
Msgr. John Esseff - Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts
Msgr. John Esseff with Kris McGregor
Show overview
Msgr. John Esseff - Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts launched in 2025 and has put out 22 episodes in the time since. That works out to roughly 10 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 27 min and 29 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-US-language Religion & Spirituality show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 2 days ago, with 18 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2026, with 18 episodes published. Published by Msgr. John Esseff with Kris McGregor.
From the publisher
Msgr. John Esseff
Latest Episodes
View all 22 episodesThe Ascension – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast
Living the Resurrection and Becoming Christ’s Witness – Building a Kingdom with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcasts
Who Are You? Your Catholic Identity on Divine Mercy Sunday – Building a Kingdom with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcasts
Msgr. Esseff reflects on the readings for the 2nd Sunday of Easter and it's meanings for our lives. He discusses the identity of the Christian, and in particular, what it means to be a "Catholic". The post Who Are You? Your Catholic Identity on Divine Mercy Sunday – Building a Kingdom with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
Happy Easter!!!! Have You Encountered Jesus? – Building a Kingdom of Love w/ Msgr. John Esseff
Happy Easter!!!! Have You Encountered Jesus? Gospel JN 20:1-9 On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. The post Happy Easter!!!! Have You Encountered Jesus? – Building a Kingdom of Love w/ Msgr. John Esseff appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
A Good Friday Reflection with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast
Msgr. Esseff reflects on the meaning of Good Friday for the life of every Christian. We are closely united to Jesus in his Passion. Who are the people who have caused you to suffer? What are wounds that have been inflicted during your lifetime? What are the wounds you have inflicted on others? How can those wounds be healed? He also proclaims how the Cross of Christ defeated the devil and continues to defeat the enemy today. The post A Good Friday Reflection with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
A Special Holy Thursday Reflection – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast
Msgr. John Esseff reflects deeply on the meaning of Holy Thursday, focusing especially on Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet and the institution of the Eucharist. The post A Special Holy Thursday Reflection – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
Palm Sunday: Entering the Passion of Christ – Building a Kingdom of Love w/ Msgr. John Esseff Podcast
A Palm Sunday reflection inviting us to enter Holy Week by uniting our suffering with Christ in his Passion, death, and resurrection. The post Palm Sunday: Entering the Passion of Christ – Building a Kingdom of Love w/ Msgr. John Esseff Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
The Annunciation – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast
Msgr. John Esseff reflects on the Feast of the Annunciation, which falls in the heart of Lent. The post The Annunciation – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
The Fifth Sunday of Lent: Resurrection and New Life – Building a Kingdom of Love w/ Msgr. John Esseff Podcast
A Fifth Sunday of Lent reflection on Lazarus and the call to believe in Christ who brings new life through the power of the Holy Spirit. The post The Fifth Sunday of Lent: Resurrection and New Life – Building a Kingdom of Love w/ Msgr. John Esseff Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
The Fourth Sunday of Lent: Spiritual Blindness – Building a Kingdom of Love w/ Msgr. John Esseff Podcast
Msgr John Esseff reflects on the Gospel of the man born blind and how Christ opens the eyes of the heart during the Lenten journey. The post The Fourth Sunday of Lent: Spiritual Blindness – Building a Kingdom of Love w/ Msgr. John Esseff Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
The Third Sunday of Lent: The First Scrutiny – Building a Kingdom of Love w/ Msgr. John Esseff Podcast
A Third Sunday of Lent reflection on the scrutinies, inviting a deeper examination of the heart and renewal through Christ the living water. The post The Third Sunday of Lent: The First Scrutiny – Building a Kingdom of Love w/ Msgr. John Esseff Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
The Second Sunday of Lent: The Transfiguration and Listening to Christ – Building a Kingdom of Love w/ Msgr. John Esseff Podcast
A Second Sunday of Lent reflection on the Transfiguration, inviting deeper faith, interior listening, and trust in Christ beyond reason. The post The Second Sunday of Lent: The Transfiguration and Listening to Christ – Building a Kingdom of Love w/ Msgr. John Esseff Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
The First Sunday of Lent: Temptation, Conversion, and New Life in Christ – Building a Kingdom of Love w/ Msgr. John Esseff Podcast
A First Sunday of Lent reflection on Jesus tempted in the desert, inviting conversion of heart through prayer, fasting, repentance, and renewed trust in God. The post The First Sunday of Lent: Temptation, Conversion, and New Life in Christ – Building a Kingdom of Love w/ Msgr. John Esseff Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
Preparing for Lent – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast
Msgr. Esseff teaches the importance of fasting, almsgiving and the Liturgy of the Hours during the season of Lent. He shares his experience of fasting in a desert found in Peru. From this he learned the importance of FASTING and PRAYER. Msgr. Esseff challenges us to discern what the Father in Heaven is asking us to do this Lent through fasting, so we can purely and perfectly follow His Holy Will. And he describes ALMSGIVING, and story from an experience he had with Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity Sisters. The Church prepares a spiritual retreat for all of us during Lent. The Holy Spirit is transforming you in a radical way so that you become more like Jesus Christ...the day by day exercise of Morning Prayer, the Eucharist and Evening Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving, and the other moments of contemplative prayer aids in the transformation...our ego decreases and Jesus increases in our minds and in our hearts. The post Preparing for Lent – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
The Presentation in the Temple – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Heart Podcast
Msgr. Esseff reflects on the teaching of the Sacred Scriptures for the Feast of the Presentation in the Temple. The post The Presentation in the Temple – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
The Beatitudes as the Path to Joy and True Happiness – Building a Kingdom Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast
The Beatitudes as the Path to Joy and True Happiness – Building a Kingdom Love with Msgr. John Esseff In this episode of Building a Kingdom of Love, Msgr. John Esseff reflects on the Beatitudes as the true path to joy and happiness, drawing directly from the Gospel of Matthew. He explains that “blessed” does ... Read more The post The Beatitudes as the Path to Joy and True Happiness – Building a Kingdom Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
The Urgent Call of Jesus – Building a Kingdom of Love w/Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcasts
The Urgent Call of Jesus – Building a Kingdom of Love w/Msgr. John Esseff In this powerful reflection, Msgr. John Esseff speaks about the urgency of Jesus’ call to every human heart. Drawing from the Gospel of Mark, St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, and the story of Jonah, he reflects on the immediacy ... Read more The post The Urgent Call of Jesus – Building a Kingdom of Love w/Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
The Significance of Jesus’ Baptism – Building a Kingdom of Love w/Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcasts
What happened to you at your baptism? Msgr. Esseff reflects on the significance of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. He asks us to reflect on how our baptism has impacted our lives and does it touches those around us. Gospel MT 3:13-17 Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized ... Read more The post The Significance of Jesus’ Baptism – Building a Kingdom of Love w/Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
Holy Family Sunday: Honoring Mother and Father – Building a Kingdom of Love /w Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast
The Feast of the Holy Family - Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Msgr. Esseff discusses honoring our parents - The reality of our society and the challenge - The wounds and the need for healing The post Holy Family Sunday: Honoring Mother and Father – Building a Kingdom of Love /w Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
God Made Flesh for the Salvation of the World – A Christmas message from Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast
Msgr. Esseff reflects on the eternal identity of Jesus Christ as the Word through whom all things were made, now dwelling among us in human flesh. He invites listeners to gaze upon the infant Jesus and recognize that this child is the radiance of the Father, the light that shines in darkness, and the source of grace poured out upon the world. Christmas is presented not simply as a remembrance of a past event, but as a present encounter with divine love made visible. The post God Made Flesh for the Salvation of the World – A Christmas message from Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.