Gotta Be Saints

Send us a textThe Reason to Stay Catholic (with Colleen Dulle)In this episode of the Gotta Be Saints Podcast, I sit down with Colleen Dulle — wife, mother, Vatican reporter, and author of Struck Down, Not Destroyed: Keeping the Faith as a Vatican Reporter.We talk honestly about why we remain Catholic in a wounded Church: how to stay when you’ve seen the worst, how to wrestle with God without walking away, and where real hope is found when scandals, hypocrisy, and disappointment hit close to home.From covering the clerical abuse crisis as a young journalist, to processing the revelations about Jean Vanier and L’Arche, to a powerful moment of grace at the tomb of Christ in the Holy Sepulchre, Colleen shares how the Lord has met her in the mess — and why, despite everything, she’s convinced the Gospel really is our only hope.About Colleen DulleVatican reporter and longtime journalist with America MagazineAuthor of Struck Down, Not Destroyed: Keeping the Faith as a Vatican ReporterHas covered some of the Church’s most painful scandals up closeWife and mother, soon moving with her family to Rome to cover the Vatican full-timeIn this episode, we talk about:Why stay Catholic at all? Colleen’s story & vocation as a Vatican reporterBeauty and brokenness in the ChurchThe Jean Vanier / L’Arche revelationsThe clerical abuse crisis and a crisis of faithLearning to “yell at God” & wrestle in prayerA moment of grace at the Holy SepulchreMadeleine Delbrêl and a “heart stripped of trust in all things human”The Church that moves slowly (and why that matters)Hope for ordinary CatholicsColleen’s “Mount Rushmore of saints”If she becomes a saint one day… andHow you can pray for her Get the Book📘 Struck Down, Not Destroyed: Keeping the Faith as a Vatican Reporter by Colleen DulleFind purchase options and more at Colleen’s website: colleendulle.comPrefer audio? Look for the audiobook version narrated by Colleen on major audiobook platforms.Stay Connected👉 Follow Gotta Be Saints on Instagram: @gottabesaints Episode Sponsor — TruthlyThis episode is sponsored by Truthly, the first Catholic action app helping you reflect, learn, and share your faith confidently.With Truthly, you can:Take short, practical actions to live your faith each dayDeepen your understanding of Catholic teachingShare truth online without feeling overwhelmed or underprepared🎁 Start your free trial with code gottabesaints at truthly.ai. Support the show

Send us a textIn this episode of the Gotta Be Saints Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Michael Pakaluk — husband, father of 15, philosopher, and author of The Shock of Holiness: Finding the Romance of Everyday Life.We talk about the beauty of the Catholic faith, why holiness is both deeply attractive and deeply demanding, and how God meets us in the very ordinary, sometimes messy, details of daily life.From stories about daily Mass with small children, to reflections on his late wife Ruth (now a Servant of God), to a mind-blowing insight into Jesus walking on water and the Eucharist, this conversation will help you see your own life with new eyes.About Dr. Michael PakalukProfessor of Political Economy at the Catholic University of America (Bush School of Business)Philosopher and scholar, especially in the thought of AristotleAuthor of 14 books (with more on the way!) and father of 15 childrenWidower of Ruth Pakaluk, whose cause for canonization has begun, and husband of Catherine Pakaluk, author of Hannah’s ChildrenIn this episode, we talk about:The beauty of the Catholic faithWhy holiness is so attractive — and so uncomfortableRuth’s story and the reality of heroic holinessThe universal call to holiness in ordinary lifeThe romance of everyday lifeA fresh look at the Eucharist and transubstantiationHow to actually live this outGet the Book📘 The Shock of Holiness: Finding the Romance of Everyday LifeOrder from Ignatius PressOr ask your local Catholic bookstore to order it (and put a copy on the shelf!)Stay Connected👉 Follow Gotta Be Saints on Instagram: @gottabesaints If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who needs the reminder that holiness is possible — right in the middle of ordinary life.Episode Sponsor — TruthlyThis episode is sponsored by Truthly, the first Catholic action app helping you reflect, learn, and share your faith confidently. Start your free trial with code gottabesaints: truthly.ai Support the show

Send us a textIn this powerful and timely episode of the Gotta Be Saints Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Charles “Charlie” Camosy — moral theologian, bioethicist, and author of Living and Dying Well (order here).Charlie shares deep insights into the cultural push toward physician-assisted killing, why our society is at a “tipping point,” and how the Catholic vision of life and death offers a radically hopeful alternative rooted in dignity, community, and love. Drawing from Church teaching, real-world data, and his father’s own end-of-life journey, Charlie shows how we can resist the throwaway culture and accompany the sick and elderly with compassion and purpose.Whether you’re caring for aging parents, worried about dementia, or simply wondering what it means to “die well” as a disciple of Jesus, this conversation reframes aging and dying as invitations to deeper love.In this episode, Charlie shares:Why some states are pushing physician-assisted killing — and why others still strongly resistWhat “autonomy” really means in our cultural momentWhy the poor, disabled, and marginalized are most at riskHow consumerism distorts our view of productivity and worthWhat it truly means to live and die well in Christian communityHow demographic trends and the dementia crisis complicate end-of-life careHow Catholics can build a counterculture of hospitality, encounter, and hopeIf you’ve ever asked yourself…How do I support a loved one who fears being a burden? What does the Church actually teach about assisted suicide? How do I walk with aging parents with dignity and charity? What does resisting the throwaway culture look like at the end of life? …then this episode is for you.Learn MoreExplore more of Charlie’s work: charlescamosy.comTruthlyThis episode is sponsored by Truthly — the first Catholic action app helping you reflect, learn, and share your faith confidently. Start your free trial with code gottabesaints: truthly.aiFollow Gotta Be SaintsInstagram: @gottabesaints Subscribe and leave a review to help others discover the call to holiness. Support the show

Send us a textIn this powerful and deeply moving episode of the Gotta Be Saints Podcast, I’m joined by Fr. Ron Rolheiser, OMI — priest, theologian, and author of beloved spiritual classics The Holy Longing and Sacred Fire.Fr. Ron shares wisdom from his new book, Insane for the Light: A Spirituality for Our Wisdom Years, exploring what it means to grow old with grace, purpose, and hope. Together we discuss how aging, loss, and even physical diminishment can become powerful acts of love — mirroring Christ’s own Passion and self-gift in the Eucharist.Whether you’re entering your later years, caring for an aging loved one, or simply wondering how to find meaning in seasons of limitation, this episode will help you see aging not as decline but as a sacred call to deeper love.In this episode, Fr. Ron shares:Why modern culture avoids talking about aging — and how the Church can respondWhat Jesus’ Passion teaches us about fruitful passivity and surrenderHow to turn diminishment and dependence into spiritual giftsThe hidden grace of caregiving and receiving careWhy forgiveness, gratitude, and inner work prepare us for our final act of loveThe meaning behind the title Insane for the Light — and what it means to “stare into eternity”If you’ve ever asked yourself…How can I find purpose after retirement or loss?What does it mean to grow old as a disciple of Christ?How can I accompany my parents or grandparents in their final years? …this episode is for you.Learn More:Order Fr. Ron’s book: Insane for the Light Visit: ronrolheiser.comFollow Gotta Be Saints:Instagram: @gottabesaints Subscribe and leave a review to help others discover the call to holiness.Sponsored by TruthlyThis episode is brought to you by Truthly — the world’s first Catholic action app helping you reflect, learn, and share your faith confidently. Start your free trial with code gottabesaints at truthly.ai. Support the show

Send us a textIn this episode of Gotta Be Saints, I sit down with author and Catholic coach Belinda Terro Mooney to talk about living real friendship with Jesus and praying with the saints—especially on their feast days.With All Saints’ Day right around the corner, we dive into why the saints’ stories matter, how ordinary people become holy, and practical ways to invite the saints to intercede for your family, parish, and daily life.Guest BioBelinda Terro Mooney is an author, Catholic coach, widow, and mom of seven. She’s a definitively professed Secular Discalced Carmelite whose new book, Pray With Us: A Saint for Every Day, offers short reflections and prayers that help readers grow in friendship with the saints throughout the year.📘 Get the Book: Pray With Us: A Saint for Every Day 🌐 Website: belindaterromooney.comKey Topics & Highlights01:00 – Why the saints matter more than celebrity culture 04:00 – Becoming the saint God made you to be 07:00 – Holiness in every vocation: parents, spouses, singles, and priests 10:00 – Saints vs. self-help: the surest roadmap to heaven 12:00 – Ordinary people, heroic virtue, and the gift of true leisure 16:00 – Friendship with Jesus at the heart of prayer 19:00 – Staying faithful in dryness—when prayer feels like “chewing straw” 23:00 – Turning everyday duties into prayer 26:00 – Conversational prayer: driving, working, and parenting with Jesus beside you 30:00 – How to pray with the saints—especially on their feast days 33:00 – Inside the book: short bios, virtue-focused prayers, and adding your own intentions 36:00 – A vision for families: teaching children to pray with the saints 40:00 – Belinda’s “Mount Rushmore” of saints: Teresa of Ávila, John of the Cross, and Thérèse of Lisieux 49:00 – If she were a saint… Belinda’s heart for the vulnerable and abused 50:00 – How to pray for Belinda and her familyConnect with Belinda Taro Mooney🌐 Website 📘 Amazon – Pray With Us: A Saint for Every Day 📸 Instagram 📖 Facebook 💼 LinkedIn ▶️ YouTube 📍 PinterestSponsored by TruthlyThis episode is brought to you by Truthly — the Catholic action app that helps you reflect, learn, and share your faith confidently. Start your free trial at truthly.ai and use code GOTTABESAINTS for a discount.📸 Instagram: @gottabesaints Support the show