Open Seat: A Holy Family Podcast

Holy Family Adrian
  • 4.7 (12)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Open Seat, the podcast where we create a space for authentic conversations about faith—unfiltered and unapologetic. With each episode, we invite guests from all walks of life to share their personal journeys, struggles, and revelations moments of doubt, discovery, and everything in between. Here, we believe that every story matters, and in the open seat, there’s room for honesty, vulnerability, and community. Whether you’re questioning, seeking, or steadfast in your beliefs, you’ll find something relatable in these heartfelt discussions. So grab your seat, get comfortable, and let’s dive in to today’s story here - at the Open Seat.

  1. 5D AGO

    Finding the Way Home with Kelly Reed

    Send a text In this episode of Open Seat, we welcome Kelly Reed, a wife of 42 years, mother of two, grandmother of two, choir member, lector, and catechist at Holy Family Parish. Kelly shares her powerful faith journey — from being raised Catholic, to leaving the Church for many years, to eventually returning home to the Eucharist. She opens up about: What led her and her husband away from the Catholic ChurchThe quiet longing she always felt for the sacramentsThe role of confession in her returnThe impact of her parents’ faithful, daily prayer lifeNavigating faith struggles within her familyThe beauty of coming back stronger in convictionKelly also reflects on the power of prayer, inspired by her parents’ devotion and example of a constant and enduring prayer life.  Sometimes we have to leave to fully appreciate what we had all along — and that God’s grace patiently waits for our return. 💬 Final Reflection Question: Who or what situation do I need to bring to prayer? If you or someone you love is questioning, wandering, or returning to the faith, this episode offers encouragement, hope, and reassurance that no journey is wasted in God’s hands. Pull up a seat and listen in. Support the show This is a podcast of Holy Family Parish, located in Adrian MI. We are a Catholic people, not a place, striving to Live Jesus through celebrating the sacraments and forming disciples in Adrian and beyond. www.HolyFamilyAdrian.org Instagram: Instagram.com/holyfamilyadrian Facebook: Facebook.com/adrianCatholic YouTube: www.youtube.com/@holyfamilyadrian Open Seat es un podcast Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia ubicada en Adrian, Michigan. Somos un pueblo católico, no un lugar, que se esfuerza por vivir a Jesús celebrando los sacramentos y formando discípulos en Adrian y más allá.

    18 min
  2. Living Jesus Everyday with Connie Kingsley

    FEB 6

    Living Jesus Everyday with Connie Kingsley

    Send us a text In this episode of Open Seat, Connie Kingsley shares how Salesian spirituality has transformed the way she lives her faith in everyday life. From her journey into the Catholic Church to discovering the call to “Live Jesus,” Connie reflects on how prayer, the virtues, and a deep personal relationship with Christ have shaped her heart, her family life, and her service to others. She speaks about learning to love more intentionally, letting go of perfectionism, and finding grace in the ordinary moments. Through her story, we see how staying connected to the Vine through prayer, the Eucharist, and daily devotion can bring peace, healing, and purpose, even in a broken world. This conversation is a powerful witness to how small acts of love, faithfulness, and virtue can lead to a life changed from the inside out. Support the show This is a podcast of Holy Family Parish, located in Adrian MI. We are a Catholic people, not a place, striving to Live Jesus through celebrating the sacraments and forming disciples in Adrian and beyond. www.HolyFamilyAdrian.org Instagram: Instagram.com/holyfamilyadrian Facebook: Facebook.com/adrianCatholic YouTube: www.youtube.com/@holyfamilyadrian Open Seat es un podcast Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia ubicada en Adrian, Michigan. Somos un pueblo católico, no un lugar, que se esfuerza por vivir a Jesús celebrando los sacramentos y formando discípulos en Adrian y más allá.

    27 min
  3. The Courage to Leave: Stephanie Jimenez's Journey of Faith and Freedom

    JAN 23

    The Courage to Leave: Stephanie Jimenez's Journey of Faith and Freedom

    Send us a text In this episode of Open Seat, Stephanie Jimenez courageously shares her journey through doubt, anxiety, and an emotionally harmful relationship—and the faith that ultimately gave her the strength to leave. Raised in the Catholic Church, Stephanie reflects on moments when she questioned God, felt overwhelmed by fear, and struggled to believe she was worthy of love. Through prayer, family support, and grace she didn’t always recognize in the moment, she discovered that leaving was not a failure—but an act of faith. This is a story about: • The courage to leave when it feels impossible • Faith that waits patiently through doubt • Healing from emotional harm • Learning gratitude on the other side of pain Whether you are questioning, healing, or learning to trust again, Stephanie’s story reminds us that God never lets go—and that courage often begins with a single prayer. Open Seat is a space for authentic conversations about faith, unfiltered and unapologetic. Wherever you find an open seat in your life, we invite you to pull up a chair and listen. 🕊️ Is there a difficult season God brought you through that you need to thank Him for? Support the show This is a podcast of Holy Family Parish, located in Adrian MI. We are a Catholic people, not a place, striving to Live Jesus through celebrating the sacraments and forming disciples in Adrian and beyond. www.HolyFamilyAdrian.org Instagram: Instagram.com/holyfamilyadrian Facebook: Facebook.com/adrianCatholic YouTube: www.youtube.com/@holyfamilyadrian Open Seat es un podcast Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia ubicada en Adrian, Michigan. Somos un pueblo católico, no un lugar, que se esfuerza por vivir a Jesús celebrando los sacramentos y formando discípulos en Adrian y más allá.

    22 min

  4. JAN 9

    From Cancer to Catholic: Rick Cox’s Journey to Baptism

    Send us a text In this powerful episode of Open Seat, we welcome Rick Cox, a parishioner whose journey to the Catholic faith is marked by resilience, grace, and an unshakable desire for God. Rick shares how a cancer diagnosis unexpectedly led him to church for the first time—not out of obligation, but through a simple act of friendship. What began as accompaniment soon became a calling. With no religious upbringing and no intention of becoming Catholic, Rick found something he never expected: a family. As he walked through OCIA, Rick faced serious medical complications, including major surgery just weeks before the Easter Vigil. Yet even in moments where death was a real possibility, his deepest desire remained clear—baptism. Rick recounts a profound hospital experience that he believes involved his guardian angel, a moment that strengthened his faith at its most fragile point. Now two years Catholic, Rick reflects on how faith has transformed his outlook on life, deepened his compassion, and led him to serve others—especially fellow veterans. From greeting parishioners at Mass to listening to those who need someone to lean on, Rick embodies what it means to live faith through presence and love. This episode invites listeners to reflect on a simple but challenging question: What do you desire of God in your life? Pull up a seat—Rick’s story is one you won’t forget. Support the show This is a podcast of Holy Family Parish, located in Adrian MI. We are a Catholic people, not a place, striving to Live Jesus through celebrating the sacraments and forming disciples in Adrian and beyond. www.HolyFamilyAdrian.org Instagram: Instagram.com/holyfamilyadrian Facebook: Facebook.com/adrianCatholic YouTube: www.youtube.com/@holyfamilyadrian Open Seat es un podcast Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia ubicada en Adrian, Michigan. Somos un pueblo católico, no un lugar, que se esfuerza por vivir a Jesús celebrando los sacramentos y formando discípulos en Adrian y más allá.

    22 min

  5. 12/26/2025

    Who is Your Neighbor? A Conversation with Bill Fetzer.

    Send us a text In this episode of Open Seat, we welcome Bill Fetzer, a lifelong parishioner, husband, father, grandfather, and neighbor whose story is rooted in faith, hard work, and treating others with dignity. From growing up in Adrian and playing baseball as a young man, to building a career through perseverance and integrity, Bill shares lessons learned through decades of work, family life, and service to the Church. Bill reflects on leadership, loss, love, and resilience — including the profound impact of his wife Rose, the pride he has in his children and grandchildren, and the importance of showing up for others, even in life’s hardest moments. His simple yet powerful advice — “Treat other people the way you want to be treated” — weaves through every part of his story. As you listen, we invite you to reflect: Who is your neighbor, and how do you act as a neighbor? Support the show This is a podcast of Holy Family Parish, located in Adrian MI. We are a Catholic people, not a place, striving to Live Jesus through celebrating the sacraments and forming disciples in Adrian and beyond. www.HolyFamilyAdrian.org Instagram: Instagram.com/holyfamilyadrian Facebook: Facebook.com/adrianCatholic YouTube: www.youtube.com/@holyfamilyadrian Open Seat es un podcast Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia ubicada en Adrian, Michigan. Somos un pueblo católico, no un lugar, que se esfuerza por vivir a Jesús celebrando los sacramentos y formando discípulos en Adrian y más allá.

    23 min

  6. 12/12/2025

    Hot Seat Answering Your Church Questions

    Send us a text The heat is definitely turned up in this episode of the Hot Seat as we welcome back Father Michael Newman, OSFS,  for an honest, thoughtful, and wide-ranging conversation on questions you submitted, and quite possible some of our most challenging questions yet!  Topics include: •How to respond to claims that the Church excludes people, especially those who are LGBTQ+  • Why can't there be women priests? •What Eucharistic ministers should say when someone approaches with arms crossed • When and why we bow (or don’t) during Mass • The purpose and value of spiritual direction—and who it’s for Grounded in Church teaching and experiences, we  invite listeners into a deeper understanding rather than easy answers. May we continue to walk together where Christ leads us. Want another episode of Hot Seat? Submit a Question by emailing us at podcast@holyfamilyadrian.org or go to HolyFamilyAdrian.org/Podcast . Support the show This is a podcast of Holy Family Parish, located in Adrian MI. We are a Catholic people, not a place, striving to Live Jesus through celebrating the sacraments and forming disciples in Adrian and beyond. www.HolyFamilyAdrian.org Instagram: Instagram.com/holyfamilyadrian Facebook: Facebook.com/adrianCatholic YouTube: www.youtube.com/@holyfamilyadrian Open Seat es un podcast Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia ubicada en Adrian, Michigan. Somos un pueblo católico, no un lugar, que se esfuerza por vivir a Jesús celebrando los sacramentos y formando discípulos en Adrian y más allá.

    43 min

  7. 11/28/2025

    Episode 42: Multicultural Advent with Our Lady of Guadalupe

    Send us a text In this special episode of Open Seat, we welcome Rocio Vazquez from the Guadalupe Society for a conversation on the beauty, history, and living traditions of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Advent season at our Parish. Rocio shares the meaning behind the Novena, Mañanitas, the Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day, and other Hispanic cultural practices that prepare our hearts for Jesus’ birth, including Las Posadas, gift giving and Baby Jesus!  The purpose of this episode is also to extend an invitation to the events going on at our parish. If you would like more information on where and when these events take place, please visit our website: https://holyfamilyadrian.org/advent-christmas Support the show This is a podcast of Holy Family Parish, located in Adrian MI. We are a Catholic people, not a place, striving to Live Jesus through celebrating the sacraments and forming disciples in Adrian and beyond. www.HolyFamilyAdrian.org Instagram: Instagram.com/holyfamilyadrian Facebook: Facebook.com/adrianCatholic YouTube: www.youtube.com/@holyfamilyadrian Open Seat es un podcast Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia ubicada en Adrian, Michigan. Somos un pueblo católico, no un lugar, que se esfuerza por vivir a Jesús celebrando los sacramentos y formando discípulos en Adrian y más allá.

    30 min

  8. 11/14/2025

    A Double Dominican's Path to Hope With Sr. Xiomara Méndez Hernández

    Send us a text In this heartfelt episode of Open Seat, we welcome Sister Xiomara Méndez Hernández, OP — a proud “Double Dominican,” born in the Dominican Republic and now an Adrian Dominican Sister. Her story is one of faith, courage, and hope that transcends borders. From fashion designer in Santo Domingo to hospital chaplain in Chicago and now Executive Director of the Dominican Sisters Conference, Sister Xiomara shares her remarkable journey of listening to God’s call — even when it led her from warm island life to the cold of Alaska! Together, we explore: • How to live as a presence of hope in uncertain times • The power of connection, compassion, and authentic relationships amidst a lonely world • Why responding ,not reacting , can change how we live and love Her reflections on faith, loneliness, and love remind us all that hope is not lost,  it’s found in the everyday ways we show up for one another. So pull up a seat and join the conversation as we learn how to breathe, connect, and be a light in the world. Support the show This is a podcast of Holy Family Parish, located in Adrian MI. We are a Catholic people, not a place, striving to Live Jesus through celebrating the sacraments and forming disciples in Adrian and beyond. www.HolyFamilyAdrian.org Instagram: Instagram.com/holyfamilyadrian Facebook: Facebook.com/adrianCatholic YouTube: www.youtube.com/@holyfamilyadrian Open Seat es un podcast Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia ubicada en Adrian, Michigan. Somos un pueblo católico, no un lugar, que se esfuerza por vivir a Jesús celebrando los sacramentos y formando discípulos en Adrian y más allá.

    22 min
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4.7
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About

Welcome to Open Seat, the podcast where we create a space for authentic conversations about faith—unfiltered and unapologetic. With each episode, we invite guests from all walks of life to share their personal journeys, struggles, and revelations moments of doubt, discovery, and everything in between. Here, we believe that every story matters, and in the open seat, there’s room for honesty, vulnerability, and community. Whether you’re questioning, seeking, or steadfast in your beliefs, you’ll find something relatable in these heartfelt discussions. So grab your seat, get comfortable, and let’s dive in to today’s story here - at the Open Seat.

Information

  • Creator
    Holy Family Adrian
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Open Seat: A Holy Family Podcast
  • Show Website
    Open Seat: A Holy Family Podcast