Archbishop George Lucas - Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

WM41 – Easter: A Season for Joy – Why it Matters: An Exploration of Faith with Archbishop George Lucas – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Easter: A Season for Joy  – Why it Matters: An Exploration of Faith with Archbishop George Lucas Archbishop George Lucas discusses the centrality of the Resurrection in the Christian life. He reflects on the transformative power of encountering the risen Christ, using the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus as a model for how Jesus meets people in their confusion and sorrow. This personal encounter, available through the Church and its sacraments, is not dependent on perfect understanding or worthiness. Instead, it is a gift offered through the Holy Spirit, calling each person to live in the reality of Christ’s presence here and now. The Resurrection isn’t just a past event to remember—it’s a living truth that invites a response of joy, relationship, and witness. He also speaks to the responsibility of parishes to support new members entering the Church through the Easter Vigil. These neophytes, full of zeal and spiritual gifts, should be welcomed as vital parts of the community, not left to navigate the life of faith on their own. Parishes must foster a “clear path of discipleship,” continually encouraging growth and deeper conversion. While many might relate to spirituality in a general sense, the Resurrection proclaims a concrete truth about God’s love and power. He urges us to carry the joy of Easter beyond the season and into their daily lives, staying connected to Christ not only through Lenten penance, but through an ongoing relationship nurtured in prayer, community, and the sacraments. Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions How do I personally encounter the risen Christ in my daily life? In what ways might I be missing Jesus’ presence, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus? Do I believe that Jesus desires to meet me where I am, even in confusion or doubt? How does the Resurrection shape my understanding of suffering, hope, and new life? What prevents me from sharing the joy of encountering Christ with others? How can I help my parish become a place where others can truly meet Jesus? What does it mean for me to live as someone “alive in Christ” today? Am I continuing to grow in my faith after Easter, or slipping back into old habits? How can I support new members of the Church in their journey of discipleship? What is one step I can take this week to respond more fully to the truth of the Resurrection? For more episodes in this series, visit the Why it Matters: An Exploration of Faith with Archbishop George Lucas Podcast page For more teachings and information about Archbishop George J. Lucas of the Archdiocese of Omaha, visit:   archomaha.org The post WM41 – Easter: A Season for Joy – Why it Matters: An Exploration of Faith with Archbishop George Lucas – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

WM42 – Experiencing the Joy of Divine Mercy – Why it Matters: An Exploration of Faith with Archbishop George Lucas Podcast

Episode 42 – Experiencing the Joy of Divine Mercy  – Why it Matters: An Exploration of Faith with Archbishop George Lucas Archbishop Lucas and Kris McGregor discuss Easter as a season for joy within our lives and within the church, focusing on the joy found in the devotion to the Divine Mercy. For more episodes in this series, visit the Why it Matters: An Exploration of Faith with Archbishop George Lucas Podcast page For more teachings and information about Archbishop George J. Lucas of the Archdiocese of Omaha, visit:   archomaha.org The post WM42 – Experiencing the Joy of Divine Mercy – Why it Matters: An Exploration of Faith with Archbishop George Lucas Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

WM41 – Easter: A Season for Joy – Why it Matters: An Exploration of Faith with Archbishop George Lucas Podcast

Episode 41 – Easter: A Season for Joy  – Why it Matters: An Exploration of Faith with Archbishop George Lucas Archbishop Lucas and Kris McGregor discuss Easter as a season for joy within our lives and within the church, drawing back upon the Kerygma as shown in the Gospel readings throughout the Easter Season following Jesus’ resurrection. For more episodes in this series, visit the Why it Matters: An Exploration of Faith with Archbishop George Lucas Podcast page For more teachings and information about Archbishop George J. Lucas of the Archdiocese of Omaha, visit:   archomaha.org The post WM41 – Easter: A Season for Joy – Why it Matters: An Exploration of Faith with Archbishop George Lucas Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

WM40 – Journey of Faith – Why it Matters: An Exploration of Faith with Archbishop George Lucas Podcast

Episode 40 – Journey of Faith  – Why it Matters: An Exploration of Faith with Archbishop George Lucas Archbishop Lucas and Kris McGregor discuss the “Journey of Faith”, a new way to bring together parishes within the Archdiocese, helping to meet the challenges and new reality facing parish life. While this is primarily discussing what is going on within the Archdiocese of Omaha, Archbishop Lucas’ words can be of great benefit to other Dioceses across the country facing similar challenges as well. From the Archdiocese of Omaha’s Website: Families of Parishes: A Modern Day Answer in Our Journey of Faith Why does this Journey of Faith matter so much right now? Think about how you have experienced or struggled in your own journey of faith. As one church, we must respond to changes in our Catholic community and the world around us. Our Current Realities Call for New Directions in Parish Life It’s not one but rather a series of changes over decades which challenge our diocese today. To come to grips with our current reality, it’s important that we share the data openly and honestly. With clear understanding, we can responsibly move forward in sustainable and new directions. A Growing Disconnect Within our own parish communities, the majority of Catholics no longer participate in the life of the church. Weekly mass attendance is under 1 in 4 Parish activities attract only a small percentage of parishioners  Fewer young adults identify as Catholics or members of a parish Source: Archdiocese of Omaha census Facing Priestly Limits Over the next ten years, the number of available priests will drop steadily. For parish communities to have vibrant ministries, we must see the conditions which limit our priests: Growing stress from unmanageable workload More retirements than replacements Aging, underutilized structures Current Realities, priesthood “The challenge is to see this as an opportunity, to have a deeper experience in the activity of the Holy Spirit, and to respond really in faith, and to trust God.” – Archbishop George Lucas For more episodes in this series, visit the Why it Matters: An Exploration of Faith with Archbishop George Lucas Podcast page For more teachings and information about Archbishop George J. Lucas of the Archdiocese of Omaha, visit:   archomaha.org The post WM40 – Journey of Faith – Why it Matters: An Exploration of Faith with Archbishop George Lucas Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

WM39 – Living the Reality of the Christmas Season – Why it Matters: An Exploration of Faith with Archbishop George Lucas Podcast

Episode 39 – Living the Reality of the Christmas Season – Why it Matters: An Exploration of Faith with Archbishop George Lucas Archbishop Lucas and Kris McGregor discuss living the joys and challenges of the Christmas Season authentically. From the Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Christmas mystery 525 Jesus was born in a humble stable, into a poor family. 202 Simple shepherds were the first witnesses to this event. In this poverty heaven’s glory was made manifest. 203 The Church never tires of singing the glory of this night: The Virgin today brings into the world the Eternal And the earth offers a cave to the Inaccessible. The angels and shepherds praise him And the magi advance with the star, For you are born for us, Little Child, God eternal! 204 526 To become a child in relation to God is the condition for entering the kingdom. 205 For this, we must humble ourselves and become little. Even more: to become “children of God” we must be “born from above” or “born of God”. 206 Only when Christ is formed in us will the mystery of Christmas be fulfilled in us. 207 Christmas is the mystery of this “marvellous exchange”: O marvellous exchange! Man’s Creator has become man, born of the Virgin. We have been made sharers in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share our humanity. 208 Notes: 202 Cf. Lk 2:61.203 Cf. Lk 2:8-20. 204 Kontakion of Romanos the Melodist. 205 Cf. Mt 18:3-4. 206 Jn 3:7; 1:13; 1:12; cf. Mt 23:12. 207 Cf. Gal 4:19. 208 LH, Antiphon I of Evening Prayer for January 1st. For more episodes in this series, visit the Why it Matters: An Exploration of Faith with Archbishop George Lucas Podcast page For more teachings and information about Archbishop George J. Lucas of the Archdiocese of Omaha, visit:   archomaha.org The post WM39 – Living the Reality of the Christmas Season – Why it Matters: An Exploration of Faith with Archbishop George Lucas Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.