Modern Catholic Family

Jim Schubert
  • 5.0 (17)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Modern Catholic Family empowers families to anchor in the fullness of Catholic living. It is the only platform designed specifically for Catholic families, offering guidance and community that unite the ancient wisdom of the Catholic Church with the dynamic needs of today’s family.

  1. Catholic Finishing School: Forming Young Ladies for Heaven and Earth

    4d ago

    Catholic Finishing School: Forming Young Ladies for Heaven and Earth

    Send us Fan Mail The teenage years are a critical window for forming young women in virtue, confidence, and a deep Catholic identity. Jim and Meghan sit down with Chantal Howard, Catholic entrepreneur, coach, and mother of seven, to explore how a faith-centered program called Catholic Finishing School is equipping daughters to navigate girlhood with grace and courage. Drawing from over a decade of coaching women and raising five daughters of her own, Chantal shares how this work was born straight from her own motherhood and the needs she saw in young women around her. With warmth and authenticity, she invites parents and daughters into a mission that forms young women not just for the world but for heaven. What’s in this episode: Why the teenage years are the critical formation window for young womenHow Catholic Finishing School helps girls build identity, virtue, and confidenceThe practical skills Catholic girls need: friendships, communication, and presenceThe program structure: self-study lessons, a workbook, and live group coaching callsCommon challenges facing young girls: social awkwardness and a fixed mindsetA 10-day mother-daughter pilgrimage to Brittany, France in the worksThe saints who anchor the pilgrimage: Therese, Michael, and Joan of ArcStories of fruit: girls finding community, healing friendships, and feeling seenOne resource every Catholic family should know: Catholic Finishing School and Aroma RosaryBook she is currently reading: Peace of Soul by Archbishop Fulton SheenAdvice to her younger self: Stop telling yourself you are close but not quiteFinal wisdom for listeners: Embrace full formation on every level and be merciful to yourself and others Resources Mentioned: Catholic Finishing School – Faith-centered self-study course and formation program for Catholic girls ages 14-19 Chantal Howard’s Website – Chantal's personal website with marriage retreats, resources, and updates Aroma Rosary – Handcrafted rosaries designed to diffuse essential oils and help families fall in love with the Rosary Peace of Soul by Archbishop Fulton Sheen – A spiritual classic currently at Chantal's side as she works on a manuscript about suffering Looking for meaningful ways to deepen your family’s connection with God outside of Sunday Mass? Download our free guide to discover 10 practical and fun faith-based activities that will bring your family closer to Christ—no matter how busy life gets. From sharing gratitude at the dinner table to watching faith-filled media together, these ideas make living your faith easy and enjoyable.

    41 min
  2. Ordering Love

    May 26

    Ordering Love

    Send us Fan Mail What would change in your family if every relationship were ordered toward God first? Jim and Meghan welcome Sarah McKenzie, a registered therapeutic counselor and mother of eight from British Columbia, Canada, to explore the Augustinian concept of "ordering love" and its surprising power for modern families. Drawing from St. Thomas Aquinas and her own clinical practice, Sarah offers a grace-filled look at how disordered relationships quietly undermine our homes and how faith-integrated healing can restore them. This conversation speaks directly to every Catholic family longing for clarity, connection, and Christ at the center. What’s in this episode: The concept of ordering love and what it means for every familyWhy faith-integrated counseling addresses what secular approaches often missThe bullseye exercise Sarah uses to reveal disordered relationshipsHow barriers to receiving love show up in marriages and familiesClearly defined roles and responsibilities as essential to family lifeStructure and freedom as two sides of the same gift in marriageOlder siblings serving younger ones as an invitation, not a burdenThe damage disordered counseling can do to the family unitWhat today's couples are missing and why it matters for the ChurchTech boundaries and how to navigate them imperfectly but intentionallyThe practice of delight and its power in family life and faithOne resource every Catholic family should know: Word on Fire InstituteBook she is currently reading: Imitation of Christ, With All Her Mind edited by Rachel Bowman (Word on Fire), How Emotions Are Made, Litanies of the Heart by Gerry Ken Crete, The Anxious Generation by Jonathan HaidtAdvice to her younger self: Live in front of your eyes and less in your own head; spend more time outward-facingFinal wisdom for listeners: Practice delight. Learn to let the Lord delight in you and let that overflow into the people around you. Resources Mentioned: Mountain View Therapy – Sarah's website with services, digital courses, and links Word on Fire Institute – Catholic courses, quarterly journal, and faith formation resources Godsplaining – Short, humorous podcast on faith and culture hosted by Father Gregory Pine Litanies of the Heart by Gerry Ken Crete – A Catholic guide to healing and trauma with guided spiritual exercises The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt – Insights on technology's impact on young people Looking for meaningful ways to deepen your family’s connection with God outside of Sunday Mass? Download our free guide to discover 10 practical and fun faith-based activities that will bring your family closer to Christ—no matter how busy life gets. From sharing gratitude at the dinner table to watching faith-filled media together, these ideas make living your faith easy and enjoyable.

    56 min
  3. Keeping Your Kids Catholic

    May 19

    Keeping Your Kids Catholic

    Send us Fan Mail What if the key to keeping your kids Catholic isn't found in a better curriculum, but in the quality of the soil? Stacy Halbach, Catholic author, speaker, and mother of six, joins Jim and Meghan with a hope-filled recipe for raising children who hold fast to Christ. Drawing from the Parable of the Sower, years of personal research, and her own family's beautiful struggles, Stacy reveals what parents can do right now to cultivate a home where faith takes deep root and lasts a lifetime. What’s in this episode: The Parable of the Sower and why family soil matters more than the seedWhy a strong marriage is the foundation of secure, faith-filled kids"Tuck in time" and the simple weekly practice that builds real connectionCompost parenting and the life-giving power of rupture and repairThe love languages quiz and how it transforms the way you love your childrenThe origin of Bloom, a Catholic puberty guidebook for moms and daughters ages 8-13Level Up, a faith guide designed to help moms connect with sons ages 13 and upThe freeing truth that your children's choices do not define your parentingStories of vulnerability, sanctification, and surrender in family lifeOne resource every Catholic family should know: Five Love Languages QuizBook she is currently reading: In the School of the Holy Spirit by FR. Jacques PhilippeAdvice to her younger self: "You have no idea what God has planned for you. Put what you want aside." She also referenced this meme about trusting what God has waiting on the other sideFinal wisdom for listeners: Jump into the river of the Holy Spirit; control is overrated Resources Mentioned: Full of Grace Femininity Workshop – Use code MODERNCATHOLIC to make the parish program free Jump In Catholic – Books, podcasts, workshops, and free resources for Catholic families (85% free) Bloom by Stacy Halbach – Catholic puberty guidebook for moms and daughters to read together Level Up by Stacy Halbach – Catholic faith guide for moms and sons ages 13 and up In the School of the Holy Spirit by FR. Jacques Philippe - Guide to recognizing and responding to the Holy Spirit in daily life Five Love Languages Quiz – Tool for discovering how each family member gives and receives love Looking for meaningful ways to deepen your family’s connection with God outside of Sunday Mass? Download our free guide to discover 10 practical and fun faith-based activities that will bring your family closer to Christ—no matter how busy life gets. From sharing gratitude at the dinner table to watching faith-filled media together, these ideas make living your faith easy and enjoyable.

    1 hr
  4. Family Pilgrimage: The Practicals and Spiritual Fruit

    May 12

    Family Pilgrimage: The Practicals and Spiritual Fruit

    Send us Fan Mail What if the most powerful pilgrimage your family could take this year started just a few hours down the road? Jason Spoolstra, creator of the Light and Heavy Pilgrimages YouTube channel, joins Jim and Meghan to make the case that every Catholic family is called to pilgrimage, and that it is far more accessible than most people think. Drawing from nearly two decades of Catholic ministry and years of personal experience leading pilgrimages around the world, Jason unpacks both the spiritual depth and the practical steps that can turn any journey into a sacred act of faith. What’s in this episode: Pilgrimages as accessible, affordable, and doable for every Catholic familyTying a pilgrimage into your next road trip or family vacationThe spiritual warfare and sacrifice woven into every pilgrimage journeyThe American Saints tour: finding blesseds, venerables, and saints near youAdapting pilgrimages to your children's ages, temperaments, and interestsA moving story of consecration to Our Lady and answered prayer in BrazilPractical steps: devotions, budget, timeframe, and choosing your destinationThe difference between a pilgrimage and a regular vacationUsing AI tools to discover Catholic shrines along your travel routeOne resource every Catholic family should know: Handbook of Prayers & Catechism of the Catholic ChurchBook he is currently reading: The Theology of the Body Advice to his younger self: Learn to pray more and trust in the Lord moreFinal wisdom for listeners: In the words of JP2, do not be afraid to go on pilgrimageResources Mentioned: National Association of Shrine and Pilgrimage Apostolate (NASPA) Catholic Pilgrimage Sites The Faithful Traveler - Map of US Shrines The Little Pilgrim  Looking for meaningful ways to deepen your family’s connection with God outside of Sunday Mass? Download our free guide to discover 10 practical and fun faith-based activities that will bring your family closer to Christ—no matter how busy life gets. From sharing gratitude at the dinner table to watching faith-filled media together, these ideas make living your faith easy and enjoyable.

    50 min
  5. Humility, Silence, and the Art of Really Listening

    May 5

    Humility, Silence, and the Art of Really Listening

    Send us Fan Mail What if the most radical thing a Catholic family can practice is simply learning to shut up and listen? Father Augustine Wetta joins Jim and Meghan for an episode packed with laughter, vivid storytelling, and hard-won monastic wisdom. Drawing from encounters that range from classroom rap battles to an unexpected night with LA gang members, Father Wetta reveals what genuine humility looks like when it is lived out in the messiest corners of real life. What’s in this episode: The Kendrick Lamar lyric that echoes Father Wetta's first piece of monastic adviceSilence as the hidden key to real humility and genuine human connectionFather Wetta's creative approach to teaching Theology of the Body with humor and AIA rugby teammate whose quiet attention made the girls think he had beautiful eyesWhy a monk ended up drinking Coronas with LA gang members until sunriseThe Black Lives Matter protest encounter that launched an unlikely friendship and podcastChesterton's invitation to present Catholicism as an exotic near-Eastern religionThe crisis of beauty in modern culture and how art can heal the imaginationOne resource every Catholic family should know: The Rule of St. BenedictBook he is currently reading: The Hidden Hindenburg by Michael McCarthy, A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, and Why I Am Not an Atheist by Christopher BehaAdvice to his younger self: Don't bother trying to be popularFinal wisdom for listeners: Spend five minutes a day in complete silence and listen with the ear of your heart Resources Mentioned: jaugustinewetta.com – Father Wetta's website and books Disagreement Podcast – Father Wetta's podcast with Umar Lee, where unexpected common ground unfolds The Hidden Hindenburg by Michael McCarthy – A New York Times bestseller written by a St. Louis Abbey alumnus with a Catholic lens A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson – A witty and wide-ranging guide to science and the world Why I Am Not an Atheist by Christopher Beha – A philosopher's honest account of his journey from atheism to faith Looking for meaningful ways to deepen your family’s connection with God outside of Sunday Mass? Download our free guide to discover 10 practical and fun faith-based activities that will bring your family closer to Christ—no matter how busy life gets. From sharing gratitude at the dinner table to watching faith-filled media together, these ideas make living your faith easy and enjoyable.

    50 min
  6. Overcoming Anxiety for a Radically Free Life in Christ

    Apr 28

    Overcoming Anxiety for a Radically Free Life in Christ

    Send us Fan Mail What if the anxiety you carry every day is not who you are but a temptation you were never created to bear alone?  Jim and Meghan sit down with Dr. Jillian Hawks to explore what it truly means to move from managing anxiety to healing from it. Drawing from her personal journey through breast cancer, burnout, and a renewed encounter with God, Jillian shares how surrendering her work to Christ transformed her practice and her own heart. With honesty and hope, she points every family toward the radical peace that is fully available through daily relationship with the Lord. What’s in this episode: The difference between managing anxiety and truly healing from itJillian's story of burnout, breast cancer, and being called back to GodThe dangers of becoming a "checklist Catholic" and losing depth in faithWhy anxiety is a temptation to resist, not an identity to acceptThe surrender prayer and how to personalize it throughout your dayAnxiety as an invitation to run to the Lord rather than carry it aloneThe light bulb moment when clients discover they were not created to be anxiousThe distinction between shame and guilt in the healing processSimple strategies: surrender prayer, daily walks, good nutrition, and restThe Little Way of St. Therese as a foundation for spiritual and mental wellnessOne resource every Catholic family should know: Catholictherapists.comBook she is currently reading: I Believe in Love by Jean C. J. d'ElbéeAdvice to her younger self: Discover and embrace the concept of surrenderFinal wisdom for listeners: Embrace the little way and trust that God is in control Resources Mentioned: Catholictherapists.com – Directory to find Catholic therapists searchable by state Catholic Familyland – Faith-based family camp and retreat center near Steubenville, Ohio I Believe in Love by Jean C. J. d'Elbée – A personal retreat based on the Little Way of St. Therese @thecatholictherapist on Instagram – Jillian's platform for Catholic mental wellness Looking for meaningful ways to deepen your family’s connection with God outside of Sunday Mass? Download our free guide to discover 10 practical and fun faith-based activities that will bring your family closer to Christ—no matter how busy life gets. From sharing gratitude at the dinner table to watching faith-filled media together, these ideas make living your faith easy and enjoyable.

    48 min
  7. The Power of Catholic Literature

    Apr 21

    The Power of Catholic Literature

    Send us Fan Mail What if great literature could be the very thing that draws a soul from darkness into the light of Christ? Catholic author and literary scholar Joseph Pearce joins Jim and Meghan to share his remarkable journey from white supremacism to Catholic conversion, sparked entirely by the power of books. Drawing on decades of writing, teaching, and producing series with EWTN, Joseph offers a compelling vision of how beauty, truth, and goodness work together to transform families and evangelize a culture in desperate need of both. What’s in this episode: Joseph's conversion from racial hatred to Catholicism through Catholic literatureThe Catholic significance of March 25th in Tolkien's Lord of the RingsThree ways to evangelize: goodness, truth, and beautyJoseph's documentaries and 13-part Shakespeare series with EWTNThe upcoming 20-part EWTN series on The Good, the Bad, and the BeautifulAn overview of Literature: What Every Catholic Should KnowWhy reading well is essential to thinking, writing, and knowing GodWalking through providential open doors with courage and trustThe call to fast from technology and rediscover silence with GodOne resource every Catholic family should know: Homeschool ConnectionsBook he is currently reading: Initiation by Robert Hugh BensonAdvice to his younger self: Listen to your eldersFinal wisdom for listeners: Disconnect from technology to reconnect with God Resources Mentioned: jpearce.co – Joseph's personal website with video podcasts, articles, and all his books Homeschool Connections – Online live and recorded courses for homeschoolers from grade school through high school Race With the Devil by Joseph Pearce –– His personal memoir of conversion from racial hatred to rational love Literary Converts by Joseph Pearce – A history of the Catholic literary revival in 20th-century England Literature: What Every Catholic Should Know by Joseph Pearce – A panoramic guide to 3,000 years of Catholic literary tradition The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful by Joseph Pearce – A history of Christendom in 20 centuries, basis of an upcoming EWTN series Initiation by Robert Hugh Benson – A novel on the mystery of suffering and the lessons we carry through it St. Austin Review – Journal of Catholic culture and thought, edited by Joseph Pearce Looking for meaningful ways to deepen your family’s connection with God outside of Sunday Mass? Download our free guide to discover 10 practical and fun faith-based activities that will bring your family closer to Christ—no matter how busy life gets. From sharing gratitude at the dinner table to watching faith-filled media together, these ideas make living your faith easy and enjoyable.

    49 min
  8. Breathing Light into Dark Places

    Apr 14

    Breathing Light into Dark Places

    Send us Fan Mail What does it look like to raise a family anchored in faith when life takes an unexpected turn? Diane Nienas, grief coach, author, and mother of four, joins Jim and Meghan to share how two decades of caretaking for her sons Leo and Trent became the very ground where her faith took root and flourished. With joy that can only come from God, Diane reflects on the miracles, the grace, and the quiet moments that transformed her family and have since brought hope to countless others. What’s in this episode: Leo's remarkable life and the faith that defied every medical expectationSuffering as the doorway to a deep and personal friendship with ChristLeo's miraculous conversations with Jesus throughout his childhood and youthJoy as a daily choice and the freedom that comes from choosing itThe moment Leo foretold Trent's diagnosis before any doctor confirmed itEncouragement for caregivers on living fully in the present momentRest, renewal, and grounding as gifts every caregiver must receiveHow Leo's witness brought friends and family to a living faith in GodDiane's memoir and children's book series born from her family's journeyWriting and speaking as Diane's mission to carry God's story to othersOne resource every Catholic family should know: FORMEDBook she is currently reading: The Way of Wisdom by LifewayAdvice to her younger self: Do not let fear keep you from moving into what you were wanting to pursueFinal wisdom for listeners: Where your focus lies, your life will be led Resources Mentioned: www.dianenienas.com – Diane's website with links to her books, social media, and speaking I See Jesus – Diane's memoir about Leo and Trent's journeys and Leo's conversations with Christ Living Life with Leo – A four-part children's book series celebrating Leo's adventures and limitless spirit FORMED – Catholic streaming platform with movies, studies, and children's content The Way of Wisdom by Lifeway – A Bible study through the Book of Proverbs offering a fresh perspective on wisdom Looking for meaningful ways to deepen your family’s connection with God outside of Sunday Mass? Download our free guide to discover 10 practical and fun faith-based activities that will bring your family closer to Christ—no matter how busy life gets. From sharing gratitude at the dinner table to watching faith-filled media together, these ideas make living your faith easy and enjoyable.

    47 min
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Trailer

5
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About

Modern Catholic Family empowers families to anchor in the fullness of Catholic living. It is the only platform designed specifically for Catholic families, offering guidance and community that unite the ancient wisdom of the Catholic Church with the dynamic needs of today’s family.

Information

  • Creator
    Jim Schubert
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    59
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Modern Catholic Family
  • Show Website
    Modern Catholic Family

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