This week on a pre-Mardi Gras episode “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian speak with Dr. Ansel Augustine. Ansel is the assistant director for African American affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the author of Praying with Our Feet: Encountering God in the Margins. They discuss the harrowing and sacred culture of the Black Masking Indians of Mardi Gras.

0:00 Mardi Gras!

4:00 New York City has a new bishop

10:17 Archbishop Fulton Sheen to be beatified

11:44 Catholic leaders respond to racist post

13:50 Villanova and Notre Dame bball in Rome!

15:14 History of Black masking culture

21:24 African Americans made Catholicism their own

24:02 Mardi Gras as sacred ritual

27:00 Tribal competition

29:10 Black and Indian cultural encounter

31:30 Hurricane Katrina is an open wound

34:04 The art of feasting

37:32 Diversity ministry is a challenge

45:24 Lenten resources and practices for 2026!

Links for further reading: 

CRS Rice Bowl Website

Development and Peace – Caritas Canada Solidarity Calendar 2026 

101 Things To Give Up For Lent

On Mardi Gras, Catholics should celebrate the faith and resilience of the New Orleans Black Masking Indians

You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.  

You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. 

Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bishop Kevin Kenney was born in Minneapolis and has ministered to Latino communities there for years. Now an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, he speaks to America about the realities facing Latino Catholics on the ground and what the Catholic Church is doing to support them.

0:00 ICE outside churches and schools

4:45 How the Catholic Church is responding

10:00 Targeting criminals only?

11:45 Preaching during the crisis

15:12 Ministering to ICE

16:45 Latinos have enriched Minneapolis

18:53 Longterm effects

23:45 Pope Leo and prioritizing immigration

34:00 What Bishop Kenney is praying for

Links for further reading: 

⁠Twin Cities pastors preach on the killing of Alex Pretti: ‘We are walking in darkness and living in fear’ ⁠

⁠I’m a Minnesota Catholic mom. Here’s what my neighbors are saying about ICE⁠

⁠No more funding for ICE without reform. Congress must act⁠

⁠Bishop Tyson: Not all are called to be martyrs like Alex Pretti. But we can be witnesses⁠

Minnesota Catholic Relief Fund

Support Jesuitical by ⁠becoming ⁠a subscriber to America Magazine⁠⁠!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian sit down with Patrick Kelly, S.J. Father Pat holds the Heider Chair at Creighton University and is an expert in the theology of Sports. Then, in a special faith sharing segment, the hosts speak with Patrick Hyde, O.P., a Dominican priest and the pastor of St. Paul Catholic Center at Indiana University, about recent Heisman Trophy winner, Fernando Mendoza. Fernando, the quarterback of the IU football team, has been outspoken about his Catholic faith and is a frequent attendee of masses at St. Paul Center. 0:00 Olympics or Super Bowl? 5:40 Sports and the Vatican 9:02 Playing sports vs. the spiritual life 14:50 Why athletes praise God 20:20 Sports and superstition 32:30 Sports, society and polarization 39:31 Being Catholic at Indiana U 45:00 Ministering to Fernando Mendoza 52:12 Healthy (and unhealthy) fandom
 Links for further reading: 

Father Pat’s book, “Play, Sport and Spirit”

These Olympic athletes are leaning on Christian faith going into the Winter Games

Pope Leo adds feast day of St. John Henry Newman to universal calendar

Pope Leo, Archbishop Coakley urge renewal of last US-Russia nuclear treaty

You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.  

You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. 
Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on a special episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Sam Sawyer, S.J., president and editor in chief of America, have a conversation with David French, political commentator and opinion columnist at The New York Times, about the complex relationship between Christianity and politics during the Trump administration. 

Ashley, Father Sawyer and David discuss:

- David’s journey as a never-Trump evangelical Christian

- The future identity of Christianity in the United States

- How Christians should respond to events like the killings in Minneapolis

 Links for further reading: 

A Christian Answer to Trump and Trumpism Is Finally Here

Trump Is No Longer the Most Important American

David’s Podcast: “Advisory Opinions”

Twin Cities pastors preach on the killing of Alex Pretti: ‘We are walking in darkness and living in fear’

You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.  

You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. 

Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian speak to Charles Camosy. Charlie teaches moral theology and bioethics at the Catholic University of America and is the author of 10 books, including Living and Dying Well: A Catholic Plan for Resisting Physician-Assisted Killing.

Ashley, Sebastian and Charlie discuss:

- How opposition to euthanasia transcends typical partisan camps

- The disability advocates on the frontlines in the fight against euthanasia

- The importance of learning to live well in order to die well

In Signs of the Times, Charlie speaks to the pro-life movement’s response to the second Trump administration and the March for Life in Washington, D.C.

 If you are having thoughts of suicide, dial 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can find more resources from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention here.

Links for further reading: 

Order Charlie’s book: Living and Dying Well: A Catholic Plan for Resisting Physician-Assisted Killing

Ahead of March for Life, pro-life movement faces key political challenges

Pro-life groups push back after Trump tells House GOP to be ‘flexible’ on taxpayer-funded abortions

Canada’s euthanasia regime: How many more will die in the name of ‘compassion’?

Vatican reaffirms, clarifies church teachings on end-of-life care

You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.  

You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. 

Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian speak with Vatican expert Thomas Reese, S.J., a Jesuit priest who is a senior analyst at Religion News Service and former editor in chief of America magazine. 

Ashley, Sebastian and Father Reese discuss:

- The big takeaways from Pope Leo’s first consistory

- 101 on the recent history of the College of Cardinals 

- Whether Leo is continuing on the synodal path set by Pope Francis

In Signs of the Times, Ashley and Sebastian discuss Catholic reactions from Minnesota a week after the shooting death of Renee Good by an ICE officer. They also unpack the Vatican’s diplomatic involvement in Venezuela and the meeting between the new U.S.C.C.B. president, Archbishop Paul Coakley, and President Trump at the White House.

Finally, the hosts explain the history and significance of Pope Leo’s new papal staff.

 Links for further reading: 

- Read more from Father Reese at RNS

- Pope Leo says he will hold consistories with the College of Cardinals every year

- Pope Leo XIV’s papacy began today

- Pope Leo meets with Venezuelan opposition leader Machado

- Trump meets with US bishops’ president at White House

- Baptizing the lie about ICE and the killing of Renee Nicole Good

- Leo’s new papal staff highlights Christ’s victory over death

You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.  

You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. 

Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian sit down with Eric Sundrup, S.J., a Jesuit priest who is the vice president for mission and ministry and university chaplain at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Father Eric has also worked on “Jesuitical” since its inception (in 2017!) in a variety of roles; today, he continues to provide faith formation for the team. 

Ashley, Sebastian and Father Eric discuss:

- What spiritual practices “worked” for them in 2025—and what they want to leave behind

- How to approach Mass with fresh eyes and ears in the new year

- Why you shouldn’t beat yourself up about not meeting your prayer goals

In Signs of the Times, Ashley and Sebastian discuss the conclusion of the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope and the next phase of Pope Leo’s pontificate. They unpack Catholic reactions to the capture of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by U.S. forces and the recent news of Israel banning 37 humanitarian groups, including a Catholic aid group, from operating in Gaza.

Finally, Sebastian and Ashley talk about supposed divine intervention on the football field during last weekend’s Pittsburgh Steelers-Baltimore Ravens game.

 Links for further reading: 

- Pope Leo says he will hold consistories with the College of Cardinals every year

- Pope Leo XIV closes 2025 Holy Year with critique of consumerism and xenophobia

- Pope Leo XIV’s papacy began today

- Pope Leo’s first Extraordinary Consistory: What should we expect?

- Venezuela, Trump and the end of ‘Pax Americana’

- Inside Venezuela’s capital after Trump administration captures Maduro

- Pope Leo: ‘The good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration.’

You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.  

You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. 
Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who’s the best TV priest? Should you name your kid after a saint? And what pilgrimage sites are on our bucket list? These are just a few of the questions Zac, Ashley and “Jesuitical” producer Sebastian Gomes tackle in our end-of-year mailbag episode!

Thanks to all the listeners who sent in questions for the hosts—we love hearing what’s on your minds. So don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected] or on our Facebook page to let us know what you’d like us to discuss on the show. 

Merry Christmas, and we’ll see you in 2026!

What’s on tap?

Syrah from the Northern Rhone Valley

You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.  

You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. 

Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak to Noah Banasiewicz, S.J. Noah is a Jesuit scholastic and lecturer in the School of Communication at Loyola University Chicago.

Ashley, Zac and Noah talk about:

- The opportunities and pitfalls of evangelizing on social media

- The fine line between evangelist and Catholic influencer

- How media theory can help us understand the evolution of evangelization

In Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac discuss the controversial ICE nativity scene at St. Susanna Catholic Church in Dedham, Mass., and Pope Leo’s comments on Ukraine and the Trump administration. They also break down the new Vatican document on ordaining women to the diaconate. 

In parish announcements, Zac and Ashley announce that they will be filming a mailbag episode and call for questions from the audience. If you have a question for the “Jesuitical” team, please send your questions to [email protected] by Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025.

In As One Friend Speaks to Another, Ashley and Zac discuss their thoughts on Pope Leo’s explanation for not praying at the Blue Mosque in Turkey. 

Links for further reading: 

Noah’s article in America, “Catholic influencers have a media theory (and evangelization) problem”

Boston archdiocese tells church to remove ICE message from Nativity, but pastor refuses for now

Pope Leo explains why he appeared not to pray at the Blue Mosque in Turkey

Vatican report says no to ordaining women deacons—for now

Women Deacons and the Catholic Church | An Explainer video from America

You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.  

You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. 

Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Ashley and Zac debrief Pope Leo XIV's first international trip to Turkey and Lebanon, where he preached a strong message of peace and Christian unity, and shared insights from the conclave that elected him.

Then, they speak to their colleague and America's senior audio producer, Maggi Van Dorn, about the new season of her podcast, "Hark! The Stories Behind Our Favorite Christmas Carols." They reflect on Maggi's reporting trip to Coventry, England, a place of historic violence and home of the haunting Christmas hymn, "The Coventry Carol".

Links:

Pope Leo and Patriarch Bartholomew urge Christian unity at Nicaea commemoration

In Turkey, Pope Leo pushes for unity and peace—within and beyond Christianity

Pope Leo makes a strong pitch for peace in war-threatened Lebanon

Pope Leo meets survivors of Beirut port explosion and calls for peace as he concludes Lebanon visit

Pope Leo on what he was thinking inside the conclave

Listen to “Hark! The Stories Behind Our Favorite Christmas Carols” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and at AmericaMagazine.org/Hark

You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.  

You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. 

Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at AmericaMagazine.org/subscribe

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac chat with Daniel Corrou, S.J. Father Corrou is a Jesuit priest from the USA East Province who is currently the regional director of Jesuit Refugee Service Middle East & North Africa. Father Corrou lives and works in Lebanon, where Pope Leo XIV will visit from November 30 to December 2, 2025.

Ashley, Zac and Father Corrou talk about:

- The significance of Pope Leo choosing Lebanon for one of his first papal visits

- Lebanon’s complex socio-political and religious context

- How the region has been affected by U.S. foreign aid cuts

In Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac discuss the biggest news to come out of the U.S.C.C.B. fall meeting, held last week in Baltimore: the election of a new president and a “special message” on immigration.

In As One Friend Speaks to Another, Ashley and Zac try to find God in a board meeting.

Links for further reading: 

- Support Father Corrou’s work at the Jesuit Refugee Service

- Analysis: The U.S. bishops showed their unity on behalf of immigrants—and may have repaired their relationship to Rome

- U.S. bishops release rare message on Trump’s immigration crackdown in show of ‘fundamental unity

- New USCCB president Coakley talks immigration, Viganò criticism and Pope Leo

- Archbishop Coakley, Bishop Flores elected president and vice president of USCCB

- Pope Leo backs U.S. bishops in opposing Trump’s immigration crackdown

You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.  

You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. 

Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices