RED-C Roundup

271 Dr. Randall Smith: The Chicago Way vs. The Catholic Way

This week on RED-C Roundup our host Deacon Mike Beauvais visited with Dr. Randall Smith, Full Professor with tenure in the Department of Philosophy at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.  Dr. Smith’s interests include moral theology, patristic and medieval theology, ancient and medieval philosophy, faith and culture, as well as Theology and science. Deacon Mike spoke with Dr. Smith about his insight on the topic of morality, natural law and dialogue in a relativistic culture.  Our host lastly spoke with our guest about his recent article in The Catholic Thing, entitled The Chicago Way vs. The Catholic Way.  

270 Fr. Will Straten: Vocation Story and Eucharistic Revival

This week on RED-C Roundup our host Pam Marvin visited with Fr. Will Straten, Pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Center in College Station, TX.  Fr. Straten shared his vocation and life story from his early days growing up in Tours, TX. Fr. Will spoke about the wary influences in his faith, especially in his own family and in his community members and local clergy. Next, Fr. Will shared about his experiences in college and his call to the seminary and subsequently, the priesthood. Next, Pam and Fr. Will spoke about the Eucharistic Revival taking place in the Austin Diocese and in the Catholic Church, worldwide. Both shared their thoughts and their heart in the Eucharist and what it means to them.

269 Diana Jetter and Karen Candelas: Walking with Moms and Dads in Need

This week on RED-C Roundup our host Judy Comeaux visited with Dianna Jetter, Pastoral Associate at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in College Station and Karen Candelas, Gabriel Project Coordinator at Catholic Charities of Central Texas in Austin.  Our guests spoke about a new Brazos Deanery-level project within the Austin Diocese of Walking With Moms and Dads in Need.  The program is of tremendous support in the financial, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of mothers and fathers who are in need of such services. Dianna also spoke about the new Brazos Deanery website, bcsdeanery.org and the resources and information that can be found there, including the help that the Stephen Ministry offers. Karen also spoke about her work at CCCTX with the Gabriel Project and St. Gabriel’s Pregnancy and Parenting Program.

268 Dr. Timothy Logan: Intersection of Faith and Science

This week on RED-C Roundup our host Dr. Thaddeus Romansky visited with Dr. Timothy Logan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at Texas A&M University in College Station.  Dr. Logan is the Director of the Houston Lightning Mapping Array (HLMA) Network and also performs research in aerosol-cloud interactions, aerosol chemistry, biomass burning smoke, and atmospheric electricity.  Dr. Romansky spoke with Dr. Logan about the intersection of Faith and Science and about his life and journey of faith from Southern Baptist to a Catholic Convert.  Tim also shared his love of family and his work, as well as his devotion to our Blessed Mother.  Tim interwove his thought on God as our Creator and how He can be seen throughout all of the scientific world and how Faith and Science are not at all opposed to one another.

267 Julia Mishler and Maria Sotolongo: What Makes Catholic Education Different?

This week on RED-C Roundup our host Deacon Mike Beauvais visited with Julia Mishler, Principal, and Maria Sotolongo, Director of Development and Admissions, from St. Joseph Catholic School in Bryan, TX. Our guests spoke first about their Catholic Faith journeys and their life backgrounds that led them both to their work at St. Joseph. The topic for the remainder of the show was the question, “What makes Catholic education different than public education?”  Insights from all sides of the spectrum were given, as the guests have had family and professional experience in public school, home school, and in Catholic school. The importance  of addressing the needs of students in their entirety: mind, body, and spirit in a Catholic environment and culture of belonging was shared throughout the remainder of this episode. Both Julia and Maria finished up the episode speaking about what they are both most excited about for the future at St. Joseph Catholic School.

266 Congressman Pete Sessions: Current Topics Affecting People of Faith

This week on RED-C Roundup our host Pam Marvin interviewed United States Congressman, Pete Sessions. Pam and Congressman Sessions first spoke about his life background growing up in the San Antonio, Texas area and into his college years. The conversation continued into his career life and how he became involved in politics and running for public office. Pam then had Congressman Sessions speak about his current role as a congressman and multiple different current topics that affect people of faith: redistricting, the first and second amendments, religious freedom, pro-life legal issues, immigration, and drug trafficking. Finally, a discussion of living a life of faith in the public square was held, and how our lives of faith should guide us in all we do. 

265 Fr. Brian Eilers: Annointing of the Sick

On Wednesday, June 22, host Judy Comeaux spoke with the pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Bryan about the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Fr. Brian especially emphasized that Anointing is not reserved to those who are in danger of death. It is a sacrament of healing—rooted in Scripture and instituted by Christ like all the sacraments—meant for any Catholic who is about to undergo major surgery, carries the cross of a chronic disease, or faces the burden of a regular treatment regimen for their disease. He explained that Catholics should also make sure that they are availing themselves not only of the sacrament of anointing regularly, but doing so in combination with regular confession. Remember, when choosing between the values of heaven and the values of earth, always round up!

264 Debbie Juhlke: Embrace Initiative

This week on RED-C Roundup our host Dr. Thaddeus Romansky interviewed Debbie Juhlke from Embrace Initiative and a Member of the Board of Directors of Texas Alliance for Life in Austin, TX. Embrace (https://friendsofembrace.org) is a local non-profit organization that educates, empowers, mobilizes, and supports people of color.

Embrace empowers expecting mothers and fathers to make healthy choices that not only benefit their overall wellbeing, but also encourage life, love, and support of future generations. Thaddeus spoke with Debbie about her life growing up initially as a Baptist and her family’s conversion to the Catholic Faith. She spoke about her lifetime care and concern for children of all ages which led to her becoming a nurse. Debbie also spoke about her call to ministry to the black communities in Central Texas, teaching them about the pro-life topic and educating pastors and their parishioners about the cause of life.  Debbie and Thaddeus also discussed the specific threat that abortion is to people of color, and the hopeful solutions and resources available to people facing an unplanned pregnancy.