The Emmaus Pastorate’s Podcast

Easter Sunday Homily 2025

What difference does the empty tomb make?  Flowers are nice, but what's it all about?  It's about transformation, about change, and that's one thing people hate the most!  God always accepts us where we are on our own spiritual journeys, but he never wants to leave us there.  He always wants to draw us closer to him.  So let's ask ourselves if we're more than Jesus than this time last year.  This year, let us dare to be more like him!  From the staff of the Emmaus Pastorate, happy Easter!

Beginning this Easter Sunday episode is Though Not Seeing You, arranged by Craig Kingsbury and featuring John Uhal on guitar.  Following Fr. John's homily you heard Three Days, arranged by Jeffrey Honore.  Both were sung by the St. Joseph Choir, conducted by John Uhal, and accompanied by Becky Gundacker.  Permission to stream under ONE LICENSE #A-626030.

Easter Vigil Homily 2025 + Music

Why do we do this?  Why do we gather late at night to celebrate a liturgy more different than any other?  Well it's not for doctrine or dogma.  Christ didn't come to set church teachings or a catechism, though he did do that.  No, we come instead to share our faith.  We come to share the faith that Christ brought us and the Good News is carries because Jesus desires that every person enter eternal life.  But to share the faith we profess, we must also accept the crosses and burdens that come with it, just ask Christ did.  The best thing we can do to express our faith is to share it with others regardless of the cost and with the aim of inviting new members into its fold through the sacraments.  From the staff of the Emmaus Pastorate, happy Easter to you and your family!

Included in this episode is the Easter Alleluia, the first time "alleluia" is uttered since Ash Wednesday 40 days ago.  It was cantored by mother and daughter Anne and Molly Franta.  Deacon Paul Dolan proclaimed the Gospel, Luke 24:1-12.  As Fr. John introduced, the Litany of Saints ends this episode.  John Becker's rendition was cantored by Tara Ketoff.  Both pieces were accompanied by Coleen Glaza, conducted by John Uhal, and featured the combined ensembles of the Emmaus Pastorate, Collen Moore on flute, and Steve Steinfadt and Marge Gaul on guitar.

Good Friday Homily 2025 + Music

The crucifying has continued.  In every sin we commit, every time the innocent suffer, Jesus' crucifixion continues.  But it doesn't have to be that way.  It can stop with us.

Beginning this episode is the Responsorial Psalm for Good Friday, a setting of Psalm 31 by John Michael Talbot titled Father, I Put My Life in Your Hands.  It was cantored by Tony Tjaden.  Following Fr. John's homily is Tree of Life by Marty Haugen.  Both are sung by the combined ensembles of the Emmaus Pastorate, accompanied by Susie Tjaden, conducted by John Uhal, and feature Colleen Moore on flute, Steve Steinfadt on guitar, and Israel de la Rosa on electric bass.  Permission to stream under ONE LICENSE #A-626030.

Holy Thursday Homily 2025 + Musical Selections

Jesus gives us a model to follow.  It's about loving each other and becoming His Body and Blood.  It's a model to follow that will call us to a life deeper than we can imagine.  It's a model that will lead us to heaven on earth.

Preceding this episode is Curtis Stephan's Bread of Angels, and following Fr. John's homily is Craig Larson's arrangement of How Beautiful by Twila Paris.  Both are sung by the combined ensembles of the Emmaus Pastorate, accompanied by Kristin Fitzgerald, conducted by John Uhal, and featuring Colleen Moore on flute.  Permission to stream granted under ONE LICENSE #A-626030.

Palm Sunday Homily 2025

Are you sleeping!?  There's no napping in the Garden!  Stay awake, and pray.  Pray that you may not undergo the test, and pray to relieve someone else's test!

Homily on 4-6-25

God is trying to do something new in you.  Will you let him?

BONUS: Delving Deep: Healing Addiction by Tracing its Roots and Mending Wounds

The Emmaus Pastorate is happy to provide our listeners with an extra bonus episode this week!  As we near the end of March, which is Problem Gambling Addiction Awareness Month, we share an episode from Road to Purity’s podcast, Tell Them for Me.  Titled Delving Deep: Healing Addiction by Tracing its Roots and Mending Wounds, this is excellent food for thought as we continue our journey through March and the season of Lent!  The full, original episode description is below, and we appreciate Road to Purity for allowing us to share their content.  You can find Tell Them for Me on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, and YouTube.  We welcome any feedback on this or other episodes on The Emmaus Pastorate’s Podcast through our website: www.vibrantcatholic.com/contact.

 

Delving Deep: Healing Addiction by Tracing its Roots and Mending Wounds

by Road to Purity

In this episode we delve into the underpinnings of addictive behaviors, the significance of childhood wounds, and the construction of false identities.  With a focus on how childhood experiences shape our behaviors and beliefs, we uncover the importance of resolving false identities and healing emotional wounds.  Delving into the spiritual dimension, we discuss the role of spiritual warfare in the healing process and the profound insights found in the Theology of the Body.  We also discuss the profound acts of forgiveness, renouncing lies, and tackling addiction and complex family dynamics as part of a comprehensive program we’ve developed.

Take Our Anonymous Survey to help shape our new program for families and Win $100: https://roadtopurity.com/surveygiveaway

Road to Purity is a Catholic nonprofit organization offering hope, healing, and guidance for individuals and families seeking growth in purity.  Our mission is to address the struggles of pornography and sexual addiction by healing the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—while fostering a community rooted in God’s grace and purity.

Our Programs Include:

-Restoring God’s Foundation: A recovery program providing tools, healing strategies, and spiritual guidance for individuals struggling with sexual sin.

-Support for Clergy: Equipping priests and deacons with resources to assist their parishioners in overcoming challenges to sexual purity.

-COMING SOON: Family Programs: Educating parents to protect their children from exposure while fostering healthy, open conversations about sexuality and faith.

By engaging in these programs, participants can expect growth in purity, deeper understanding of intimacy, and the strength to make informed, God-centered decisions in today’s culture.

For more information, join the mission of building an Empire of Purity and find freedom through Road to Purity. Visit roadtopurity.com

Bonus: Homily from 3-30-25

Why can't we just come to our senses?!  The prodigal son did!  Why can't we?  God will love and forgive us no matter what sins we commit so long as we're repentant.  So come home, repent, and enjoy the party!

We thank Fr. Carl Ries for celebrating Mass for us and preaching this weekend.  Fr. Carl filled in for Fr. John as he continues his recovery from a recent heart attack.  Please join us on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 for confessions at St. Mark Parish in Edgewood, IA.  A meal will be served from 5:30pm-7:30pm in the Parish Hall, and confessions will be heard by at least 8 priests from 6:00pm-8:00pm in the Church.

Homily on 3-30-25

Forgive everyone everything.  Plain and simple.  Not always easy, but plain and simple!  It's sometimes hard to let go of grudges, fears, resentments, and hurts.  But if we want the reward of a life well lived (aka heaven), we need to forgive others and ourselves of the sins we all commit.  And when we find it hard, God is always there to help us!  We can never say that we can never forgive someone.  We can always be forgiven and can always forgive others - but only if we want - and only if we ask!

Homily on 3-23-25 #2

Fr. Dustin Vu visited St. Joseph Parish in Elkader this weekend as Fr. John continues his recovery.  Thank you for your ministry, Fr. Vu!

In this homily, Fr. Vu gives us the landowner's quarrel.  Are we getting better?  Or are we getting worse?  If we're not getting better, then we are useless, perhaps even worse.  Maybe we take up space and resources from others!  Come judgement day, the landowner - aka God - will make his decision on where we go.  But if we're getting better throughout our lives, perhaps the landowner decides to let us stay and flourish!  As we continue on our Lenten journey, let's ask ourselves - even if bit by bit - whether we're getting better at being Jesus' disciples or getting worse.