Betrayal and Silence
After a devastating athletic injury, Kamryn felt betrayed by God. In the silence of her prayer through betrayal, while resting in her desolation, she found hope as God spoke to her.
This is Kamryn Spell. She is a student and athlete at the University of St. Thomas – Houston. Find out what “word” came to her in prayer and how it led her to trust in God's plan for her life - even if it meant going to school.
When Tradition is the Biggest Innovation
When thinking about innovation in education, we often imagine sleek, modern classrooms filled with smart boards and the latest technology. You wouldn’t be wrong to think that. However, when Dr. Alexis Kutarna and the faculty of Cathedral High School in Houston, Texas think about innovation, they look back and pull from the wealth of tradition behind Catholic education, and aim to do something different. They are not focused on educating their students to simply find a career. While they they do prepare them to do so, they supremely focus on educating the whole person, preparing their students to be good citizens, good Catholics and good people.
In this conversation, Dr. Richard Ludwick, President of the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, talks to Dr. Alexis Kutarna, Principal of Cathedral High School in Houston, about the link between tradition and innovation to learn how they apply Catholic Tradition in a modern educational context and why every student should learn how to sing.
Prayer in war and tragedy
Chris knows adversity ... and strength. He has seen people tragically bottom out while witnessing others live with courage. All these experiences have shaped him, and through prayer in tragedy and war, he has realized what’s most important.
This is Christopher Zeglin. He is the Associate Vice President of Marketing at University of St. Thomas-Houston. A United States Navy Veteran, Christopher talks about his time working in anti-terrorism, the tragic loss of his mother and brother, and the one thing that remained constant. Hear his story of heartbreak, strength, and perseverance.
Be Not Afraid
In this episode of our series looking back at World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal, we follow Magdalena Escoto. For her, going to World Youth Day was the perfect end to her college career, but she was not prepared for how gathering with Catholic Youth from around the globe would change her.
Magdalena talks about the highs and lows of the pilgrimage. Hear about her experience of extreme discomfort walking to the Vigil Mass, the doubts and fears she carried with her about her future, and how the words of hope from Pope Francis gave her sense of confidence in her future that she didn't realize she needed.
The Shroud of Turin at World Youth Day
Andrea Allesandri always wanted to go to World Youth Day, but was not sure how she could afford the trip. Fortunately, the work she was doing with the National Museum of Funeral History in Houston, Texas, opened the door to the possibility. Now, Andrea is traveling to Lisbon to participate in World Youth Day and teach people about the Shroud of Turin.
If Catholics could do this, it would be fire power
Danielle sees a shaking in the world today. While people say that all the time, she sees the Christian community, as a whole, reaching an undeniable tipping point. The divide between Protestants and Catholics is getting smaller and smaller, and she wants Catholics to get ready for a new level of Christian unity.
This is Danielle Brown. She is the Director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism. She draws a parallel between Protestant powerhouse Francis Chan’s intrigue with communion and the Catholic Church undergoing a three-year National Eucharistic Revival. She calls this a “John 17 type work” that calls Christians to be one in Christ. Hear her view on the next phase of Christian unity. Learn more about Danielle:
Danielle Brown - The GIVEN Institute
We Were Made for Greatness
Annie Nguyen had high expectations going into World Youth Day 2023! Now, looking back a year later, not only were those expectations met, they were exceeded!
Today Annie tells the story of how a chance encounter with a girl from Australia helped her see that not every souvenir is material. She remembers how a talk by Bishop Robert Barron helped her consider her priorities and how they do and do not lead her to God. And she shares how the witness of over 1 million youth from around the world made her reevaluate her own relationship with prayer and how recommitting to prayer changed her life!
Here. Now. All eyes are on Him.
Nathaniel doesn’t want to be a disgrace. While he and his family are witnessing 50,000 people gathered in a stadium doing one thing – he realizes he is responsible for his family. For him, the time to teach is now and the time to practice what you preach is ever-present.
This is Nathaniel Binversie, a full-time missionary. In this episode of MAX Stories, Nathaniel shares his experience of attending the National Eucharistic Congress in July 2024 in Indianapolis, Ind. He attends this event with his family, comprised of his wife and three young daughters. He talks about why he has taken up the mantel of guiding his family to a deeper love of Jesus Christ and how he asks them to engage with Jesus in the Eucharist.
Nathaniel shares his own understanding of the Eucharist at a young age and how that has evolved over time. He describes the challenge of “just being” with God even though he is a full-time missionary commissioned to do God’s work in the world. He also talks openly about the responsibilities of shepherding his daughters through the experience of the National Eucharistic Congress. With an astute awareness of his place in his family, he does not want to fail them in in living up to his own call from God to be the witness he is called to be to others and to those closest to him.
Hear Nathaniel’s inspiring testimony of obligation and hope in the future.
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Nathaniel will be featured on an episode of MAX Studios Original podcast, Protagonists of Change.
It was 140 DEGREES!
One thing is for sure, it’s hot in South Texas. Rick’s job was to capture thousands of people walking in Brownsville, Texas heat with ... well ... Jesus. The heat was brutal, but overwhelming joy for Christ let Rick to only think about one thing: go.
This is Rick Trevino. He is a Project Manager and Content Developer for the Diocese of Brownsville in Texas. Baking in the Texas heat, Rick films the movements of a Eucharistic procession through the streets of historic downtown Brownsville. He describes how he felt in the Texas heat, and also what he saw: the beauty of celebration and worship of Jesus in the Eucharist.
Rick shares how, while thousands processed throughout the city, it was what happens after the procession that is important. How do the people walking go out and share the Good News with those around them – family, friends, neighbors. He challenges people in their pursuit of witnessing to Christ’s love and to be forthright in their invitation to welcome other to Mass.
Listen to him describe his experience of a Eucharistic Procession and how he now sees that we have no excuses. Just go out and spread the Good News.
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Rick will be featured on an episode of MAX Studios Original podcast, Protagonists of Change.
Learn more about the Diocese of Brownsville.
Learn what a Eucharistic Pilgrimage is and why Catholics do it.
Catholic Youth of the World Unite
Catholic youth from around the world gathered in Lisbon, Portugal to celebrate their faith during World Youth Day 2023. Joseph Troxler, a UST student active in his faith life, attended and experienced a sense of new sense of the Universal Church.
Today he shares his experience from World Youth Day. He explains how the pre-WYD trip to Spain was among the motivating factors in going. His family practices a devotion to the Carmelites and Our Lady of Fatima and Joseph shares how his visits to Avila, Toledo and Fatima illuminated his faith life. He is excited to be able to bring back and share his insights, photos and experiences with his family.
From there, he joined more than a million Catholic youth for the opening Mass. It was during this Mass where he first got a sense of how big the Body of Christ really is.
One of his key insights was Pope Francis as our shepherd. Joseph holds a special affinity for Christ the Good Shepherd, and this experience
