Old St. Pat's Podcast

Old St. Patrick's Church, Father Bryan Massingale, Fr. Bryan Massingale
  • 5.0 (14)
  • 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

    When We Stop Trying So Hard - Fr. Michael Simone 8.23.26

    Have you ever had one of those days that you planned down to the last detail? You picked the right restaurant, made sure everyone could make it, and thought through the logistics, the timing, the weather—you even knew what topics of conversation you wanted to bring up…everything that needed to line up for the day to be fun. And then… somehow, it just wasn’t. And then there are those other days. You get a good night’s sleep. You eat a good meal. You meet up with friends. You have a general understanding of the structure of the day but you don’t have much of an agenda. You just let the day unfold—and somehow, you end up laughing harder, feeling more connected, and having way more fun than you ever could have planned. You created space for joy, spontaneity, and connection—and fun became the byproduct. In some ways, spirituality works a lot like that. Sometimes we think we have to figure everything out. We have to pray the right way, understand the right things, have the perfect relationship with God, or somehow make ourselves more spiritual. But what if we don't have to force it? What if our job is simply to create space for God—and then let God do what God does? Prayer. Meditation. Honest reflection. Simply paying attention to what’s happening inside of us. These things don't necessarily produce some immediate, dramatic spiritual breakthrough. But they create the conditions for something to grow. And sometimes, when we stop trying so hard to make something happen, we discover that God has been working all along. Today, Father Michael Simone reminds us that wherever we are on our spiritual journey, we don't have to have it all figured out.

  2. 3d ago

    Music Series: Con Te Partirò, Holy Is Your Name, The Prayer (Instrumental) 8.23.26

    The Old St. Pat's Music Series Is Brought To You By The Old St. Pat's Choir The featured songs today are listed below and sung by Michael St. Peter: Con Te Partirò Holy Is Your Name The Prayer (Instrumental)

  3. Aug 18

    May the Road Rise to Meet Us - Fr. Tom Hurley 8.16.26

    On a trip, it’s fun to have a good travel companion. Someone who makes the load feel a little lighter—physically and mentally. Someone who makes a playlist for the long drive, can laugh when plans change, and goes with the flow when the road takes an unexpected turn. Someone who handles the tired, stressful days with patience and grace. Someone who sees the best in you and somehow brings out the best in you, too. Because every good trip has its obstacles—wrong turns, delays, traffic, bad weather, and those moments when you wonder, Are we ever going to get there? And when those moments come, it helps to have someone beside you who says, Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out. We’re in this together. Life is much like a long journey. Thankfully, we don’t have to travel it alone. We have our families, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and classmates—people who become our travel companions along the way. They’re the people who love us when we’re tired, overwhelmed, emotional, or simply having a bad day. They make an ordinary Tuesday a little more fun and bring some color to the days that feel gray. God knows this journey can be difficult, which is why he gives us one another. He doesn’t expect us to navigate every narrow, winding road of life by ourselves. We may look different. We may think differently. We may come from different places and have very different stories. But we are all traveling the same road. We are part of the same human family. So today, Father Tom Hurley asks us to reflect on what kind of travel companion we are—and reminds us that we can slow down, make room for one another, and trust that together, we can work this out.

  4. Aug 16

    Music Series: Every Word & Every Breath, Christ Has No Body Now, I Am For You 8.16.26

    The Old St. Pat's Music Series Is Brought To You By The Old St. Pat's Choir The featured songs today are: Every Word & Every Breath Christ Has No Body Now I Am For You

  5. Aug 11

    The Story of You and God - Fr. Pat McGrath 8.9.26

    Every great story has a main character, a beginning, an arc, unexpected turns, moments of struggle, and moments that change everything. But what if you thought about your own faith that way? If you were to tell the story of your relationship with God, what would it sound like? When in your life has God felt especially close? When have you wondered where God was—or questioned whether God was there at all, or have been mad at God? Who are the people who helped you recognize God's presence? And what experiences opened your heart to something bigger, deeper, or more meaningful? Faith is a lot like friendship. The longer we know someone, the more we can look back and see the moments that shaped the relationship—the conversations, the challenges, the unexpected encounters, and the people who helped bring us closer together. Our relationship with God has a story, too. Today, Father Pat McGrath invites us to reflect on that story—to look back at the ways God has been present throughout our lives and to recognize that faith isn't simply what we believe today. It's a relationship that has been unfolding all along.

  6. Aug 9

    Music Series: Gathered As One, Broken for the Broken, At The Table of Jesus 8.9.26

    The Old St. Pat's Music Series Is Brought To You By The Old St. Pat's Choir The featured songs today are: Gathered As One Broken for the Broken I Am The Bread of Life! At the Table of Jesus

  7. Aug 4

    Rest to Renew - Fr. Pat McGrath 8.2.26

    Summer is often a season that invites us to slow down. Whether you're taking a vacation, enjoying a staycation, relaxing by the neighborhood pool, or simply spending a quiet evening on the porch, this time of year reminds us that rest isn't a luxury—it's something we all need before we go back to school or work. In today's Gospel, Jesus shows us that even he needed to step away from the crowds. After hearing the heartbreaking news of John the Baptist's death, he withdrew to a quiet place to pray before returning to continue his mission. That time of solitude wasn't an escape from the work ahead—it was what renewed him with the compassion, strength, and purpose to keep going. In today's homily, Father Pat McGrath reminds us that we're called to do the same. When we intentionally step away from the noise and distractions of daily life, we create space to hear God's voice more clearly. It's in those moments of prayer and quiet that God renews us, so we can return to our families, workplaces, and communities with hearts ready to love and serve others.

  8. Jul 28

    What Has Your Attention? - Fr. Pat McGrath, SJ 7.26.26

    What's been occupying your mind these past few weeks? Is it your career? A relationship? A dream you've been putting off? Or maybe a worry or fear you can't seem to shake. What we consistently give our attention to slowly shapes the people we become. Some things energize us and bring a quiet sense of purpose, even when they're challenging. Other things quietly drain us. They keep us stuck in cycles of anxiety, comparison, busyness, or the constant pressure to prove ourselves, pulling us further from the life we were created to live. One of the signs we're moving in the direction God is calling us is that, even amid hard work, there's a deeper sense of peace. We begin to see the fruits of our efforts. But when we're investing our energy in things that aren't truly ours to carry, we often feel restless, exhausted, and stuck. And sometimes the hardest step is letting go of what's familiar—even when we know it's no longer serving us—because the unknown can feel frightening. Today, Father Pat McGrath invites us to pay attention to what has captured our hearts and gives us the courage to reorient our lives toward what God is calling us to do.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
14 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