The Communion Project Podcast

The Communion Project
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  • Non-Profit

The temperature of our Church, and our country, is running hot. The Communion Project Podcast, hosted by Jonathan Lewis, features Catholic leaders and thinkers wrestling honestly with division in the Church, and sharing practical ways to choose friendship over factions and live a communion greater than any difference. Whether you are a Church leader or simply a Catholic who is tired of the choosing sides, welcome to the conversation. New episodes bi-weekly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Episodes

  1. Aug 11

    Dr. Hosffman Ospino on Bridge-Building, Human Dignity, and Community

    What if healing polarization begins not with winning an argument, but with asking someone, “How are you?” In this episode, host Jonathan Lewis sits down with Dr. Hosffman Ospino, professor of theology at Boston College and a leading voice on Hispanic Catholic life, to explore how communion, bridgebuilding, and the ministry of presence can renew the Church. Drawing on his upbringing in Colombia and his experience of Catholicism in the United States, Dr. Ospino reflects on the Hispanic understanding of the Church as family, the difference between healthy disagreement and dehumanizing polarization, and the inseparable relationship between faith and public life. He describes Hispanic Catholics as gente puente—a bridge-building people whose experience of living between cultures can help the Church embrace a “both-and” vision rooted in the common good. Dr. Ospino also explains why synodality is simply what it means to be Church, how our shared baptismal dignity calls us to listen to one another, and why a meal or cup of coffee with someone who disagrees with us can become a ministry of healing. Episode Timestamps00:10 — Welcome and introduction to Dr. Hosffman Ospino 00:22 — Growing up in Colombia and “breathing” Catholicism 01:54 — Experiencing Pentecost at Mass in St. Peter’s Square 03:37 — Communion through the Hispanic Catholic experience of family and community 04:50 — How polarization appears within Hispanic Catholic communities 05:38 — Healthy differences versus dehumanizing ideological polarization 10:55 — Recovering human dignity as the foundation of Catholic life 11:16 — Why faith and public life cannot be separated 14:35 — Public Catholicism and the need to choose communion intentionally 16:11 — Reconciliation, positive anthropology, and becoming instruments of healing 16:44 — Gente puente: Hispanic Catholics as people who live and build bridges 20:21 — “Both-and” thinking, community, the common good, and the American dream 22:34 — Synodality as walking and listening together 23:15 — Why synodality is simply about being Church 27:50 — Entrepreneurship, Pentecost, and recognizing the gifts of every baptized person 29:53 — Turning down polarization by affirming what Catholics hold in common 31:13 — What breaks Dr. Ospino’s heart—and what fills him with hope—about the Church 33:20 — Healing relationships through coffee, meals, presence, and the question “How are you?” 36:08 — Parish potlucks, salads, desserts, and the Catholic “both-and” 37:10 — St. Óscar Romero as a patron for rebuilding communion 39:12 — What newcomers should know about the beauty and mystery of Catholic initiation 40:47 — Closing thoughts About the GuestDr. Hosffman Ospino is a professor of theology and religious education at Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry and a nationally recognized scholar of Hispanic Catholicism and ministry in the United States. Born in Colombia, he has lived most of his life in the United States and has spent nearly 25 years teaching theology. His work explores how the experiences and gifts of Hispanic Catholics are shaping the present and future of the Church.

  2. Jul 28

    Julia McStravog on Prayer, Synodality, and the Holy Spirit

    What if the Synod on Synodality isn’t really about meetings at all? In this episode, host Jonathan Lewis sits down with Julia McStravog, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ point person for the synodal process, to explore how prayer, dialogue, participation, and spiritual friendship can renew the Church’s relationships and mission. Drawing on her background in ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, Julia describes synodality as a worldwide process of spiritual formation and conversion—not simply another Church program. She reflects on the wounds revealed through the Church’s listening process, the role of religious communities as models of shared discernment, and why genuine dialogue begins with prayer, humility, and the willingness to become comfortable with discomfort. Episode Timestamps00:13 — Cold open: why the “Synod on Synodality” is about much more than meetings 01:35 — Meet Julia McStravog and her work accompanying the U.S. synodal process 03:04 — New synod guidelines, continental assemblies, and what comes next 05:53 — Pausing the interview to pray: keeping the Holy Spirit at the center 07:12 — The Adsumus Sancte Spiritus: the prayer accompanying the synodal process 09:34 — Growing up Catholic in “Delco” and discovering a love for theology 12:20 — Being told she wasn’t Christian—and how it inspired Julia’s work in interreligious dialogue 14:18 — Why dialogue with other traditions can deepen rather than diminish Catholic identity 15:50 — Children at Mass and the formative power of genuine participation 20:29 — What is synodality? A worldwide process of spiritual formation and conversion 22:28 — Why Pope Francis believed the Church needed a renewed culture of dialogue 26:31 — Is the American Church really as divided as it appears? 27:46 — Relationship and encounter as remedies for polarization 29:08 — “Enduring Wounds”: what the synodal listening process revealed about pain in the Church 32:10 — Living in communion through the Church’s unity amid diversity 33:44 — What religious communities can teach the wider Church about synodality 36:30 — Pope Leo XIV, religious life, shared authority, and leadership rooted in community 39:39 — What breaks Julia’s heart—and what gives her hope—about the Church today 42:00 — Julia’s most important practice for building communion: prayer 44:34 — Engaging across differences through self-knowledge, humility, and discomfort 47:18 — What families can teach us about living with tension and remaining in relationship 49:03 — Communion, participation, and mission: what the synod is really for 50:34 — Lightning round: pepper jack, parish potlucks, and spiritual friendship 51:12 — St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal as patrons for this moment 52:13 — What Julia wants newcomers to know: there are many ways to be Catholic About the GuestJulia McStravog accompanies the synodal process for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Her theological studies and professional work have centered on the Catholic theology and practice of dialogue. She previously served in the USCCB’s ecumenical and interreligious affairs office and worked with clergy and professors at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. She has helped guide the U.S. Church’s participation in the global synodal process since 2021.

  3. Jul 14

    Dr. Tim O'Malley On Saint Augustine, Unity, and Reform

    Is the Catholic Church in America really as divided as the headlines suggest — or are we being told a story that isn't quite true? In this episode, host Jonathan Lewis sits down with Dr. Tim O'Malley, theologian, author, and Associate Director for Research at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame, to unpack liturgical division, the wisdom of St. Augustine, Pope Leo's early emphasis on unity, and what it really means to live in communion with people who are different from us. Drawing on Augustine's response to the Donatist controversy, the legacy of Vatican II, and his own conversion story growing up Catholic in the Bible Belt, Tim offers a hopeful and refreshingly honest take on Church unity — and a practical challenge for every Catholic listening. Episode Timestamps00:00 — Cold open: political idolatry and the worship shaping American life today00:23 — Meet Tim O'Malley: professor at Notre Dame's McGrath Institute for Church Life01:07 — Tim's conversion story: growing up Catholic in South Florida and becoming "the only Catholic" in East Tennessee03:04 — Tim's most formative liturgical memories: confirmation, marriage, and Mass at Notre Dame on 9/1105:01 — Why the ordinary, regular practice of Sunday Mass shapes identity more than the "big moments"06:21 — Why liturgy is so often the flashpoint for division in the U.S. Catholic Church09:26 — Is liturgy a proxy war? How Vatican II's reforms were historically unprecedented12:31 — Most Catholics aren't fighting about the liturgy — so who is, and why?13:58 — "The spicy part": Tim's hot take on infant baptism reform15:11 — Docility and the wisdom of Romano Guardini: letting the liturgy shape you16:03 — St. Augustine's letter to Januarius on liturgical diversity and unity in non-essentials17:07 — What St. Augustine and the Donatist controversy teach the Church about unity amid division20:06 — Naming America's real idolatry: political worship, MAGA, and eschatological hope in politics21:01 — Pope Leo XIV, Chicago roots, and echoes of Augustine, "the Bishop of Hippo," in his early pontificate22:08 — Pope Leo's motto "In the One, We Are One" and what it means for the Church today22:55 — What breaks Tim's heart: exclusion, disunity, and forgetting the gift of grace25:05 — What gives Tim hope: the rise of lay-led ecclesial and apostolic movements27:01 — What does it actually mean to be "in communion"? Why difference is essential to real unity30:36 — Tim's #1 practice for building unity: get off social media and know your literal neighbor31:49 — Lightning round: potluck dish, patron saints for this moment (Augustine and Benedict)32:48 — What Tim wants newcomers to know about the Catholic Church34:06 — Closing reflection: "My fault, my fault, my most grievous fault" — why imperfection belongs in the Church34:37 — Episode wrap-up and where to find more Communion Project resources About the GuestDr. Tim O'Malley is a theologian and Associate Director for Research at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame. He holds a PhD from Boston College and has spent his career studying and teaching on liturgy, sacraments, and the life of the Church.

  4. Jul 7

    Archbishop Lori on Political Tribalism and Family Meals

    Archbishop William E. Lori has spent nearly 50 years in Church leadership as a priest and bishop, over 20 years as chaplain to the Knights of Columbus, and 14 years as Archbishop of Baltimore, the first Catholic diocese in the United States. His 2026 pastoral letter, In Charity and Truth: Toward a Renewed Political Culture, names something most American Catholics feel but rarely say out loud: our political culture has gone toxic, and we've stopped seeing each other as brothers and sisters. Host Jonathan Lewis talks with Archbishop Lori about where that forgetting comes from, what it costs a parish, a presbyterate, and a country. Key Moments [00:53] Growing up the youngest of four brothers in southern Indiana, and the sacrificial love his parents showed his brother Frankie, who had special needs. Catholic formation · family · disability and dignity [03:10] Two Masses he'll never forget: a Christmas liturgy at a homeless shelter that ended in "Jingle Bells," and saying Mass alone at the empty tomb in the Holy Land. Eucharist · the poor · Holy Land pilgrimage [05:59] Why American public and family life have grown so divided — collective amnesia about the image of God, an information ecosystem built to inflame, and the fading family dinner table. polarization · pastoral letter · Catholic social teaching [09:41] Is the Church a thermostat setting the culture's temperature, or a thermometer just reflecting it back? You can guess someone's news diet by how they react to a homily. culture of encounter · Evangelii Gaudium · parish life [13:10] Polarization isn't just a pew problem — forming younger priests, why bishops like each other more than the press assumes, and what changes when a presbyterate eats at the same table. clergy formation · Church unity · leadership [17:19] The line that anchors the conversation: do I want my side to win, or do I want Christ to win? Catholic identity ranked below political identity. Catholic identity · partisanship · synodality [27:09] Boutique parishes versus real belonging — and why 2,000 Easter converts in Baltimore say something about which one wins. evangelization · parish renewal · Easter converts [29:51] From Archbishop John Carroll and Cardinal Gibbons to Isaac Hecker's conviction that being Catholic and being American reinforce each other — in America's 250th year. US Catholic history · religious freedom · Catholic schools [37:47] Why a 19th-century parish priest started a fraternal order instead of letting immigrant Catholics join secret societies, and why the Knights are growing again in an age of "Bowling Alone." Knights of Columbus · Michael McGivney · loneliness epidemic [41:23] One practice to start with: find someone you're pretty sure disagrees with you, and have an actual conversation. practical wisdom · dialogue across difference [42:42] What fills his heart, what breaks it — the condos going up that the Church isn't reaching, and the twenty-somethings packing the oldest cathedral in the country on a Sunday. hope · evangelization · Church renewal [44:35] Lightning round: a case for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and the one thing he'd want a curious inquirer to know about entering the Church. Elizabeth Ann Seton · human dignity · evangelization Guest Archbishop William E. Lori has served as Archbishop of Baltimore since 2012, leading the oldest diocese in the United States. He previously served as Bishop of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, D.C. Since 2005, he has served as Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus. He is the author of several pastoral letters, most recently In Charity and Truth: Toward a Renewed Political Culture.

  5. Jun 30

    Fr. Jim Martin and Tim Busch on Friendship, Division, and Dinner

    THE COMMUNION PROJECT PODCAST Episode 1: Fr. Jim Martin and Tim Busch on Friendship, Division, and Dinner Fr. James Martin, SJ and Timothy Busch have been portrayed by Catholic media as polar opposites. Neither man thinks that framing is accurate, and for seven years, quietly, they've been proving it wrong through private salon dinners: small gatherings of Catholics from across the ideological spectrum, built around Mass, the Rosary, a shared meal, and a favorite scripture verse. In this inaugural Conversations in Communion episode, host Jonathan Lewis welcomes Fr. Jim and Tim for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about faith, friendship, and what it takes to stay in communion with people you're supposed to disagree with. Key Moments [00:08] The Friendship Nobody Expected Seven years of honest conversation between two men Catholic media placed on opposite ends of the spectrum. Catholic unity · polarization · dialogue across difference [13:44] The Salon Dinners Mass, the Rosary, dinner, a scripture verse. No debate. No agenda. Just people becoming less than strangers — and a possible model for the broader Church. Community · bridge-building · synodality · parish renewal [20:09] Formation Stories Tim rode his bike to daily Tridentine Mass as a third-grader in Michigan. Fr. Jim had an encounter with God in a Pennsylvania meadow he couldn't name until years later. Catholic formation · vocation · Jesuit spirituality [24:27] The Mass That Changes Everything Spiritual warfare, ordination Masses, liturgy with refugees in Nairobi, and what the words of consecration ask of us. Eucharist · real presence · transubstantiation · liturgy [31:22] What Breaks Their Hearts — and What Fills Them Both say division. But Tim points to the largest surge in baptisms and confirmations in 25 years as evidence the Holy Spirit isn't finished with the Church. Church renewal · sex abuse crisis · hope [35:41] Pope Francis, Pope Leo XIV, and Unity Fr. Jim knew Pope Francis personally and participated in the Synod on Synodality. Both men read Leo XIV's early papacy as a continuation — with unity as its defining note. Pope Leo XIV · Pope Francis · Synod on Synodality [45:51] The Church's Moral Authority in a Fractured World On AI ethics, just war, and why the Vatican keeps drawing people who don't share the faith: two thousand years of moral theology is already there. AI · just war · moral theology · Catholic social teaching [51:58] Where They Actually Disagree Sexual ethics, the role of government, Dorothy Day versus Mother Teresa. Communion doesn't require uniformity. Catholic social teaching · subsidiarity · political diversity [01:00:45] Advice for Catholics in the Pews Tim: pray. Fr. Jim: listen without preparing your rebuttal. Be humble enough to be wrong. Discipleship · dialogue · humility · prayer Fr. James Martin, SJ is a Jesuit priest, editor-at-large of America Magazine, and author of Building a Bridge, Learning to Pray, and Work in Progress. Timothy Busch is founder of the Napa Institute and co-founder of the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America.

  6. Jun 23

    Welcome to The Communion Project Podcast

    In this introductory episode, host Jonathan Lewis lays out the heart and vision behind The Communion Project. This isn't a space for political debates or surface-level compromise. Instead, it is a podcast where Catholics actively practice communion in real time. We aren’t here to change your beliefs, but to deepen your conviction in a unity that is far greater than any difference.

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5
out of 5
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About

The temperature of our Church, and our country, is running hot. The Communion Project Podcast, hosted by Jonathan Lewis, features Catholic leaders and thinkers wrestling honestly with division in the Church, and sharing practical ways to choose friendship over factions and live a communion greater than any difference. Whether you are a Church leader or simply a Catholic who is tired of the choosing sides, welcome to the conversation. New episodes bi-weekly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Information

  • Creator
    The Communion Project
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Communion Project