The Cassandra Blanco Podcast

Cassandra Blanco

Join Cassandra Blanco for conversations with others related to/through the lens of the Catholic faith. 

  1. JAN 12

    Risking Your Life as a Priest in Nigeria | Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch Episode 67

    Send us a text Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke is a Catholic priest of the Schoenstatt Fathers Community in Nigeria. He discerned his vocation to the priesthood at a young age and was formed within the Schoenstatt spirituality, which emphasizes covenant love with God, Marian devotion, and apostolic zeal. Through years of philosophical, theological, and pastoral formation both within and outside Nigeria, he came to appreciate the priesthood not merely as a ministry, but as a life totally given to God and His people. He was ordained a priest in 2019. As a priest, he have been involved in pastoral ministry, preaching, teaching, spiritual accompaniment, and administrative responsibilities. He currently serve as the bursar of my religious congregation, where he am engaged in financial stewardship, institutional development, and the promotion of sustainable structures for mission and formation. He is also actively involved in online evangelism aimed at helping people connect faith with daily life. Schoenstatt Fathers Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GpLuUU657/ Fr. Ugochukwu's X Handle & YouTube page:  @FrUgochukwu   Timestamps:  0:00- Introduction 1:15- Fr. Ugochukwu’s Journey to Becoming a Priest 6:17- More about Fr.’s Religious Community, Secular Institute of the Schoenstatt Fathers 10:15- Fr. Ugochukwu’s Daily Work 12:50- Religious Make-Up of Southwestern Nigeria and Ibadan 16:17- Priests & Seminarians Being Kidnapped & Killed  20:50- The root issue is violence for the purpose of Islamic Conquest  22:43- Muslims Are Not Calling Out the Terrorists  24:22- CAN (The Christian Association of Nigeria) & Catholic Leadership Can Be Doing More, Including Dialogue with the Government 27:22- Christian Genocide Should Be Discussed by Nigerian Parliament  30:39- Fr. Ugochukwu is Vocation’s Director  31:40- Nigeria’s Christians Have Strong Faith  34:19- Where to Find Fr. Ugochukwu &  Schoenstatt on Social Media 36:50 Outro If You Would Like to Support My Work:  https://www.cassandrablanco.com/support-my-work On Social Media:  X: https://x.com/CassandraMTB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassandramtb Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CassandraBlanco Music by Oleksii Holubiev

    37 min
  2. 11/17/2025

    Life as a Priest in Ghana, West Africa | Fr. Peter Akomanyi | Episode 64

    Send us a text Fr. Peter Akomanyi Tawiah is a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Damongo. Savannah Region - Ghana, West - Africa. He was ordained a priest in June 2022. His first assignment was a Parochial Vicar is St. Peter's Catholic Church, Lingbinsi - Daboya and his second appointment was to St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, Canteen - Damongo as a Parochial Vicar and Youth Chaplain. Fr. Peter ministers in St. Anne’s Hospital Damongo as Chaplain.  Much of his ministry is spent in serving most especially the deep rural stations of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, the poor and vulnerable, promoting devotion to praying the Holy Rosary, the Youth and those interested in becoming Catholic through the Sacrament of Christian Initiation.  His zeal for such an area of primary evangelization, is to ensure the spreading of the Word of God to a people who are still largely not Christianized. So he considers the work of evangelization and promotion of human development as my main call to mission in this part of the country (Canteen- Damongo, Ghana). Fr. Peter’s X account: @FrPeterAkomanyi Timestamps:  0:00- Introduction 2:05- History of Ghana from Last 100 Years  6:30- Geography & Languages of Ghana 8:24- Religious Make-Up of Ghana, Mostly Christian 13:27- Small Christian Communities 14:46- Fr. Peter’s Journey to Become a Priest 24:02- Fr. Peter’s Home Village 25:52- Church Structures Continue Being Built 27:25- Fr. Peter’s Daily Life 31:59- Africa Will Hold the Fort of Catholic Faith 35:04- Fr. Peter’s Social Media Accounts 35:45- Outro If You Would Like to Support My Work:  https://www.cassandrablanco.com/support-my-work On Social Media:  X: https://x.com/CassandraMTB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassandramtb Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CassandraBlanco Fr. Peter’s Website: https://annunciationdailyrosaryreflection.com/ Find the full audio show on all audio streaming platforms:  - Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cassandra-blanco-podcast/id1758743495 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QpMxARGhoLDSZTkLTZyVk?si=c7b2fea59a89426e Music by Oleksii Holubiev

    36 min
  3. 11/10/2025

    Nigeria Designated as Country of Particular Concern with Zariyi Yusuf | Episode 63

    Send us a text Zariyi Yusuf is a Christian from Nigeria's Middle Belt. He is an advocate for justice and a political analyst and teaches Pharmacognosy and Phototherapy at Veritas University. He is also works as a Freelance Translation Consultant. Zariyi reaches out to Christian communities affected by attacks from Islamic Jihadist Militia in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria to assess the situation and raise awareness for support. Timestamps:  0:00- Introduction 1:29- Zariyi’s Response to Nigeria Being Designated as a Country of Particular Concern 6:17- CPC Means Nigerian Government Will Be Held Accountable  8:14- Zariyi’s Response to Trump Threatening Military Action in Nigeria  14:37-Why Christians Have Not or Been Unable to Fight Back Against Jihadists 20:14- Nigerians Cannot Own Guns 21:35- Christian Leaders Response to CPC Designation: Silent on Genocide 24:37- Muslim Leaders Response to CPC Designation: Denial of Genocide 30:55- Zariyi Social Media & Way to Support Nigerians in Middle Belt  32:57- December 6th Livestream  33:45- Outro If You Would Like to Support My Work:  https://www.cassandrablanco.com/support-my-work On Social Media:  X: https://x.com/CassandraMTB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassandramtb Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CassandraBlanco Find the full audio show on all audio streaming platforms:  - Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cassandra-blanco-podcast/id1758743495 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QpMxARGhoLDSZTkLTZyVk?si=c7b2fea59a89426e Music by Oleksii Holubiev

    34 min
  4. 10/20/2025

    Nigeria’s Christian Genocide Needs to Be Stopped | Zayiri Yusuf | Episode 60

    Send us a text Zariyi Yusuf is a Christian from Nigeria's Middle Belt. He is an advocate for justice and a political analyst and teaches Pharmacognosy and Phototherapy at Veritas University. He is also works as a Freelance Translation Consultant. Zariyi reaches out to Christian communities affected by attacks from Islamic Jihadist Militia in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria to assess the situation and raise awareness for support. Timestamps: 0:00- Introduction 3:41- Intent of Muslims to Implement a Caliphate 11:24- Muslims also Targeted by Jihadists, but it’s a Christian Genocide 14:03- Jihadists Kill for Resources  15:34- Christian Religious/Government Officials Not Speaking Up 21:25- Nigerian Government Complicity  26:50- Why Nigerian Government is Publicly Denying Christian Genocide 31:07- What USA/Western Governments Can Do to Stop Genocide 33:14- Nigeria’s Politicians Need to Be Honest & Be Held to Account 36:22- Rwanda Genocide Comparison  39:33- Bishop Wilfred’s Testimony About Islamic Expansion 43:02- Only Few Christian Leaders Who Speak Truth 45:18- Christian Genocide Has Been Documented for Long Time 47:53- Zayiri’s Social Media Accounts 48:44- Outro  If You Would Like to Support My Work:  https://www.cassandrablanco.com/support-my-work On Social Media:  X: https://x.com/CassandraMTB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassandramtb Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CassandraBlanco Find the full audio show on all audio streaming platforms:  - Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cassandra-blanco-podcast/id1758743495 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QpMxARGhoLDSZTkLTZyVk?si=c7b2fea59a89426e Music by Oleksii Holubiev

    49 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Join Cassandra Blanco for conversations with others related to/through the lens of the Catholic faith.