Posts by Bridget Richardson
Forever Love: Michael and Deanna Johnston
Diving into specific areas where marriage and family leaders can help newly married couples is very exciting for Deanna Johnston.
In this short interview, we meet Michael and Deanna Johnston from Tyler, Texas. Deanna is the Director of Family Life for the Diocese of Tyler and was one of the judges on the Shark Tank - style pitch session the conference attendees competed in. Deanna shares her gratefulness for the conference attendees and her hopes for the future of marriage prep.
This interview is bonus content from the Marriage Catechumenate Summit that took place at Circle Lake Retreat Center near Houston, Texas in June 2023. This continues a series of interviews with Catholic marriage experts in North America who attended the summit. A mini-documentary of the summit will be released at the end of the interview series.
Department of Family Life | Diocese of Tyler
Couple meets pope on honeymoon, finds joy in their theology careers
Forever Love: Fr. Victor Perez
Fr. Victor Perez's best dating advice - no matter the circumstances, love like Jesus Christ.
In this conversation, Darnell Miller, Creative Director of MAX Studios at University of St. Thomas-Houston, sits down with Fr. Victor Perez, Pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Houston to talk about his parish. They discuss the unique cultures at St. Joseph and how they integrate marriage preparation and formation into everything they do. With a large young adult population who call St. Joseph home, Fr. Victor shares some thoughts on what he's seen with regard to dating and marriage.
Fr. Victor was a featured speaker at the Marriage Catechumenate Summit.
This interview is bonus content from the Marriage Catechumenate Summit that took place at Circle Lake Retreat Center near Houston, Texas in June 2023. This continues a series of interviews with Catholic marriage experts in North America who attended the summit. A mini-documentary of the summit will be released at the end of the interview series.
Forever Love: Jake Samour
If you've experienced the gift of padrinos and madrinas, you'll enjoy this conversation.
Jake Samour, Director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life in the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas, talks with Darnell Miller, Creative Director of MAX Studios at University of St. Thomas-Houston about his experience being mentored by others and leading people in marriage ministry.
Originally from El Salvador, Jake shares how the richness of Hispanic culture in the U.S. is already vibrant with Catholic tradition, but many faithful Catholics need to overcome "Juan Diego Syndrome" and recognize their call to lead. They also discuss Jake's reflections on meeting his wife and how he pays forward the mentorship he received from other people in the Church.
This interview is bonus content from the Marriage Catechumenate Summit that took place at Circle Lake Retreat Center near Houston, Texas in June 2023. This continues a series of interviews with Catholic marriage experts in North America who attended the summit. A mini-documentary of the summit will be released at the end of the interview series.
Marriage and Family | Diocese of Wichita, Kansas
Forever Love: Sr. John Mary Sullivan
Sr. John Mary Sullivan witnessed the fullness of lived vocation through the marriage of her parents. It was their loving example that spurred in her a desire for religious life.
In this interview from the Marriage Catechumenate Summit in Houston, Texas, Darnell Miller, Creative Director of MAX Studios, sits down with Sr. John Mary Sullivan, Associate Director of Ministries and Outreach with the Archdiocese of Vancouver. They discuss the importance of accompaniment after couples are married and how the church can better assist couples in navigating that vocational call. Sr. John Mary also shares her vocation story and why it's important to leave the summit with practical steps to take home to her Archdiocese in Canada.
This interview is bonus content from the Marriage Catechumenate Summit that took place at Circle Lake Retreat Center near Houston, Texas in June 2023. This continues a series of interviews with Catholic marriage experts in North America who attended the summit. A mini-documentary of the summit will be released at the end of the interview series.
Forever Love: Bishop Italo Dell’Oro
Bishop Italo Dell'Oro knows that the diversity of Houston makes it a premiere place to have thoughtful dialogue. In this short interview, Bishop Italo shares why Houston is the perfect place to host the Marriage Catechumenate Summit.
This interview is bonus content from the Marriage Catechumenate Summit that took place at Circle Lake Retreat Center near Houston, Texas in June 2023. This continues a series of interviews with Catholic marriage experts in North America who attended the summit. A mini-documentary of the summit will be released at the end of the interview series.
Forever Ever
Forever Love: Peter Jesserer Smith
American Catholic journalism has the power and responsibly to shape the narrative surrounding marriage in the U.S. Peter Jesserer Smith sees this responsibility as paramount to making sure people understand that the vocation of marriage is ultimately about missionary discipleship.
In this conversation, Peter Jesserer Smith, Our Sunday Visitor National News and Features Editor, and Bridget Richardson, Executive Producer of MAX Studios at University of St. Thomas-Houston, sits down to discuss the vocation of marriage and its power for evangelization. He shares how recognizing the family as an integral part of how the laity show God's love to the world makes the gospel come alive for those around them. He shares his understanding of Catholic journalism, its storytelling capabilities and how his experiences on reporting on marriage have led him to co-author a book with Mary Rose and Ryan Verret.
This interview is bonus content from the Marriage Catechumenate Summit that took place at Circle Lake Retreat Center near Houston, Texas in June 2023. This continues a series of interviews with Catholic marriage experts in North America who attended the summit. A mini-documentary of the summit will be released at the end of the interview series.
OSV News Announces Peter Jesserer Smith As Its First National News And Features Editor
Forever Love: Jim Barrette
What does it look like to change the way we do church? To Jim Barrette, this could be the start, or even the continuation, of a change in the way we form people at all ages.
In this conversation, Bridget Richardson, Executive Producer of MAX Studios at University of St. Thomas-Houston, talks with Jim Barrette, Secretariat Director of Pastoral and Educational Ministries in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, about the marriage catechumenate. Jim shares how the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston has been thinking about how to inspire lifelong marriage formation for a long time and how it will take a generation or two to see the catechumenate really take root.
This interview is bonus content from the Marriage Catechumenate Summit that took place at Circle Lake Retreat Center near Houston, Texas in June 2023. This continues a series of interviews with Catholic marriage experts in North America who attended the summit. A mini-documentary of the summit will be released at the end of the interview series.
Sexual Intimacy
Forever Love: Sal and Josephine Caruso
Literally right before their flight, Sal and Josephine Caruso wanted to share about marriage in their area of San Jose, California. As advocates for marriage and family life, Josephine and Sal have seen firsthand what newly married couples need to thrive - they need to hear what they experience is normal and that marriage is incredible.
In this conversation, Josephine and Sal talk with Darnell Miller, Creative Director of MAX Studios at University of St. Thomas-Houston, about what the marriage landscape in California and what they thought about the summit overall. They share personal reflections and why it's important to reach out for newly married couples.
This interview is bonus content from the Marriage Catechumenate Summit that took place at Circle Lake Retreat Center near Houston, Texas in June 2023. This continues a series of interviews with Catholic marriage experts in North America who attended the summit. A mini-documentary of the summit will be released at the end of the interview series.
