Andrew and Jason talk about something called the primacy of grace. It's a fancy-sounding term that really just refers to how God, as our loving Father and Creator, seeks us. He yearns to be in relationship with us, and He has already done everything to make that happen. On our end, sometimes we think too much about what we need to do, or where we need to go on our journey of faith, when really, we just need to realize that God is already meeting us where we are. He just needs us to open the door to let Him in.

In the last couple weeks, Pope Francis made a few headlines as he talked about civil unions. A lot was said about whether or not the Church had changed her position on same-sex marriage as Catholics and non-Catholics had all kinds of reactions. What exactly did Pope Francis mean when he talked about "civil unions" and a "right to a family" for our homosexual brothers and sisters? What exactly does the Church teach on homosexuality? And how do we navigate these kinds of conversations? Andrew and Jason share about how they unpacked these questions to get some clarity for themselves. -- Articles referenced: Catholic News Agency article (https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/what-did-pope-francis-say-about-civil-unions-a-cna-explainer-57625) Patheos article by Fr. Matthew Schneider, LC (https://www.patheos.com/blogs/throughcatholiclenses/2020/10/pope-franciss-words-on-civil-unions-distorted-by-editing/)

Andrew and Jason share about the last few weeks and how they've been hit by a bit of spiritual dryness. They talk about what consolation and desolation is, and touch on how to navigate them using the rules of discernment. Jason also talks about... becoming a teacher? Homily referenced by Andrew: http://thejustmeasure.ca/2020/07/12/three-ways-to-receive-blessings/

Saint Joseph's Oratory, Canada's largest church, is located in Montreal. The Oratory is also the largest shrine dedicated to Saint Joseph in the world. Throughout his whole life, St. Brother Andre promoted devotion to St. Joseph. It was precisely through the intercession of St. Joseph that Brother Andre found strength in overcoming the trials of his life.

Sometimes it's easy to fall into the trap of becoming too attached to the things of this world. That might be material possessions like a TV, or it could be your professional career. It could even be the relationships that you have with your loved ones. On this episode, Andrew and Jason talk about how being called to a relationship with Christ means that all these worldly attachments fall away--not because we're forced to give them up, but because we see that there's nothing better to cling onto than Jesus Himself.

Andrew and Jason spend this episode talking about this year's GT, an annual Labour Day Weekend retreat that has been going on since 1977. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the retreat was held online for the first time in its 43-year history. Andrew and Jason share about their weekend experience, and about the lessons learned over their years of attending the retreat. In the end, things always work out--according to God's plan!

On this episode, Andrew and Jason talk about the importance of the Sacrament of Marriage within the Catholic Church, and tackle a couple common questions about the Church's teachings on what marriage is about. Then they zoom out a bit and talk about discipleship, and how that often means giving up the things that we want to do for ourselves. Also, Andrew can't do basic addition while the cat wreaks havoc on the camera.

Andrew and Jason break some exciting news to kick off their first episode! They talk about vocations, discernment, and how they've tried to pursue the calling that God has set out for each of them.

Andrew Chau and Jason Lo introduce their podcast, Road from Emmaus. They talk about why they've decided to start a podcast about their Catholic faith journeys, what the podcast will sound like, and the structure it will follow--the tripod method. Please keep them in your prayers, and they hope you'll come along for the ride!

In many metropolitan cities, rising property prices has become a serious problem. Many people simply cannot afford to own a home. The poor in the Dominican Republic faces an even more pressing need for safe homes. Fountain of Grace takes a look at how the Samaritan Foundation helps provide homes for the poor in the Dominican Republic.

Someone has once said: "A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members". In the Dominican Republic, the lives of the vulnerable groups are especially tough. Fountain of Grace takes a look at how some kindhearted heroes serve the weak selflessly.

Most people who go for Caribbean vacations spend most of their time enjoying the sun and beaches. They might not be exposed to the living conditions of the locals. Missionaries of St. Joseph the Worker Parish had the opportunity to take a close look at the living conditions of the poor in the Dominican Republic. What kind of impact will this experience have on them?

St. Joseph the Worker Parish has organized mission trips to the Dominican Republic for several years. These trips have attracted many participants, among them are young people and families with young children. What benefits do these trips bring to the participants and the communities in the Dominican Republic? Fountain of Grace takes you to this mission trip in a 4-part series.

In terms of the scope of work, a scientist is completely different from a priest. Yet when a person is both a priest and a scientist, what kind of experiences would his dual-identity bring about? Fr. John McCarthy, SJ is a Catholic priest who is also a scientist that has a great love in lichen, a symbiotic species. He would take us to the forest and his laboratory to get to know lichens, as well as to share with us reflections on his faith that he got from scientific research.

In recent years, the public has become increasingly concerned about the hazards of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and genetically modified foods. Some people have started to grow their own produce for health reasons, and some Catholic religious also promote organic gardening. How is organic gardening related to our faith?

Lay Catholics don’t get to see their bishop very often but I remember when I was growing up, I had always admired my bishop like a familiar father figure but simultaneously felt like he was high above my level. This episode is the fifth of my vocational series, where I ask my guests to pick a song relating to their vocational discernment and to answer these seven simple questions: 1. Please introduce yourself and how we got to know each other. 2. Explain your song of choice and how it relates to your discernment. 3. Please explain your vocation in general and what it means to you. 4. How did you discern your vocation in general? Were there any challenges? 5. Why did you pursue your vocation with this diocese/order/person in particular? 6. How has your faith changed since entering this vocation? 7. If you could advise your 18-year-old self about your vocation, what would you say? One day, I emailed the Archdiocese of Toronto and was absolutely delighted when I got to interview the only bishop I ever remembered having … Thomas Cardinal Collins! Cardinal Collins is a man of deep faith and wisdom and has always felt a strong connection with his priests and bishops. From his high school teacher Fr. John Newstead to the bishops of his home Diocese of Hamilton—Bishop Lloyd Ryan, Bishop Paul Reding, and Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Tonnos—and his bishop in London, John Sherlock. Cardinal Collins was ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of Hamilton before being appointed rector of the seminary in London (Ontario), consecrated Bishop of St. Paul (Alberta), Bishop of Edmonton, and finally Archbishop of Toronto. I was surprised by how Cardinal Collins discerned his call to the priesthood and found his assessment of the times and his term as bishop to be very insightful. During COVID-19, the Archdiocese is live-streaming daily and Sunday Masses. You can find their website at https://www.archtoronto.org/. The song you heard in the intro was “Wayfaring Stranger”, by The Quebe Sisters and the song Cardinal Collins chose was the “O God Beyond All Praising”, as performed here by the Villanova Pastoral Musicians. If you have any friends and family that you think would like this podcast, please share wherever you listen to your podcasts! You can drop a comment or question for me to answer in a future episode at theholycatholicbrew@gmail.com.

You might think that God calls men to become His priests in the same way. But no two vocational stories are ever exactly the same. Were they devout as children? Did they always want to become a priest? Did they ever desire another vocation? Did their peers and family support or dissuade them? You generally don’t get to ask your parish priest these sorts of questions, so let me ask one for you. This episode is the fourth of my vocational series, where I ask my guests to pick a song relating to their vocational discernment and to answer these seven simple questions: 1. Please introduce yourself and how we got to know each other. 2. Explain your song of choice and how it relates to your discernment. 3. Please explain your vocation in general and what it means to you. 4. How did you discern your vocation in general? Were there any challenges? 5. Why did you pursue your vocation with this diocese/order/person in particular? 6. How has your faith changed since entering this vocation? 7. If you could advise your 18-year-old self about your vocation, what would you say? I am really excited about this episode because I get to chat with Fr. Peter Turrone whom I know from my time at the Newman Centre, the Catholic chaplaincy at the University of Toronto. Currently the Pastor and Executive Director there, he grew up Catholic but did not take ownership of his faith until a Confirmation retreat experience drew him to a personal encounter with Christ. After his undergraduate studies at York University, he later earned his neuroscience doctorate at the University of Toronto, where he was active at the Newman Centre. At first, he was ordained a priest in the Consolata Missionaries and sent to proclaim the Gospel in Mongolia. For health reasons, he was then incardinated a priest in the Archdiocese of Toronto and then transferred to the Newman Centre chaplaincy. You can learn more from their website at www.newmantoronto.com. The song you heard in the intro was “Wayfaring Stranger”, by The Quebe Sisters and the song Fr. Peter Turrone chose was “What a Beautiful Name”, by Hillsong Worship. If you have any friends and family that you think would like this podcast, please share wherever you listen to your podcasts! You can drop a comment or question for me to answer in a future episode at theholycatholicbrew@gmail.com.

Originally a Toronto-based physician, Jacqueline was drawn closer to God through Opus Dei. As a response to God's calling, Jacqueline set aside her medical profession and went to Rome in order to pursue a degree in theology.

Nowadays, the average Catholic doesn’t get to see many nuns. While they used to run schools and hospitals, these are now secular institutions and we might only catch a glimpse of them assigned to different parishes or at retreats. What is the life of a religious sister like? Do they pray all day in their convents? This episode is the third of my vocational series, where I ask my guests to pick a song relating to their vocational discernment and to answer these seven simple questions: 1. Please introduce yourself and how we got to know each other. 2. Explain your song of choice and how it relates to your discernment. 3. Please explain your vocation in general and what it means to you. 4. How did you discern your vocation in general? Were there any challenges? 5. Why did you pursue your vocation with this diocese/order/person in particular? 6. How has your faith changed since entering this vocation? 7. If you could advise your 18-year-old self about your vocation, what would you say? Listen to me chat with Sr. Mary Grace from the Sisters of Life, whose journey so far has brought her from Australia to New York to Toronto, where she is currently assigned. The Sisters of Life are a female religious order dedicated to protecting human life in our culture and helping women in crisis pregnancies. They also hold retreats for the public. You can find their website at https://sistersoflife.org/. The song you heard in the intro was “Wayfaring Stranger”, by The Quebe Sisters and the song Sr. Mary Grace chose, “I Will Wait”, by Mumford & Sons. If you have any friends and family that you think would like this podcast, please share wherever you listen to your podcasts! You can drop a comment or question for me to answer in a future episode at theholycatholicbrew@gmail.com.

Deacons have always been a mystery to me – they are married and sometimes have secular jobs outside of their work in the parish but they also help out with a lot of church duties, and even give homilies. Are they closer to lay people or consecrated religious? This episode is the second of my vocational series, where I ask my guests to pick a song relating to their vocational discernment and to answer these seven simple questions: 1. Please introduce yourself and how we got to know each other. 2. Explain your song of choice and how it relates to your discernment. 3. Please explain your vocation in general and what it means to you. 4. How did you discern your vocation in general? Were there any challenges? 5. Why did you pursue your vocation with this diocese/order/person in particular? 6. How has your faith changed since entering this vocation? 7. If you could advise your 18-year-old self about your vocation, what would you say? Listen to me chat with Deacon Mark Neugebauer, whose epic faith journey has included stops at Conservative Judaism, Messianic Judaism, and Evangelical Protestantism on his way home in the Catholic Church. He is currently the Deacon at Blessed Trinity Parish in the Archdiocese of Toronto and formerly worked as an elementary school teacher before being recommended by his parish to become a permanent deacon. The song you heard in the intro was “Wayfaring Stranger”, by The Quebe Sisters and the song Deacon Mark picked was the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul” (I picked the version by Anthem Lights). If you have any friends and family that you think would like this podcast, please share wherever you listen to your podcasts! You can drop a comment or question for me to answer in a future episode at theholycatholicbrew@gmail.com.

In 55 days, Fr. Carlos Martins and his team brought the major relics of St. Maria Goretti to 54 cities across the United States. They wish that the story of the saint would inspire people to be more merciful.

Husband, Wife, Monk, Friar, Sister, Father, and … Consecrated Virgin? If you’re like me, you have never heard of Consecrated Virginity before as a vocation in the Catholic Church. But this vocation’s history stretches back to the early days of the Church and is being revived in recent years. This episode is the first of my vocational series, where I ask my guests to pick a song relating to their vocational discernment and to answer these seven simple questions: 1. Please introduce yourself and how we got to know each other. 2. Explain your song of choice and how it relates to your discernment. 3. Please explain your vocation in general and what it means to you. 4. How did you discern your vocation with this diocese/order/person in particular? Were there any challenges? 5. Why did you pursue your vocation with this diocese/order/person in particular? 6. How has your faith changed since entering this vocation? 7. If you could advise your 18-year-old self about your vocation, what would you say? Listen to me chat with Erin Kinsella, the Directory of Campus Ministry at the University of Toronto’s Newman Centre, as we learn about her conversion, her early years, and how she discerned Consecrated Virginity at the Archdiocese of Toronto. The song you heard in the intro was “Wayfaring Stranger”, by The Quebe Sisters and the song Erin picked was “Halo”, by Beyoncé. If you have any friends and family that you think would like this podcast, please share wherever you listen to your podcasts! You can drop a comment or question for me to answer in a future episode at theholycatholicbrew@gmail.com.

Among the saints canonized by the Catholic Church, St. Maria Goretti is one of the youngest. She was just 11 years old when she died. Maria died of a fatal attack by her neighbour Alessandro, after she refused to submit to his sexual advances. Fountain of Grace's production team followed Fr. Carlos Martins to Maria's former residence to learn about forgiveness from this saint.

We’re back to Ordinary Time again and it’s time for a new season! Among the new changes, Lyndon will be the sole host going forward and has found a job. There will also be more interviews and reflections from reading material and prayer. Episodes will be more varied and sporadic this time, so check for updates from time to time. If you have any friends and family that you think would like this podcast, please share us with them wherever you listen to your podcasts! You can drop a comment or question for me to answer in a future episode at theholycatholicbrew@gmail.com.