In this month’s episode, host Genevieve O’Connor dives into the topic of marriage in the Catholic Church, just days before her own wedding. O’Connor speaks to the Allentown Diocese’s Director of Marriage and Family Life, Rhady Tulloch, and her husband David Tulloch. The couple share the ideals and expectations they had for their parenting roles going into their marriage, and how a strong scriptural foundation helped those ideas strengthen and develop when God blessed them with children....

The Catholic Parents Podcast “Reading, Willing, and Able,” is coming up on its one-year anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, host Genevieve O’Connor MFA, MTS sits down again with her first ever guest, Dr. Mike St. Pierre. O’Connor and St. Pierre discuss the success of the podcast, noting its Honorable Mention from the Catholic Media Awards. But the real reason they do the show, they emphasize, is to serve Catholic parents in the Diocese of Allentown, and to help them see how faith is w...

In this month's episode, host Genevieve O'Connor M.F.A., M.T.S. invites the Diocese of Allentown’s Director of Vocations, Rev. John Maria, to speak about vocation and discernment as it pertains to parents and their kids. Some parents struggle to help and to trust during their children’s journey to discover their Vocation, so Fr. Maria offers the reminder that everyone is primarily called to holiness. He encourages parents to focus on instilling that call to holiness in their children, predict...

This month's episode of Ready, Willing, & Able takes inspiration from Bethlehem Catholic High School's Baseball team's Bible Study, and explores how athletics and faith can feed and support each other. Host Genevieve O'Connor, MFA, MTS sits with the chair of the Bishop's Commission for Young Adults, John Pellosie, and Commission member Adrian Anatalio, DPT to discuss. The Commission for Young Adults has emphasized sports this summer, including a weekly volleyball game. Pellosie and Anatal...

In this month's episode, Genevieve O'Connor M.F.A, M.T.S. asks Diocesan Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Zelenda Hodgskin, how to rescue our focus on faith when summer swoops in to ruin our routines. Hodgskin has lots of practical and anecdotal advice for how to keep the faith alive in our families through the summer, suggesting that parents host faith-themed movie nights and set aside special sacred spaces in the home. O'Connor also asks about keeping faith going when we are on va...

Genevieve O'Connor, M.T.S., M.F.A meets with Maggie Riggins, Executive Director of Evangelization and Formation for the Diocese of Allentown, to talk about how holiness is possible in any state in life. While some people worry that their lifestyle doesn't permit holiness (parents don't have time to spend 6 hours in prayer like a monk might!), Catholic Tradition reveals that EVERYONE is called to holiness. Riggins offers insight into how this holiness is possible by introducing "Salesian...

Genevieve O'Connor, MFA, MTS explains that Lent is all about making us better lovers, and therefore better reflections of the image of God in us. In a way, she says, Lent helps us to be MORE human in the way that God designed. Even two weeks before Easter, at the time of this episode release, O'Connor argues that it is not too late to ponder Lent and renew our efforts of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. She offers parents an understanding of the reasoning behind these practices of the Church ...

Genevieve O'Connor, MFA, MTS, is joined by Sister Immaculata Marie Policare to discuss the spiritual and practical importance of reading in Catholic families. Sister suggests that every encounter with Truth in the written word is an encounter with Jesus who is The Word. They discuss testimonies and research to highlight the benefits of reading for children of all ages. Genevieve and Sister agree that stories can play an important and helpful role in the moral formation of children and even co...

Modesty can be a tough topic to discuss, especially with children and teenagers. Genevieve O'Connor, MFA, MTS and Dr. Mike St. Pierre open the episode with encouragement for parents. Modesty is important, and it IS possible to talk about it with both girls and boys. Later, Genevieve sits down with guest Lillian Fallon, author of Theology of Style: Expressing the Unique and Unrepeatable You and Ascension Presents Presenter. Genevieve and Lillian discuss 1) best strategies for approaching the t...

Genevieve O'Connor, MTS, MFA sits with David Bereit, founder and former CEO of 40 Days for Life, and his wife Margaret Bereit, an educator with over twenty years experience, to discuss the liturgical season of Advent. They explain what Advent means, why it is so important for our culture today, and how families and children can benefit from diving deep into Advent. Margaret also shares tons of amazing resources and ideas for parents to bring Advent into the home for their kids. See Margaret B...

Genevieve O'Connor, MTS is joined again by Dr. Mike St. Pierre. They discuss politics, particularly in the throes of this election season, and how parents can and should engage the subject as Catholics with their children. Mike underlines the importance of forming Children in patriotism, and shares how even negative political propaganda can be used as a tool for teaching truthfulness and digital citizenship. Genevieve and Mike also present insights from the US Conference of Catholic Bish...

Genevieve O'Connor, MTS sits down with Dr. Michael St. Pierre, Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Allentown, to discuss how parents educate in the faith. Mike points out that the Church refers to families as the "Domestic Church," and underlines the importance of praying as a family. To help parents be true spiritual leaders in their homes, Mike suggests to parents that they develop a family prayer routine with both consistency and variety. Genevieve and Mike also discuss th...