Thinking Faith Catholic Podcast

Pope Francis, The Nativity And The Incarnation With Archbishop Don Bolen

| Re-TF | E05 | In this special episode of Re-Thinking Faith, Archbishop Don Bolen joins the conversation for a rich reflection on Christmas, the Incarnation, and hope in a broken world. Drawing on Pope Francis’ reflections on the Nativity and his own love of nativity scenes, Archbishop Bolen explores what it truly means to believe in a God who becomes flesh.This conversation looks beyond words to the heart of incarnational faith—a faith expressed through presence, accompaniment, and walking with others, especially in times of grief, loss, and suffering. A timely and deeply pastoral reflection for Advent and Christmas, this episode invites listeners to rediscover how Christ’s birth continues to transform lives today.

A NEW Sacramental Program for Teens in the Archdiocese of Regina

| S03 E13 | Deacon Eric Gurash and guest, Michelle Braden from the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry unveil an exciting new teen sacramental preparation initiative—designed for young people who previously missed Baptism, Confirmation, or other sacraments. This episode explores how monthly gatherings, community-building, team-building, and flexible catechesis create a welcoming environment where teens can grow in faith, build relationships, and prepare for the sacraments in a supportive, belonging-focused setting.Contact Michelle Braden at mbraden@archregina.sk.ca to learn more!00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:54 Introducing Michelle Braden and the New Initiative02:11 Challenges and Reasons for the New Program04:32 Program Structure and Goals05:55 Community Building and Sacramental Preparation10:14 Parish Involvement and Mentorship17:31 Call for Volunteers and Conclusion17:44 Introduction to the New Program18:03 Monthly Meetings and Source Event Integration19:30 Initial Sessions and Getting to Know Each Other20:52 Building Community and Fun Activities21:39 Importance of Personal Connections23:44 Flexibility and Adapting to Group Dynamics29:19 Encouraging Participation and Open Invitation29:57 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Re-Thinking Faith - Advent Retreat - Fostering A Contemplative Attitude Part 2

Re-TF | E04 | As the Advent season moves quickly into Christmas, we invite you to take a few moments to step out of the frantic pace of the holidays and discover the hidden gifts and graces that only a contemplative attitude can reveal.

Re-Thinking Faith - Advent Retreat - Fostering A Contemplative Attitude Part 1

Re-TF | E03 | Keep awake and stay alert. These advent themes invite us to foster and develop what is known as a Contemplative Attitude - a particular way of being within the world that is 'highly tuned' to the presence of Christ in our midst. In this part one of a two-part Advent retreat, Deacon Eric reflects on this call to keep watch and how we might foster a contemplative attitude this Advent this week on Thinking Faith!

Miller High School Q&A: Angels, Demons, Purgatory, and do we all worship the same God?

| TF S03 E12 | In this episode of Thinking Faith, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett Salkeld respond to questions from grade 9 and 10 students at Miller Catholic High School. They dive into topics such as the nature of purgatory, offering metaphors and practical examples to help understand the process of purification. They explain how angels, including fallen angels, fit into Christian theology, touching on the distinctions between angels and humans. Finally, they tackle the question of whether Muslims, Christians, and Catholics serve the same God, exploring the nuances and commonalities in beliefs about God across these faiths. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:47 Opening the Email Bag02:04 First Question: What is Purgatory Like?02:36 Understanding Purgatory Through Metaphors04:09 The Process of Purgatory in Life11:46 Protestant Perspectives on Purgatory20:10 Next Question: Angels, Demons, and Spiritual Beings23:39 The Rejection of the Material by Fallen Angels24:34 God's Presence in the Material World26:45 The Role of Angels in Understanding Humanity27:52 Do Angels Do Math?30:12 Comparative Religion: Do Muslims, Christians, and Catholics Serve the Same God?38:51 Understanding the Relationship Between Catholics and Other Christians43:34 Engaging with Questions from Young People44:15 Conclusion and Blessings

Miller High School Q&A: Jesus’ words, who gets to heaven, faith and science, and more.

| S03 E11 | In this Thinking Faith Q&A episode, Deacon Eric Gurash and Dr. Brett Salkeld answer questions from grade nine and ten students at Miller Catholic High School in Regina about faith, Scripture, and salvation. This week, they explore how to discern when Jesus speaks literally or symbolically, and whether anyone can be certain of heaven, offering a hopeful perspective on faith, mercy, and trust in God.This podcast is made possible by your generous donations to our Archbishop's Appeal: https://bit.ly/ArchReginaGiving202500:00 Introduction and Overview05:08 Classroom Questions06:33 Literal vs. Symbolic Interpretation11:35 The Bread of Life Discourse18:58 Trust and Understanding22:30 How can we know we're going to heaven?25:16 Understanding God's Mercy and Judgment26:59 The Concept of Final Judgment27:33 Particular vs. Final Judgment28:36 Hope and Confidence in Salvation30:35 The Question of Hell31:55 Rationalizing Evil Deeds36:10 Faith and Science: Creation and the Big Bang37:19 Interpreting Genesis and Scientific Theories46:52 The Role of Faith and Science in Understanding Creation48:54 Conclusion and Future Discussions

Navigating Faith, Free Will, and Sin – St. Jerome’s, Hyattsville Q&A - Part 3

| S03 E10 | This week on the Thinking Faith Catholic Podcast, Deacon Eric Gurash and Dr. Brett Salkeld respond to more thoughtful questions from the St. Jerome’s Youth Group in Hyattsville, Maryland.Together, they explore some of the most profound mysteries of Christian faith — free will, sin, and God’s purpose for humanity. Why would God create people knowing they would sin? How essential is free will to genuine love and faith? What does redemption reveal about the worth of every human being?Drawing from theology, personal experience, and pastoral ministry, Deacon Eric and Dr. Brett reflect on how young people can grow in faith through both questions and community.This podcast is made possible by your generous donations to our Archbishop's Appeal: https://bit.ly/ArchReginaGiving202504:29 Podcast Questions07:31 The Story of Mary and Joseph10:21 Moral Complexities and Sin29:35 The Silence of God in Jephthah's Story30:45 The Goodness of Creation and Human Life32:12 The Value of Human Existence Despite Sin34:08 Parental Perspective on Sin and Goodness37:22 Freedom and Authentic Love38:32 The Role of Freedom in Human Goodness44:36 AI and the Future of Human Good46:09 The Inevitability of Sin and God's Response53:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

TF | S03 E09

Machines, Minds, and Meaning: Catholic Reflections on Artificial Intelligence - Part 1

| S03 E08 | This week on Thinking Faith: The Catholic Podcast Deacon Eric Gurash and Dr. Brett Salkeld discuss the intersection of artificial intelligence and personhood through the lens of a Catholic anthropology.Drawing on personal experiences with ChatGPT and what the Large Language Model has to say about itself, they reflect on what these interactions reveal about what it means to be human and what it doesn’t. Together, they unpack the theological, ethical, and philosophical implications of rapidly advancing AI technology through the lens of Catholic teaching on the human person, reason, and the soul.

Sebastian Gomes on Pope Francis’ Vision For A Synodal Church

| S03 E07 | In anticipation of his keynote address at the Catholic Health Association of Saskatchewan (CHAS) Convention in Regina on Thursday, October 23, Sebastian Gomes, Executive Editor of Audio and Video at America Magazine and former producer at Salt + Light Media, joins Deacon Eric Gurash on the Thinking Faith Catholic Podcast.
 
Drawing on more than a decade of experience reporting on the Catholic Church, Sebastian reflects on Pope Francis’ vision for a synodal Church, the roots of synodality in Vatican II, and what this means for parishes and Catholic health care ministries here in Saskatchewan.
 
Find out more about Mr. Gomes' two public speaking engagements in Saskatchewan at the following links:
 
https://chassk.ca/
 
https://archregina.sk.ca/event/a-place-for-everyone-how-pope-francis-ignited-the-churchs-mission-to-serve-people-over-ideas/
 
https://archregina.sk.ca/event/implementing-the-synod-on-synodality-reflections-and-challenges-with-sebastian-gomes/