Join Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney for a thought-provoking conversation about faith and life on Sept. 11 at a special live taping of America Media’s popular Jesuitical podcast in St. Paul Inside the Walls in Madison at 7 p.m.
The faithful of the Paterson Diocese and beyond are invited to watch and listen as Bishop Sweeney converses with Ashley McKinless and Zac Davis, Jesuitical’s co-hosts. The diocese, Bishop Sweeney, and his Beyond The Beacon podcast will host the event in the evangelization center’s auditorium.
Bishop Sweeney and the co-hosts plan to explore topics such as young people in the Church, how the U.S. presidential election might impact the Church, and the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, commemorated that day. Jesuitical will release the audio recording of the conversation on an upcoming podcast episode.
The Jesuitical event will start with recording the live interview with Bishop Sweeney at 7 p.m. It will continue with a 7:45 p.m. “off the record” question-and-answer session with the bishop, McKinless, and Davis. It will conclude with an 8:30 p.m. opportunity to “meet and greet” the co-hosts.
Sebastian Gomes, Jesuitical’s executive audio and video editor, anticipates the conversation will be “entertaining, enlightening, and filled with energy.”
“Bishop Kevin is funny and personable. He is unique because he already has a podcast, where he talks openly and honestly about the faith,” said Gomes, who sometimes cohosts Jesuitical. Jesuitical, he said, “creates a space for great conversations to help young adults think about the important aspects of faith.”
This select collaboration is one of a handful of Jesuitical road events intended for young adult Catholics across the country but is open to all. Jesuitical is a favorite podcast of Bishop Sweeney and Jai Agnish, the diocesan communications director. Agnish also is the producer and co-host with the bishop of the Beyond The Beacon podcast, which has welcomed young Catholics as guests.
McKinless and Davis are millennials, who work for the Jesuit-run America Media, located in Manhattan.
“Ashley and Zac ask questions that go deeper and weigh into topics that require more complexity and nuance. They keep the bigger picture in mind,” Gomes said. “Our co-hosts are part of the next generation of Catholic professionals. They are honest about being young people of faith in the world today. They are people of joy and hope, who have a deep love for the Church.”
The eight-year-old podcast only recently started interviewing bishops and cardinals of the U.S. Church for some road events.
“These conversations with Jesuitical are great ways to humanize the shepherds of the Church for young adults. These cardinals and bishops are all blessings, are all unique, and have been part of quality conversations,” Gomes said.
Registration is strongly recommended. Reserve a spot now.
Listen or watch Beyond The Beacon for updates about the Jesuitical podcast taping. It is available to watch on the bishop’s YouTube channel or can be heard on all major podcast platforms.
