Our upcoming American Catholic Radio programs commemorate two anniversaries. We remember the events of September 11, 2001, with an interview and memories of Franciscan Father Mychal Judge, a chaplain to the New York City Fire Department who gave his life helping victims at the World Trade Center that day. A new children’s book relates his story, and one of our producers shares her recollections of an interview with Father Mychal years before that fateful day.

Another anniversary, one being observed all year long in the Church, is the 150th anniversary of the appearance of Mary, the Blessed Mother of Jesus, at Lourdes. Pope Benedict XVI is just one of the thousands of pilgrims flocking to Lourdes during this year. We try to make your listeners “virtual pilgrims” with our features seeking to capture Lourdes then and now.

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:

Maria Goretti, a 20^th-century teenager, was a victim of sexual assault and murder. Her holiness led to her canonization and the repentance of her perpetrator, who was present at the ceremony declaring her a saint.

Kelly Ann Lynch wrote a children's book about Father Mychal Judge, a chaplain killed in the 9/11 attacks. Kelly shares about her friendship with Father Mychal and the legacy he has left, especially with her daughter and her charitable works.

Father Dan Kroger responds to questions:
• Why are bells no longer rung during the consecration at Mass?
• When did the rule change regarding fasting from midnight before reception of the Eucharist?

In observance of the Year of St. Paul, Father Norman Langenbrunner discusses Paul’s ministry as preacher. Before anything else we can say about this great saint, it was Paul’s ability to present who Jesus was to his audience—Jew or Gentile.

Franciscan Sister Kathy Warren is a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Rochester, Minnesota, and is a specialist in interreligious dialogue, particularly Muslim-Christian dialogue, from a Franciscan perspective. She is the author of Daring to Cross the Threshold: Francis of Assisi Encounters Sultan Malek al-Kamil. Sister Kathy’s book grew out of her 2002 thesis from St. Bonaventure University, where she earned a master’s in Franciscan studies. She also holds a master’s degree in religious studies from Loyola University (Chicago) and a doctorate in ministry from the Graduate Theological Foundation (South Bend, Ind.). For the past year, she’s been a part of our “Damietta Project,” which is working toward producing a public-television documentary on Muslim-Christian dialogue.

Highlights from this episode include:

Bernadette Soubirous is the young French woman to whom the Blessed Mother appeared in a lonely grotto near Lourdes, France, in 1858.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Rose Mary Sam has volunteered for the past 32 years in Lourdes, France. She speaks of countless instances of “spiritual healings” she has witnessed.

Father Don Miller answers the following questions:
• Does the Church recognize some people as being mediums between the living and the dead?
• Is gambling sinful, or is it just a form of entertainment?

In observance of the Year of St. Paul, Father Norman Langenbrunner tells us how St. Paul did what no preacher from the pulpit today would ever do—call his congregation stupid! Paul did just that in his Letter to the Galatians.

In 1983, Elizabeth Ficocelli responded to an invitation from her future husband, Mark, to attend Mass on their college campus. Elizabeth began investigating the Catholic Church and later became a Catholic. In 2000, after working for 20 years in advertising, she began a new career in spiritual writing. Since then, she has published books for both adults and children as well as articles in national Catholic magazines, including our own St. Anthony Messenger. She talked with producer John Feister about her visit to Lourdes and her book, Lourdes: Font of Faith, Hope & Charity, published by Paulist Press.