Detroit Stories

As Michigan's sports gaming industry reaches new heights, moral theologians and addiction experts weigh in on a Catholic's responsibility(0:02)The narrator tries (tongue-in-cheek) to interest the listener in various bets related to sporting events this year — the Super Bowl, Final Four and Kentucky Derby — to make a point about the prevalence of sports gambling since Michigan legalized the practice in 2020.(1:53) As Michigan sports betting operators raked in millions last year, Catholics might well be wondering: Can a Catholic in good standing place a bet? And are there limits and sins to be aware of?(3:30) Listeners meet Fr. Patrick Kelly, SJ, professor of religious studies at the University of Detroit Mercy and an expert on sports and spirituality. Fr. Kelly discusses the value of sport from a religious and human perspective, including what the popes have said on the subject.(6:07) Fr. Kelly warns about the temptation to view sports as a means to other ends: glory, money and fame among them. When a person gambles on sports, he or she loses the focus on the team and community, instead thinking about what he or she might gain.(8:39) But is gambling immoral? The narrator introduces moral theologian Fr. Peter Ryan, SJ, of Sacred Heart Major Seminary, to answer that question.(9:48) Fr. Ryan quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which says gambling is not “contrary to justice” as long as certain conditions are met: namely, that a person doesn’t gamble in excess of what he or she can afford to lose — including meeting one’s obligations to oneself, one’s family and those in need. A person must also be careful not to become addicted, Fr. Ryan says.(13:23) On the subject of addiction, listeners are introduced to Jeff Henrich, CEO of Guest House, an addiction treatment facility for clergy and religious in Lake Orion. Henrich discusses how addiction begins, the warning signs to watch for, and how concerned family members can broach the subject.(15:49) Henrich talks about the fact that gambling addiction is on the rise among young people, primarily due to two factors: a willingness to engage in risky behaviors that’s more prevalent among the young, and the ubiquitous access to smartphones and mobile technology.(18:12) Fr. Ryan discusses the need to weigh carefully the temptations to addiction before engaging in gambling, especially if one knows they have a predisposition. One also ought to consider whether gambling brings joy, or simply detachment, Fr. Kelly adds, suggesting the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola can help people discern.(20:30) Henrich recommends listeners turn to prayer when looking for guidance about gambling. Like anything in the Christian life, placing one’s faith in God and following His commandments is the surest bet for keeping a clean conscience.Reporting by Daniel Meloy; script by Michael Stechschulte; narration and production by Ron PangbornThis episode is sponsored by Michigan Catholic Conference. Visit micatholic.org/signup to join the Catholic Advocacy Network. You’ll receive email updates and action steps to have your Catholic voice heard on bills in the Michigan House and Senate that impact human dignity and the common good.Listen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on DetroitCatholic.com.

Four women religious tell their stories about what brought them to the convent — and why sisterhood is still a vocation worth considering(0:14) We meet Sr. Nancyann Turner, OP, a member of the Adrian Dominican Sisters for more than 60 years. She hints that over that time, her life has never been what she’d describe as “boring.”(2:21) The listener learns about National Catholic Sisters Week. Begun in 2015 and celebrated March 8-14, the week honors women religious for their faith, dedication and service to the Church and humanity.(3:05) We learn about Sr. Nancyann’s vocation, which began when Catholic nuns and sisters were much more common than they are today. Sr. Nancyann describes the evolution of religious life since her first profession at age 18 — including her own transformation.(5:59) After recounting her many stops and ministries, Sr. Nancyann describes her passion project, the Rosa Parks Children and Youth Program, which she founded 20 years ago. The program helps inner-city youths resist violence and become the best version of themselves through art, dance, music and education. (8:20) Listeners are introduced to Sr. Felicity Marie Madigan, CSSF, a younger sister in her mid-40s. Sr. Felicity’s vocation started as a child, when she and her twin were surrounded by religious sisters growing up. Sr. Felicity describes a pivotal moment in her life — her father’s diagnosis with cancer — and how that impacted her decision to enter the convent.(12:30) Sr. Felicity describes her ministry as a combination of prayer and work — just like St. Francis of Assisi, whose charism the Felicians emulate. She describes her work with the Deo Gratias Café, an outreach program at St. Jude Parish in Detroit, as a manifestation of her thankfulness to God for her vocation.(15:46) Sr. Carla Reyna, a 35-year-old member of a new religious community, the Women of Jesus’ Merciful Passion, enters the story. Sr. Carla describes the fledgling community’s commitment to a ministry of prayer and hospitality through the Shrine of Jesus the Divine Mercy in Clinton Township.(19:35) Sr. Carla describes how, as a young person entering religious life in the 21st century, her decision wasn’t accepted by everyone. As a college student, she had questions about life and faith, but a reckoning with “truth” changed her perspective.(22:03) Sr. Carla’s decision caused her to lose friends, but she doesn’t regret it. She prays for them, and recounts the many blessings of religious life — including reactions from those she meets for the first time.(24:11) We meet a fourth woman religious, Sr. Dominic Maria St. Michael, OP, a member of the Cloistered Dominican Sisters at the Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament in Farmington Hills. Sr. Dominic and about two dozen other sisters spend their lives in prayer and community, interceding for the world.(26:03) The narrator describes the cloistered nuns’ typical day, which, despite the stereotype of cloistered life, is anything but “peace and quiet.” (27:44) Sr. Dominic discusses the importance of the prayer apostolate, expressing her hope that others will learn more about the nuns’ way of life and imitate their prayer — just as they are imitating Jesus’ prayer. (30:43) The reporter asks Sr. Dominic for her response to the notion that “contemplative life must be so boring.” Sr. Dominic laughs. They don’t know what they’re talking about, she says.Reporting by Casey McCorry; script by Michael Stechschulte; narration by Emily Mentock; production by Ron PangbornThis episode is sponsored by Michigan Catholic Conference. Visit micatholic.org/signup to join the Catholic Advocacy Network. You’ll...

Doctors told Nora Mies' parents her seizures as a newborn meant she wouldn't live a normal life; then, they prayed to Blessed Solanus Casey(00:02) We meet 9-year-old Nora Mies, a student at St. Michael’s School in Livonia.*(00:24) Nora’s dad, Patrick Mies, talks about how Nora excels in school, in her many sports and extracurriculars, and how she shines socially and spiritually. However, Nora is different from other girls her age in that her hero isn’t a pop star or cultural icon – Nora looks up to Fr. Solanus Casey. Nora’s devotion to Fr. Solanus is deeply personal, as she almost wasn’t the thriving young girl she is today. Norah believes she is a miracle girl. (1:41) Nine years ago, Patrick and Shelby Mies waited in a delivery room preparing for the birth of their firstborn. The delivery was difficult, and the doctors were concerned for newborn Nora. Nora was having a seizure caused by a stroke covering a large part of her brain — an extremely serious situation for a newborn — and doctors whisked her away for emergency care. (3:48) Nora spends the days following her seizure in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU). The Mies are told Nora has the type of brain bleed that disrupts normal blood flow, depriving the brain of oxygen and resulting in brain cells dying. This is associated with a high mortality rate and neurological deficits, and the couple is told Nora will likely never walk or talk.(6:39) The narrator introduces Brother Thomas, a Capuchin friar at the Solanus Casey Center in Detroit. He talks about Nora’s hero, Blessed Solanus, a simple priest who served as the doorkeeper for the monastery. (8:27) Solanus’ superiors begin to notice that people who come to the friar for prayer often experience miraculous physical or spiritual healing, Brother Thomas says. After his death in 1957, devotion to Fr. Solanus exploded, and people continued to pray for his intercession. A cause for his sainthood is investigated and in 2017, he was declared “Blessed.” (9:32) One of the thousands devoted to Fr. Solanus during his lifetime was Patrick Mies’ grandfather, resulting in a devotion passed down to Patrick himself. (10:41) Flashing back to the hospital, Patrick and Shelby leave the NICU hungry for spiritual guidance and solace. They take Nora to the tomb of Fr. Solanus at St. Bonaventure and request a blessing for Nora. The Mies leave St. Bonaventure with the assumption that nothing had changed, but an overwhelming sense of peace. (12:30) To everyone’s surprise, Nora reaches her developmental milestones and begins doing well. The Mies decide to stop using special education services, and her doctors tell the couple that Nora is “a miracle child.”(14:13) Today, Nora is a healthy, thriving girl. She has just turned 10 years old, and there are no repercussions from what happened to her at birth. (14:30) The Mies talk about their renewed devotion to Blessed Solanus Casey, to whose intercession they attribute Nora’s healing. Nora is enthusiastic about her connection to Fr. Solanus, and the family talks about the story often. (15:59) Patrick talks about how Fr. Solanus was an ordinary person with extraordinary faith who can lead believers and nonbelievers alike to Christ.*Although Nora was 9 years old at the time of recording, she recently turned 10.Reporting by Gabriella Patti; script by Casey McCorry; narration and production by Ron PangbornThis episode is sponsored by Michigan Catholic Conference. Visit&nbsp;micatholic.org/signup&nbsp;to join the Catholic Advocacy Network. You’ll receive email updates and action steps to have your Catholic voice heard on bills in the Michigan House and Senate that impact human dignity and the common good.Listen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on&nbsp;<a...

How a once-juvenile lifer found redemption by finding the good in himself, with the help of a Catholic deacon(0:00) We meet James Thomas, a.k.a. “Jaymo,” who shares a memory of his younger life. He was 15, entering the juvenile justice system, and a psychologist at his trial — whom he’d only met briefly — described him for the court. It was the first time he was in trouble, but he was written off as a “sociopath” — a young man with no hope, no future. Jaymo disagreed.(1:57) Jaymo describes how this formative experience shaped who he ended up being — but not in the way the court expected.(3:38) Jaymo talks about his upbringing, being raised by his grandmother until he was 6 years old because his mother — who had him when she was 13 — was too young to care for him. His father, then 16, was in juvenile prison when Jaymo was born. He would only see his father six times in his life.(4:34) Jaymo and his mother moved to Georgia, where his mother worked at an Army base. She married and had another son. He describes this part of his life as a “middle class suburban life,” where he wanted for very little.(5:03) It wasn’t until his mother and her husband became caught up in the drug trade that things began to fall apart. His mother — like many members of his family — was incarcerated, and Jaymo and his brother moved back to Detroit.(6:40) Left to fend for themselves, Jaymo and his brother began selling drugs. After about a year, he was arrested and given a sentence of life in prison. It was then that Jaymo realized that if he wanted a second chance in life, he’d have to seize it. (8:48) We meet Deacon Mike Chesley, executive director and the founder of the Wayne County Jail Outreach Ministry, who has devoted his life and ministry to helping those in Jaymo’s circumstances.(10:47) Deacon Mike describes his first visit to a prison, and how much the inmates appreciated the chance to talk to a Catholic chaplain, have Bible studies, Communion services and pray. Some even joined RCIA.(13:18) Because of his love for those incarcerated, and his belief in the human capacity for redemption, Deacon Mike worked to develop ways to help those recently released from prison adapt to life on the outside, including the Wayne County Jail Outreach Program.(16:24) Jaymo re-enters the story. He was released from prison after 31 years behind bars after the Michigan Supreme Court ruled sentencing minors to life in prison was “cruel and unusual.” He describes how his prison experience changed him for the better. He prayed, became a spiritual mentor to other inmates, earned his GED and began to pick up the pieces. He became connected with Chance for Life, a similar outreach program whose volunteers help inmates like Jaymo.(19:14) After his release, Jaymo began working with Deacon Mike to help others in similar situations fight to become the best versions of themselves.Reporting, scripting and narration by Casey McCorry; production by Ron PangbornThis episode is sponsored by Michigan Catholic Conference. Visit&nbsp;micatholic.org/signup&nbsp;to join the Catholic Advocacy Network. You’ll receive email updates and action steps to have your Catholic voice heard on bills in the Michigan House and Senate that impact human dignity and the common good.&nbsp;Listen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Google Podcasts, or&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5y9FtpYJvcWamdyudZUKLz?si=jA5Vud_BT5WKF4tvLOR0Rw" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Mercy High alum Sheri Crawley created a club exclusively for black and brown girls to give them an empowering place to call their own(00:03) Mercy High School alum, Sheri Crawley was celebrating her daughter’s birthday at the Chicago American Girl store where the girls were allowed to each pick out a doll to sit with them during the birthday brunch. To Sheri’s surprise, the four black girls in the group didn’t choose dolls that represented their own reflection; instead, they came back with blonde-haired, blue-eyed white dolls. Sheri realized to her dismay that the only black doll available was of a former slave. (2:00) The experience at the American Girl store prompted her to take action and find a way to help little black and brown girls see and believe in their inherent dignity and change the narrative being fed to these girls. (2:30) In 2010, Sheri was a successful, social entrepreneur living in Chicago with her husband and two daughters. After receiving bad news about a family member’s health, Sherri found herself uprooting her family to go back to Detroit to start anew. Sheri realized that whatever she did next, she needed to help others and make an impact on her community. (5:10) Sheri’s family relocates to a suburb outside of Detroit, where her daughter started kindergarten. In their new primarily white suburb and school, Sheri saw her intelligent daughter’s self-esteem plummet, something that Sheri herself could understand having been one of the few black girls at Mercy High back when she was a student. (6:30) Sheri overhears something which inspired her to start the Pretty Brown Girl Club and she buys the domain name and forms a business plan. Inspired by the experience at the doll store, Sheri decides to create a line of brown and black dolls, offering an alternative to the European standard of beauty pushed in magazines and even toy stores, With no products yet in hand, she brought the idea to the Detroit community to an overwhelming reception and show of interest. (9:00) Sheri realizes that the need for Pretty Brown Girl is bigger than she originally anticipated. Sherri decided to expand beyond dolls and merchandise and create a club model that would educate girls of color and create self-acceptance and social, emotional and intellectual well-being. (9:40) Within 18 months of formation, the club membership soared and over 200 clubs formed across the United States. Since then, membership and clubs numbers have increased exponentially. (10:40) Sheri discusses why it's important for girls of color to have this type of representation, especially from a young age. She talks about the false narratives fed to young girls of color and how she wants to reach these girls to help them understand their inherent dignity and beauty. (13:10) The narrator introduces one of the newest chapters of Pretty Brown Girl and the first-ever at a Catholic school to host a club – Sheri’s alma mater, Mercy High School.(13:20) We hear from Traci Smith, the first director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Mercy High School about the demographics of the school. Traci was instrumental in bringing Pretty Brown Girl to Mercy.(15:00) Sheri discusses how having the club at a Catholic school allows the Christian principles that went into the founding of the club to be spoken allowed in ways that they couldn’t be at a public school. (15:40) the narrator introduces Aisha Cunningham, a school counselor and the facilitator of Mercy’s Pretty Brown Girl Club. Aisha said that at the request of the girls, the club’s first topic of focus was mental health.(16:40) The Mercy club is now full of girls who are finding success and giving back to their communities, including Alexis Roberts who was the recipient of one of Sherri’s scholarships allowing her to attend Florida A&amp;M University – Sheri’s alma mater. Alexis discusses how the club helped her grow and...

How God's gentle nudge led one Detroit man to share his faith on street corners — and the idea spread like wildfire(00:03) Narrator sets the scene of what a typical St. Paul Street Evangelization outing may look like at Comerica Park in downtown Detroit.(01:00) Listeners are introduced to Steve Dawson, founder of St. Paul Street Evangelization, a Detroit-based grassroots nonprofit that focuses on evangelization and meeting people where they are — literally.(03:43) Steve explains how in 2012, he and his wife were noticing a lack of Catholic evangelists in Portland, Ore., where they lived, and wanted to do something about that.(04:51) The narrator describes those first days of evangelizing in Portland, and the reaction he received evangelizing in what might be the “least religious city in America.”(06:13) Listeners learn about Steve’s youth. Raised without any religion at all, Steve got in a lot of trouble. He doesn’t even remember how many times he’s been arrested, he said. (07:44) Steve talks about how his mother re-verted to the Catholic faith, but he wasn’t interested in the Church. (08:20) Steve describes his conversion to the faith, how God “gave him a supernatural grace to have the desire to search for Him.” That grace led to his desire to share God’s grace with the world. (11:07) Steve discusses those first evangelization opportunities, handing out Miraculous Medals and having conversations with random people about the faith, and how St. Paul Street Evangelization took off from those simple early conversations to form an apostolate spread across four countries. (15:02) Listeners are introduced to Bob Wilson, present-day director of St. Paul Street Evangelization, who describes his first evangelization outing at a “Noel Night” in downtown Detroit. (17:03) Evangelist Carol LaPalm describes how she got involved in street evangelization in Royal Oak. Evangelists rarely get the chance to follow up with the people they encounter with on the streets, the rest left in God’s hands.(19:59) Donna Spivey describes how she came into the faith because of the witness of St. Paul Street Evangelization. Donna describes how the interaction sparked something in her: a desire to explore the Catholic faith. (22:32) Donna describes previous experiences that turned her off to the Church, but adds how St. Paul Street Evangelization helped her feel welcome, explaining the faith in a way that is warm, inviting and enticing. (24:53) Donna says how much St. Paul Street Evangelization changed her life, her family’s life, and what it means to find faith in Jesus and wanting to share Jesus with others. (25:46) Steve and Bob talk about the great urgency for Catholics to evangelize, with God guiding each and every Catholic to proclaim the Gospel and further the Kingdom of God. Reporting by Daniel Meloy; narration and production by Ron Pangborn; script by Casey McCorryListen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on DetroitCatholic.com.

How a Christian service coordinator’s tragic passing brought a family of parishes together for ‘Mercy in Action’ (00:03): The narrator introduces Mercy in Action Day, where parishes in the six counties of the Archdiocese of Detroit mobilize to perform acts of service. (01:13) Listeners are introduced to St. Lucy Parish’s particularly robust Christian service ministry. This is due in large part to Donna Belli, the Christian service coordinator at St. Lucy’s, who served the parish for 12 years.(02:02) Fr. Jim Commyn, pastor of St. Lucy, explains how Donna was the kind of person who needed to be involved, needed to serve.(03:36) The narrator describes how Donna loved Mercy in Action Day, a celebration and culmination of all the things the parish did in Christian service year-round.(04:30) Christian service members and Fr. Commyn describe the extent of what Donna had planned for Mercy in Action Day.(05:27) A description of the expansive service project Donna Belli had planned for St. Lucy’s on Mercy in Action Day -- how Donna had planned for everything, including getting more volunteers, what to do if it started raining, or if the parking lot would have to be used for a funeral. Tragically, the funeral would end up being Donna’s own. (07:37) A St. Lucy’s Christian service member describes how Donna always went above and beyond, never saying “no.” (09:33) Donna’s family asked to have the funeral on Mercy in Action Day, but with everyone in the parish wanting to go to the funeral, Fr. Commyn called out to the community to make sure both could happen on the same day. (10:51) St. Isaac Jogues and Our Lady Star of the Sea parishioners come together to help for Mercy in Action Day at St. Lucy during Donna’s funeral.(14:32) Fr. Commyn talks about how “mercy in action” described Donna’s approach to life. (15:58) Parishioners talk about what can happen when parishes work together for a common good.(17:12) Fr. Commyn speaks to how the wider community effort is an example of what “Families of Parishes” can offer. (17:59) In a video message from earlier this year, Donna gives a reflection on the week’s reading from a March 2021 Mass, reflecting on God has put her on earth to help others.Reporting by Dan Meloy; narration by Andrew Kleczek; production by Ron PangbornListen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Google Podcasts, or&nbsp;Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on&nbsp;DetroitCatholic.com.

The importance of Catholic Central’s 77 year-long tradition, The Boys Bowl, is explained and elaborated on by the first hand experiences of a coach, athletic director, and most importantly, students.(00:02) The narrator begins to introduce Catholic Central’s long standing tradition of The Boys Bowl, noting how it’s much more than just a football game. (01:49) Part one: the history of The Boys Bowl. Catholic Central’s athletic director, Aaron Babicz, simply describes The Boys Bowl as a tradition and shares about the team’s very first opponent out of Nebraska 77 years ago.(02:06) The narrator describes in greater detail the history and evolution of The Boys Bowl, noting how it has been firmly established as a tradition promoting comradery, frenzied excitement, and blood-deep devotion to cheering on and supporting the team. (04:03) Part two: Catholic Central today. The narrator elaborates on how the tradition has evolved into a week-long celebration which culminates Catholic Central’s homecoming and of course, the game. Through this celebration, money is raised for varying charities and the students’ efforts are celebrated as a collective effort.(05:17) Jack Kirkwood, a senior and the drum major at Catholic Central, shares some examples of the frenzied excitement during this week-long celebration and explains why he considers it the most fun time of the year. (06:15) Senior center for the team, Jason Sod, gives some of the fun activities that take place during The Boys Bowl week. (07:08) Athletic director Aaron Babicz asserts how Catholic Central seeks to instill rich tradition and strong brotherhood in its students .(08:07) Part three: game day. Senior center Jason Sod and Senior quarterback Declan Byle share their excitement for The Boys Bowl returning this year after COVID and how they’re feeling on the long awaited game day. Coach Dan Anderson shares how his pep talks are all about remembering the team as a family and fighting adversity together. (09:58) The game begins and the narrator gives play-by-plays of different Shamrocks team members. The Shamrocks gain their seventh victory in a row, and Catholic Central goes wild. Coach Dan Anderson gives some feedback on how the players did, and athletic director Aaron Babisz shares his love for celebrating educational, faith-based athletics. The narrator reflects on society’s need to invest in something exciting and light-hearted, and that perfect thing is football.Editor’s note: The Boys Bowl was one of the highest attended football games in Detroit in the 1940s, not all of Michigan, as reported in the podcast.&nbsp;Detroit Catholic regrets the error.Reporting by Dan Meloy; narration by Casey McCorry; production by Ron PangbornListen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Google Podcasts, or&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on&nbsp;DetroitCatholic.com.&nbsp;

John Daraban shares his testimony of being a soul so far gone to the point of extreme hopelessness, led back onto the path of Christ through visions at St. Lawrence, an appearance from the Blessed Mother and Solanus Casey.(00:10) The narrator gives a preface to the story being shared on the Detroit Stories podcast, accrediting the production and hard work all to John Daraban, who will be sharing his testimony.(2:02) John describes what his home life and faith life looked like in his early upbringing. From his brother’s diverging interests of the faith to sharing his break up with a high school sweetheart, he walks the listeners through the history of his early years.(04:29) The narrator tells how John’s brother Rick begins to turn his life around for his son, Cody. Tragically, John gets into a devastating car accident, losing his brother Rick, and begins to cling to destructive coping mechanisms. This leads to the destruction of a mentally, physically and spiritually healthy life. (06:14) As the drugs began to take over, John’s soul became more and more lost. He began tirelessly searching for something to give meaning to his life, but looking in the wrong places--the bottom of a bottle, or the next high. He quickly began to lose everything, submitting to self-induced homelessness as his addiction habits became more demanding. (08:09) The narrator introduces an intense spiritual experience John has one freezing night spent homeless. John’s life was spared that night and he had a vision that he was inside of St. Lawrence's church. Although he had never been there or even knew how to get there, his heart yearned to find a way and live “to be more.” (10:54) John’s first impactful spiritual experience led him to desire sobriety, struggling to control his addictions in AA for three to five years. He needed something greater to help him overcome these struggles. One night spent at his parents’ home, The Blessed Mother appeared to him saying, “Your mother cannot lose another son.” From that moment, he never touched drugs or alcohol again. (15: 58) Sober John was doing better, but still was struggling to return to church, until one day, Fr. Solanus Casey appeared to him in a dream saying, “Come find me.” Shortly after, John saw Fr. Solanus, the monk he dreamt of, appear on TV and decided to venture out to his center in Detroit. (17:47) The narrator shares that the John that entered the doors of the Fr. Solanus Casey Center church for the very first time was seldom seen outside church after. He elaborates on John’s life going forward and how he strives to live his life “All for Jesus.”Reporting by Gabriella Patti; narration and production by Ron PangbornListen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Google Podcasts, or&nbsp;Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on&nbsp;DetroitCatholic.com.

Dcn. Steve Morello was uniquely positioned to serve the Lord and the American people in the aftermath of the tragedies of September 11th, 2001.(0:23) Dcn. Steve Morello pondered and prayed about why God had brought him to his job, until one day, six weeks into his tenure as General Counsel for the United States Army, when the answer became very clear.(1:30) We learn about Dcn. Steve’s background in law and what brought him to his position as the army’s General Counsel.(4:06) We discover more about what the Chief Legal Officer for the Department of the Army does, and what working in the Pentagon overseeing nearly 5,000 lawyers was like.(5:50) Dcn. Steve talks about flying to Virginia Beach on September 10th, 2001 for an onboarding seminar — and about his discovery there of the attack on the Pentagon on September 11th.(7:26) We discover the state of the Pentagon and the landscape to which Dcn. Steve returned on September 12th. He shares about his responsibilities in recovering from the event, both as General Counsel and as a deacon.(11:44) Dcn. Steve shares his experience celebrating Mass on the side of the Pentagon in the aftermath of the attack, and the profound encounter with the Lord he’d had through the eyes and experiences of the relief workers in attendance.(13:48) Dcn. Steve reaffirms the life-changing impact that Mass made on his ministry today throughout our archdiocese.Reporting by Dan Meloy; narration by Casey McCorry; production by Ron PangbornListen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Google Podcasts, or&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on&nbsp;DetroitCatholic.com.&nbsp;

Throughout a year of immense impact on society’s mental health, Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan has ensured that all those who seek help and care are able to find it.(0:17) We meet Lisa Elia, a behavioral health therapist at Catholic Charities, who introduces the symptoms of grief and loss that many teens and young adults have exhibited throughout the stretch of the pandemic.(3:27) We learn more about the state of mental health across the nation before the onset of COVID-19, and how the mental health care providers on the frontlines of the pandemic are struggling to avoid burnout themselves.(4:21) Lisa discusses the collective trauma people have experienced, with depression and anxiety spiking across all ages and demographics. She stresses the need to examine society in terms of trauma response and to refocus the way we think individually.(7:24) Jackie Smith, Clinical Director at Catholic Charities, talks about how their team of therapists has ensured that the 30% increase in clients they’ve seen during the pandemic have all been seen and cared for. She talks, too, about the need for new habits and routines to aid stability.(8:44) Lisa shares her belief that many people have turned back to faith during these difficulties, and emphasizes that the pandemic has changed the way we turn to our own support systems and increase mindfulness in our lives.(10:40) Lisa and Jackie stress the importance of talking about the losses in order to avoid minimizing our collective and individual experiences. In order to really get through something, they encourage, we have to feel it first.(12:29) Jackie commends the team of therapists at Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan, expressing her gratitude and amazement at this group of professionals who are committed to helping those in need.Reporting by Dan Meloy; narration by Michael Stechschulte; production by Ron PangbornListen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Google Podcasts, or&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on&nbsp;DetroitCatholic.com.&nbsp;

Sergio Lopez and Giovanni Vitale have a goal to empower men to join the conversation on Natural Family Planning.(0:03) We meet Sergio and Juanita Lopez and learn about their introduction to — and immediate skepticism of — Natural Family Planning. We also learn that their marriage faced trouble, and they were considering divorce when Juanita suggested NFP as a way to reconnect.(2:35) Sergio talks about the struggles he and Juanita were facing and their decision to try Natural Family Planning. Sergio was skeptical at first, but he shares how it illuminated the disconnect that he and Juanita were feeling and equipped them to start overcoming it.(6:18) Juanita and Sergio become certified NFP instructors; they also begin a Spanish course to remove barriers to the NFP Creighton model that the Spanish-speaking community previously faced. (8:08) Nicole Joyce, the Archdiocese’s Natural Family Planning Coordinator, discusses NFP’s main goals and how it can place the responsibility for pregnancy and childcare on both the husband and wife. We learn, too, about the gender disparity in interest in NFP and how a group of men in the Archdiocese of Detroit are working to shift that gap.(10:33) Giovanni Vitale, co-founder of Whole Mission, discusses the mutual understanding of shared responsibility that is integral for couples and families to thrive. He talks about the importance of praying with one’s spouse about the Lord’s call for the family, which begins with having a formed conscience. He also shares practical ways that men can become involved with fertility management.(15:00) Nicole talks about the earliest ways sexual responsibility can be formed and Natural Family Planning can be promoted, and the importance of discernment and intention in fertility discussions.Reporting by Gabriella Patti; narration by Maggie Bickerstaff; production by Ron PangbornListen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Google Podcasts, or&nbsp;Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on&nbsp;DetroitCatholic.com.&nbsp;

Ederique Goudia is on a mission to rescue the lost food of Detroit and turn it into beautiful meals for the city’s food insecure population.(0:22) Ederique Goudia is a chef, activist, and parishioner at St. Augustine-St. Monica Parish with a deep love of the people and community in both the parish and the city of Detroit.(4:16) We learn of the many organizations Ederique works with to help prevent food waste and feed the hungry, as well as how her love of food and gardening was fostered from childhood through time spent with her grandfather. (8:58) Ederique talks about her earliest experiences cooking and how food became a way to share love and build community in her southern Louisiana town. She mentions her childhood dreams of running a restaurant and the beauty she has found in the gardens of Detroit.(12:59) We hear of the reality of food insecurity in the city of Detroit. Enter Make Food Not Waste — a nonprofit that rescues food that would otherwise have been wasted and creates beautiful, upcycled meals for the food insecure.(15:52) Raphael Wright, Edrique’s friend, colleague, and fellow advocate in the fight against food insecurity, reflects on the impact Make Food Not Waste had during the pandemic — and especially during the holiday season.(17:59) Make Food Not Waste finds great success, having prepared 5,000 meals during Thanksgiving and 6,000 meals during Christmas. The organization provides 90 families per week with meals they can be proud to put on their tables.Links from this episode:Detroit Free Press Chevy Dealers Food FightersIn the Business of FoodFoodLab DetroitDetroit Food AcademyWhitney PlantationKeep Growing DetroitMake Food Not WasteReporting by Casey McCorry; narration by Emily Mentock; production by Ron PangbornListen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Google Podcasts, or&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on&nbsp;DetroitCatholic.com.&nbsp;

Discover Detroit’s best kept secret: the oldest free clinic in America with a commitment to doing the right thing.(1:12) In 1834, America’s first free clinic — and Detroit’s first hospital — was established to help those who’d contracted cholera. 100 years later, it became the Cabrini Clinic, a clinic focused on serving the poorest of the poor.(3:27) Nurse Practitioner Alisa Smith gives an example of how far patients come for help at Cabrini Clinic, Executive Director Tawana Neetles-Robinson shares how volunteer-based the clinic is, and we learn about the wide range of services they provide.(5:32) Former Executive Director Sr. Mary Ellen Howard talks about the clinic’s founder, Fr. Clement Kern, and his vision for the clinic and commitment to serving the blue-collar community.(8:12) Neetles-Robinson discusses the effect the pandemic had on the clinic and how they were still able to rise to the occasion, not canceling even a single clinical session and remaining dedicated to their patients. She talks about the outreach the clinic did to ensure that patients with chronic conditions still received the care they needed.(12:38) Smith and Neetles-Robisnon share some of the successes of their outreach efforts, including a recent increase in patients coming to the clinic for care, and Smith reaffirms the compassionate nature of Cabrini Clinic, a place that strives, in Fr. Kern’s image, to always do the right thing.Reporting by Daniel Meloy; narration by Casey McCorry; production by Ron PangbornListen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Google Podcasts, or&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on&nbsp;DetroitCatholic.com.&nbsp;

Despite growing up in a country and time of harsh religious persecution, Fr. Fred Kalaj still found and fell in love with the Gospel — even to the point of hearing and answering his call to the priesthood.(0:14) At just fifteen years old, Fr. Fred Kalaj was already pondering life’s toughest questions: why are we here? What is our purpose? What is death, and what comes next? He searched for these answers in the books of great Russian, French, and American authors, but one unexpected text would have all the answers he needed.(4:11) Fr. Fred talks about the changes the Albanian government began implementing during the 1960s and how churches and towns were repurposed — or just destroyed altogether. Practicing religion in public became a jailable offense.(10:24) After an earthquake hit Fr. Fred’s town of Shkodra, his brother, who works in construction, found a forbidden book tucked away in the debris of a local home. That book was the Gospel of Matthew, which he gave to Fred to read, and so many of Fr. Fred’s questions finally had answers.(14:17) Fr. Fred has felt the call to the priesthood, and he found the opportunity to seek asylum away from Albania and work toward his vocation in the United States.(17:07) Fr. Fred reflects on the graces of reading the Gospels time and time again and the new insight one gleans from each new reading. He talks of his constant prayer to God to make his heart and spirit new everyday, so that his vocation may be more than just a routine job.Reporting by Dan Meloy; narration and production by Ron PangbornListen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Google Podcasts, or&nbsp;Spotify&nbsp;. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on&nbsp;DetroitCatholic.com.&nbsp;

Graduation is always a milestone, but for St. Mary Catholic Central High School and the Goda family, this accomplishment has been a team effort with a lasting impact.(0:03) Graduation day is right around the corner, and this celebration is even more special for Jacob Goda and his parents, because Jacob has Downs Syndrome.(1:01) We learn about Jacob’s primary education in Monroe Public Schools, his desire to be a St. Mary Falcon, and how the St. André Bessette Inclusion Program at St. Mary Catholic Central High School helped make that dream reality.(2:41) We meet Zach Patterson, a popular athlete at St. Mary’s — and a friend and mentor to Jacob. He talks about his friendship with Jacob and how the school’s peer mentorship program works.(4:12) Kyle McElvaney, the program’s director, discusses the Inclusion Program’s goals and structure, and Amie, Jacob’s mom, mentions how this program differs from those in the public schools.(7:31) Jacob’s dad Steve talks about how they approached St. Mary to get this program started and the support they found from school administration. School principal Jason Linster discusses the Inclusion Program through the lens of St. Mary’s mission to provide a Christ-centered learning environment for all.(9:57) Zach reflects on Jacob’s joy and friendships, and Jacob talks about some of his favorite parts of school, from managing the girls’ baseball team to receiving his varsity letter for bowling to his favorite class: yearbook.(13:11) Jacob’s favorite teacher, Nancy Masuda, talks about Jacob’s role with the yearbook — how well he interviewed students, at first, and then how he grew into a great photographer, as well.(14:34) The Godas reflect on how Jacob has blossomed at St. Mary’s, and Nancy talks about the relationships St. Mary’s students have built with Jacob. (17:23) Zach, Nancy, and Kyle discuss what school would be like without Jacob. In short, it would simply not be the same.(20:33) Amie talks about the witness that Jacob can bear for not just the four other inclusion students who have joined the program, but for an even broader community.Reporting by Daniel Meloy; narration by Emily Mentock; production by Ron PangbornListen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Google Podcasts, or&nbsp;Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on&nbsp;DetroitCatholic.com.&nbsp;

When life threw Steve and Sue Francis challenge after challenge, faith in God was what helped them hope for better things.(0:24) We hear testimony of a long-awaited Easter for the Francis family, whose business experienced a fire that left everything unsalvageable.(1:56) Meet Steve and Sue Francis, owners of the Country Smoke House in Almont, MI, and how what started as a hobby bloomed into a business of over 80 employees and national reach.(5:54) Cheryl, one of the Smoke House’s employees, talks about the Francises are as employers, mentioning their dedication to and pride in their faith.(7:49) Steve and Sue face a series of challenges that flip their business — and their lives — on their heads.(10:10) After a fire that devastates the Smoke House, the Almont community gathered around Sue and Steve with parts to rebuild the building, hands to help work, and, most importantly, prayer.(14:58) The Smoke House reopens its doors to great success and support from the community, and Steve and Sue reflect on faith in God as the key thing that brought them through these trials.Reporting by Michael Stechschulte; narration and production by Ron Pangborn.&nbsp;Visit the Country Smoke House in Almont at&nbsp;www.countrysmokehouse.com.Listen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Google Podcasts, or&nbsp;Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on&nbsp;DetroitCatholic.com.&nbsp;

Meet Maddeline and Daris Bartolon — immigrants who got the miracle they prayed for, thanks to a community who decided they would be strangers no longer.(0:09) We meet Maddeline Lopez Bartolon, a 15-year-old choir member and parishioner at St. Gabriel in Detroit, who lives with a genetic condition called rickets.(1:40) We learn about the Bartolon’s home in San Marcos, Guatemala, and the urgency of their need to come to the United States for Maddeline’s medical treatment.(3:58) Kevin Piecuch, Executive Director at Southwest Detroit Immigration and Refugee Center, talks about some of the obstacles that face individuals and families trying to emigrate to the United States — and how long that can take.(7:06) Enter: Strangers No Longer. We learn about the organization’s goal to support immigrants and refugees, and how they rallied around Maddeline and Daris to help them remain in the United States at least long enough to complete Maddeline’s treatment.(11:03) Daris talks about the experience of receiving the deportation order and how at a loss she was for how to take care of Maddeline. Kevin then comes on board to make the Bartolons’ case to ICE.(14:35) Irma, Kevin, and other Strangers No Longer members made calls, wrote letters, and advocated on behalf of Daris and Maddeline to postpone their deportation and win a humanitarian parole for them.(16:59) Irma reflects on the moment they learned about the stay of deportation and what it meant for Maddeline and Daris. Kevin reflects on the change that a godly group of people can make when we raise our voices for a just cause.Links from this episode:Southwest Detroit Immigration and Refugee CenterStrangers No LongerReporting and narration by Casey McCorry; production by Ron Pangborn

For Fr. Zach and Fr. Drew Mabee, the bond of brotherhood led them not only to Catholicism, but to priestly vocations in Michigan, as well.(0:00) We meet Zach and Drew Mabee, priests of the Diocese of Lansing and Archdiocese of Detroit, respectively — and brothers. Two generally different siblings are bonded together by both brotherhood and priesthood.(2:03) Father Zach talks about what their protestant upbringing was like in Atlanta, and we learn how this changed when the family moved to Toledo and the boys started at a Jesuit school.(4:16) Zach attends the University of Michigan, where he joins a campus group that helps him continue fostering the spiritual care he’d nurtured in high school. This group, paired with his studies in philosophy, led him to Catholicism and, eventually, RCIA.(6:58) While his parents were skeptical at first, they eventually became tremendously supportive, and Zach enrolled at Sacred Heart Major Seminary and was ordained in 2015.(8:31) Meanwhile, Drew was chasing thrills as a very passionate motocross rider. This, however, eventually left him feeling a certain emptiness, one that his brother was able to help him fill.(11:34) After conversations and prayer with his brother, Drew’s big encounter comes in the form of a devastating motocross crash, and from then on he commits himself fully to getting to know the Lord.(13:31) After a post-grad breakup, Drew begins to realize that maybe the Lord is asking for more than he’d initially expected. He became Catholic in 2012, entered the seminary in 2014, and was ordained in 2020.(14:42) Drew and Zach both reflect on what an unparalleled gift it is to share the bonds of brotherhood and priesthood.Reporting by Gabriella Patti; narration by Casey McCorry; production by Ron Pangborn

Audrey Sutherland left her home, her family, and her job to minister in Atlantic City. Here’s what she learned from her Boardwalk ministry.(0:16) We meet Audrey Sutherland and learn about her rural upbringing and the culture shock she witnessed when moving to suburban Detroit, and the abrupt decision she made to leave her home and job to move to Atlantic City.(1:48) A brief overview of the Atlantic City lifestyle, and then Audrey introduces the primary struggle that people in Atlantic City experience: addiction.(3:54) Audrey reflects on why she moved to Atlantic City and the adventure that is following Jesus. Karen Ervin, former principal of St. Catherine of Siena, talks about Audrey’s love of God and the many ways she ministers to people.(6:30) Audrey shares about where her mission is located, right in one of the seediest areas of the city, and the grace of having the Blessed Sacrament in an area where it is so needed. She shares what their mission is really about: creating deep relationships with others through a ministry of presence, so that they may come to know the truth of God’s love for them.(8:35) We learn what an average day in the mission looks like, starting with the breakfast they offer to the homeless twice a week and the street evangelization they do. (10:15) Though there are a range of support groups available in the city to those in need, many don’t take advantage of them. Audrey shares that part of their mission is to help people recognize that they are worthy of love and they do deserve to get better.(11:54) Audrey reflects on what she’s learned about Jesus, life, and repentance through her mission work. She tells of a bilingual rosary they held leading up to St. Michael’s feast day, which had a significant impact on the community.(14:40) Audrey discusses the poverty that exists in Atlantic City — material poverty, yes, but also loneliness and inner poverty. She reflects on the inspiration of Mother Theresa and the changes people can make in the world even just by showing kindness.(17:27) Audrey considers what’s next for her, coming home to Michigan with no job lined up, and expresses her excitement at just letting the Lord lead her.(18:17) Karen testifies to Audrey’s missionary spirit and her boldness in answering the call to unleash the Gospel. Audrey reflects on the union we strive for with Christ, and the ways we can create heaven on earth by letting God move in our lives.Reporting by Gabriella Patti; narration and production by Ron PangbornListen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Google Podcasts, or&nbsp;Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on&nbsp;DetroitCatholic.com.&nbsp;

The story of one couple’s experience revitalizing a failing marriage, and how they’ve become leaders of metro-Detroit’s marriage-saving Retrouvaille ministry.(0:00) Meet Mark and Betty Squier, a couple on the eve of their 19th wedding anniversary — and on the brink of divorce.(1:25) Mark tells the story of how he and Betty met, when they got married, and of the five children the two have.(3:25) Both active in their parish, and with Betty a stay-at-home mom and Mark out working as a police officer, the two began living very separate lives, what Mark calls the “married singles” lifestyle.(5:37) We learn that Betty has had an affair, and Mark had a hard time forgiving. The marriage encountered more problems from there — Mark had an affair, too.(7:02) Betty became determined to live a better marriage and family life and began looking for programs to help her and Mark recover. The two eventually chose a weekend retreat that would prove much more challenging than expected.(10:49) The emotional turmoil from their retreat weekend left Mark and Betty in a state of mental duress, with Betty hospitalized from a nervous breakdown and Mark internally struggling with good and evil.(11:47) Years later, they began being more civil together, and they stopped talking of divorce. The two discuss learning about self-giving, communication, and love languages. (16:14) Mark and Betty are approached to help bring a Canadian marriage therapy program, Retrouvaille, to metro-Detroit, and through this process they discover the gift of healing through sharing their story.(18:09) Mark shares a metaphor of how we can open ourselves up to spiritual healing by “pouring out” our sins and speaking honestly and openly about them. He stresses that we are all still becoming the people we are going to be.(21:42) Mark and Betty are happily married, loving each other every day and every minute, and recognizing all that the other has to offer.Reporting by Gabriella Patti; narration by Casey McCorry, production by Ron PangbornListen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Google Podcasts, or&nbsp;Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on&nbsp;DetroitCatholic.com.&nbsp;

Mary Sue Terrasi embodied the pro-life movement so passionately that her efforts and impact still continue — even after her death.(0:27) Mary Sue Terrasi embodied everything Pope Francis refers to when he talks about “blue jean saints.” We learn about how she and her husband Bill met, and her high-risk pregnancy and Hodgkin’s diagnosis that led to some challenging decisions.(4:50) We learn of the beautiful twin girls Mary Sue had, and her daughter Elizabeth speaks about Mary Sue’s constant devotion to prayer, morning, noon, and night. (6:37) Bill reflects on Mary Sue’s career as a geriatric nurse and the copious volunteering she’d also do, specifically with pro-life organizations and senior centers. Their daughter Amy mentions the music therapy-type volunteer work the two would do together, and the joy and spirit Mary Sue brought to senior citizens.(10:04) Mary Sue’s real passion was for the pro-life movement. Bill and Amy share memories of Mary Sue’s gentle, compassionate outreach to women who were considering or recovering from abortions.(14:50) After Mary Sue’s death in 2019, Bill decided to start an organization that would uphold her legacy and further her passion. He created the Ius Vitae Mary Sue Terrasi Memorial Fund, a scholarship essay contest for young, pro-life students.Reporting by Dan Meloy; narration by Emily Mentock; production by Ron Pangborn

From humble yet musical beginnings through to a career as an international opera singer, Mary Callaghan Lynch is on a mission to bring opera to the students of Detroit.(0:17) We meet the Callaghan family, huddled around the TV watching Giancarlo Menotti’s opera Amahl and the Night Visitors.(2:19) We hear about Mary’s successful career as an international opera singer and her opportunity to perform Amahl for the 50th anniversary with the composer himself serving as maestro. We learn how this performance inspired her to form an educational opera company of her own.(5:10) Mary discusses her unique relationship as friend and voice coach to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.(7:15) We learn about all that goes into creating an opera experience of the highest quality to be brought to kids in schools, from singers to costumes to sets and beyond.(10:59) Donna Rhodes, former Superintendent of Redford Schools, addresses the skepticism that some felt toward the initiative, but she affirms the overwhelming positive reception.(14:00) We hear about the status of arts and music programs in schools today, and how Motor City Lyric Opera works to remedy that, bringing opera to over 70,000 students every year, and the notes and praise they’ve gotten in response.Reporting by Maggie Bickerstaff; production and narration by Ron Pangborn

From mobster to minister, Tom Naemi experienced a profound conversion to Christ from behind bars.(0:33) Tom Naemi discusses his plan to eliminate his rival’s grocery store — for good.(2:46) We learn more about Tom’s life growing up in Highland Park, how he started working with the family store, and the beginning of his rivalry with another local grocer.(6:37) Tom tells us how he fled to Baghdad to avoid arrest, and what awaited him when he eventually decided to come back.(8:39) Tom learns that being a good Christian might not have been quite as simple as he thought growing up, and he shares a profound encounter with God he had while in prison.(12:59) We hear about the beginnings of Tom’s ministry and his work to bring the love of Jesus closer to more of his inmates.(17:15) Vanessa, Tom’s biographer and friend, discusses what makes his story so compelling and the great work he’s done with his faith since leaving prison, including the healing he’s brought to those ailing mentally, physically, and spiritually.(19:28) Tom reflects on how his life has changed, and how God works at the exact right pace in the exact right ways.Reporting by Dan Meloy; narration by Andrew Kleczek; production by Ron Pangborn

The pandemic changed all our lives. Here’s how it affected those on the frontlines.(1:40) We look at the pandemic through the lens of FEMA’s shock cycle, which evaluates a community’s response to trauma. We begin with phase one: preparedness. (2:58) After some testimony from Laura, a woman quarantining alone, we hear from Kelly, an ER nurse on the front lines of treading patients. We then meet Nicole, mother of four who’s helping her kids with remote learning, and her son Sean, and Sam, the general manager at PAO Detroit, a restaurant that opened just before the pandemic hit.(6:15) We learn about phase two: the impact. Kelly, Nicole, Sam, and Laura discuss when the reality of COVID life set in, the challenges it presented — each person’s challenges and experiences unique — and how they each adapted to this “new normal”.(16:28) The third phase, disaster management, is exemplified in Sam’s testimony of how PAO helped Detroit and Detroit helped PAO back; Kelly’s story of neighbors and communities rallying around first responders; Laura’s reflection on the new opportunities for connection that came from the crisis; and Nicole’s affirmation that we are all truly rising from the ashes.(21:33) Phase four: recovery. We reflect on the ways we’ve all lived through the pandemic together and the persistent resilience of Detroit.Reporting by Casey McCorry, Maggie Bickerstaff and Emily Mentock; narration by Emily Mentock; production by Ron PangbornListen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Google Podcasts, or&nbsp;Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on&nbsp;DetroitCatholic.com.&nbsp;

The story of Michigan’s very own Santa school and how the true spirit of Christmas can change lives.(00:51) We meet John and learn about the St. Nicholas Institute, Michigan’s very own Santa school.(2:18) We learn a bit about John’s background, what brought him to the St. Nicholas institute, and what he found when he arrived.(3:46) After learning a bit more about the kinds of courses offered at the St. Nicholas Institute, John tells us about the personal prayer and reflection time the retreat offers.(6:11) We meet Fr. Joseph Marquis, of Sacred Heart Byzantine Catholic Church in Livonia. We learn about Fr. Joseph Marquis’s history with Santa and the founding of the institute.(7:24) Fr. Marquis tells us about his inspiration in forming the institute and the importance of overcoming popular myths about St. Nicholas and getting to know the real, beloved man.(10:16) Fr. Marquis discusses the N-O-E-L model the institute follows, and gives us some of the saint’s personal history.(12:00) We learn how the tradition of St. Nicholas’s gift-giving began, and how it’s rooted in the Gospel.(14:04) Fr. Marquis shares the story of how his particular devotion to St. Nicholas came to be and the impact the saint had on his life at a young age.(16:39) John tells us about the impact the retreat has had on his ministry as Santa, and the importance of remembering St. Nicholas as a man of faith.Reporting by Daniel Meloy; narration by Casey McCorry; production by Ron PangbornListen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Google Podcasts, or&nbsp;Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on&nbsp;DetroitCatholic.com.&nbsp;

A story of friendship in an unexpected place, and the graces that came with it.When Tiffany Brocker moved her family to Detroit from the suburbs, she found an unexpected companion in Gordie King, a homeless man by whose corner she frequently traveled. Here’s their story.(6:28) We hear from Fr. Tim McCabe and the work of the Pope Francis Center as he describes the challenges faced by many of Detroit’s homeless population.(7:12) Tiffany shares more about her ministry to those experiencing homelessness, and some of the subsequent challenges that come with not having a home.(10:24) Gordie returns the favor. Tiffany shares about the graces Gordie provided for her in a time of family difficulty.(12:20) Gordon and Tiffany’s six-year friendship, based on sharing, kindness and prayer, ends with Tiffany organizing Gordon’s funeral. (19:50) Tiffany encourages others to pray to God for opportunities to help people experiencing homelessness, and to reach out to our friends and neighbors for help and support.Reporting by Casey McCorry; narration by Paul Duda; production by Ron PangbornListen to ‘Detroit Stories’ on&nbsp;Apple Podcasts,&nbsp;Google Podcasts, or&nbsp;Spotify. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on&nbsp;DetroitCatholic.com.&nbsp;

Welcome to Detroit Stories — a bi-weekly podcast on a mission to boldly share the stories of the people and communities in southeast Michigan.These are the stories that fascinate us and inspire us — they are the stories that we think everyone should know.Tune in every other Friday for Detroit-centric interviews and timely, inspirational topics. Brought to you by Detroit Catholic.