On Mission

Catholic Apostolate Center
  • 4.9 (11)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

On Mission is a podcast from the Catholic Apostolate Center. Join members of the Catholic Apostolate Center team as they discuss contemporary topics related to the Catholic Church, faith formation, evangelization, Church history, and more!

  1. 4D AGO

    Understanding the Church as Mother

    Many saints in the history of the Church have referred to the Church as mother, calling it, for example, Holy Mother Church. In this episode of On Mission, Chris Pierno, Sarah Scalfaro, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. discuss why many refer to the Church and in what ways the Church acts like a mother to all the faithful. Further, they discuss how the Virgin Mary is Mother of the Church and how she fulfills that role. The Church is our mother because she spiritually gives birth to each of the faithful through the Sacrament of Baptism. Because of Baptism, we are given the opportunity to be reborn into eternity. While we live on this side of life, we are nourished by the Church through the Sacraments, particularly the Eucharist. Like any mother, the Church provides a warm home and comfort for their children. Additionally, the Church teaches us how to pray and live a life worthy of Jesus’ call. The Church is also the Bride of Christ and it models her behavior after the model of Mary, the mother of Jesus.   Related On Mission episodes: Mary as Mother of the Church and Mothers as Our Primary Teachers The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and the Christmas Season The 12 Apostles Baptism     From the Ad Infinitum blog: Mother’s Day Reflection More posts about Motherhood   Check out the main Saints and Feast Days website Download the App on the App Store or Google Play Follow us: The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify  On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

    19 min

  2. APR 24

    Confirmation Sends You On Mission

    The Sacrament of Confirmation bestows on the recipient the same grace and spirit given to the Apostles at Pentecost. Confirmation prepares us to go forth and help spread the Gospel to the ends of the Earth. In this episode of On Mission, Chris Pierno, Sarah Scalfaro, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. discuss how Confirmation equips us for engaging in Christ’s mission more fully. Confirmation deepens our baptismal life that calls us to be missionary witnesses of Jesus Christ in our families, neighborhoods, society, and the world. . . . We receive the message of faith in a deeper and more intensive manner with great emphasis given to the person of Jesus Christ, who asked the Father to give the Holy Spirit to the Church for building up the community in loving service. (from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults).   Recipients of Confirmation often choose saints as patrons. Check out our Saints and Feast Days website to discover your next favorite saint.   Related On Mission episodes: The 12 Apostles Baptism Confirmation On First Holy Communion   From the Ad Infinitum blog: Pentecost as a Personal Confirmation More posts about Confirmation   Check out the main Saints and Feast Days website Download the App on the App Store or Google Play Follow us: The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify  On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

    29 min

  3. APR 10

    Small Ways to Grow in Faith

    As we consider our new resolutions, we should consider ways for us to grow spiritually in our faith. Without being overwhelming, small resolutions that can be done daily will ensure that 2026 ends with a closer relationship to Christ. In this episode of On Mission, Chris Pierno, Sarah Scalfaro, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. discuss ways that Catholics can grow their faith through small daily devotions in 2026. Whether it’s a New Year or not, there are so many ways for Catholics to grow in their faith. But with all the options available, one can easily get overwhelmed. Perhaps one needs small daily devotionals that will guide their spiritual growth in the year ahead. Some examples of small ways to grow in faith include: attend daily Mass, listen to a Catholic podcast read the daily scripture readings read at Mass, and learning about the Saint or feast day of the day.   Related On Mission episodes: Promoting the Good on Social Media Podcast Evangelization Lectio Divina   From the Ad Infinitum blog: Incorporating Liturgical Living into New Year's Resolutions Ring in the Year with Mary More posts about the New Year   Check out the main Saints and Feast Days website Download the App on the App Store or Google Play Follow us: The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify  On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

    24 min

  4. MAR 27

    Looking Forward to Easter

    Easter is the climax to the Liturgical Year and is rich in beauty and symbolic liturgies. As one prepares for Easter through observing Lent, we should also take care to prepare to celebrate Easter though studying the Liturgies, customs, and celebrations in the week leading to and from Easter Sunday. In this episode of On Mission, Chris Pierno, Sarah Scalfaro, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. explore the Holy Week liturgies and how they celebrate Easter in their homes and with their families. Holy Week’s rich liturgies include Palm Sunday, Chrism Mass, Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord, the Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord. When we are prepared to celebrate these liturgies, they add to the grandeur and solemnity of Easter Sunday and enable you to enter more deeply into the celebration. Outside of the liturgies, we can celebrate it within our homes with traditional meals and with family. Incorporating some Easter specific traditions can further elevate the joy of the occasion.   Related On Mission episodes: Moments of Return: Creating Welcoming Parishes During Key Moments of the Year Palm Sunday Easter Vigil and Easter Traditions Fifty Days of Easter The Three Days   From the Ad Infinitum blog: Lessons From Holy Week More posts about Holy Week   View Lent and Easter Resources   Check out the main Saints and Feast Days website Download the App on the App Store or Google Play Follow us: The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify  On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

    30 min

  5. MAR 13

    Prayer Basics

    Prayer can certainly seem overwhelming and overly complicated. However, prayer is simply a conversation with God and raising our minds to the things of Heaven. In this episode of On Mission, Chris Pierno, Sarah Scalfaro, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. share how simple prayer can be and how to grow more fruit from prayer. Prayer is the basis of our relationship with God and it’s important to remember the basics. Remembering the basics keeps prayer as simple as a conversation between two friends, God and yourself. We can look to more formal prayers like the Our Father and Hail Mary as a basis for how our prayer can be, but there’s no replacement from speaking from the heart and allowing our Lord to respond. We can use the acronym ACTS to help model our prayer: Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.   Related On Mission episodes: Maintain Prayer Routines During Summer Vacation Prayerful Parenthood Year of Prayer Lectio Divina   From the Ad Infinitum blog: The Fruit of Prayer More posts about Prayer   Year of Prayer Resources Prayer Resources   Check out the main Saints and Feast Days website Download the App on the App Store or Google Play Follow us: The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify  On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

    32 min

  6. FEB 27

    How to Make a Good Confession

    Confession, known as the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, allows us to be forgiven of our sins and bestows on us graces to grow in our spiritual life. In this episode of On Mission, Chris Pierno, Sarah Scalfaro, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. discuss ways that you can prepare and participate in the Sacrament. If you’ve been away from the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation for some time, embrace Jesus’ invitation to draw closer to him through this Sacrament--be not afraid. When preparing to go to Confession, it is customary for the person to examine their conscience, reflecting on the sins they committed since their last confession. The participant asks for the grace to make a good confession and resolves to amend their lives. Once in the confessional, the person can ask for help confessing their sins or follow the standard rubric. Next comes the act of contrition, absolution, and sometimes to do the assigned penance.   Related On Mission episodes: Baptism Spiritual Direction   From the Ad Infinitum blog: Spiritual Decluttering Conscience Reclaimed More posts about Confession   Check out the main Saints and Feast Days website Download the App on the App Store or Google Play   Follow us: The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify  On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

    29 min

  7. FEB 13

    How should we prepare for the upcoming Lent?

    Lent quickly approaches and many Catholics pick up penances of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, but what exactly should we do? In this episode of On Mission, Chris Pierno, Sarah Scalfaro, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. discuss ways that Catholics can choose what Lenten penances to undertake and what to do when we inevitably fail. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, the three pillars to Lent, guide us through the 40 days so that we can be ready to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus at Easter. In Scripture, we read that Jesus spent 40 days and 40 nights fasting in the desert as a preparation for his public ministry. Likewise, Christians around the world ‘enter the desert’, so to speak, during Lent as a means of growing closer to Christ and neighbor.   Related On Mission episodes: Ash Wednesday The Easter Vigil and Easter Traditions On Lent   From the Ad Infinitum blog: Am I Ready for Lent? More posts about Lent   Check out the main Saints and Feast Days website Download the App on the App Store or Google Play Follow us: The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify  On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

    25 min

  8. JAN 30

    Moments of Return: Creating Welcoming Parishes During Key Moments of the Year with Paul Jarzembowski

    Ash Wednesday and other holy days like Christmas and Easter are popular days in the liturgical calendar where parishes see an increase in the number of people attending Mass. Many may be there for the first time or for the first time in a long time. How can parishes create a welcoming environment that helps bring these individuals closer to Christ? In this episode of On Mission, Paul Jarzembowski joins Chris Pierno and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. to discuss what times of the year parishes can expect an increase in attendance and how best to accommodate and welcome the newcomers. Many parishes offer extra Masses and times for Confession close to Ash Wednesday, Christmas, and Easter expecting a large number of new people to attend these services. With proper preparation and consideration, parishes can turn who would be one time attendees into active and involved members of the community. Paul Jarzembowski, author of Hope for the Holidays and Hope from the Ashes, shares tips and strategies for parishes who experience an influx in attendance around key moments in the liturgical year.   Related On Mission episodes: Ash Wednesday The Easter Vigil and Easter Traditions On Lent   Webinars with Paul Jarzembowski: Sparks from Ashes: Lent and Ash Wednesday as Moments of Evangelization Hope For the Holidays: Finding Light at the Darkest Times of the Year Hope from the Ashes: Preparing for an Evangelizing Lent     From the Ad Infinitum blog: Accompanying Others Throughout Lent More posts about Lent   Check out the main Saints and Feast Days website Download the App on the App Store or Google Play Follow us: The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify  On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

    36 min
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4.9
out of 5
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About

On Mission is a podcast from the Catholic Apostolate Center. Join members of the Catholic Apostolate Center team as they discuss contemporary topics related to the Catholic Church, faith formation, evangelization, Church history, and more!

Information

  • Creator
    Catholic Apostolate Center
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    172
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    On Mission

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