For our last episode of Season 4:
Fr. Mattingly sits down with Rey Wilkinson, where Rey shares about making his way back to the Catholic Church through the graces of great communities in Kansas City. Rey was raised Catholic by his grandma and mom, though he sparingly went to Mass. Upon graduating college, he moved to Kansas City and through a few invitations got connected with a good community of young adults.
Rey attributes the his reversion to the Church through the intentionality of the communities that he found in Kansas City, friendships that centered on a pursuit of holiness... rather than the current secular trend! Rey's radical openness to say yes to invitations, which allowed Rey to encounter Christ through community. (Matthew 18:30, "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”)
Show Notes:
- Mir House of Prayer (St. Joseph): 24-hour adoration chapel
- Morning Glory Ministries: a local ministry for homeless
- Saint Paul's Outreach: young adult community
- Young Catholic Professionals: Kansas City Chapter
Justin & Kaylene Brown sit down with Fr. Mattingly, to share of their individual testimonies which coincide in a mutual conversion to the fullness of the Catholic Church. Justin grew up in a small town, with a lively Catholic Church, but Justin notes that there seemed to be a general sense of culture over faithfulness. Kaylene grew up in a home with one Catholic parent and one non-Catholic parent.
Justin and Kaylene had their own experiences and encounters with the Lord prior to meeting one another - confirmation retreats, Teens Encounter Christ, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and more. Their story culminates in meeting one another (hint: on St. Patrick's Day while in college). From this point, Kaylene began to experience healing from her brokenness and eating disorder while dating Justin. Justin allow Kaylene to be a source of truth in his life, which led to a full belief in Catholicism. Tune in to hear how their pursuit of sainthood continued in marriage.
Miss Catherine Kluempers hailed from Atchison, KS to sit down with Fr. Mattingly and Taylor Furrer. This episode is steeped with goldmines of truth and encouragement in learning to more clearly hear the Father's voice in prayer! Catherine started off with a story of when she was in kindergarten. When asked what she would want to be when she grew up, she answered 'Saint Catherine of the Rainbow' spreading joy wherever she goes. And it is true that she does so!
Catherine shares of her realization of how important prayer is, that without daily prayer we lack a necessary piece of our relationship with the Lord. She notes the perseverance it took to cultivate the habit of prayer - through reading good books and conversing good friends. Catherine notes that in Time for God, she read that the devil will stop at nothing to distract us from prayer... and that alone ought to prove how important prayer alone is!
Show notes:
Madi Abbott shares of her humble beginnings on a farm in Oklahoma, learning to love the simplicity of life. Before too long, she fell into the allure of secular success and desire to be the best in all she did. At the beginning of high school, a broken foot led to being benched for the season... and Madi shares that one by one, her idols were smashed!
Through life experiences, Madi has learned that the Lord did not need to create her... but He did, and continues to give gift after gift in her life! Madi reflects that in the midst of the day to day, it can be easy to allow suffering to distract us and detract from the gifts we receive... but suffering can be embraced as a gift, too! A true conversion that her broken foot allowed her to embrace suffering and allow her idols to be smashed - that she might live life more fully.
Esteban Rubio sits down with Father Mattingly to share of his conversion from a protestant to Catholic in his recent past. After growing up in Houston and moving to Kansas City to attend a Bible School, his mind opened up to receive answers he was seeking.
Through his formation in Bible School, he began asking some big questions and seeing robust answers: Who is Jesus Christ, What defines the Trinity, What is the Church. Which led him to entering into the Catholic Church in 2019. Esteban shares of his first experiences with the Sacraments as a Catholic.
Miss Samantha sits down with Fr. Mattingly and Taylor Furrer, to share how in childhood she experienced, first, and intellectual conversion. Having been raised Catholic, she was exposed to transcendental media and had a great love of reading. Moving from high school to college, she experienced her first realm of temptation - having a lot of choices to make on her own for the first time.
Through her time at Purdue University, Sam experienced conversion on many levels. She was recruited to join the swim team, which provided opportunities for growth in humility, some genuine friendships, and, most importantly, that she is lovable despite all that she does - she is lovable just by her being!
Nick and Maddie Occhiogrosso, both transplants from the Northeast, sit down with Fr. Mattingly to share their stories of conversion.
Maddie recalls never really doubting her faith in Jesus, even from childhood, attributed to a nurturing beginning and firm family foundation. Nick, too, grew up in a family rooted in the Catholic Church... though he shares of his overcoming of the vice of pride. Together they speak to their dating relationship and the temptations they faced, and the very radical steps they took to preserve the chastity and sanctity of the nature of their relationship!
Now residing in Kansas City with their six kids, speak to living a simple, low-tech life and how that allows a sense of silence. Both Nick & Maddie share their personal pursuits of holiness, but how it naturally spills over into their family life overall. But don't fret, the episode rounds out with sharing the craziness of family life!
Show Notes:
Allie Freese vulnerably shares of her conversion, which took place over time and included a conversion of the heart and then the head. Allie's conversion of heart stemmed from accepting that she struggles with depression and had to work to love herself when it seemed most difficult. Allie has a unique perspective, having had personal experience, but is now studying to become a counselor!
Allie's conversion of head soon followed with newfound free time when COVID-19 struck, as she dove into understanding the inner-workings of her being and how the Lord created her with a unique dignity of being a woman! Allie now works at a local ministry for the homeless, and through her own conversion has a heart for honoring the dignity of each soul she encounters!
Show Notes:
Fr. Chad Ripperger
Michael Collins hangs out with Fr. Mattingly and shares about his life story, from having been raised Catholic to needing to develop Faith in Jesus and the Church for himself.
At the very end of college, Michael shares that for about one year he did not identify as Catholic. Michael shares some deep reflection on the top three reasons why he strayed from the Faith, but notes that good friendship saved him. Michael shares how he and friends continue to band together and pursue the Lord together, specifically through reading scripture together!
Michael is overall upbeat and positive, a friend you'd want to have! In fact, you can attend his Small Get-Together, Frozen Fellowship, every Monday this summer. Frozen Fellowship is quite literally building friends over ice cream! The perfect summer event :)
Show notes:
Fr. Mattingly sits down behind the voice of the City on a Hill Podcast intro & outro - Seth Slayman and his wife, Tori. They welcomed their first baby boy, John, just a few weeks prior to this podcast release!
Seth shares about his conversion over time, which led him toward the vocation of marriage with Tori. While Tori shares how she experienced a conversion over time, which now allows her to see the daily opportunities each day to grow in holiness.
Show Notes:
Frequent Confession by Benedict Baur
Lauren Bauer shared with Fr. Mattingly and Taylor Furrer about her own conversion of heart, which began with her head and then moved to her heart. After having been raised Catholic, Lauren's parents separated and attended different churches. Lauren was faced with a decision, but chose to remain Catholic and defend the faith with her knowledge.
After reading a book about Pope Saint John Paul II, Lauren's head learned that Jesus is a friend and desires relationship with her. So her heart followed her head, and began to dedicate her time in prayer, to be in relationship with Jesus. Lauren has continued to learn the delicate balance between knowing and loving Jesus.
Show Notes:
- Saint John Paul the Great: His 5 Loves by Jason Evert
- Morning Offering by St. Philip Neri: "Watch me, O Lord, this day; for, abandoned to myself, I shall surely betray thee."
- This Present Paradise: A Spiritual Journey with St. Elizabeth of the Trinity
Fr. Andrew Mattingly sits down with Diego Payan to share of his conversion, which hinged on a decision to begin attending daily Mass. One Monday evening, he wasn't sure if he would find a daily Mass to attend after a long day of work. After using MassTimes.org (shout out!), he found a quaint little chapel tucked in Kansas City, Kansas - the Little Sisters of the Lamb.
The Community of the Lamb is a humble little religious community, that is nestled in the streets of Kansas City, KS. Diego immersed himself in the community and became a young adults of the lamb. One thing led to the other, Diego sought healing, and he now desires to share the joy he receives from his faith with others. Join Diego and attend their young adult night on Monday evenings!
Show Notes:
- Small Get-Together: Monday Nights at Community of the Lamb
Shelby Hennen shares a very relatable testimony about placing her worth in accomplishments and her work. However, a sudden turn of events left her questioning her identity in Christ. When we place our worth in our treasures, rather than in God, and those things are taken away, it has the potential to lead to a pivotal moment in a person’s life. Tune in to hear how Shelby navigated these challenges and strives to live on mission every day. Shelby shares how she pursues a relationship with Christ in prayer and practical tips on how to live this out.
Andrew & Ellen Holzum sit down with Fr. Mattingly to discuss all the ways they are pursuing Sainthood in Kansas City! They each share how they eventually came to make the faith their own—sending each of them on the pursuit for Catholic community, which they ultimately found in City on a Hill. They both recently decided on a Plan of Life and share the benefits and struggles of sticking to it. Ellen also shares her practice of mental prayer and the personal apostolate she started at the Catholic school where she teaches.
Show Notes:
- "Rediscover Catholicism" by Matthew Kelly
- "Time for God" by Jacques Philippe
- "Theology for Beginners" by Frank Sheed
This week, Fr. Mattingly and Taylor Downey sit down with Jordyn Kukla as she shares how the Lord has pursued her heart over the last few years. Hear how Jordyn uncovered her feelings of unworthiness and the way it extended into her life. The promptings of the Lord and those around her pointed her towards a more accurate depiction of how God truly sees her. Jordyn shares the ways she worships the Lord daily and one thing she does to grow in humility that may surprise you! This episode is packed full of goodness and one you do not want to miss!
Show Notes:
- “Be Healed” by Bob Schuts
We are back with Season 4 of the City on a Hill Podcast! Kicking off the first episode is Dr. Luke Murray! He is the headmaster at Chesterton Academy in Kansas City! He shares how he first had an intellectual conversion during his early years of college, which was later followed by a heart conversion while attending Steubenville. Dr. Luke shares what lead him to his current position at Chesterton Academy and his heart behind it. If you are interested learning more about classical education, Dr. Luke and Fr. Mattingly discuss the differences between a modern education and the Chesterton model. He also shares the need for this form of education in our society today and the skills that it equips students with to not only benefit them in their professional lives, but set them on a path to Sainthood.
Show Notes:
- “The Everlasting Man” (1993) by G.K. Chesterton
As many may know, City on a Hill has been led by Father Andrew Mattingly as Director & Chaplain of City on a Hill since the summer of 2016. Through mutual discernment with Bishop Johnston and Fr. Mattingly, in the summer of 2021 City on a Hill became its own, independent lay apostolate. In light of this shift, one of the next goals was for the newly formed board of directors to hire a full-time lay director. It is only fitting that a lay apostolate would be led by a lay director, allowing an assigned chaplain to spend time bringing the Sacraments to the young adults and allowing a lay director to inspire the mission of young adults!
Catherine shares her testimony and how the Lord has been ever present in her life since a young age. Learn how Catherine shares her gifts to inspire those around her. She dives deep into what it means to seek healing in the Lord and how to identify charisms in others. Catherine also shares some of her favorite books and resources to continue to grow and learn more about the Catholic faith daily. Continue to pray for Catherine as she begins her new role as Director of City on a Hill!
Show Notes:
- "Interior Freedom" by Jacques Philippe
- "I Believe in Love: A Personal Retreat Based on the Teaching of St. Therese of Lisieux" by Jean C. J. d'Elbee
- "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis
Jeff Shields sits down with Fr. Mattingly to chat about how his faith has been strengthened over the years. Jeff shares how he is striving for holiness on a daily basis by acknowledging that every person we encounter is a child of God. Changing his perspective has deepened his own faith and relationships with those around him.
Show Notes:
- Tuesdays at the Boulevard : 6 times a year, 200+ young adults attend Mass together, complete with beautiful music. Following Mass, we walk across the parking lot Boulevard Brewery and it costs $15 for Waldo pizza and Boulevard beer. Check out the link for more information!
- Band of Brothers is a community of men who meet regularly in small groups to hold each other accountable in pursuing holiness in the modern world. Email bandofbrothers.coah@gmail.com if you have questions or want to sign up.
Madison Allen shares her journey with Christ as he revealed himself to her in a number of unique experiences. She speaks about her time of discernment and what it was like to transition back to “normal” life after living at the Madonna House in Ontario, Canada for a brief time (an apostolate of a Catholic community of men, women and priests, dedicated to loving and serving Jesus Christ in all aspects of everyday life).
Madison continues to serve those around her in the little ways and by bringing Christ to those who may be lonely. She is continually on mission to do what delights the heart of the Father.
Show Notes:
- Essence of Prayer by Ruth Burrows
- The Community of the Lamb in Kansas City
- 33 Days to Merciful Love by Fr. Michael Gaitley
After a few impactful experiences in his classical high school education & Great Books program, Gabe LeBeau started on an intellectual pursuit which lead him to want to study philosophy at Benedictine College in Kansas. Most people are drawn to one of the transcendentals—truth, beauty, and goodness. Gabe realized he specifically encounters the Lord through pursuing Truth, which has guided him along the way.
After College, Gabe has since moved to Kansas City and is currently studying to be a doctor at KU Med. He is pursuing a path to Sanctity through the medical field and with the intent to regain the integrity of the medicine. Gabe shares how conversations with his peers in med school have allowed him to dive into Catholic principles, appealing to them through the transcendentals.
Show Notes:
- City of the Lord – Catholic Charismatic Covenant Community
- The Republic by Plato
- Benedictine College in Atchison, KS
- Catholic Medical Student Association at KU Medical
- Confessions by St. Augustine
