream like Joseph, talk like Mary, and to make all things new like Jesus. We all have an inheritance to claim those things. We must be our shoulder to the wheel. The doctor must read the Scripture to found how faith and reason interact. The accountant must read Scripture and attend Mass to see how faith and reason interact. Like one of the core principles for the Marines which is “Every Marine,  a rifleman”, in the Catholic space it should be similar: “Every Catholic, an evangelist.” Just like how the Marines are successful with great training, so too Catholics in order to be successful need great training.

In developing the craft in my classes it is always about how to apply this to sharing the faith. 

You mention teaching people to “dream like Saint Joseph” and “speak like Our Lady.” Could you explain what these spiritual practices look like in everyday conversations with non-believers?

To dream like Joseph you have to see everything and everyone (including yourself) as God sees. 

To speak like Mary you have to be willing to express yourself regarding the faith. You have to be willing to talk about your personal connection to the faith. 

For Catholics who feel they’ve tried everything to reach loved ones who have left the faith, what hope or fresh perspective does your approach offer them?

Pray hope don't worry Padre Pio

Great evangelization should be life giving for the evangelist, at least a lot of the time. The Lord says the summary of faith is to love God with all your heart and love others as yourself. 

It is necessary to love others as yourself. The gift of love must go both ways. In order to love others as yourself we must first love ourselves. When the Lord looks at the Rich Young Man in the Gospel of Mark, it says that the Lord looked at him and loved him. If the Lord looks at us and loves us, then when we look in the mirror at ourselves should we not also love ourselves? 

Where is the best place for my audience to learn more about you? 

On Instagram at @share.faith.now

About Jose:

Jose M. Pulido draws from 15+ years of experience evangelizing in various secular settings to inspire and equip others to share Christ.

His experience includes evangelizing at universities, Fortune 500 companies, and various non-profits (in the US, Latin America, and Asia).

He’s also advised numerous organizations and parishes on evangelization and catechesis through staff trainings, public workshops, & retreats. He started evangelizing for the Lord at George Washington University’s Newman Center, where he was the first disciple of FOCUS when they joined the campus. He’s worked with Georgetown University on Young Adult Latino Ministry, having founded Catholic Latino Leadership Initiative, while working as a young adult in Washington, DC. He is a spokesman for The Mary Foundation – A non-profit dedicated to the distribution of sacramentals and evangelization materials (www.catholicity.com). He has appeared on ESNE TV, doing a three-part series on Evangelization for the segment Mujeres De Encuentro. He is also a Senior Advisor at Omnia Catholic, a social media ministry aimed at supporting young adult ministries. Jose Pulido is a member of the Catholic Speakers Organization. This is the leading resource for faith-based speakers. He is a frequent presenter on the University Series in Ventura County, a series aimed at supporting faith formation for adult Catholics. He is also a member of Fruitful Futures Project, a non-profit dedicated to helping others find fruitfulness in their callings. He is part of the leadership team for That Man Is You (TMIY) at his parish.  

​He has a Masters from Yale University and a Bachelors from George Washington University. He speaks English, Spanish, Japanese, and is hilarious in Korean & Tagalog.

​He is most relaxed when reading Sacred Scripture, doing origami, going for a nice walk, or showing others how to engage in life-giving evangelization.  

Thank you for sharing!