Sharon Strus: Selfless Mother, Former Catholic Nun, & Polka Accordion Star. The story of a life of humble choices & great outcomes.

Sharon's storied life starts in Michigan, shipping off to the convent at age 13, finding herself in her 20s, then marrying a Polish bus driver in her 30s, and starting a new life chapter. Gain the wisdom of a woman...

“There’s a force that’s with me…”

On the occasion of Fr. James "Jim" Haley's 50th anniversary of becoming a priest with The Paulist Fathers, we learned about his life in the community. “Looking back, I wouldn't change it for anything. I mean, how can a shy...

A creative–and a priest

Growing up as an only child afforded Paulist Fr. Tom Holahan a huge imaginary world, where his creativity was nurtured. He loved the creative life and exploring the world so much that he couldn't see himself taking on the responsibility...

Inspired by the healing ministry of Jesus Christ

"My dad was a carpenter, my mother's name is Mary and I have no illusions that I'm Jesus Christ," says Paulist Father Frank Desiderio in this interview with Jennifer Szweda Jordan conducted for The Paulist Fathers in Lake George, New...

"The Prophetic Push"

Evan Cummings, C.S.P., made his final promises to life with the Paulist Fathers in late 2018. Just before that, he spoke about how wikipedia led him to the community, how some of his most profound spiritual moments come while kneading...

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Gerald Kleba and Lauren Bennett

Good friends Gerald Kleba (81) and Lauren Bennett (34) share a conversation about their friendship and their experiences serving as spiritual advisors to Johnny A. Johnson and Amber McLaughlin, respectively, who were both executed on death row by the state...

“The ultimate meaning:” A Classics Publisher

It's a go-to book series, an encyclopedia of Jewish, Catholic, Protestant and Islamic thinkers: Paulist Press' "Classics of Western Spirituality." And it was started under the leadership of Paulist Fr. Kevin Lynch. In this interview, Fr. Kevin, age 93, talks...

A priest who listens and talks paint off barns

After more than 20 years in the ordained priesthood, Paulist Father Charlie Donahue has a lot of insights about prayer, faith, love and community. And he wanted to be a priest even as a child, so he's been articulating religion...

Alaska, Appalachia and beyond: Paulist Father Michael Martin’s True Tall Stories

You can’t miss Paulist Father Michael Martin in gatherings of his community. He’s known as the “tallest Paulist.” His height exceeds a standard door frame. Walking with a cane, his is a commanding yet tender figure in the line of...

“It was a better use of my life.”

Father Frank DeSiano calls himself a "lifer." He entered the Paulist junior seminary as a teenager. That was more than 45 years ago. He's a noted leader in evangelization or sharing of the Catholic faith. Father Frank has been the...

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Carla Saavedra and Alice Hill

Carla Saavedra (56) talks with her mother, Alice Hill (85), who was born in Tampa in 1936 at an immigrant Spanish hospital. They talk of family members working in the cigar factory, migrating from Spain and her great aunt being...

“It was as if I never heard that before…”

Father Steve Petroff is a kind of survivor on the spiritual journey--a model for anyone who believes that if you work hard and stay close to God, doors that appeared closed will open. Just before his ordination as a Paulist...

God’s Talent Scout

Though Paulist Father Dat Tran embraces Jesus’ instruction to be a “fisher of men,” he’s learned that the harvest may not come overnight and to trust in the work of the Holy Spirit. In this interview, he speaks about transitioning...

A Distinct Call – Paulist Fr. Mike Cruickshank

Paulist Fr. Mike Cruickshank is an associate pastor at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew and associate director of the Catholic Information Center, both in GrandRapids, MI. In this interview with Emanuele Sesta, he shares his vocation story and more. To...

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George Groetsch and Susan Polowczuk

Susan Polowczuk (57) interviews her dad, George B. Groetsch (83) about his family history.

Dave and Maureen’s Love Story (01/08/23)

This love story of David Island (1931) and Maureen Munger Island (1948), married in 1970 was recorded on Sunday, January 8, 2023 in Battleground, Washington by their son, Tom Island.

Missionary of Mercy – Paulist Fr. Bruce Nieli

This interview provides glimpses into the wonderful life and rich ministry of #Paulist Fr. Bruce Nieli, who celebrated his 50th #ordination anniversary this past May. Ordained a #priest on May 5, 1973, Fr. Bruce is part of our #preaching apostolate,...

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Robynn Reilly and Regina [No Name Given]

One Small Step partners Robynn Reilly [no age given] and Regina [No Name Given] (53) talk about faith, racial issues in the US, and the importance of communicating across difference. They reflect on finding opportunities to discover and rebuild their...

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Karen Robu and Teresa Kerwick

One Small Step partners Karen Robu (55) and Teresa Kerwick (70) sit down for a conversation about 9/11's impact on theirs and the world's spiritual needs, joining and lapsing in faith, and their thoughts on abortion.

An evangelist “reaching the unreached”

Paulist Fr. Kenneth "Ken" Boyack is vice president of the Paulist Evangelization Ministries, which has the tagline, "Reaching the Unreached in Faith." In this interview, he describes that work as well as intimate pivotal moments of his faith journey--including an...

A welcoming experience of the Church – Paulist Fr. Joe Scott

Paulist Fr. Joe Scott recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination as a #priest. Fr. Joe served in campus ministry for much of his first decades as priest. He was also an associate editor at Paulist Press from 1998...