Protagonists of Change MAX Studios - University of St Thomas - Houston

This is an episode about Saints. Men and Women who lived ordinary and extraordinary lives filled with heroic virtue.

First we hear from Darnell, who tells the story of an altogether uneventful car accident and the one moment that he can't seem to shake.

Then we talk to Meg Hunter-Kilmer, an itinerant missionary who travels the world, living out of her car, talking about her love for Christ. She has also written the book on saints, two of them actually, and loves to connect people to those in heaven who are already praying for them.

She tells us about her life as a missionary and how she came to know and love the saints she does.

Then in Who’s That Saint, we are doing something a bit different, we let Meg tell the story of a saint whose story has been pulling on her heart, Venerable Alfonse Gallegos.

Links:

MAX Studios Website
https://ustmaxstudios.com/

MAX Studios Instagram
@maxstudiosust
https://www.instagram.com/maxstudiosust/

Meg Hunter Kilmer Website
https://www.piercedhands.com/

Meg Hunter Kilmer Instagram
@mhunterkilmer
https://www.instagram.com/mhunterkilmer/

Today's stories are about coming of age, that wonderful and awkward time in life when you think you know everything but you really know nothing. 

Darnell opens up with a story about manhood, or rather, the transition into manhood, and all the insecurity that comes with it until one is rooted in their faith.

Then we hear from Alejandra Herrera, the founder and director of Bendecida XV, an apostolate that walks with young Latinas as they prepare for their Quinceneras, shares the beauty of the Catholic faith and liturgy, the richness of Latino culture and tradition, and uncovers the symbolic meaning of the Quincenera celebration. She shares the story of her 15th birthday and how she came to recognize her call to service and ministry.

Then in Who's That Saint, we look in to the life of Santa Maria de Jesus Sacramentado, a woman who lived a life of service to the poor and sick, who also happens to be Mexico's first canonized female Saint!

Links:

MAX Studios Website
https://ustmaxstudios.com/

MAX Studios Instagram @maxstudiosust
https://www.instagram.com/maxstudiosust/

Bendecida XV Website
https://bendecidaxv.com/

Today we’re talking about trust - trusting your gut, trusting your call, and most importantly trusting in Christ.

Darnell begins with a story of frustration and resentment that is slowly transforming into a greater trust of God's will.

Then, we hear from Fr. Dat Hoang, a Vietnamese immigrant, priest of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, and founding administrator of St. Faustina Catholic Church in Fulshear, TX. He shares the story of his lifelong desire to become a priest, his journey from Vietnam to the United States and the time he almost decided to leave  his dream of being a priest.

Then in Who's that Saint, we explore the life of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, a nun and mystic whose visions of Christ, and journaling habit, has brought forward a powerful devotion in the divine mercy.



Links:

MAX Studios Website
https://ustmaxstudios.com/

MAX Studios Instagram @maxstudiosust
https://www.instagram.com/maxstudiosust/

St. Faustina Catholic Church
https://saintfaustinachurch.org/

Fr. Dat Hoang
https://saintfaustinachurch.org/people/father-dat-hoang

Learn More about St. Faustina Kowalska
https://saintfaustinachurch.org/st-faustina

This is an episode about internal dialogue, limiting beliefs and how Christ's love can set us free!

In our opening, Darnell Miller tells a story about juggling that isn't really a story about "juggling."

Then we sit down with Leah Darrow, a mother, speaker, author, coach and entrepreneur whose reversion to the Catholic faith has afforded her the opportunity to share Christ's love and mercy with others. This is not a story of her reversion though, this is a story about the internal work, the human development that she needed to challenge the limiting beliefs she held about herself. She also shares how doing the internal work led to her human development course, Power Made Perfect.

Finally, in Who's that Saint, we explore the life of Blessed Solanus Casey, a Capuchin priest who lived a life of heroic virtue serving the poor and the sick, and whose legacy still touches lives in Detroit today.

Links:

MAX Studios Website
https://ustmaxstudios.com/

MAX Studios Instagram
@maxstudiosust
https://www.instagram.com/maxstudiosust/

Leah Darrow Website
https://www.leahdarrow.com/

Leah Darrow Instagram
@leah.darrow
https://www.instagram.com/leah.darrow/

Power Made Perfect
https://www.leahdarrow.com/powermadeperfect/

Learn More about Blessed Solanus Casey
https://solanuscasey.org/

Today we are talking about the religious, brothers and sisters who have devoted their life to the service of God, and how our relationships with them - understanding their unique, intimate relationship with Christ - can help us lay people better invite Christ into our own lives.

First, Darnell shares a story about Sr. Maura, a Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist, who's super power lies in a wink. He tells us how she fundamentally changed his relationship with God.

Then August Turak, author of "Business Secrets of the Trappists Monks," tells us about his own experience as a frequent monastic guest at Mepkin Abbey. He explains how the lessons he learned through their simple lifestyle have helped him become a successful entrepreneur and leader.

Learn more about August Turak: https://augustturak.com/
Learn more about Mepkin Abbey: https://mepkinabbey.org/

For more great storytelling and videos about living our faith authentically in the world follow MAX Studios:

Website: https://ustmaxstudios.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxstudiosust/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtvFfPjMVugxN0ZHSpjrJWw

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maxstudiosust1?

Mercy! What is there to say about mercy? We all need it! And God gives it in abundance! We just need to accept it! In this episode of Protagonists of Change, we talk about mercy in our lives.

First, Darnell shares a story from college where, despite being the cause of his own problems, he is shown radical mercy and forgiveness.

Then Nicole Labadie, Director of Campus Ministry at UST Houston, speaks to an actual Pope Francis appointed Missionary of Mercy, Fr. Jim Sichko, author of “60 Minutes for Jesus.” They talk about his work as a Missionary of Mercy, travel, ministry, grace and what it means to offer mercy.

Finally, in “Who’s That Saint?” Fr. Jim does something a little different. You know at the end of the Litany of Saints in Mass when the priest says “All you holy men and women of God”? Yeah that’s who he is talking about!

Learn more about Fr. Jim Sichko - https://www.frjims.com/

For more great storytelling and videos about living our faith authentically in the world follow MAX studios:

Website: https://ustmaxstudios.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxstudiosust/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtvFfPjMVugxN0ZHSpjrJWw

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maxstudiosust1?

Learn More about St. Luke Productions: https://www.stlukeproductions.com/