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The latest from CHNetwork

This week’s episode of The Journey Home was a great conversation with Fr. Ken Geraci, who left faith behind to pursue worldly success before a friend challenged him to reconsider his priorities.

We shared an article explaining why storytelling is such a big part of our work at the Coming Home Network.

In a featured written testimony, Christy Kellner shared how her appreciation for George Washington and the Founding Fathers helped lead her to the Catholic Church.

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CONVERTS AND CONVERSION

Detroit Catholic interviewed a woman who was inspired by the late Al Kresta to return to the Church and start a Bible study that’s lasted 20 years.

Msgr. Thomas Guarino reflected on the Evangelicals and Catholics Together movement 30 years later.

Catholic World Report revisited the story of the Prime Minister of China who became a Benedictine monk.

Gigi Duncan looked at the rise of the Catholic population in South Carolina.

And Angelus News looked at the story of CHNetwork member Michael Cardona, a former Hindu guru who entered the Catholic Church this year.

APOLOGETICS PICKS OF THE WEEK

ChurchPOP shared 9 patron saints of athletes ahead of this year’s Summer Olympics.

The Purposeful Lab podcast pondered whether Catholicism is compatible with the existence of extraterrestrial life.

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A member who’s excited to finally start OCIA this Fall after years of exploring the Catholic Faith, another member whose health difficulties are making it hard for them to meet regularly with their parish about beocming Catholic, and all our members who are hoping to become Catholic in countries where it is difficult to become a Christian  — these are just a few of the people we are praying for and working with at The Coming Home Network. Please help us continue to support those on the journey by visiting chnetwork.org/donate today!

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“Indeed, faith and hope will end when we die, whereas love, that is, charity, will last for eternity.”

Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati

Feast Day: July 4th

The post The CHNetwork Weekly Roundup #412 appeared first on The Coming Home Network.

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The latest from CHNetwork

This week’s episode of The Journey Home was an awesome conversation with Lee and Valiree Sondeno, former Pentecostal music ministers whose experience of COVID led them to begin exploring the Catholic Church.

On the latest Deep in Christ, JonMarc Grodi and Matt Swaim discussed how the Coming Home Network responds when a well-known public figure becomes Catholic.

In a featured written testimony, Chris Kellam talked about how being fair to the Catholic Church led to him falling in love with it.

And on a new Insights, former Evangelical pastor Justin Hibbard shared an insight about the Ark of the Covenant that helped him better understand Catholic teaching on the Eucharist.

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CONVERTS AND CONVERSION

Catholic World Report profiled Bishop John Barres, whose parents were converts and had him baptized by Archbishop Fulton Sheen.

Agnes Aineah shared the story of how a Nigerian priest’s commitment to the Rosary helped convert a man out of a lifestyle of witchcraft and immorality.

Jueken Wen talked about growing up atheist in China before coming home to the Catholic Church.

Courtney Mares reflected on the addiction, recovery and conversion of Venerable Matt Talbot.

And a former Anglican priest has been consecrated as a bishop in the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.

APOLOGETICS PICKS OF THE WEEK

Recent Journey Home guest Derek Rotty discussed some top Catholic pilgrimage sites in Washington, DC.

Jordan Haddad explored the concept of the development of doctrine through the eyes of St. Bonaventure.

And Dave Armstrong explained why the Catholic understanding of the connection between Baptism and justification is more Biblical than many Protestants realize.

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A member pondering leaving their job as a pastor to become Catholic, another member whose interest in the Church has been damaging their work in ecumenical ministry, and all our members who have officially become Catholic over the past several weeks — these are just a few of the people we are praying for and working with at The Coming Home Network. Please help us continue to support those on the journey by visiting chnetwork.org/donate today!

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“What, then? If there should be a dispute over some kind of question, ought we not to have recourse to the most ancient Churches in which the Apostles were familiar, and draw from them what is clear and certain in regard to that question? What if the Apostles had not in fact left writings to us? Would it not be necessary to follow the order of tradition, which was handed down to those to whom they entrusted the Churches?”

St. Irenaeus of Lyons

Feast Day: June 28th

The post The CHNetwork Weekly Roundup #411 appeared first on The Coming Home Network.

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The latest from CHNetwork

This week’s episode of The Journey Home was a great conversation with Monica Anyango about how her experience of single motherhood led her to return to the Church.

The CHNetwork family reflected on the conversion and witness of Al Kresta, who passed away last weekend from liver cancer.

On the latest Deep in Christ, JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard reflected on the tangible spirituality of the Catholic Faith.

And on a new Insights, Alicia Baker shared how she found healing in Christ after experiencing abuse.

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CONVERTS AND CONVERSION

Remembrances of Al Kresta were posted by numerous friends this week, including Steve Ray, Matthew Bunson, Jonah McKeown, and Kathy Schiffer.

And champion cyclist Justin Koelbl shared how the witness of his father inspired his own return to faith.

APOLOGETICS PICKS OF THE WEEK

Bishop Daniel Flores reflected on hunger, poverty, and the Eucharist.

And Fr. Samuel Keyes reflected on why gardening is such a prevalent theme in the teachings of Jesus.

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A convert member whose adult children have begun to consider Catholicism, another member who is trying to reinvent themselves professionally now that they’re exploring the Church, and all our members who have officially become Catholic over the past several weeks — these are just a few of the people we are praying for and working with at The Coming Home Network. Please help us continue to support those on the journey by visiting chnetwork.org/donate today!

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“It is better to be a child of God than king of the whole world.”

St. Aloysius Gonzaga

Feast Day: June 21st

The post The CHNetwork Weekly Roundup #410 appeared first on The Coming Home Network.

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The latest from CHNetwork

This week’s episode of The Journey Home was a great discussion with Matt and Rachel Sheils, two former Salvation Army officers who became Catholic.

In a featured article, Matt Swaim looked at the story of a Baptist convert and Civil War veteran being considered for sainthood.

And on a new Insights, Dr. Benjamin Lewis, a former Methodist, shared how he began to develop Catholic sympathies.

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CONVERTS AND CONVERSION

Catholic News Agency followed the story of Sr. Mary Rose Chinn, a convert and former Journey Home guest who has been camping her way along one of the Eucharistic Pilgrimage routes.

Chris Stefanick interviewed recent Journey Home guest Kailash Duraiswami about his path from Hinduism to Atheism to Catholicism.

APOLOGETICS PICKS OF THE WEEK

Daniel Payne looked at what the Church has to say about the idea of “green burials.”

And Clement Harrold posed the question: if Catholics are right about Mary, why isn’t there more about her in the Bible?

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A member trying to choose between Catholic spiritualities, another member thinking about going back to school now that they’ve become Catholic, and all our members who just entered the Church over the past several weeks — these are just a few of the people we are praying for and working with at The Coming Home Network. Please help us continue to support those on the journey by visiting chnetwork.org/donate today!

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“Christians must lean on the Cross of Christ just as travelers lean on a staff when they begin a long journey.”

St. Anthony of Padua

Feast Day: June 13th

The post The CHNetwork Weekly Roundup #409 appeared first on The Coming Home Network.

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The latest from CHNetwork

The June CHNewsletter is out! Read it here.

This week’s episode of The Journey Home was a great conversation with Alan Webb, a record-holding runner who shared what led him to Catholic Faith.

In a featured article, Matt Swaim reflected on the conversion of the Ugandan Martys, whose feast day is June 3rd.

And on a new Insights, Ken Hensley discussed why sharing conversion stories is such an important aspect of the mission of CHNetwork.

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CONVERTS AND CONVERSION

Gerard Figurelli shared some of the books that were most influential on his journey back to the Church.

And the Boston Celtics will be led into the NBA finals by coach Joe Mazzullo, a lifelong Catholic whose faith has become more focused since his father’s passing.

APOLOGETICS PICKS OF THE WEEK

Jimmy Akin hosted an “Ask Me Anything” episode of Catholic answers, where he addressed everything from the diaconate to the dating of Easter to the identity of the Nephilim.

And a Catholic astronaut finally got to go to space this month at age 90!

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A member praying their spouse will share their interest in the Catholic Faith, another member whose adult children are considering joining them in the Church, and all our members who just entered the Church over the past several weeks — these are just a few of the people we are praying for and working with at The Coming Home Network. Please help us continue to support those on the journey by visiting chnetwork.org/donate today!

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“If you are an ardent reader, seek not brilliant and erudite texts; otherwise the demon of haughtiness will strike your heart. But like a wise bee that gathers honey from flowers, so also through your reading obtain healing for your soul.”

St. Ephrem the Syrian

Feast Day: June 9th

The post The CHNetwork Weekly Roundup #408 appeared first on The Coming Home Network.

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The latest from CHNetwork

This week’s episode of The Journey Home was an encore of our conversation with Dr. Jonathan Fuqua, a Pentecostal whose study of philosophy led him to the Catholic Faith.

In a featured article, Jim Anderson marked the June 1st feast of St. Justin Martyr by exploring what he shows us about early Christian worship and theology.

And on a new Insights, former Pentecostal Army chaplain Everett Franklin shared the Eucharistic encounter that led him to consider the Catholic Faith.

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CONVERTS AND CONVERSION

Aleteia looked at the spiritual awakening of an Iraq War veteran and his path to the priesthood.

The National Catholic Register reflected on how the witness of Bl. Carlo Acutis led to the conversion of his Hindu caretaker.

Joseph Pearce reflected on the conversion of poet Roy Campbell.

And this week marked the 150th birthday of Catholic convert GK Chesterton.

APOLOGETICS PICKS OF THE WEEK

Cerith Gardener looked at 5 different patron saints for 5 different kinds of headaches.

And carbon dating has revealed that tunics alleged to have belonged to Sts. Peter and John are not old enough to have actually belonged to the apostles.

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A member wondering if this is the year she should start OCIA,  another member who’s thinking about going back to graduate school now that they’ve become Catholic, and all our members who just entered the Church at Pentecost — these are just a few of the people we are praying for and working with at The Coming Home Network. Please help us continue to support those on the journey by visiting chnetwork.org/donate today!

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“We used to hate and destroy one another and refused to associate with people of another race or country. Now, because of Christ, we live together with such people and pray for our enemies.”

St. Justin Martyr

Feast Day: June 1st

The post The CHNetwork Weekly Roundup #407 appeared first on The Coming Home Network.

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The latest from CHNetwork

This week’s episode of The Journey Home was a fascinating look at the spiritual trajectory of Jack Williams from EWTN Radio.

On the latest Deep in Christ, JonMarc Grodi concluded his series on prayer by sharing how to persevere through difficulties and distractions.

In a new On the Journey short, Ken Hensley made the point that nobody truly reads Scripture objectively.

In our latest written story, Fr. Jerry Brown, a former Episcopalian, shared the joys and sorrows along his journey to Catholicism and the Catholic priesthood.

And on a new Insights, Jennifer Southers, a former Quaker, shared how she has worked through some of her struggles with Catholic teachings on Mary.

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CONVERTS AND CONVERSION

Gayle Somers published her new book on Marian typology from her perspective as a Catholic convert.

Jim Wahlberg shared the role that Mother Teresa played in his return to the Church.

Keith Little interviewed former Baptist pastor Scott Oakland about his journey to the Catholic Faith.

And on their podcast, The Popcorn Cathedral, former Baptist Rod Bennett and his son Jack concluded their series on the age-old question: Why didn’t Indiana Jones convert?

APOLOGETICS PICKS OF THE WEEK

Jeff Miller reflected on the theology of time travel in sci-fi stories and the Sacrament of Confession.

And Bishop James Conley of the Diocese of Lincoln, himself a convert, shared a pastoral letter on mental health in which he shared some of his own experience of mental health difficulties.

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A member preparing for their first confession since entering the Church at Easter, another member who’s praying their children will return to the sacraments, and all our members who just entered the Church at Pentecost — these are just a few of the people we are praying for and working with at The Coming Home Network. Please help us continue to support those on the journey by visiting chnetwork.org/donate today!

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“We must often remember what Christ said, that not he who begins, but he that perseveres to the end, shall be saved.”

St. Philip Neri

Feast Day: May 26th

The post The CHNetwork Weekly Roundup #406 appeared first on The Coming Home Network.

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The latest from CHNetwork

This week’s episode of The Journey Home was a great discussion with John Bacon, a former Anglican priest, about what led him to the Catholic Church.

On the latest Deep in Christ, JonMarc Grodi discussed what the Catechism says about overcoming distraction and dryness in prayer.

In a new episode of On the Journey, Kenny Burchard concluded his conversion story by sharing what finally led him to decide to become Catholic.

In our latest written story, Dr. Matthew Harrison shared how his pro-life convictions played into his journey to Catholicism.

And on a new Signposts, Derek Rotty shared how reflecting on Church history — and his own family history — helped lead him to the Catholic Faith.

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CONVERTS AND CONVERSION

A bishop in Sierra Leone has said that most of his priests came from Muslim families.

Stephanie Mann remembered the passing of a convert friend who was active in the Wichita Chesterton Society.

And Jayme Clune shared how she and her family felt spiritually attacked as they went through the process of entering the Church.

APOLOGETICS PICKS OF THE WEEK

The Vatican published new norms for how it reviews alleged apparitions and other spiritual phenomena.

Joseph Pearce shared how, in the Catholic understanding of faith and virtue, some fiction can actually be true.

And Jimmy Akin wondered what a liturgical calendar might look like on a planet or moon that had a different cycle of days and years than we do on Earth.

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A member struggling to find community in their new parish, another member whose spouse has finally expressed interest in becoming Catholic, and all our members who are preparing to enter the Church at Pentecost — these are just a few of the people we are praying for and working with at The Coming Home Network. Please help us continue to support those on the journey by visiting chnetwork.org/donate today!

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“The fullness of Joy is to behold God in everything.”

St. Julian of Norwich

Feast Day: May 13th

The post The CHNetwork Weekly Roundup #405 appeared first on The Coming Home Network.

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The latest from CHNetwork

This week’s episode of The Journey Home was a fascinating discussion with former minor league baseball player Dan Venezia about how his faith was reawakened through his experience of adversity.

On the latest Deep in Christ, JonMarc Grodi continued his series on prayer by discussing what the Catechism says about obstacles to prayer.

In a new episode of On the Journey, Kenny Burchard shared the circumstances that led to him stepping down as a Pentecostal pastor.

Our CHNetwork Community shared how they wrestled, and continue to wrestle, with the idea of Mary as Queen of Heaven.

And on a new Insights, Matt Gerald talked about how he came to appreciate the spiritual motherhood of Mary.

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CONVERTS AND CONVERSION

Angelus News reported on the crop of converts that entered the Church in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles this Easter.

Joseph Pronechen interviewed a college convert about the role Mary played in her decision to become Catholic.

Fr. Patrick Briscoe reflected on the Marian conversion of Raissa Maritain, the wife of Catholic philosopher Jacques Maritain.

Abel Camasca shared the conversion story of a quadriplegic man who could be on the road to sainthood.

And Catholic News Agency reported on the possibility of Catholic convert St. Edith Stein being named a Doctor of the Church.

APOLOGETICS PICKS OF THE WEEK

Tom Hoopes encouraged us to embrace the strangeness of the Ascension of Jesus.

And Jeffrey Bishop reminded us that our own resurrected, glorified and ascended bodies will be in continuity with the bodies we have right now.

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A member thinking of leaving the staff at his nondenominational church, another member who’s praying for their children to be open to joining them in exploring Catholicism, and all our members who are preparing to enter the Church at Pentecost — these are just a few of the people we are praying for and working with at The Coming Home Network. Please help us continue to support those on the journey by visiting chnetwork.org/donate today!

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“I make myself a leper with the lepers to gain all to Jesus Christ.”

St. Damien of Molokai

Feast Day: May 10th

The post The CHNetwork Weekly Roundup #404 appeared first on The Coming Home Network.

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The latest from CHNetwork

The May 2024 CHNewsletter is out! Read it here.

This week’s episode of The Journey Home was a wonderful conversation with Fr. Jeffrey Kirby, a nominal Catholic whose faith caught fire after it was challenged by some friends.

On the latest Deep in Christ, JonMarc Grodi continued his series on prayer by exploring the Catholic tradition of Contemplative Prayer.

In a new episode of On the Journey, Kenny Burchard shared how he reconciled his interest in the Catholic Church with the history of scandals committed by members of the clergy.

And on a new Insights, Santonio Hill shared how his experience of being raised by a single mom helps him understand Mary’s spiritual motherhood.

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CONVERTS AND CONVERSION

The Oxford Oratory mourned the passing of Fr. John Hunwicke, who entered the priesthood through the Ordinariate in 2012.

Word on Fire is encouraging people to pray the rosary this month for lapsed Catholics to return to the sacraments.

John Doherty reflected on St. Edith Stein’s conversion and her unique Catholic philosophical understanding of women.

The Church in South Korea has seen a 24% rise in Baptisms.

The Catholic Herald revisited an essay by Elizabeth Anscombe, a Catholic who was a student of Ludwig Wittgenstein and who famously debated C.S. Lewis.

And a former Anglican vicar has now become the first bishop of the UK Catholic Ordinariate.

APOLOGETICS PICKS OF THE WEEK

Dave Armstrong shared some instances of how the Church Fathers refute the idea of Faith Alone.

And Lorelei Savaryn had some great insights for converts who entered the Church excited but have since been hurt by the behavior of fellow Catholics.

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A member struggling with divisions in their denomination and wondering if they’ll experience the same thing in Catholicism, another member praying their spouse will share their interest in Catholicism, and all our members who are preparing to enter the Church at Pentecost — these are just a few of the people we are praying for and working with at The Coming Home Network. Please help us continue to support those on the journey by visiting chnetwork.org/donate today!

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“God is good – or rather, of all goodness He is the Fountainhead.”

St. Athanasius of Alexandria

Feast Day: May 2nd

The post The CHNetwork Weekly Roundup #403 appeared first on The Coming Home Network.