Old St. Pat's Podcast

Old St. Patrick's Church, Father Bryan Massingale, Fr. Bryan Massingale
  • 5.0 (12)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Old St. Patrick's is a Roman Catholic community in Chicago's bustling West Loop neighborhood, founded by Irish Immigrants on Easter morning in 1846. Since then we have grown into a home to a membership of about 4,000 households and innumerable friends. As we grow, we continually redefine what it means to be an urban church. We are committed to remaining open to new visions and possibilities, seeking broader horizons as we journey into our future. We encourage you to encounter the God who loves you, engage in a community that welcomes you, and serve the world that needs you. This podcast aims to welcome all into a Catholic experience like no other. Welcome to the Old St. Pat's Podcast.

  1. 1D AGO

    Divine Empathy - Fr. Ed Foley 5.17.26

    Have you ever had the chance to care for someone? Maybe professionally as a nurse or doctor, or maybe in a personal way — caring for a sick child, helping a spouse recover after surgery, or supporting a bedridden friend. When someone is unable to care for themselves fully, you become their hands and feet. You bring the medicine, prepare the meals, offer comfort, run errands, and help them heal. Their well-being depends, in part, on your willingness to show up with love, compassion, and empathy. And often, the most healing part of care is not the task itself, but the feeling that someone truly sees your pain and is there for you. That is the power of empathy. It reminds us that we are not alone in our suffering. At the heart of the Ascension that we celebrated this past Sunday is this beautiful truth that Jesus does not leave humanity behind. Instead, He carries the full human experience — our grief, fear, heartbreak, joy, and hope — into the very heart of God. The Ascension is not about distance from humanity, but divine empathy embracing it forever. In many ways, that is exactly what the Feast of the Ascension asks of us. Jesus’ physical body is no longer here on earth. And so now, we are called to become His hands and feet, His voice, His compassion, and His presence in the world. We are the ones called to carry out acts of mercy, pursue justice, spread kindness, and remind people they are deeply loved by God — especially in moments when God can feel absent or far away. And imperfect as we are, we are the ones entrusted to continue His mission. So today Fr. Ed Foley reminds us that Jesus is counting on us to be His healing presence in the world.

    18 min

  2. 3D AGO

    Music Series: Only This I Want, I Will Be The Vine, I Am For You 5.17.26

    The Old St. Pat's Music Series Is Brought To You By The Old St. Pat's Choir The featured songs today are: Only This I Want I Will Be The Vine I Am For You

    11 min

  3. MAY 12

    Bloom & Grow Forever - Maura Keller 5.11.26

    At first glance, The Sound of Music is a musical filled with singing children, rolling hills, and catchy songs. But underneath it all is something much deeper: a story about choosing strength in difficult times…having the integrity & moral courage to do what’s right…creating beauty in the middle of fear… and building a home filled with love in a world that feels uncertain. And maybe that’s why the story continues to resonate so deeply today. Because many people are carrying a sense of heaviness right now — politically, socially, and spiritually — as so much about the future feels uncertain. But today’s message reminds us that hope is still stronger than fear. And perhaps one of the clearest places we learn that lesson is through the people who raised us, cared for us, protected us, and loved us unconditionally. Long before we fully understood faith or resilience, many of us first experienced them through the quiet witness of a mother’s love — a love that kept showing up, kept believing, kept nurturing, even in uncertain times. That’s why Motherhood becomes more than parenting. It becomes a reflection of God’s nurturing love — the choice to keep creating beauty, tenderness, safety, and hope even when the world feels divided, anxious, or heavy. Not hope as wishful thinking but hope as a daily spiritual practice. Because sometimes the most powerful witness to God isn’t found in grand gestures — it’s found in ordinary acts of care that quietly tell someone: “You are loved. You are safe. You belong here.” So today, Maura Keller shares a beautiful witness about motherhood and reminds us that even in a fractured world, ordinary acts of love can become sacred acts of hope… and that, with God, hope and goodness can still bloom and grow forever.

    18 min

  4. MAY 5

    What Happens When You Stop Holding Back Love - Fr. Paul Novak 5.3.26

    What happens when you stop holding back love? Have you ever caught yourself doing it—holding back just a little? Not saying the kind thing. Not reaching out. Not fully showing how much you care… because somewhere in the back of your mind, there’s that quiet thought: What if I get hurt? It’s a natural instinct. We protect ourselves. We think if we keep some distance—if we don’t give too much—then maybe we won’t feel the sting of rejection, loss, or disappointment. But what if holding back love doesn’t actually protect us? What if it slowly does the opposite? Because love isn’t meant to be stored away. It’s meant to move. In a way, love is like breathing. We’re meant to breathe in… and breathe out. Receive… and give. If we only receive love but never give it, something feels off and we are disconnected. And if we only give love but never allow ourselves to receive it, we become drained, exhausted, and feel like we’re running on empty. A healthy life is a balance of giving and receiving. When we live that way—when we stop holding back—love doesn’t disappear. It multiplies. Because when love is poured out, it has a way of coming back—in ways more abundant, more beautiful, and more meaningful than we could ever expect. So maybe the real question isn’t: What if I get hurt? Maybe it’s: What might happen… if you didn’t hold back? Today, Father Novak shares the story of a life well lived—a life where love was given freely and received fully - a life that shows us we don’t have to be afraid to love boldly.

    15 min

  5. MAY 3

    Music Episode: Sing A New Church, Holy Spirit We're Calling You, Ever We Praise You 5.3.26

    The Old St. Pat's Music Series Is Brought To You By The Old St. Pat's Choir The featured songs today are: Sing A New Church Holy Spirit, We're Calling You Ever We Praise You

    9 min

  6. APR 28

    Love Who You Are: Trust What’s Within You - Fr. Paul Novak 4.26.26- Fr. Paul Novak 4.26.26

    Do you ever wonder why your dreams are what they are? Why certain goals have always stayed with you… even when they don’t quite make sense? Why you’re drawn to certain subjects or certain activities? Sometimes those desires can feel foolish, maybe even impractical… or even a little childish. And you may dismissed them, thinking they won’t lead anywhere, won’t make a difference or won’t make any money. And maybe these dreams just keep coming back—and you’re not sure why. We all carry desires, hopes, and expectations—and they’re not random. They’re rooted in who we are. And yet, it’s easy to compare. To look at others and wonder if you should be different. To question your personality… your interests… your path. To feel like you don’t quite fit the mold the world seems to reward. But what if the very things you question… are the very things that matter most? Because at the heart of today’s message is this simple truth: Jesus loves who you are. And those desires in your heart? They’re not accidents. They’re invitations.Invitations to grow. To become. To discover how your life can be a gift—not just for yourself, but for others. Today, Father Paul Novak reminds us that Jesus wants to guide you, to nurture you, to help you grow in love and purpose so that what’s been placed within you can be shared with the world.

    15 min

  7. APR 26

    Music Episode: Healing Time On Earth, Love Is the Boat, Hope Will Not Fail 4.26.26

    The Old St. Pat's Music Series Is Brought To You By The Old St. Pat's Choir The featured songs today are: Healing Time on Earth Love Is the Boat Hope Will Not Fail

    11 min

  8. APR 21

    Jesus Was Added to the Chat - Fr. Pat McGrath 4.19.26

    Have you ever had a time when you were casually messaging with a coworker online, typing whatever came to mind—and then suddenly you saw the notification: “Your boss was added to the chat”… along with the entire chat history!? Your heart dropped. You started scrolling up to see everything you said—every complaint, every offhand comment—and you thought, If I had only known my boss would see this, I might have spoken a little differently. In a way, that moment reveals something important. It makes you more aware of your words, tone, and of what you’re really saying. Now imagine Jesus walking beside you and asking a simple question: “What are you talking about?” How would that change your conversation? Think about your texts threads, emails, and phone calls. What do you tend to focus on with friends, with family, and even within your own mind? Where is your energy going? Is the conversation of your life simply reflecting the noise of the world or is it rooted in something deeper—something God might be inviting you to see, to wrestle with, to become? This past week, Pope Leo called for dialogue and peace in a world marked by conflict. And at its core, peace begins with conversation—honest, courageous, compassionate conversation. Not just on the global stage, but in our everyday lives. In our homes. In our relationships. Even in the quiet conversations we have with ourselves. Because dialogue has the power to move us from division to understanding, from reaction to reflection, from war to peace. So today, Father Pat McGrath invites us to do something simple, but not easy: to change the conversation of our lives.

    18 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Old St. Patrick's is a Roman Catholic community in Chicago's bustling West Loop neighborhood, founded by Irish Immigrants on Easter morning in 1846. Since then we have grown into a home to a membership of about 4,000 households and innumerable friends. As we grow, we continually redefine what it means to be an urban church. We are committed to remaining open to new visions and possibilities, seeking broader horizons as we journey into our future. We encourage you to encounter the God who loves you, engage in a community that welcomes you, and serve the world that needs you. This podcast aims to welcome all into a Catholic experience like no other. Welcome to the Old St. Pat's Podcast.

Information

  • Creator
    Old St. Patrick's Church, Father Bryan Massingale, Fr. Bryan Massingale
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    600
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2019 Old St. Patrick's Church
  • Show Website
    Old St. Pat's Podcast

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