The year is beginning with observances and prayers for some of our most basic values. We mark two of these on our American Catholic Radio (ACR) programs: Christian unity and respecting human life.

Day by day we live and work among people who share our Christian faith, but who express that faith in a variety of different ways, reflecting the painful separation of the body of Christ. The work of the Holy Spirit has helped to lessen some of that separation, but there is much that has to happen before Jesus’ prayer, “that they all may be one,” is a reality. Every year at this time, Christians join in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity to pray for that end. ACR will offer guests reporting on the state of ecumenism—that is, the interaction of Christians and efforts toward unity.

Each year on January 22 the Catholic Church in the United States observes a day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person—especially reminding us of the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade legalizing abortion in many circumstances. Again, ACR will feature a lineup of interviews and features that focus on real-life Catholics who are working hard to promote the values of life in our society, especially the life of the unborn.

Join us in this prayerful beginning to the new year!

Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.

Use the links below to preview the shows or download them in MP3 format for broadcast.

Highlights from this episode include:

Saint of the Day
Isaac Thomas Hecker was an American priest who’s highlighted in the new United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. He was a popular priest-lecturer in the 19^th century, was active in evangelizing through the print media and founded a modern religious community that continues his work.

Living Faith
Dr. Dick Hamm is executive administrator for Christian Churches Together in the USA (CCT), an organization under the umbrella of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Dick is a member of the Disciples of Christ community. After 22 years as minister of his own congregation, he decided to proceed in a more ecumenical way with CCT. Working with Christians from other denominations has deepened his own faith.

Ask a Franciscan
Father Hilarion Kistner responds to questions: Why does Jesus say that he brings division rather than peace? Are angels sent to help only believers? Why isn't John the Baptist considered the first martyr? What does the Church teach about having women in positions of authority?

Portrait of Paul
Paul’s Letter to the Romans, Part II
In observance of the Year of St. Paul, we bring you another “Portrait of Paul.” Father Norman Langenbrunner looks at what was behind Paul’s letter to the Romans and whether it was an ancient appeal for funds to help Paul in his missionary work.

Exploring Our Faith
Glenmary Father Frank Ruff, a native of Bloomer, Wisconsin, became a member of the Glenmary Home Missioners in 1959. He served in the community’s rural missions in Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia as a pastor and a director of vocations and mission, and eventually served as president of Glenmary. His special area of focus has been ecumenical relations, primarily between Catholics and Baptists. He has been liaison from the U.S. bishops to the Southern Baptists. As a senior member of the community, now living in Trenton, Kentucky, Father Frank continues an active interest in ecumenism.

Highlights from this episode include:

St. Paul
In celebration of the “Year of St. Paul” with the Church and observance of the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul on January 25, we let this great missionary speak for himself.

Living Faith
Dr. John Bruchalski, after beginning his medical practice, had a personal conversion that helped him decide to stop providing abortions or anything else that went against the culture of life. He founded Tepeyac Family Center, a pro-life OB-GYN facility, and “Divine Mercy Care,” a nonprofit organization performing spiritual and corporal works of mercy. He just opened up a pro-life pharmacy in Virginia that does not sell birth-control pills, condoms or anything that violates the Catholic Church's teaching on reproduction.

Ask a Franciscan
Father Greg Friedman answers questions: What should one expect on a first visit to a Catholic church? Can someone choose Christ and be saved even at the moment of death?

Portrait of Paul
Paul’s Letter to Philemon
In observance of the Year of St. Paul, we bring you another “Portrait of Paul.” Father Norman Langenbrunner focuses on Paul’s shortest New Testament letter. It’s the Letter to Philemon, and it has to do with the status of a Roman slave who had become a Christian.

Exploring Our Faith
Deirdre McQuade is currently director of planning and information for the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. In this position, she is the primary media spokesperson for the secretariat, plans major outreach and advertising campaigns, and helps direct the pro-life efforts for the American bishops. She speaks about the value of life and how we Catholics work to safeguard it.