Catholic

A 740 Word Interview with Joe Coleman

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Joe Coleman via phone call on March 12th, 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 inspired you to specifically focus on helping Catholic business owners with their podcasts rather than pursuing a broader market?

We work with pretty much anyone who wants to create Catholic content but our primary focus is Catholic business owners. I have audio-produced a variety of Catholic projects over the years. I really didn’t see serving this specific niche. It seemed to be that Catholics who are running businesses according to the teachings of the Gospel were underserved. It fills a need that hasn’t gotten as much attention as non-profits and ministry. 

How did your experience at KNOM Radio in Alaska shape your approach to podcast production?

That’s a good question, I worked at KNOM as a producer, on-air host, and a writer. I am very grateful to KNOM for teaching me about the fundamentals of audio-production. A large part of what I did was in-studio interviews or longer form audio packages. I got experience in storytelling and what makes a good conversation. I learned how to help guests get their point across. 

You mention that podcasts are “the best medium to build audience trust” – can you share an example where you’ve seen this trust develop between a Catholic business owner and their audience?

We helped develop a  podcast called Making Every Class Catholic by Dr. Brett Falkeld where he talked to Catholic educators. He used the podcast to talk to interesting people like the Archbishop of Vancouver. He provided this content for professional and personal enrichment to show how teachers can make all their classes Catholic. He used the podcast to drive people to his subscription community for educational resources. The podcast was a marketing vehicle to help his business to be the first point of contact. 

One of the best things about broadcasting is that you can talk about a problem that speaks to the listeners and makes them feel like you are having this one-on-one conversation. You can scale this conversation while still keeping it intimate. 

Saint Maximilian Kolbe is your studio’s namesake – how does his legacy influence your work philosophy?

He has a newspaper/periodical that is still in existence: Knight of the Immaculata. Because of this, one of his patronages is that of communication. His biggest claim to fame is his sacrifice in Auschwitz. It is easy to lose sight of heroism in modernity. It is easy to forget that you still can do great things. Our studio is to help businesses tell great stories. We strive for excellence and holiness like the saints. While I will likely not reach the same level as Saint Maximilian, he is still a good model to look up to and inspire myself and my business. 

What’s the most significant transformation you’ve witnessed in a client’s business after launching their podcast?

I think of Dr. Falkeld’s podcast. Using it as a marketing vehicle is powerful. The podcast is still a source of traffic to his community. Podcasts as a medium are playing the long-game. You can play the short game with viral posts on social media. But podcasting in general is playing the long-game. 

I think the reality is that not everyone is going to be seeing immediate success. Think in terms of months and years versus days. It’s tough to say any business is going to be transformed right away when launching a podcast. 

We produce a show called Catching Foxes. It has been going on for ten years. The personal fulfillment the hosts continue to receive from this experience is invaluable to the amount of friends they developed through their podcast. 

Looking ahead, how do you see Catholic podcasting evolving over the next few years?

That’s a good question! I think that space probably expands. It will likely evolve similar to how the podcasting industry in general has expanded. The fact we had presidential candidates this past year going on podcasts. Four years ago this was inconceivable. 

The one objection I hear is that the market is so saturated. While there are a lot of podcasts, there is not a saturation of high quality Catholic podcasts. For every Pints with Aquinas, there are 100 “not- Pints with Aquinas”. 

The Catholic world moves slow in the tech space. There’s still time to hop on and start a podcast that’s high quality. 

Where’s the best way for my readers to learn more about your work? 

They can visit our website at saintkolbestudios.com or email me at joe@saintkolbestudios.com.

About Joe: 

Joe Coleman is the Founder and Director of Audio Production at Saint Kolbe Studios. He started his audio career in 2019 as an on-air host, producer, and writer at the oldest Catholic radio station in the US, KNOM Radio in Nome, Alaska. Now, he lives in Tyler, Texas with his wife and soon-to-be-born daughter. P.S. Want a free podcast studio? Seriously! Saint Kolbe Studios is giving away five full podcast setups to new retainer clients. We want to lower the barrier to entry and help you tell your story. Head to saintkolbestudios.com to learn more.

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An 845 Word Interview with Cameron the Catholic

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Cameron Riecker via phone call on February 17th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

How did you get involved in Catholic apologetics? 

Well, I supposed initially it started when I was dating a Protestant girl in college. We started talking about our future. Through that relationship and a real occasion to study (through Augustine’s work and other Church teachings). After that relationship ended with the girl, I developed a devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. I went into seminary in 2018 (eventually discerned out) and I am married now with two children. During these experiences I learned I had a knack for theology and explaining the faith to others. 

Much of modern Catholic apologetics focuses on defending the faith against secular critiques. How do you balance addressing contemporary challenges while staying rooted in the Church’s traditional apologetic approaches from figures like Augustine and Aquinas?

It’s just an application of the same knowledge to different situations. The Church has already answered most of these questions. It’s a matter of presenting these questions and defenses of the faith in a way modern readers can understand but the main aspects of the answers are the same. 

Your channel covers both theological depth and accessibility for seekers. Could you share how you approach making complex Catholic doctrines understandable without oversimplifying their richness?

You proceed to the unknown through the known. The knowledge of principles allows you to proceed to unknown conclusions. In order to be a good teacher you need to know what your students already know and where you want to guide them.

I think God has been able to give me the ability to use analogies to help teach the faith. In order for people to get the concept at a basic level I think these stories and analogies are helpful. 

What has been the most surprising or transformative insight you’ve gained through your work in Catholic apologetics, from studying the tradition? 

I think one of the more profound insights I got from studying Saint Thomas Aquinas is the imminent proximity that God exists. This notion that anything good I do or anything someone else does is that it is because of God. All that is evil comes from creatures. All that is good comes from God. Isaiah 26:12 refers to this. God is sustaining our being all the time. Having my eyes opened to this changed things for me.

Engaging with people’s questions/comments?

People are really fascinated with the Blessed Virgin Mary for good or ill. It is the most common objection related to this subject. The Devil realizes that at this point in human history Jesus has given a lot of influence to Mary. Satan can see the spiritual battlescape and he knows that once people receive Mary they are out of his grasp. 

Many young Catholics today struggle with questions about faith and science. Which resources or approaches have you found most effective in demonstrating the harmony between Catholic teaching and scientific understanding?

I taught senior physics from 2020-2024. Studying physics is studying God’s creation. There is nothing for authentic religion to be concerned about science. The main principle is that God is the author of creation and the Scriptures go hand-in-hand. 

When engaging with people from other faith traditions or non-believers, what do you find is the most commonly misunderstood aspect of Catholic teaching, and how do you address it?

It’s always Mary. I address that a little bit and why. The main distinction that Protestants struggle with is that you can venerate a saint without worshiping them. Not fully understanding the classical distinction between latria, hyperdulia, and dulia.

Your channel aims to serve both lifelong Catholics and seekers. Could you share a particular moment or conversation that exemplifies why you believe apologetics remains vital for the Church today?

Once again going back to the Mary thing, recommending the Rosary has been fruitful in my work. Saint Louis de Montfort said in his book True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, “Mary has produced, together with the Holy Ghost, the greatest thing which has been or ever will be— a God-Man; and she will consequently produce the greatest saints that there will be in the end of time.”

Looking ahead, what do you see as the most pressing challenges facing Catholic apologetics in the next decade, and how can we best prepare to address them?

I think sexual ethics is coming down the pipe. Additionally, the role of the Pope internationally. Many people have lived their life without knowing who the Pope is even now in the 21st century. We respond to this by making distinctions and defending the same faith the Church has taught for 2000 years and pray. That’s it! 

About Cameron:

Cameron Riecker is a Catholic apologist, life coach, and speaker who lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife and two kids. 

When he’s not working, he enjoys basketball, weightlifting, and going on hikes with his family.

Thank you for sharing!

The Simple Catholic Sunday Funnies: Episode 2

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Editor’s Note: The Simple Catholic Sunday Funnies This new weekly feature of wholesome and funny Catholic comics strips is presented by The Simple Catholic. Current contributors include Father Alvaro Comics and The Catholic Cartoonist.

About Father Alvaro

Father Alvaro is a comic focusing on the humor, beauty and challenges of parish life in the Midwest.  The characters, though fictional, are based on various Priests, Nuns and Deacons from my parish in Madison, Wisconsin. Father Alvaro combines my passion for brief storytelling with sharing the Catholic Faith. I hope these comics bring moments of joy to readers.

Follow on Instagram: @fralvarocomics

Follow on Instagram at the_catholic_cartoonist

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Saints Who Guide Us Through the Digital Age: Holy Helpers for Modern Technology

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Sponsored: This article is made possible by Truthly, supporting quality and engaging Catholic content.

In our family home, we have a running joke about my parents calling me or my siblings whenever they have a technology problem. “The router’s not working!” or “How do I save this document?” We’ve become the default tech support. This experience got me thinking about how we use technology as Catholics in today’s digital environment.

Technology itself—whether it’s smartphones, artificial intelligence, or social media—is morally neutral. Like a hammer, car, or telephone, these tools aren’t inherently good or evil. It’s how we choose to use them that matters. This perspective isn’t new to Catholic thinking. The Church has always recognized that human innovation serves a purpose in God’s plan when used properly. 

While seeking digital balance, I discovered we have spiritual guides for this journey too. The communion of saints offers us models for using technology virtuously, even saints who lived long before the internet age.

Saint Isidore of Seville: The Ancient Patron of the Internet

“The 7th century patron saint of the internet seems odd, but Saint Isidore of Seville connects logically to our digital world.

In 1997, Pope John Paul II named him internet patron because his writing structure resembled modern databases. Isidore’s greatest work, the Etymologiae, was essentially an early encyclopedia that attempted to compile all known knowledge. His organizational approach anticipated our digital information systems by over a millennium.

What strikes me most about Isidore wasn’t just his intellectual achievements but his heart for unity. After years of war in Spain, Isidore worked tirelessly to bring peace and unite Christians throughout the region. Pope Benedict XVI noted in his 2008 General Audience that Isidore’s wealth of cultural knowledge allowed him to “constantly compare the Christian newness with the Greco-Roman cultural heritage.”

This mission of unity perfectly parallels the original vision for the internet—connecting people across distances and differences. When I scroll through divisive comment sections or see how technology sometimes drives us apart, I remember Isidore’s example. Technology should be a tool for building bridges, not walls.

Often called the “Schoolmaster of the Middle Ages,” Isidore established schools and seminaries to form newly converted Visigoths in the faith. His reputation was so profound that the 15th Council of Toledo in 688 called him “the extraordinary doctor, the latest ornament of the Catholic Church, the most learned man of the latter ages, always to be named with reverence.”

When I feel overwhelmed by information overload or distracted by endless notifications, I try to ask: How would Isidore approach this digital world? Would he use it to unite or divide? To educate or distract? To lift others up or tear them down?

Blessed Carlo Acutis: A Modern Saint for the Digital Age

Saint Isidore offers a timeless view on technology, while Blessed Carlo Acutis models virtue in our digital age. The Church has recognized Carlo’s extraordinary witness, and I’m overjoyed that he will be canonized on April 27, 2025. Soon we’ll be able to call him “Saint Carlo” — a modern patron for our digital age!

In July 2024, I attended the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. Among 50,000 Catholics celebrating the Eucharist, the Eucharistic Miracles exhibit, inspired by Carlo, drew huge crowds. Some waited over 90 minutes to see it.

While standing in line, I experienced a life-changing encounter with a California gentleman who shared his conversion story. By the time we reached the exhibit, we felt genuine kinship and the beauty and detail of Carlo’s Eucharistic catalog from his short life moved us both.

I first encountered Carlo’s legacy on October 24, 2022, when I prayed before the Blessed Sacrament and heard a presentation about him at my parish. His story resonated deeply with me as a parent trying to guide children through a digital world.

What makes Carlo so remarkable is how he balanced technology with spiritual priorities. Often called “the first millennial saint,” Carlo used his computer programming skills to create websites documenting Eucharistic miracles around the world. Yet despite his technological aptitude, he maintained clear boundaries.

Carlo enforced a strict one-hour gaming limit for himself and friends. His discipline highlights my tendency to check my phone mindlessly and let technology interfere with prayer and family time.

Finding Balance in Our Digital Lives

These saints—one ancient, one modern—show us that technology should serve us, not vice versa. When my son fixates on screens or I scroll through social media instead of praying, I recall Carlo’s example of moderation.

When my oldest son gets fixated on screen time or I catch myself scrolling through social media instead of saying evening prayers, I try to remember Carlo’s example of moderation. Technology should enhance our humanity and our faith, not diminish it.

As parents, we often worry about how screens affect our children. Saint Isidore and Blessed Carlo teach us to focus on proper formation in technology use, not rejection. Like Isidore creating schools for new Christians, we must actively develop digital virtue in ourselves and our families.

Here are some practical ways I’ve tried to follow these saints’ examples:

  1. Set clear boundaries: Like Carlo’s one-hour rule, establish specific times for technology use and times for disconnect.
  2. Pursue unity: Following Isidore’s example, use social media to build up the Body of Christ rather than participate in divisive arguments.
  3. Create digital sabbaths: Our family tries to have screen-free Sundays (or at least Sunday evenings) to prioritize worship and family time.
  4. Pray before logging on: Consider this prayer inspired by Saint Isidore: Almighty and eternal God, who created us in Thy image and called us to seek after all that is good, true and beautiful, especially in your Son Jesus Christ, grant through the intercession of Saint Isidore that during our time online, we direct our attention only to that which pleases You and treat with charity all those we encounter. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
  5. Use technology for evangelization: Both Isidore and Carlo used the tools of their time to spread knowledge of the faith. How might we do the same?

Technology for the Greater Glory of God

The emergence of artificial intelligence has raised new questions about technology’s role in our lives. When I first experimented with AI tools, I found myself both amazed and concerned. As with any technology, AI itself isn’t inherently good or evil—it’s how we use it that matters.

The Church, in its wisdom, has been reflecting deeply on these questions. In the recent Vatican document Antiqua et Nova, we find important guidance:

“The Church’s moral and social teaching provides resources to help ensure that AI is used in a way that preserves human agency. Considerations about justice, for example, should also address issues such as fostering just social dynamics, upholding international security, and promoting peace. By exercising prudence, individuals and communities can discern ways to use AI to benefit humanity while avoiding applications that could degrade human dignity or harm the environment.

Church Guidance on Digital Responsibility

In this context, the concept of responsibility should be understood not only in its most limited sense but as a ‘responsibility for the care for others, which is more than simply accounting for results achieved.'” (Paragraph 47)

This emphasis on responsibility and care for others resonates deeply with me. It’s not enough to simply avoid the harmful applications of technology—we’re called to actively use these tools for the good of humanity. 

The document further reminds us that in navigating these complex questions: “In a world marked by AI, we need the grace of the Holy Spirit, who ‘enables us to look at things with God’s eyes, to see connections, situations, events and to uncover their real meaning.'” (Paragraph 115)

How profound! Beyond human wisdom, we need divine guidance to use technology rightly and grasp its deeper meanings.

Will we use AI to serve the common good and the greater glory of God? Or will we allow it to replace human connection and creativity? These are questions we must wrestle with as faithful Catholics in a digital age.

What comforts me is knowing that the same principles apply: moderation, intentionality, and keeping our eyes fixed on Christ. Whether it’s social media, video games, or artificial intelligence, technology must remain our servant, not our master.

Saint Isidore of Seville and Blessed Carlo Acutis—separated by nearly 1,400 years but united in their faith—show us that we can embrace innovation while staying rooted in eternal truths. Their examples remind us that even our digital lives can be offered up for the glory of God and the building of His kingdom. Just as Isidore and Carlo used their tools for evangelization, Truthly helps Catholics do the same today.

As I close my laptop each night and set my phone aside, I try to remember Carlo’s wisdom: “Not me, but God.” Technology, like everything else in creation, finds its proper place when it leads us closer to Him.

Thanks again to today’s article sponsor! Visit truthly.ai to learn more about the world’s first Catholic action app. 

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Eucharistic Adoration: He Waits for You in the Silence

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The church door closed with a soft click. Empty pews stretched toward the altar. A single candle flickered near the monstrance, its flame steady. Sunlight filtered through stained glass, casting colored patterns that moved slowly across the floor. The air felt still.

An elderly woman sat in the third pew on the left, rosary beads sliding between weathered fingers. She didn’t look up.

The wooden kneeler creaked. Silence filled the space, not empty but full. The gold of the monstrance caught the light once, then didn’t again. A car passed outside, then nothing.

The clock on the wall ticked. The Host remained unchanged, white against gold. Minutes stretched. The elderly woman shifted slightly, then returned to stillness.

Somewhere, a heating system hummed briefly, then quieted. The colored light on the floor had moved an inch. The candle flame didn’t waver.

God Waits

Saint Alphonsus Liguori proclaimed, “Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the sacraments, the one dearest to God and the one most helpful to us.”

Yet God doesn’t need our love—He wants it.

The Blessed Sacrament doesn’t demand attention with bright lights or loud sounds. It waits. The miracle sits in plain sight, ordinary and extraordinary at once. Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity behind the appearance of bread.

A Different Kind of Time

In Eucharistic Adoration, time changes. Not faster or slower—different.

St. Mother Teresa understood this: “When you look at the crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you then. When you look at the Sacred Host, you understand how much Jesus loves you now.”

Now. Present tense.

The elderly woman with the rosary knew this. Her weekly visit wasn’t obligation—it was appointment. Her same pew each Wednesday, surrounded by familiar silence, enveloped in His unchanging Presence.

What Happens in Adoration?

St. Clare of Assisi said simply: “Gaze upon him, consider him, contemplate him, as you desire to imitate him.”

Some call it spiritual tanning—basking in the light of the Son. You can’t help but be changed by it. Too much exposure and your sins become visible, uncomfortable. The longer you remain, the more grace accumulates.

The wooden pew feels hard after twenty minutes. The mind wanders. The silence grows deeper. And then, sometimes, a moment arrives that wasn’t there before.

The Invitation

The Church doesn’t merely suggest Adoration—it recognizes our need for it. As the Catechism states, “The Church and the world have great need of Eucharistic adoration. Jesus waits for us in this sacrament of love.”

He waits.

The church remains mostly empty on weekday afternoons. The Host doesn’t mind. The monstrance holds the miracle whether witnessed by hundreds or just an elderly woman with arthritic hands.

The invitation remains open.

Find fifteen minutes this week. Ask your parish office when Adoration hours are scheduled. Walk in. Sit down. Nothing spectacular may happen.

But the candle will flicker near the monstrance. Sunlight might cast colored patterns across the floor. The silence will be waiting.

And so will He.

Thank you for sharing!

A 896 Word Interview with Theresa Ambat from Saint Sprites

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Theresa Ambat, Founder of Saint Sprites, via phone call on January 27th, 2024. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given. All the images about Saint Sprites, along with the headshot, are provided by Theresa and she allowed usage in this article.

Blessed Carlo Acutis clearly had a profound impact on your work. What aspects of his life and spirituality particularly resonate with you, and how do they continue to influence your artistic choices?

I first heard about him back in October 2020. I was first drawn to him because he played video games. Reading more about his life, he was so young and exemplified the love of Christ in all aspects of his life. He is similar to Saint Therese the Little Flower in how he loved everyone so deeply. 

The way Carlo used these tools (the Internet and digital art) for the good of others was inspiring.  People love games and speak to them really strongly. To point people toward God through video games is a powerful thing. He is the first saint to really use the Internet for evangelization. I found how he channeled the love of Jesus through the Internet inspiring. 

Your work bridges two seemingly different worlds – traditional Catholic spirituality and retro gaming aesthetics. What inspired you to combine these elements, and what do you think this combination offers to modern Catholics?

I think with video games it’s such a different form of media from books for movies. You are in the middle of the story. We see a part of ourselves when we play these games. I think that’s why so many people find video games so impactful. Hopefully, they are pursuing something good in the game.

When Carlo was beatified I thought it would be so cool that there would be an RPG of the life of the disciples. Video games are interactive and immersive. I don’t have the skillset (yet) to make a video game. But I hope that others can make such video games. 

I see that video games can act as a bridge to help people learn about the faith. To have an RPG about Maximilian Kolbe or Joan of Arc would be amazing! 

How did you settle on the name “Saint Sprites”?

Originally, I was going to do Pixel Saints, but I think that name was already taken on Instagram.

A sprite refers to a singular piece of art in a video game. Individual pieces of pixel art. And there’s alliteration with it. 

When you create a new saint sprite, what’s your creative process like? 

Good question! Typically, I’ll look up the sprite on Google, do some research on the saint, seeing if there are any objects associated with them. Working with a 32 x 32 pixelboard limits me, but it pushes my creativity.

For example, a lot of the religious sisters look similar. Both Hildegard and Monica looked similar so I have the former hold a Gregorian chant piece. Trying to figure how to show their character is fun too. I gave Saint Therese rosy cheeks, and St. Paul a wrinkle on his forehead. More modern saints are a bit easier because they had a more standard outfit than more ancient saints. But so far, I feel like I have been able to put enough detail and make it work to distinguish while working within the 32 by 32 board parameters. 

With the Marian devotions, I like to have a bit more pizazz (she is Mary after all!). I have Our Lady of Guadalupe on the Moon. 

What keeps you motivated to grow in your craft as it relates to Saint Sprites?

Well, I think when I see that this is impacting people and reminding them of God it pushes me to keep going. It motivates me to make more saints and improve my products. I love reading my reviews on Etsy (shown below).

These words of encouragement motivate me. 

I find parents and godparents buying these stickers for their children’s First Communion and how it impacts their faith. So something as simple as a piece of paper that sticks on another piece of paper to help people connect to God is humbling. Ultimately, knowing this project is a way to bring people to God is what motivates me. 

Among all the saints you’ve portrayed in your pixel art style, do you have a particular favorite piece or saint that you especially enjoyed creating? What made this one special?

I think I’m coming up on 82 saints. That’s a good and tough question.

Probably Maximlian Kolbe, he is one of my favorite saints, he was one of the first saints I made and was proud I was able to include so many details in that sticker. He is one of my more distinctive looking saints. For similar reasons, Saint Faustina. I was really pleased to include the Divine Mercy symbol. And thirdly probably Saint Therese. She gives me so much joy. When I put the rosy cheeks on her I knew that THIS IS Therese and she is one of my favorite saints. Those three would be my favorite (it’s soooo hard to pick!).

Any last words of advice to any readers who are also artists?

My biggest piece of advice is to invite the Lord into everything you create. He is the Original Creator. Every little sticker I make is God’s gift to me. Creation is so much more of a joy when you involve the Original Creator. This involves a strong prayer life and inviting the Lord into your workspace. Having a collaborative perspective when creating is an important part of being an artist. 

About Theresa

Theresa Ambat is a 26-year-old Catholic entrepreneur based in Seattle, Washington. Theresa, first interested in music and sound design for video games, eventually found herself creating pixel-art drawings of Catholic saints in her free time. She was inspired by the beatification of Carlo Acutis and over the last four years developed a love for evangelization through Catholic pixel-art reminiscent of retro visuals from the NES and Gameboy. Thus, Saint Sprites was born.

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Eucharistic Revival in Ireland: A Movement of Faith

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How is God working in Ireland?

Our City in Derry in the North of Ireland has suffered. The Derry City Walls built during the 1600s tell a story of British oppression and persecution. During ‘The Troubles’, a period of 30 years from the 1960s to 1998, Derry went through trauma, grief and untold suffering as sectarian violence and feuds were ongoing between paramilitary groups.

The trauma and suffering did not end with the ‘Good Friday Agreement’ which brought about fragile peace from sectarianism. The people across Derry and the rest of Northern Ireland continue to struggle with PTSD, issues of poverty, despair, mental illness, unemployment, imprisonment, addiction, violence, family breakdown, and suicide. Northern Ireland has the highest rate of suicide in the UK with higher rates among men and the youth.

It is into this darkness that Jesus chose to come and shine bright.

The Franciscan Friars: A Ministry of Hope

The Franciscan friars of the renewal settled in Derry in 2010 and since then they have ministered to the broken rejected and most in need in derry. They offer love, material assistance and a journey into intimacy with God as well as an invitation to find the ultimate joy in knowing that regardless of circumstances we are loved as sons and daughters of God.

The CFR friars regularly swap about the members of their community within the different friaries. In September 2023 Fr Antonio Maria Diez De Medina CFR was transferred to Derry Northern Ireland from London. In London Fr Antonio had been in active ministry with young adults alive in their faith as well as walking alongside a group called Cenacle Charismatic London led by Ania Graglewska, a Polish lady living in London sharing the joys of her own healing miracle and her love of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit.

Seeds of Revival: A Vision for Renewal

Fr Antonio could see the amazing love the people of Derry have for their faith , the Eucharist, Our Lady and our celebrated Sr Clare Crockett, newly made servant of God. Fr Antonio and his friends from Cenacle London decided to come alongside those in Derry seeking breakthrough for a renewal of the Catholic faith in Ireland.

Many of us in Derry wanted to be part of raising up Jesus in the most Holy Eucharist as the ONLY solution to all of what our people are suffering. The Franciscan friars of the renewal and a dedicated team of lay people began to step out in faith for something brand new to us. Fr Antonio encouraged us as we got in contact with other CFR friars in America to hear about how massive Eucharistic processions going across the whole of America were bringing about an ‘on fire’ Eucharistic Revival. In particular we connected with Br Damien Novak CFR in Newark New Jersey, Fr Gabriel Kyte CFR in Albuquerque New Mexico and more recently Fr John Anthony Boughton CFR who is the General Servant of the community in the Bronx New York.

The First Steps: October 2023 Procession

As we experienced and heard the witness of the friars and others in America talking about life changing experiences in the Eucharistic processions they were part of we found we were catching fire with the same flame of love! The same Eucharistic burning fire of the heart!

We had our first Eucharistic procession in Derry Ireland in the neighbourhood around the friary on 28th October 2023. This was a direct response to what we felt God wanted to come against the Halloween culture that has developed in our city over the recent decades as people, hurting and hungry for meaning and spirituality, search in pagan Irish shamanism and witchcraft for the solution to their problems. Derry has become so immersed in these alternative spiritualities that it boasts it’s title as Halloween capital of Europe.

The Eucharistic procession on 28th October 2023 just before Halloween was a cry from Our Lord in the Eucharist and His body of Christ the Catholic faith community in Derry , the Eucharistic beating heart of Jesus , to return to God who Is Love. Our God who has already done all this before us, who has won the battle against sin and death and is offering us Himself, body blood soul and divinity and an invitation to eternal life in Him.

Breaking Through the City Walls: A Historic Moment

Jesus is the true Sonlight!

The Emmaus 2023 neighborhood Eucharistic Procession was a great success. Following this celebration, Fr Antonio and his friends from London met with several local organizers. Together, they planned to create something entirely new for Derry in 2024.

Human Life International Ireland , Executive Director Patrick McCrystal, and many of the local Derry people felt our Lord wanted the next Eucharistic procession event along with the Cenacle London Charismatic involvement to be a breakthrough for LIFE. Patrick McCrystal held a reception after the procession at a hotel in the city centre. This gave an opportunity for all the teams involved in organising the procession to unite. What was communicated was a sense of joy and overwhelming to tears.

We knew we were part of something supernatural. We could not process what had just happened. “A breakthrough Eucharistic procession passed through the arches of the Derry city walls – the first in 400 years! Bishop Donal McKeown gave permission for this historic event. The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal led the procession, joined by diocesan priests and seminarians. The Benedictine Monks of Perpetual Adoration from Silverstream Priory and the Home of the Mother Sisters (Sr Clare Crockett’s Order) also participated. Hundreds of lay people completed this momentous gathering.”

The Impact on the Streets of Derry

We felt the sense that God was breaking bonds of division and free masonic strongholds. The impact was phenomenal. People were kneeling and crying in the streets, blessing themselves, walking with us. At one point, people sang the Divine Mercy Chaplet as the priest raised the Eucharist high in the town square. Everyone present—including busy shoppers and security guards—knelt in reverence and worship.

The Effatha ‘be opened’ Eucharistic procession carried deep significance. The people of Derry and their priests gathered to pray for specific intentions. They prayed for hearts to open to God and others. They sought reparation and repentance for humanity’s turn from God and His commandments. They asked God to overcome global forces of fear, evil, lies and sin. They prayed for revival and unity in the Church. They requested an end to human trafficking, abortion, and euthanasia. They sought freedom through the Spirit of Truth. Finally, they prayed for priests to embrace deep Marian and Eucharistic devotion.

Growing Momentum: From Local to Global

The Effatha procession in Derry also launched 40 days of perpetual adoration worldwide. The team in London created a website where adorers could sign up for an hour, regardless of time zone or location. It was hugely successful and the graces of the Eucharistic revival were evident all through it. Momentum was building.

On December 12, 2024, the lay teams, along with the Franciscan friars and the Sisters of the Renewal, organized a Eucharistic procession. It took place in their neighborhood in Derry to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of their community. This procession attracted huge attention and support and was filmed by EWTN. Many school children of all ages came out to join us as the procession passed the school yards. Some of the older students passed out roses and miraculous medals to people passing in cars and on the walkways. Again we witness families and the elderly in their gardens some with tears streaming down their faces kneeling and blessing themselves.

St. Brigid’s Cloak: A Global Revival Begins

Before plans for the December 12, 2024, Eucharistic procession had even begun, the teams received in prayer that Our Lord was calling for something greater. He was placing it on their hearts to organize an even bigger, wider-reaching Eucharistic procession in 2025. It would take place on the feast of St. Brigid, Saturday, February 1—one of Ireland’s most significant days. St. Brigid, along with St. Patrick, is a beloved patron saint of Ireland.

One young man on the team, devoted to Our Lady, felt she was asking for a simultaneous Eucharistic procession in Medjugorje. The idea was powerful: the same day, the same time. As soon as the announcement was made, it went viral.

Fr. Leon and his team in Medjugorje responded immediately with a heartfelt “yes.” In unity and agreement, they embraced the call. Tears flowed, emotions ran high, and the Holy Spirit moved powerfully as people around the world said yes.

Suddenly, people from all over the world began reaching out. They wanted to unite with us by holding their own Eucharistic processions. We quickly realized St. Brigid was interceding for us!

She once asked the King of Ireland for all the land where she spread her cloak. He agreed, and miraculously, her cloak covered the entire country. This sparked a great revival and a return to the faith in Ireland around 500 AD.

United in Prayer: A Worldwide Movement

Most recently we got news that Fr George Stewart a priest in the Bronx New York is leading a Eucharistic Procession to unite with us. We also just heard about 3 Eucharistic processions that will be happening in Dublin and converging at the Radio Maria studios as well as another procession in Manchester England with the Men of St Joseph.

The Eucharistic revival has sparked another beautiful development. Communities have stepped forward to offer 24-hour adoration with prayers of intercession during the feast of St Brigid on February 1st, 2024. Fr Gerry Campbell and ‘The 12’ in Knockbridge, County Louth, Ireland, joined this initiative. Craig Lodge House of Prayer in Argyll, Scotland, also participated. Both communities conducted 24-hour worship and adoration. Together, they united in prayer for worldwide Eucharistic Revival.

Looking Forward: A Call to Action

The Eucharistic Processions, adoration and pilgrimages of coach loads of people coming from all around is snowballing!

On February 1st, hundreds of school children will lead the faithful behind priests carrying the Eucharist in procession. The participants will pray for these intentions: that world governments recognize Jesus Christ as King, that abortion, euthanasia, war and other threats to human life end, that families heal from sin, division, addiction and suicide, that the Immaculate Heart of Mary triumph, that global elite agendas and healthcare dictatorships yield to the tranquility of God’s order, and that the Holy Spirit pours out a new Pentecost of hope during the Jubilee Year 2025.

We are seeing mighty miracles in our midst. Please get involved! This is a Eucharistic Revival! Jesus is coming for His people!

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