3 cheers for the first “Podcast Review” post of 2009, particularly after a little hiatus. In case you’re wondering, I’m still listening to a heap of podcasts everyday most of which have been mentioned on this blog before. I have added a couple of new podcasts to my subscription, but I’ve yet to find time to compile them into themed review “episodes“. However, I simply had to do this quick little plug for a brand new podcast which I’ve just subscribed to. In fact, it’s SO new, that I’ve not listened to it yet. But I still highly recommend this simply because I’m assured of the quality of the content of this podcast, and I’m sure my Catholic friends out there will share my sentiments. Why am I so sure? BECAUSE, it’s recommended by well-known Catholic apologist Patrick Madrid on his blog. In fact, the first episode features Patrick himself.

The podcast that I’m speaking of is the brand new Fullness of Truth podcast (rss), produced by the Fullness of Truth Catholic Evangelization Ministries.

Fullness of Truth™ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and lay Catholic apostolate dedicated to facilitating the “New Springtime of Evangelization” that Pope John Paul II initiated, called, and prayed for. Through our regional family conferences and local parish-based events, featuring the very best Catholic evangelists, and through the offering of faith-building resources at our Book & Gift stores, we humbly, yet confidently invoke and assist the Holy Spirit in planting the seeds of this “New Evangelization”.

As I’ve mentioned, the debut episode of the podcast features a talk by Patrick Madrid titled “Why Be Catholic?” Definitely worth the listen!

Oh, and since I’ve just started listening to this as I’m typing this, I just discovered ANOTHER great reason to subscribe to this podcast. It’s hosted by another friend of mine, Joe McClane, a.k.a The Catholic Hack! There, yet MORE gaurantee that you WILL enjoy this podcast!

This is the first time I’m doing a review on a single podcast rather than a theme containing a handful of podcasts. I hope you’ll enjoy this format just the same. If the feedback is good, I might consider doing future reviews in this format too.

For links to this and other fine podcasts, please check out my Podcasts page as well.

Tags: apologetics, Catholic, evangelization, Podcasts, Reviews

Listeners to EWTN and Catholic Answers LIVE will probably be familiar with Patrick Madrid. You’ve heard him on the radio/podcasts. You’ve read his books. You’ve probably even seen and heard him speak in person. You may even have subscribed to his Envoy magazine. Now, here’s a chance for you to hear (read) more from this brilliant apologist.. his very own blog (rss)!

Patrick notes in his email newsletter (which you can subscribed to from PatrickMadrid.com), that he’ll be “regularly posting there, some things serious, some lighthearted, some theological, some non-theological, but hopefully, all of it interesting and thought-provoking. It will be another way for us to stay in touch.”

If you like Patrick’s frankness and sharpness in approaching sensitive yet important topics of the faith and the world, and have enjoyed what you’ve been seeing/reading/hearing from him all this while, this is one blog you’ll HAVE to keep a watch on!

For links to this and other blogs I like, please visit my Links page!

Tags: apologetics, blogs, Catholic, Reviews

In the course of listening to podcasts, I was introduced to the world of apologetics, particularly Catholic apologetics. I was never much of an evangelist, but I want to armed with enough facts to defend my faith when I need to.

And how can we possibly talk about Catholic apologetics without mentioning Catholic Answers? They are THE leaders in Catholic apologetics, with their flagship publication This Rock, 120 tracts on various topics related to Catholicism, Catholic Answers Live radio program which is also available as podcasts, and even TV series produced in collaboration with EWTN. They are really doing all they can to spread the faith.

Recently, I discovered a new podcast related to Catholic apologetics. The Catholic Hack! podcast is produced by Joe McClane. Joe podcasts from a parking lot during his lunch break from his day job, however the sound quality is just as good as one produced in a studio. The materials are well-researched and comprehensive. Well done, Joe!

I also started listening to podcasts produced in a Theology on Tap format, where speakers are invited to lecture at a gathering of parishers, students, etc. There’s a Q & A segment at the end of the talks, where attendees can have their questions answered. A few notable podcasts produced in such a format are:

• Boston College: Church in the 21st Century
• Prairie Rome Companion
• The One True Faith
• The K Street Catholic

Some other podcasts that talk about Catholic apologetics which I’ve come across are:

• Relevant Answers with John Salza by Relevant Radio
• BlendedFolk Catholic Podcast by Jeff Adams
• Catholic Sound Insight Radio Daily with Tom Curran by MyCatholicFaith.com

Podcasts aside, there is a vast of amount of information to beef up your apologetic knowledge. Most of these have been put together by well-known apologists like Jimmy Akin, Patrick Madrid, Mark Shea, etc. Please check out:

• Jimmy Akin’s Blog
• The Nazareth Resource Library by Jimmy Akin
• Patrick Madrid’s website
• Envoy Magazine
• The Crossroads Initiative by Dr Marcellino D’Ambrosio
• Steve Ray’s website
• Bible Christian Society by John Martignoni
• The Curt Jester by Jeff Miller
• Brant Pitre’s website
• Singing in the Reign by Michael Barbe and Brant Pitre
• Pope John Paul II Society of Evangelists
• The Evangelization Station by Victor Claveau
• Mark Shea’s website
• Holy Spirit Interactive
• Catholic Exchange
• This Is The Faith
• and lots lots more!!!

Bible studies are also a good way to build up your faith foundation. Understanding the Bible helps us to better understand the many Catholic traditions and beliefs the we uphold. Understanding the Scriptures is a wonderful podcast produced by CatholicBoard. This is a recording of a Bible course taught by Carson Weber, that was based on the book Understanding The Scriptures: A Complete Course On Bible Study by Dr Scott Hahn.

There are several podcasts available that offer commentaries on Bible passages. Some of these are:

• Biblical Musings by John Moriconi, S.J.
• Prayer Reflection with Father James Kubicki by Relevant Radio
• Searching the Word by Relevant Radio
• Deep In Scripture with Marcus Grodi and Jim Anderson

I hope the information and links provided here will help to enhance and nourish your faith life, as they have for me.

Tags: apologetics, bible study, Catholic, Podcasts, Reviews, scripture