Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church

Father Dave welcomes back veteran tour guide Joan Watson to discuss the benefits of going on a pilgrimage. Joan is the pilgrim formation manager for Verso Ministries and the author of the new book "Making a Pilgrimage: A Companion for Catholics."

A listener named Michael asks Father Dave about finding time to go to Confession. "My parish only offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturdays 30 minutes before Mass. This one time makes it very difficult [for me] to go to Confession. In fact, I've been avoiding it due to the schedule," Michael begins. "Is it rare or commonplace to ask a priest for a private confession?  We have two priests for 3,500 families so they are super busy; I feel guilty adding to their work load. All the parishes in my diocese have similar schedules."

The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith, and Father Dave welcomes Dominican friar Father Gregory Pine to discuss how it is also the key to our very identities. Father Gregory is professor of dogmatic and moral theology at the Dominican House of Studies and the author of "Your Eucharistic Identity: A Sacramental Guide to the Fullness of Life."

As we continue move through the month of the Rosary, Father Dave welcomes Shannon Wendt to discuss finding time in our hearts and schedules for prayer. Shannon is the Founder and CEO of ChewsLife.com and the author of the new book, "The Way of the Rosary: A Journey with Mary Through Scripture, Liturgy, and Life."

A listener named Linda wonders about our relationship with the Lord and asks, "Can you explain fear of God?"

Visiting the imprisoned is a Corporal Work of Mercy, and Father Dave welcomes Father Dustin Feddon to discuss accompanying those who are imprisoned, both during their sentences and after their releases. Father Dustin is a priest inof the diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee and the author of "More Than Half Way Home: A Story of Accompaniment in the Shadows of Incarceration."

Recently, the Saint Paul the Apostle Church choir in New York City had the exciting opportunity to perform an original song called "Love More" at Pope Leo XIV's general audience. Father Dave lives and serves at Saint Paul the Apostle, and he discusses the profound moment with the song's composer, J. Oconer Navarro.

A listener named Amy asks Father Dave about praying the Rosary. She explains that she started praying a Rosary at Church before Mass began, but did not have time to finish. "[Later] I went to Communion, and I said my prayer back at the pew, then I decided to finish the two decades of the Rosary and the closing prayers while everyone was finishing going to Communion," she says. "I started to wonder if this is what I should be doing, or am I not participating and being present for the other people still receiving Communion and for the Eucharist that was still present on the altar?"

Father Dave welcomes Elise Ann Allen, Senior Correspondent for Crux, who recently conducted the first extensive papal interview of Pope Leo XIV's pontificate. The wide-ranging two-part interview was in research for her papal biography, "Leo XIV: Citizen of the World, Missionary of the XXI Century." The book is now available in Spanish by Penguin Peru and will be published in English in 2026.

A listener named Michael asks Father Dave about a prayer during Mass. "During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, there are certain things that the rubrics tell the priest to say quietly or inaudibly," Michael says. "I'm wondering why that would be, particularly because one of them says, 'By the mystery of this water and wine, may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity.' That, to me, is like wow. That's where the lightning strikes, like the meeting of heaven and earth; that is the Mass. So why would that be said inaudibly?"