Practicing Catholic

What does real leisure look like for Catholics? In this episode of Practicing Catholic, Taylor Kemp and Dr. Scott Hefelfinger discuss why leisure is not laziness, escapism, or endless consumption, but a deeply human and spiritual practice rooted in rest, wonder, worship, and delight.

 

Drawing on Joseph Pieper, St. John Paul II, Scripture, family life, and the rhythm of Sunday, they explore how Catholics can reclaim leisure as a way of becoming more present to God, family, creation, and the good things that restore the soul. From keeping Sunday holy to embracing boredom, taking pilgrimages, reading, praying, playing, and simply watching the sunrise, this conversation offers practical ways to make summer more restful, intentional, and joy-filled.

 

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Fr. Ken Geraci, CPM, joins Practicing Catholic to share his journey from a secular Catholic upbringing and agnosticism to a life of grace, prayer, and priesthood. Along the way, he reflects on business, ambition, authentic friendship, the witnesses who helped him return to the faith, and the surprising path by which God called him to become a priest.

 

Fr. Ken also offers practical wisdom for Catholics seeking holiness in ordinary life: learning to love the process of sanctity, investing in one’s vocation, building faithful community, and quieting the noise of distraction in times of change. Through his story, listeners are reminded that God works patiently through grace, friendship, integrity, and daily fidelity.  

 

Learn more about Fr. Ken Geraci and the Fathers of Mercy here: https://fathersofmercy.com

 

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Pilgrimage is more than religious travel. It is a concrete act of faith that helps us step away from ordinary life, bring our bodies and souls before God, and remember that the whole Christian life is a journey toward him.

 

In this episode of Practicing Catholic, Taylor Kemp and Dr. Scott Hefelfinger reflect on the tradition of pilgrimage, from major destinations like the Holy Land, Rome, Fatima, Lourdes, and the Camino to small local pilgrimages close to home. They discuss how pilgrimage can involve sacrifice, fellowship, prayer, spiritual warfare, surrender, and the humility of receiving from God rather than trying to achieve holiness on our own terms.

 

Whether you have the opportunity for a major pilgrimage or simply want to make a small visit to a local shrine or adoration chapel, this conversation offers practical encouragement to begin. Watch to consider where God may be inviting you to make an intentional journey of faith.

Watch Symbolon: The Faith of the Church on Formed: https://app.formed.org/app/collections/1039081

 

Come on Pilgrimage with the Augustine Institute! https://web.cvent.com/event/10dfe3ea-33f6-4e3f-aaea-054b2c3bca3b/summary

 

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Motherhood reveals some of the deepest lessons of love: sacrifice, courage, patience, discipline, encouragement, and the steady gift of making a house into a home. In this Mother’s Day episode of Practicing Catholic, Taylor Kemp and Dr. Scott Hefelfinger reflect on what they have learned from their own mothers and from watching their wives live the vocation of motherhood.

Together, they discuss the art of parenting, the challenge of helping children flourish without controlling them, and the way mothers often “decrease” so their children can grow. They also reflect on Mary, the surrender required in parenthood, the sanctifying work of family life, and the gratitude we owe to mothers and grandmothers.

 

Whether you are a mother, a parent, a grandparent, or simply someone grateful for the mothers in your life, this episode offers encouragement to see motherhood as a powerful path of love, discipleship, and grace.

 

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Friendship is one of the most overlooked yet essential parts of the Christian life—and many people quietly struggle to form and sustain it. In this episode of Practicing Catholic, Taylor Kemp and Dr. Scott Hefelfinger explore why friendship feels harder today than ever, especially in a digital, mobile, and often isolated culture.

Drawing on Scripture, Aristotle, and lived experience, they break open what real friendship actually requires: risk, commitment, shared life, and a willingness to move beyond superficial connection. They also offer honest reflection on their own struggles with friendship and practical ways to begin building deeper relationships.

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