The Catholic Sportsman Show Podcast
Where our Catholic faith and love for sports merge. We discuss contemporary sports topics from our Catholic Christian perspective. We cover professional, college, and youth sports. Listen to our unique conversation with hosts Randy Laya and Paul Michelini. We come to you from our home Diocese of Orange, CA.
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Episodes
Wednesday Dec 04, 2024
Wednesday Dec 04, 2024
Church on Wheels
Chris Massaro is the Director of Mission Advancement for the Biking for Babies organization and our guest on this episode. Chris talks about how his love for sports began at a young age and continued into his college years. His relationship with our Lord grew in college at Vanderbilt University and later at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. Chris’s time at the seminary shaped his understanding of virtue, courage to witness the Gospel, and made him a better man. Chris talks about his saintly devotions and his favorite Bible passage and how they affect his life.
The main topic of his interview is the organization Biking for Babies which exists to renew the Culture of Life in society. Biking for Babies works with young adults and trains them to develop relationships with pregnancy and maternity centers. These ongoing relationships are central to the organization’s mission to help women and families who face unplanned pregnancies. The funds raised by the bike rides are distributed to the pregnancy and maternity centers who have a relationship with Biking for Babies.
Chris talks about how the redemptive suffering experienced for 600 miles on a bike can be offered to God for the suffering experienced by an unplanned pregnancy. He wants all listeners to know that God loves you, desires a deep relationship with you, and wants you to share that relationship with others!
Biking for Babies - Renewing the Culture of Life
Thursday Oct 31, 2024
Thursday Oct 31, 2024
Brenda Lorena Garcia is a professional stuntwoman and our guest on this episode. She trains in mixed martial arts, which she compares to the monastic life. Brenda is passionate about her faith and is driven to share it! Brenda eagerly shares her belief that dedication to physical training begins and ends with devout spiritual training. Her rigorous daily physical training for her job can only begin with the rigorous daily training of her spirit.
Brenda explains what her participation in Opus Sanctorum Angelorum (Work of the Holy Angels) means to her and how it helps shape her life. She talks about how her early days working in Hollywood were different than they are now. In her experience, Hollywood is changing for the better.
Brenda discusses the meaning of her statement that “as Catholics we’re not called to fit in, we’re called to stand out.” Brenda challenges us all to be courageous and bravehearted and not to be afraid to be a saint! She wants everyone to know that God really loves us!
Links to Brenda:
https://www.facebook.com/brendalgarcia
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialBrendaGarcia
Instagram.com/BrendaLGarcia
twitter.com/BrendaLGarciaX
threads.net/@brendalgarcia
linkedin.com/in/brendalorenagarcia
For information about Opus Sanctorum Angelorum: Opus Sanctorum Angelorum - Work of the Holy Angels
Tuesday Oct 15, 2024
Tuesday Oct 15, 2024
Natalie Garza, who actively participated in the recent National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, shares her amazing stories and experiences on this podcast. This event was a precursor to the National Eucharistic Congress held in Indianapolis on July 20 – 21, 2024. The Pilgrimage consisted of four routes, East, West, North, and South which made the shape of a cross over America. Each group took our Lord, present in the Eucharist, as they made their way across the country, ministering to everyone they met.
Natalie was on the Seton Route from the East that began in Connecticut. Natalie was the point person, taking care of behind-the-scenes activities. She also took her guitar and led songs of worship to our Lord present in the Eucharist as the group made their way to Indianapolis. Natalie’s love and enthusiasm for our Lord is quite evident in the presentation of her experiences along the way as she walked and traveled with our Eucharistic Lord!
Natalie teaches theology at St. James Academy in Kansas City.
She has taken up tennis and is the tennis coach at the school. Natalie encourages us all to be aware of where we are in relation to Jesus throughout the day and reminds us that He is always waiting to be found!
Links to Natalie:
Email: nrgarza7@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Txb_4Yi0chY?feature=share
Link to the National Eucharistic Revival, Congress, and Pilgrimage: 10th National Eucharistic Congress - Official Website
Link to information about the Eucharist: The Eucharist | USCCB
Wednesday Sep 25, 2024
Wednesday Sep 25, 2024
In this episode, we talk with Dominic Carstens who participated as a Perpetual Pilgrim in the recent National Eucharistic Pilgrimage This event was a precursor to the National Eucharistic Congress held in Indianapolis on July 20 – 21, 2024. The Pilgrimage consisted of four routes, East, West, North, and South which made the shape of a cross over America. Each group took our Lord, present in the Eucharist, as they made their way across the country ministering to everyone they met. Dominic was on the Seton Route from the East that began in Connecticut. Dominic’s love and enthusiasm for our Lord is quite evident in the presentation of his experiences along the way as he walked and traveled with our Eucharistic Lord! Dominic’s sports experience began humbly in a cow pasture in Wisconsin. After graduating from high school, Dominic was a missionary in Kenya where sports was a way to connect with the children. He graduated from college this year and works at the Catholic Ecology Center. Dominic encourages us all to grow closer to our Lord, especially through the Sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist and to encourage others to do the same.
Links to Dominic:Instagram: @domdabombcDominic Carstens: Facebook, LinkedInCatholic Ecology Center: Catholic Ecology Center
Link to the National Eucharistic Revival, Congress, and Pilgrimage: 10th National Eucharistic Congress - Official Website
Link to information about the Eucharist: The Eucharist | USCCB
Wednesday Sep 11, 2024
Wednesday Sep 11, 2024
In this episode, we talk with Justin Koelbl, a former cyclist with his sights on competing in the Tour de France. While training abroad, Justin, and his father and brother all experienced a debilitating disease that would sideline their sports aspirations. This life altering experience led Justin into a tour de force to find not only the cause of his family’s suffering and some relief, but also toward an exploration of the Catholic teaching and meaning of suffering.
Justin was initially angry at God for seemingly allowing his suffering and that of his family. This belief was transformed into a deeper relationship with God as well as a better understanding of the spiritual meaning and purpose that redemptive suffering plays in his life.
Justin’s inspiring family story can be a blessing for anyone who finds themselves grappling with their own suffering or knows someone who suffers. Justin’s ongoing life experience can help us better understand the words of St. Paul in Romans 8:18 – “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.”
https://justinkoelbl.com/
Tuesday Aug 27, 2024
Tuesday Aug 27, 2024
In this episode, we talk with Bob Schuchts, PhD., a retired therapist of over 30 years as well as an author. He has also been an adjunct professor at local colleges in Florida. Although Dr. Bob may be retired from his therapy practice, he is not basking in retirement.
Dr. Bob is the founder of the John Paul II Healing Center to which he credits the development of the Center to the urgings of God. The Center opened in 2004. Dr. Bob talks about the impact Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body had on his life and the central role it continues to play at the Healing Center. He was also very interested in the topic of healing and offers a wholesome definition of healing for those seeking to grow closer to God.
Dr. Bob is also the co-host of the podcast “Restore the Glory” with a colleague where they talk about the freedom available through Jesus Christ.
Dr. Bob relates how his love for Jesus, football, and his involvement in a Christian athlete’s group in his early days drew him to enjoy and grow from the experience of a team, the sense of community, and a place where he was able to develop bonds with team members.
John Paul II Healing Center – Transformation in the Heart of the Church (jpiihealingcenter.org)
Restore the Glory (restoretheglorypodcast.com)
Tuesday Aug 20, 2024
Tuesday Aug 20, 2024
In this episode, we talk to Fr. Richard Rocha, Catholic chaplain of the Kansas City Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs. In addition to these ministries, Fr. Rocha is the pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church in Blue Springs, Missouri. Father played football in high school and college and began coaching. He coached for 10 years on the high school level and 4 years on the college level. Father had his life planned out as a football coach and a happily married man with a wonderful wife and lots of children. But God had other plans for Richard.
As he entered the seminary, Richard thought his sports days were over. But, once again, God had other plans. Today, Fr. Rocha is in his 19th season with the KC Royals and his 8th season with the KC Chiefs as team priest. Along with his duties as a pastor of a large Catholic church, it’s easy to see that Fr. Rocha is a busy man!
He cheerfully serves our Lord in all these capacities and implores people to “ask God what His Will is for us every day!”
Sunday Jul 28, 2024
Sunday Jul 28, 2024
In this episode, we talk to Steve Cunningham, founder of Sensus Fidelium, a robust and comprehensive website filled with videos on just about every topic having to do with the Catholic faith. Steve spends most of his days looking for new content for his website. His passion and drive stem from his desire to share the faith he loves. Steve started his ministry in 2013 and now his website has over 12,000 videos and 13,000 links and growing. Steve played baseball and basketball in his younger years and now applies the discipline and drive he learned in sports to maintain a successful website. He is also the founder of Sensus Fidelium Press that he started to help his friends and burgeoning authors get published. To date, Sensus Fidelium Press has 60 to 70 books available. In his spare time, Steve hosts a podcast with a friend called News from the Pew. As a faithful Catholic husband, father, and tireless businessman, Steve’s motto comes from his sports days: Embrace the suffering.
Links:
sensusfidelium.com
www.youtube.com/@SensusFidelium
sensusfideliumpress.com
News from the Pew: https://www.youtube.com/live/B3gY64ucyxo?si=FJ-iGBatpYbOdgsJ