The Sept. 11 taping of the popular podcast Jesuitical in Madison felt like a lively conversation among close Catholic friends.

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney enjoyed sharing thought-provoking discussions about faith and life — and some laughs — with Ashley McKinless and Zac Davis, Jesui-tical’s hosts, as their guest during a taping of an episode set to air Sept. 20. It took place in the Aula magna auditorium at St. Paul Inside the Walls before a live audience.

The three of them quickly launched into dynamic conversations. Subjects included the “Baby Bishops’ School” in Rome for new bishops, favorite saints, and the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, observed that day.

Eventually, the 45-minute discussion turned to the contentious upcoming U.S. presidential election. Bishop Sweeney urged Catholics to be “instruments of peace.”

“We have to stop yelling and screaming. It’s hard right now. We should pray. We should vote. We should be grateful for this country and our ability to vote and choose our leaders. We [Catholics] need to be part of the conversation,” said Bishop Sweeney, also co-host of his podcast, Beyond The Beacon.

Jesuitical will release the audio recording of the conversation this week — letting its wider audience get to know Bishop Sweeney. He spoke about his beloved N.Y. Yankees and Lou Piniella, his favorite player in his youth.

The Jesuit-run America Media produces Jesuitical. It features honest talk about the Church today, pop culture, current events, and a dive into the hosts’ — and guests’ — faith lives.

In response to one of Davis’ questions, Bishop Sweeney said becoming a bishop had a “learning curve.” He attended New Bishops’ Orientation — nicknamed “Baby Bishops’ School” — in Rome. He also has received support from local ordinaries and the diocesan community.

Bishop Sweeney also recalled 9/11, when he was a young priest at a parish in Jamaica, Queens. He wrote about his experiences in an article in the recent issue of America Magazine [see website link at the bottom of page 8].

“The heroes [who died on 9/11] were people of faith, service, and generosity,” said Bishop Sweeney, also recalling, afterward, feeling the sense of unity in New York City and his parish in prayer.

McKinless, a millennial like her co-host, called the 9/11 attacks her “first non-childhood moment” in her youth, “when the world became bigger and scarier.”

Later, Bishop Sweeney answered the podcast’s final question: Who would you canonize as a saint — Catholic or not, living or dead, real or fictional? Among his three choices, he picked Hubert and Winifred Blewitt, his Irish maternal grandparents. They were “people of deep faith,” who raised eight children, the bishop said.

The diocese, Bishop Sweeney, and his Beyond The Beacon podcast hosted the event. He is a Jesuitical fan. This select collaboration was one of a handful of the podcast’s road events for young adult Catholics across the country.

After the taping, Michelle LaMaire, an audience member, who belongs to St. Paul’s Young Adults, said she enjoyed her first time experiencing Jesuitical.

“I liked that they talked about current events. With the election, they made me consider how to think — and pray — about it,” LaMarie said. “Every time the bishop visits St. Paul’s, he shares something new — like with the canonization of the saints.”

Listen to the episode on the major podcast platforms.

Bishop Sweeney’s guest column in America magazine: “I was a young New York priest on 9/11. The lessons of that day stay with me as a bishop.”

Jesuitical can be heard on all major podcast platforms. Beyond The Beacon is available to watch on the bishop’s YouTube channel and can be heard on all major podcast platforms.

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI