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When you think of Legos, you no doubt envision the small bricks that ignite children’s imaginations by their possibilities. You sift through a box of tiny pieces looking for one to make that spaceship just right, or house a little more functional. John Kraemer takes that to a different level. He doesn’t just build a church, it’s a working model of parish life for a Lego world not unlike our own. You can pray in many ways, and for John, building these Lego parishes and communities are a prayer. Find pictures and more on the episode page. Donate to Faith Full. Learn more about John and The Lego Church Project.  

"The Church hasn't always been good at dealing with people who are, quote unquote different. It's difficult." Fr. Jamie Dennis is one of what he estimates are only 10 Catholic priests in the U.S. He's a fascinating person, who lives in a train caboose, and runs his own railroad, on his family farm near Owensboro, KY. He talks to us about why the Latin Mass and Byzantine Liturgy are more accessible than the Ordinary Form of the Mass, and he talks about the challenges he faced growing up while losing his vision. “It's a difficult world we live in. But it can be dealt with,” he says. "With God, lots of things are possible." Please visit the episode page for text and pictures! Support Faith Full!

For some Catholics who are blind, the experience of the Mass can be very different than for sighted people. In normal times, it can be a tactile experience. But not during the pandemic. In Scripture, Jesus is recorded as saying where two or three are gathered together in His name, there He is in the midst of them. And that goes for times when the two or three need to be two or three meters apart for social distancing. As with many Catholics, those who are blind have found technology as a way to continue to express their faith even when so much of life is disrupted. Many are also helped by an organization in New York, the Xavier Society for the Blind, which for 120 years has kept coming Catholic and inspirational materials in Braille and audio formats. We learn about that, and hear from a number of Catholics who are blind about their experience of the pandemic. Visit the full episode page for pictures and more. Donate to Faith Full.

The world remains gripped by a pandemic; an unseen, but very present coronavirus has caused us to rethink a lot of things: how we work, how we spend time, how we show respect and communicate. I’ve been sitting on a fun anecdote for a while, and thought these dark days are as good a time as any to share. So coming up: the story of a giant Jesus Christ (in hot air balloon form) and the two German monks, in this short episode of Faith Full. Find a full transcript on the episode page!

In times of struggle for the institution of the Catholic Church, some look for inspiration and intercession from the Saints. St. Jean Vianney is said to have faced regular attacks by Satan, yet his ministry in the face of those attacks positioned him as the Patron Saint of Parish Priests, having walked the Earth during a time of great difficulty for the Catholic church in France. The incorrupt heart of St. Jean Vianney is touring the U.S. during another time of trial in the Church. More on that, and the young man traveling with the relic in this episode of Faith Full. We meet Evan Holguin, custodian of the relic and a manager-in-training with the Knights of Columbus. And Fr. Stephen Dominic Hayes, O.P. of St. Patrick Priory in Columbus, Ohio talks about the life of St. Jean Vianney, and faith. Find more pictures at the episode page. If you feel inspired, you can support Faith Full.

Hundreds of years ago a man dressed as a bear murdered a Catholic freedom fighter in Switzerland. The details of the crime are somewhat important, but more so are the details of a Protestant pastor who converted to Catholicism on account of his idea of authority and power. The crime stemmed from a time fraught with religious division during which moderation seemed extinct. It's a sharp contrast to today, of course, where it's not uncommon for Christian denominations to pray together, and discuss the faith from their own perspectives. In this episode we explore the life and death of Swiss pastor and fighter Joerg Jenatsch, and think a little about praying together nowadays. Full episode with pictures and text 

If a loved one dies, it’s natural to want to hang on to something to remind you of them—maybe a ring, maybe a favorite book or picture. That’s the same idea, in a very basic way, behind the relics of the saints held in high esteem by many faith traditions. And in Pittsburgh, oddly enough, there is said to be the largest Catholic collection of relics outside of Rome.  Join us for a visit to Saint Anthony’s Chapel in this episode of Faith Full. Find the full story at http://www.faithfullpod.com/4-of-relics-saints-and-solace/

Even if our grief and heartache have sapped our strength, as Sirach said, the Catholic faith teaches that God provides love and support and grace, that we desperately need.   Our last episode followed the story of Fr. Cirilo Nacorda who had been captured by Jihadist militants. His story was relayed to Faith Full host Tony Ganzer by his grandfather before his death. In this half-episode we hear a little about that backstory, and what Ganzer's Grandfather wanted shared about his faith. Visit the episode page at http://www.faithfullpod.com/3-5-a-grandfathers-faith/

The story of Fr. Cirilo Nacorda is one layered with nuance, spirituality,  and humanity. Over the course of two decades, the Catholic priest has lived through two hostage situations; has helped organize Christian militias uniting against Jihadist militants, and armed himself because of the perceived hopelessness of the situation; and has faced what he saw as deep corruption in the Philippines. The trials led Fr. Nacorda to a deeper layer to his faith, but not before seriously challenging it.  And even still he's challenged, just as a chaplain in an Ohio hospital. "My hands were tied with chain and padlock...and there were four terrorists guarding me inside that small hut, but I managed to kneel down, and I was able to pray...if this is now the moment, just give me the strength, the faith, the courage to face my death." Visit the episode page at http://www.faithfullpod.com/3-facing-terror-finding-hope/

"How many slaves work for you?" It was the provocative, uncomfortable start to Sister Anne's Victory's TEDx talk a few years ago.  If you were to judge her by her looks, you might think she was a grandmother or retiree.  But Sister Anne is at the forefront of a major effort to shine light on the practice of human trafficking.  She's a member of the Catholic Sisters of the Humility of Mary, and also the director education for the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking, in Northeast Ohio. She talks about how faith influences her work, even if it's not obvious. Visit the episode page for links, and transcribed quotes

Episode 1 of the Faith Full podcast brings the story of a late-night Denny's encounter bringing together blackjack and a random theology exchange. We share what we believe about God and about Christianity, glancing over ideas like Sola fide and Once Saved, Always Saved. By the end of the exchange, I realize that a large part of the restaurant has been listening to our exchange, and appreciated the honesty and respect shown. PLUS the story of Switzerland's short-term friar who agree to give up modern life to find something more enriching. “When I am outside I see a lot of people who is a little bit unhappy,” Brother Fridolin says seriously, but with compassion. “And I am thinking, people must thinking about why we are unhappy, and what can we do against it. Not everybody can go to the monastery, that is also clear, but this could be a possibility to give to your life a new change.” Visit the episode page for pictures from outside the monastery