In this week’s podcast, Fr John sits down with Mike, a longtime campus minister, parish leader, and now diocesan director of the Diocese of Rochester NY, whose story winds through backroads and retreat houses, late-night factory shifts and unexpected holy moments. Together, John and Mike explore what it means to live the Gospel not just as a message, but as a way of being. It’s a conversation about presence, permission, and the quiet courage to follow the Spirit (sometimes a little off-script!) 

Recorded the day after Pentecost, the episode explores the call to live authentically in a world that is increasingly mediated by institutions, systems, and narratives that often obscure our deepest spiritual needs.

🔊 Quote Highlights

“The more you can learn to speak from your heart, the more universal it becomes.” — Mike

“We are most ourselves when we are most with others.” — Mike

“Jesus didn’t say ‘learn this content.’ He said, ‘follow me.’” — Mike

"The medium is the message in the form of Jesus Christ"

🌟 Topics Covered

• Mass Media as Formation: The influence of Marshall McLuhan (“the medium is the message”) and how mass media shapes not just what we learn, but how we live.
• Ivan Illich's critique of institutional religion: education, healthcare, and even the Church as systems that can alienate rather than liberate.
• Faith as Personal and Incarnational: Preaching and proclaiming the Gospel by telling our real stories—speaking from our own wounds and callings.
• Youth and Authenticity: What today’s high school and college students teach us about resisting systems that don’t serve the soul.
• The Divine Feminine and the Holy Spirit: Drawing from Pentecost and the Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church, the episode explores how nurturing others and being nurtured ourselves is central to Christian life.
• Preaching from Personal Experience: Referencing the CALLED initiative and Sunday to Sunday’s mission, Mike affirms the power of ordinary people sharing their extraordinary moments of grace.
• The Power of Community and Cohorts: Reflections on being part of the first CALLED cohort, and how lay people can become evangelists through community, vulnerability, and formation.

📚 Deeper Dive Resources & References

• Ivan Illich
  • Deschooling Society
  • Rivers North of the Future (interviewed by David Cayley)
  • David Cayley's work on Illich
• Marshall McLuhan: “The medium is the message” and “The medium is the massage”
• Wendell Berry: Used in Mike’s campus ministry writing courses
• William Blake: Referenced for his visionary theology and poetic influence
• Daniel Andreev: Russian mystic and author of The Rose of the World
• Rudolf Steiner & Owen Barfield: Philosophers/theologians discussed in relation to imagination and mystery
• Simone Weil, John Milbank, William Cavanaugh: Referenced for further theological engagement
• Jordan Peterson: Noted for contemporary cultural critique and appeal to youth searching for answers and faith, de facto apologist
• First Things: Mike’s article on the Immaculate Conception featured there. 
• Dioceses of Rochester, NY

🔗 Links

🌐 Learn More About the CALLED Initiative
Discover retreats, workshops, courses, and join the digital community:
👉 https://www.preachingjourney.com or www.callcommunity.com

📣 Join the CALLED Newsletter
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📧 Subscribe at preachingjourney.

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🎙️ Listen & Subscribe
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Also check out the new Work Your Values Podcast from Sunday to Sunday Productions

🎁 Support Our Work
Share this episode, rate and review us, and invite a friend into the CALLED journey.