Ebenezer Scrooge, George Bailey, the Grinch… so many of the most iconic Christmas stories in film and literature hinge upon the idea of a conversion of some kind.

Matt Swaim is joined by Joseph Pearce and JonMarc Grodi to look at why Christmas is so often associated with a change of heart, and connect the concepts of memory, charity and truth back to their source: Jesus, whose birth is the occasion for all the celebration.

Joseph Pearce’s website: jpearce.co

The post Christmas Conversions in Film and Literature – Episode 31 appeared first on The Coming Home Network.

So what’s the connection?

And how are the questions posed in much of sci-fi and fantasy similar to the ones posed in the worlds of philosophy, anthropology, and Christology?

Watch the full episode

The post CHNetwork Presents Short: Sci-Fi and the Church Fathers appeared first on The Coming Home Network.

Both had awakenings to the Catholic faith connected with their experience of professional baseball.

They share how the importance of focusing on the fundamentals in baseball — such as taking countless swings in the cage, or fielding countless ground balls — helped them understand what the Church is trying to help us do in the intentional rhythm and order of the Mass and the repetition of devotions like the Rosary.

The post CHNetwork Presents Short: <BR>Baseball Fundamentals and the Rosary appeared first on The Coming Home Network.

While others were mocking these televangelists for their over-the-top personalities and lavish lifestyles, Lisa was looking to them for spiritual guidance.

She talks to Matt Swaim about some of the nuances of that theological worldview: the role of language, the thinking around wealth and health, and the celebrity pastor culture.

Lisa shares how deconstructing from that form of Christianity led her to find a spiritual home in the Catholic Church.

Watch Lisa on The Journey Home

The post From the Prosperity Gospel to Catholicism – Episode 30 appeared first on The Coming Home Network.

Matt Swaim, Keith Nester, and Shaun McAfee reflect on what that first year as new Catholics was like for them: the biggest surprises, the most rewarding moments, and the things they wish they had done differently.

Hopefully the conversation is an encouragement to those of you who are navigating your first year in the Church!

Shaun on The Journey Home

Shaun’s book, “I’m Catholic, Now What?”

Keith on The Journey Home

Keith’s book, “The Convert’s Guide to Roman Catholicism: Your First Year in the Church”

The post Living Your First Year as a New Catholic – Episode 29 appeared first on The Coming Home Network.

So why do Catholics have a different list of Old Testament books than Protestants do? And what are some good starting points for a Protestant who wants to get to know these books?

Matt Swaim welcomes Gary Michuta, author of Why Catholic Bibles are Bigger and The Case for the Deuterocanon to unpack the differences between Protestant and Catholic Bibles, and the history behind how those differences came about.

Gary Michuta’s website

Gary’s YouTube channel, “Apocrypha Apocalypse”

The post A Protestant Guide to Catholic Bibles – CHNetwork Presents, Episode 28 appeared first on The Coming Home Network.

Neena, Wade and Dan share the ways their experience of Minor League Baseball shaped their way of looking at the world, especially in regards to faith, and how the things they encountered ended up uniquely leading each of them to the Catholic Faith.

Dan’s written testimony: The Sacrifice that Brought Me Home

Neena’s written testimony: A Pick-up, a Pope Book, and a Profession of Faith

Neena’s children’s book: A Garden for Mary

The post Pro Baseball and the Journey to the Catholic Faith – <BR>Episode 27 appeared first on The Coming Home Network.

But many of those doctrinal statements are also crafted so as to exclude Christians from certain theological backgrounds, especially Catholics.

So what happens when a teacher at one of those schools decides to become Catholic?

Matt D’Antuono and Dr. Annie Bullock both had that experience, and share how their interest in Catholicism affected their work as private Christian high school teachers, what happened when they actually became Catholic, and how they’ve found ways to use their gifts and passion for education now that they’ve come into the Church.

Dr. Bullock’s episode of The Journey Home

Matt D’Antuono’s episode of The Journey Home

A written version of Matt D’Antuono’s story

Matt D’Antuono’s books

The post Becoming Catholic While Teaching at a Private Christian School – Episode 26 appeared first on The Coming Home Network.

But is that really the case?

Matt Swaim talks to Casey and Erin Phillips and Lorelei Savaryn about their own experience of being active Evangelical Christians, the way that formed them to think about Christianity, and how it fueled their passion about being Catholic once they discovered the reality of the Church.

They also discuss the pitfalls that can be present to new converts, and how those who are new to the Church shouldn’t let the fact that they’ve learned a lot of information serve as a substitute for actually experiencing formation in their newfound faith.

Casey and Erin’s podcast

Lorelei’s website

The post Do Converts Really Make the Best Catholics? – Episode 25 appeared first on The Coming Home Network.

But many of them are coming from church backgrounds — especially Evangelical ones — where they felt welcomed and included, and their experience of visiting a Catholic parish can feel like the exact opposite of that.

Matt Swaim talks to Jennifer Fitz and Rakhi McCormick about their own experience of this phenomenon when they were becoming Catholic, how to remedy some of those frustrations, and how the Mass is fundamentally different than the kind of worship experience that so many of us have come from.

Jennifer’s Substack articles on this topic

Jennifer’s Journey Home episode

Jennifer’s written conversion story

Rakhi on Instagram

Rakhi’s Journey Home

More of Rakhi’s story

The post Fitting in at Your Parish as a New Catholic – Episode 24 appeared first on The Coming Home Network.