Father and Joe

Father Boniface Hicks and Joseph Rockey Jr
  • 5.0 (2)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Father and Joe is a podcast series of a continuing conversation about struggles and successes of being close to God. Father Boniface provides spiritual direction through problems of daily life. According to statistics of the average American's church habits - We went to church when we were forced to but somewhere along the way, we drifted away. The ultimate goal of this podcast is to help us get back to church, regardless of what faith you hold, and create a stronger union with God.

  1. 2D AGO

    Father and Joe E462: Riches, Talents, and Trust — Money Isn’t the Sin, Self-Reliance Is

    A real client conversation turns into a real Gospel question: if a Christian builds something that genuinely helps people—and it becomes financially successful—how do you reconcile that with Jesus’ warning that it’s hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom? Joe Rockey brings the tension to Father Boniface Hicks and pressure-tests the advice he gave: Jesus didn’t condemn “business” when He flipped the tables; the deeper issue was blocking outsiders from worship. And the parable of the talents points to growth and stewardship—God needs people who can carry “five talents” without losing their souls. Father affirms the direction, but sharpens the edge: Scripture’s warnings about wealth aren’t about cash being evil—they’re about what wealth tempts us to believe. Money, honor, power, and pleasure can become idols because they create the illusion that I can provide for myself, so I don’t need God. That’s the rub: when things break, do I fall back on the Lord—or do I buy my way out, control my way out, reputation-manage my way out? Poverty can be “blessed” because it forces dependence: The Lord is my shepherd—not the bank account. And the Gospel is not simplistic. Jesus Himself relied on benefactors: wealthy women supported His ministry; He had the Upper Room; He rode a colt; He was buried in a new tomb; He was anointed with costly nard. The point is order: have resources, put them at His feet, and use them to build up the Church and love in the world—without claiming they’re “mine.” Father shares an example of a wealthy man who sees money as God’s to steward, discerns carefully how to spend and give, and feels the weight of accountability. Joe closes with a practical business litmus test: is the business making clients’ lives better—and treating employees in a way that makes their lives better? If yes, the work can be noble. If no, the conscience conflict is a signal. Key Ideas Wealth isn’t automatically evil; the danger is idolatry: money as a substitute shepherd.The parable of the talents calls for stewardship and growth—not fear-driven hiding.“Blessed are the poor” can mean: fewer fallbacks force deeper trust in God.Those with more have more accountability; gifts aren’t “mine”—they can vanish tomorrow.Gospel balance: Jesus accepted costly gifts and benefactors; the call is to order wealth under love and mission.Practical test: does the business improve clients’ lives and treat employees with dignity?Scripture Mentioned (no links) Parable of the talentsRich young man“Blessed are the poor”“What do you have that you have not received?” (St. Paul)Acts of the Apostles community sharing (“placed at the apostles’ feet”)Links & References (official/source only) None explicitly referenced with clear official/source URLs in this transcript. CTA: If this helped, please leave a review or share this episode with a friend. Questions or thoughts? Email FatherAndJoe@gmail.com . Tags (comma-separated) Father and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, money and faith, riches, rich man, kingdom of God, wealth, stewardship, providence, trust in God, self reliance, idols, money honor power pleasure, value hierarchy, parable of the talents, talents and stewardship, accountability, blessed are the poor, Gospel vision, natural law, business and Christianity, vocation, entrepreneurship, purpose driven business, serving clients, treating employees well, dignity of work, Acts of the Apostles, benefactors, costly nard, Upper Room, discernment, generosity, humility, gratitude, Christian maturity

    22 min

  2. MAY 12

    Father and Joe E461: “The Lord Is My Shepherd” — Desire, Provision, and the Messy Gift of Kids at Mass

    A single Psalm line can mess with your head—in a good way. Joe Rockey brings a phrase from the Good Shepherd Mass that sounds impossible on first hearing: “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.” Joe’s honest reaction is simple: I still want things… like a burger. So what is the Church actually saying here? Father Boniface Hicks grounds it in Psalm 23’s meaning: the Lord provides for our needs—He doesn’t leave us destitute or deprived. Desire isn’t the enemy; it’s essential. St. Augustine calls prayer an exercise of holy desire, and the spiritual life involves attuning and purifying what we want. The key is order: keep God at the top of the value hierarchy, resist the temptation to cut corners on Him to “provide for ourselves,” and trust that if we seek first the Kingdom, God will provide what’s needed—often in ways we wouldn’t have predicted.  Joe then gives a concrete, family-life example: raising little kids at Mass can feel embarrassing and “imperfect,” but staying faithful reshaped the whole parish. Their consistency helped normalize young families, encouraged grandparents to invite their children, and grew the number of small kids in the congregation. Father reframes it: Mass isn’t a private piety project—it’s communal worship. A healthy parish supports families instead of treating them like an “intrusion.” Children don’t just disrupt; they awaken the community to reality and train the body of Christ to revolve around the weakest members—like a healthy family does.  The episode closes with an athletic analogy: practice includes drills and scrimmage. We aim at “ideal prayer” in quiet moments, but we also learn to worship faithfully in the real-world chaos—because that’s how love matures.  Key Ideas “Nothing I shall want” doesn’t mean “no desires”; it means God provides what is needed and doesn’t abandon us.  Desire is good; prayer forms and purifies desire (“holy desire” as a spiritual discipline).  Keep God at the top of the value hierarchy instead of cutting corners to self-provide.  Kids at Mass reveal what the Church is: a body, not an individual “quiet bubble.”  Healthy communities revolve around the weakest members; that’s how God loves us and how parishes should live.  Scripture Mentioned (no links) Psalm 23 Matthew 6:33 (“Seek first the kingdom…”) “Father gives good gifts” (bread/stone, fish/scorpion; Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask) Links & References (official/source only) None explicitly referenced with clear official/source URLs in this transcript. CTA: If this helped, please leave a review or share this episode with a friend. Questions or thoughts? Email FatherAndJoe@gmail.com . Tags (comma-separated) Father and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, Psalm 23, Good Shepherd, the Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want, desire, holy desire, St Augustine, prayer, providence, God provides, value hierarchy, worship, Mass, distractions at Mass, kids at Mass, young families, parish community, communal worship, body of Christ, shame, vulnerability, support for parents, family life, parenting, one year old, four year old, drills and scrimmage analogy, practice and real life, ideal prayer, chaos and faithfulness, Easter season, discipleship, gratitude

    23 min

  3. MAY 5

    Father and Joe E460: Faith Isn’t an Aquarium — Stop “Using” People and Start Witnessing With Love

    It’s easy to treat faith like an aquarium: you can see it “over there,” but it doesn’t touch real life on your side of the glass. Joe Rockey and Father Boniface Hicks push back hard on that. In this episode, they connect Easter-season love to a daily-life obstacle that quietly blocks evangelization and honest relationships: the fear of **manipulating people** or being manipulated. Joe explains why uncomfortable conversations (including talking about Jesus) often trigger something old in us—early childhood experiences of seeing adults lie to salespeople, learning “salesperson = being used,” and then carrying that resistance into adulthood.  Father widens it: we often avoid speaking about Jesus because we fear offending people or being rejected, but sincere witness isn’t “selling a bill of goods.” It’s relationship. Truth has to be offered according to the “mode of the receiver,” with humility and respect, not as abrasive broadcasting. They also contrast modern comfort with the apostles’ willingness to suffer for the truth—and emphasize that we’re called to share the faith anyway, even when it feels socially risky.  The episode lands in a practical place: treat people as persons, not tools. Father names what John Paul II called the **personalistic norm**—a person is an end in themselves and must not be used. Even in everyday transactions (restaurants, stores), the heart matters: are we cooperating toward shared goods, or dehumanizing the other? Joe closes with a simple “this week” practice to rebuild the habit of gratitude and humanization: write a thank-you note—short, specific, real.  **Key Ideas** * Faith can’t stay behind glass; integrated faith changes how we live, work, and relate.  * Fear of “selling” or manipulating often comes from childhood patterns and makes hard conversations feel unsafe.  * Witness is relational: give truth with humility, timing, and respect for what someone can receive.  * The personalistic norm: people are not tools; treat every interaction as cooperation toward shared goods.  * Practice for the week: write a short, specific **thank-you note** to humanize and strengthen relationships.  **Links & References (official/source only)** ```text id="qr0v9r" None explicitly referenced with clear official/source URLs in this transcript. ``` **CTA:** If this helped, please leave a review or share this episode with a friend. Questions or thoughts? Email [FatherAndJoe@gmail.com](mailto:FatherAndJoe@gmail.com) . ### Tags (comma-separated) Father and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, faith and daily life, integrate faith, Easter season, God is love, evangelization, witness, talking about Jesus, fear of offending, social pressure, manipulation, being used, used car salesman trope, sales psychology, childhood patterns, trust, authenticity, humility, personalistic norm, John Paul II, human dignity, relationships, gratitude, thank you note, stewardship of relationships, dehumanization, AI and relationships, customer service, shared goals, virtue, courage, discipleship, Catholic podcast, Father and Joe on YouTube

    19 min

  4. APR 28

    Father and Joe E459: A Picture of Heaven — Perfect Love, Total Vulnerability, and Breaking Our Hidden Defenses

    Heaven is hard to picture because everything in us is trained to see life through “today.” In this episode, Joe Rockey and Father Boniface Hicks try to imagine what eternal life in God’s love would actually be like—and why that vision matters right now. Father shares how funerals naturally force the question: where are we headed, what are we made for, and why do we settle for compromised relationships that stay “safe” but never become truly trusting, vulnerable, or healed? Using a strong image, Father compares heaven to the picture on the front of a puzzle box: you place the pieces better when you know what the finished product looks like. Joe extends it with real puzzle experience—the piece you’ve stared at 15 times finally fits when you turn it the right way. The same is true in love: we can’t fully “see the box cover” of perfect love, but we can get glimpses through our best relationships—and through the promises of Scripture. Father then describes a startling aspect of heaven: the glorified body—totally subject to the will, no longer hiding the interior. That means total vulnerability without terror, because everyone is fully reverenced, protected, and purified in love. Joe connects it to modern life: AI can feel like relational “Doritos”—tasty convenience that ultimately weakens real human connection. The episode closes with a practical path forward: if we want to love better, we need self-knowledge about the defenses we built (often pre-cognitively) from real wounds—and then the courage to take wise, measured risks toward trust and repair. Key Ideas Heaven’s perfect love “blows dust off” what we settle for: guarded, minimized, conflict-avoiding relationships. A vision of heaven is like the puzzle-box picture: it motivates and guides how we place the pieces of daily love. The glorified body suggests total integration: body fully subject to will, interior fully expressed—total vulnerability without fear. Healing isn’t “try harder”; it’s letting ourselves be loved in places of shame, usually practiced first in trusted relationships. Growth path: increase self-knowledge about where we guard, why we don’t trust, and whether repair/apology/confrontation is needed. Scripture Mentioned (no links) “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard…” (St. Paul quote referenced) “We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (St. John quote referenced) “Love one another as I have loved you” (Jesus’ command referenced) Links & References (official/source only) None explicitly referenced with clear official/source URLs in this transcript. CTA: If this helped, please leave a review or share this episode with a friend. Questions or thoughts? Email FatherAndJoe@gmail.com  . Tags (comma-separated) Father and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, heaven, eternal life, God is love, perfect love, glorified body, resurrection body, vulnerability, trust, intimacy, communion, relationships, healing, shame, being seen, being loved, self knowledge, self awareness, defenses, self protection, woundedness, triggers, conflict avoidance, reconciliation, repair, apology, confrontation, spiritual growth, discipleship, funerals, mortality, puzzle box analogy, jigsaw puzzle, Bob Ross puzzle, AI and relationships, technology and connection, sales and human connection, Lent fasting, habit change, loving correctly, relationship with God, relationship with self, relationship with others

    20 min

  5. APR 21

    Father and Joe E458: Love Doesn’t Pay the Bills — But It Powers Everything That Does

    What do you do when faith says “love wins,” but real life says “the mortgage is due”? In this episode, Joe Rockey challenges a common tension: love can’t be deposited in a bank account—so how is “the way of love” actually practical? Father Boniface Hicks responds by reframing the claim: love may not show up on a ledger, but it animates the person who can show up, endure, work, persevere, and make hard choices with integrity. Without love, we “die before we die”—we quit internally long before life collapses externally. From there, Father widens the lens: love empowers courage (sometimes even “superhuman” resolve), sustains hope when outcomes are uncertain, and becomes the only thing that can go into death and beyond—everything else passes away. The martyrs become the ultimate witness: the final decision is whether we compromise truth, betray love, or “risk it with Christ.” Joe brings it back to everyday life: we prepare for that final decision by the daily ones—small choices that either build relationships or erode them. Because when lives implode, the common thread is often a broken relationship. Love is the track that keeps relationships alive—and relationships are what make a life worth living. Key Ideas Love doesn’t pay bills directly, but it generates hope, courage, identity, and agency—the inner fuel that enables everything responsible adults must do. Love can empower extraordinary sacrifice and strength, while still honoring ordinary limits. Everything else fades—money, power, pleasure, reputation—love alone remains, even into death and beyond. Martyrs (“witnesses”) model the ultimate test: will I betray truth/love to preserve comfort, or stand with Christ? The “final decision” is trained by daily ones: choose love in small moments, or you won’t choose it in the last one. Everyday application: relationships strengthen through small choices—listening, serving, and preferring the beloved’s good. Links & References (official/source only) None explicitly referenced with clear official/source URLs in this transcript. CTA: If this helped, please leave a review or share this episode with a friend. Questions or thoughts? Email FatherAndJoe@gmail.com  . Tags (comma-separated) Father and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, love, faith in daily life, practical Christianity, bills and responsibility, hope, courage, identity, agency, perseverance, endurance, virtue, martyrs, witness, death and resurrection, love never dies, sacrifice, moral courage, integrity, temptation, daily decisions, formation, spiritual growth, discipleship, worldly success, money, power, reputation, pleasure, relationships, meaningful relationships, building relationships, marriage, family, parenting, friendship, choosing the good, ordinary love, small acts of love, YouTube podcast, Father and Joe on YouTube

    16 min

  6. APR 14

    Father and Joe E457: When the Apostles Scattered — Fear, Trauma, Judas, and Why Jesus Loved Them Anyway

    After Easter, it’s easy to forget what the Passion felt like from the inside. In this episode, Joe Rockey and Father Boniface Hicks step back into the apostles’ experience: men from wildly different backgrounds who watched miracles, trusted the mission, and still scattered in fear when Jesus was arrested. Joe names the real-life parallel: we can believe in something—and still not react the way an outside observer thinks we “should,” then carry guilt, confusion, and self-questioning afterward.  Father frames it with a practical lens: we all have “parts,” and courage can collapse fast when a stronger force shows up—especially when the Roman Empire’s violence becomes real and immediate. The apostles didn’t yet have the lived proof we do that surrender can lead to resurrection. And Jesus’ response becomes the center of hope: He knew Peter would deny Him, knew they would flee, and still gave Himself completely—Body, Blood, foot-washing love—without confusion or withdrawal.  Joe also raises a pointed Holy Week question: if Jesus called out the betrayer at the Last Supper, why didn’t the others stop Judas? Father offers a plausible explanation (drawing on Pope Benedict XVI’s Holy Week treatment): Jesus may have spoken quietly enough that only John fully heard—while the others interpreted Judas leaving as normal Passover charity. The episode closes by tying it together with human realism: after a week of shock, danger, grief, and emotional overload, “not processing it well” might have been the most human outcome possible—exactly the kind of weakness Jesus came to redeem.  Key Ideas The apostles’ fear wasn’t random: real power and credible violence can collapse confidence instantly.  They hadn’t seen “crucifixion → resurrection” play out even once; we have 2,000 years of witnesses—and still struggle.  Jesus loved them with full knowledge of their weakness: Peter’s denial was foretold inside the context of Eucharistic gift.  Judas’ exposure may not have been public to all; John’s proximity to Jesus at table could explain how details were known later.  Thomas “the twin” becomes a mirror: wanting “just a little more proof” is deeply human—and Jesus meets it.  Scripture Mentioned (no links) Last Supper accounts (betrayer revealed; Judas leaving) Peter’s denial prediction and denial Thomas Didymus (“the twin”) and the need for proof Passion themes: arrest, scattering, fear, surrender, resurrection Links & References (official/source only) Pope Benedict XVI (official Vatican profile):https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en.html CTA: If this helped, please leave a review or share this episode with a friend. Questions or thoughts? Email FatherAndJoe@gmail.com . Tags (comma-separated) Father and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, Easter, Holy Week, Passion, apostles, disciples, fear, scattering, Peter, denial, Judas, betrayal, Last Supper, Eucharist, Body and Blood, foot washing, Roman Empire, persecution, courage, trauma, overwhelm, human weakness, grace, redemption, mercy, resurrection, love victorious, love never dies, Thomas, Didymus, doubt, proof, faith and reason, spiritual consolation, parts work, subpersonalities, Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth, Scripture reflection, YouTube podcast, Father and Joe on YouTube

    24 min

  7. APR 7

    Father and Joe E456: Holy Thursday’s Altar of Repose — Letting Jesus Redeem Every Emotion

    Holy Thursday has a way of “breaking through” our usual routine—especially when the liturgy makes the silence loud. In this episode, Joe Rockey shares a vivid Holy Thursday experience: the deliberate movement of the Eucharist away from the main tabernacle to an altar of repose, the audible finality of doors closing, and how those sensory moments help us feel what’s coming—Gethsemane, abandonment, fear, and the Passion. Father Boniface Hicks explains the Church’s intent: Holy Thursday begins one long liturgy that stretches to the Easter Vigil. The Eucharist consecrated on Holy Thursday is the last new consecration until Easter; Good Friday has communion without a new consecration. The altar of repose represents the Garden of Gethsemane—often decorated like a garden—and invites the faithful to “stay awake” with Jesus in prayer, traditionally until midnight when the Blessed Sacrament is removed and hidden, symbolizing Jesus’ arrest and imprisonment. From there, the conversation turns deeply practical: prayer isn’t supposed to be one clean emotion. The apostles carried confusion, loyalty, fear, failure, and shame—yet Jesus still restores them, especially Peter. The takeaway is simple but demanding: nothing authentically human is excluded from redemption. If we don’t bring our real emotions to Jesus—discouragement, anger, sadness, anxiety, confusion—He won’t force His way in. But if we do, He can purify, perfect, and elevate all of it into communion with Him. Key Ideas Holy Thursday and Easter Vigil form a single arc: the last consecration happens on Holy Thursday until the Easter Vigil. The altar of repose symbolizes Gethsemane and invites disciples today to keep watch with Jesus. Local customs vary (even how “jarring” moments are expressed), but the aim is the same: participation that reaches beyond intellect into the heart. Don’t exile feelings: Jesus intends to redeem everything in us—only what we bring to Him can be healed. Peter’s restoration shows the pattern: Jesus meets us where we failed and rebuilds love, trust, and mission. Scripture Mentioned (no links) The Garden of Gethsemane accounts (stay awake / disciples sleeping) Peter’s denial and restoration (threefold denial / threefold confession imagery) Links & References (official/source only) None explicitly referenced with clear official/source URLs in this transcript. CTA: If this helped, please leave a review or share this episode with a friend. Questions or thoughts? Email FatherAndJoe@gmail.com  . Tags (comma-separated) Father and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, Holy Thursday, Good Thursday, Mass of the Lord’s Supper, altar of repose, tabernacle, Eucharist, Blessed Sacrament, consecration, communion service, Easter Vigil, Paschal Triduum, Garden of Gethsemane, stay awake with me, watch and pray, disciples, apostles, Peter, denial, restoration, charcoal fire, emotions in prayer, anxiety, fear, sadness, anger, disappointment, shame, redemption, healing, spiritual growth, liturgy, participation, Catholic tradition, seven churches, prayer walk, bilateral stimulation, Easter season, Resurrection appearances

    17 min

  8. MAR 31

    Father and Joe E455: Stop Waiting for the “Perfect Moment” — Holy Week as the Pattern of Time and the Training Ground of Love

    So many of us wait for the “perfect moment” to get serious about our relationship with God—when life is calmer, when we feel cleaner, when we’re more “ready.” This Holy Week episode challenges that myth. Joe Rockey and Father Boniface Hicks explain why Holy Week isn’t just a yearly event—it’s the pattern of all time, revealing God as relationship (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and inviting us into that communion of love right in the middle of real-life chaos, failure, and vulnerability. They walk through how the Church’s liturgies don’t merely remind us of the Paschal Mystery—they make it present so we can actually participate and be transformed. And they name a common obstacle: when things go wrong—conflicts, tech glitches, miscommunication, shame, weakness—we assume we should stay away until we’re “better.” Instead, those are precisely the places where love gets trained, where sin (missing the mark of love) gets healed, and where we learn to aim at what matters most: the perfection of love. Key Ideas Holy Week is the pattern of all time: every week echoes it (Thursday, Friday, Sunday), because God revealed Himself fully in it. God is relationship—an eternal communion of love—and Holy Week reveals the Father and the Son’s rescue mission for humanity through the Holy Spirit. The Church’s Holy Week liturgies lead us into these mysteries and make them present so we can participate, not just remember. The “perfect moment” is a trap: feelings of unworthiness, brokenness, and setbacks don’t disqualify you—they’re where love is practiced and healed. Aim matters: don’t aim life at money, popularity, pleasure, or control—submit those to the service of love. Scripture Mentioned (no links) John 1:1–18 (Prologue of John referenced) Passion themes referenced: betrayal, abandonment, endurance “like a lamb” imagery (implicit Passion/Isaiah language) Links & References (official/source only) None explicitly referenced with official/source URLs in this transcript. CTA: If this helped, please leave a review or share this episode with a friend. Questions or thoughts? Email FatherAndJoe@gmail.com  . Tags (comma-separated) Father and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, Holy Week, Paschal Triduum, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, Easter Sunday, Palm Sunday, Chrism Mass, confession, grace, redemption, resurrection, Passion of Christ, perfection of love, holiness, sin as missing the mark, vulnerability, unworthiness, shame, betrayal, forgiveness, communion of love, Trinity, Father Son Holy Spirit, relationship with God, relationship with self, relationship with others, liturgy, participation, spiritual growth, spiritual warfare, Satan hates Holy Week, division and misunderstandings, bringing burdens to Jesus, aiming at love, idols, money honor power pleasure, transformation, Catholic podcast, Father and Joe on YouTube

    22 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Father and Joe is a podcast series of a continuing conversation about struggles and successes of being close to God. Father Boniface provides spiritual direction through problems of daily life. According to statistics of the average American's church habits - We went to church when we were forced to but somewhere along the way, we drifted away. The ultimate goal of this podcast is to help us get back to church, regardless of what faith you hold, and create a stronger union with God.

Information

  • Creator
    Father Boniface Hicks and Joseph Rockey Jr
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    464
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Father and Joe
  • Show Website
    Father and Joe

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