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The Great BIG Christmas Show

Happy Advent and Merry Christmas! We are so excited to share this incredible show with you!

This half-hour special is brimming with traditions and on-location vignettes that offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how these influencers celebrate Advent and Christmas. We hope this video fills you with the warmth of family, faith, and joy for a more intentional celebration of the season. We feel blessed to be able to share these beautiful Advent/Christmas messages as we prepare for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ.

The show will be a joyful performance of both original and classic music, poetic compositions, and recipes from Catholic artists, friends, and family. Decorate cookies with the kids in the rustic farm kitchen of former model Leah Darrow and her family. Reflect on the beauty of the Incarnation with James Matthew Wilson, an influential Catholic philosopher and poet who has been featured in countless publications. Make a joyful noise with Fr. Rob Galea and Fr. David Michael as they sing songs to get you into the Christmas spirit. Also, see some Houstonians share their traditions and help you ponder the true meaning of these seasons.

Experience all this and much more while learning the beauty of living the rhythm of the liturgical Year during this heartfelt special.

Meet the Host - Fr. David Michael Moses

Fr. David Michael Moses is a priest in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. A quick and avid learner, Fr. David Michael graduated with his Bachelor’s degree at 18, an age when most students graduate from high school. After being accepted into several law schools, Fr. David Michael ultimately felt called to the priesthood and was ordained in 2019 at the young age of 25. He currently serves as the parochial vicar at Christ the Good Shepherd in Spring, TX. He enjoys writing music, and his “Concerts for Life” have collectively raised over $640,000 to assist women in crisis pregnancies. He is also active on social media, with a collective following of over 140,000, where he shares stories from priestly life.

Other Guests

Leah Darrow is the founder of Power Made Perfect, an acclaimed personal development program, where she uses her decades of mindset coaching and experience in creating lasting change to help others find the time and courage to lead lives of true freedom, contribution, and mission with God. A former model on reality TV, Leah experienced a life-changing conversion back to the Catholic faith in 2005. An entrepreneur at heart, Leah has a driving passion to lead and inspire others to embrace Christ’s mercy and has created a beautiful sisterhood of women striving to be a light in the world. A sought-after speaker, Leah has been featured on numerous top podcasts, as well as appearances on Fox News, Yahoo Finance, Daily Wire, The Blaze, EWTN, and The Christian Post.

James Matthew Wilson is the Cullen Foundation Chair of English Literature and the Director of the MFA program in Creative Writing at the University of Saint Thomas Houston. The author of eleven books, including his most recent collection of poems, "The Strangeness of the Good" (Angelico, 2020), Wilson is the recipient of numerous awards for his writings on art and culture, including the Hiett Prize and the Parnassus Prize. Wilson serves also as the poet-in-residence of the Benedict XVI Institute for Sacred Music and Divine Worship, the editor of Colosseum Books, and the poetry editor of Modern Age magazine.

Deacon Phillip Jackson is the Director of the Permanent Diaconate for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. His office is responsible for all aspects associated with the formation of deacon candidates and the ongoing formation and coordination of the Archdiocese's permanent diaconate community, which is the largest in the United States. He is also a deacon at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Houston.

Steffani Aquila is the Director of Liturgical Life at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Houston. A former youth minister, she is the founder and creator of His Girl Sunday, a popular blog about liturgical living. Her desire is to share how we live the Catholic faith and tradition in our home and with our community. She is an alumna of University of St. Thomas-Houston and has her undergraduate degree in Education and Theology, and a Master's Degree in theology. Over the span of about 12 years I was given unique experiences to teach or minister to every age group between 1st and 12th grade.

Fr. Rob Galea is an ordained Catholic Priest and is currently serving in Sandhurst Diocese, Victoria after moving to Australia from Malta, his home country. He is a singer and songwriter with an international fan base, has written songs for World Youth Day 2016 and 2019, and has performed for Pope Francis. Apart from a series of recordings and CD releases, Fr. Rob has 73,000 subscribers on YouTube where he features many of his songs and homilies. He was a contestant in Australia's 2015 The X Factor and is the the founder and serving director of FRG Ministry.

Jonathan Blevins is a Catholic husband and father of three. He began live streaming his favorite video game, Fortnite, in 2018. He is the founder of the Bearded Blevins Stream Team to take his Twitch channel full time with the mission to build a positive community. He is also the founder and CEO of Little Flower Media Company. He is the first partnered streamer to be sponsored by a university (University of St. Thomas-Houston) and he is in the top 1 percent of streamers with 57,000+ followers on Twitch.

Dr. Richard L. Ludwick is the 9th president of the University of St. Thomas Houston. He received his BA in history from the University of Evansville, an MA in higher education administration from Teachers College of Columbia University (New York), a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney Law School, and a Doctor of Education in policy management and organization of higher education administration from the University of Oregon (Eugene). He and his wife reside in Houston and are the proud parents of two adult children and four grandchildren.

Darnell Miller is the Creative Director of MAX Studios and is an alumnus (undergraduate and graduate) of University of St. Thomas-Houston.

TRAILER: The Great Big Christmas Show

It's the Advent season and with Christmas right around the corner, we thought it would be fun to get together with some of our favorite people to share their traditions and the holiday spirit! Fr. David Michael Moses hosts the show sharing holiday stories, songs and traditions. We are also joined by special guests including Leah Darrow, Fr. Rob Galea, Jonathan "Bearded" Blevins and others!

The show is set to go live on YouTube on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 12 at 7pm CT. Join us for a fun celebration of Advent leading into the Christmas Season as we prepare our hearts for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ!

The Innovative Spirit of the Fathers of Mercy w/ Fr. Ken Geraci

Fr. Ken Geraci, CPM, is a Father of Mercy based in Kentucky. He made a special visit to University of St. Thomas-Houston to strengthen a bond already beginning to form with several people at UST.

In this conversation, Fr. Ken talks with Dr. Richard Ludwick, president of UST, about the Fathers of Mercy and how they have adapted and innovated over the years to stay relevant and on mission. They also discuss what it means for a Catholic family to "go through the motions," how the Fathers of Mercy were innovative pivoting their approach for inviting people to discover the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and the value and depth of a parish mission and how personal prayer is key.

Fr. Ken Geraci, CPM

Understanding the Eucharist w/ Bishop Andrew Cozzens | Napa Institute Conference Series

In part one with Bishop Andrew Cozzens, bishop of the Diocese of Crookston, MN and Chairman of the National Eucharistic Revival, he talks about the need for revival in the Catholic Church.

In this part two, Bishop Cozzens sits down for a conversation with Dr. Richard Ludwick, president of University of St. Thomas-Houston, at the 12th Annual Napa Institute Conference in Napa Valley California. Bishop Cozzens gives an in-depth and beautiful description of the Eucharist and why it is essential for Catholics to understand its deep biblical mystery. Watch this video to better understand the Eucharist and share this in small groups and parishes so that all Catholics can fully know what it means to consume the true presence of Jesus Christ.

Links:
Bishops Ready to Lead Revival w/ Bishop Andrew Cozzens

National Eucharistic Revival

Bishop Andrew Cozzens

The Napa Institute

Bishops Ready to Lead Revival w/ Bishop Andrew Cozzens | Napa Institute Conference Series

Bishop Andrew Cozzens, bishop of the Diocese of Crookston, MN and Chairman of the National Eucharistic Revival, desires for all the Catholic faithful to know and understand the power of the Eucharist. He, and other United States bishops, are getting ready for the National Eucharistic Revival and it's three-year process of deepening our union to the true presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

Bishop Cozzens sits down for a conversation with Dr. Richard Ludwick, president of University of St. Thomas-Houston, at the 12th Annual Napa Institute Conference in Napa Valley California. They discuss the National Eucharistic Revival, why the bishops are enthusiastic for it and the need for a more profound understanding of the Eucharist and Mass in our church today.

Links:
National Eucharistic Revival

Bishop Andrew Cozzens

The Napa Institute

Technology as a Tool for the Church w/ JM Boyd | Napa Institute Conference Series

If technology is a tool, how can the Church use that tool to leverage relationships, connect ministries and track the faith journey of the average parishioner? This was the question pondered by JM Boyd, CBO of Glass Canvas. That question led to the development of Tilma Platform, a tool that could help parishes and dioceses connect, track and enhance the spiritual journeys of the faithful.

Boyd sits down with Dr. Richard Ludwick, president of the University of St. Thomas - Houston, at the 12th Annual Napa Institute Conference in Napa Valley California. They discuss the founding of Tilma Platform, how it works, but most importantly, why it is needed.

Links:

Glass Canvas

Tilma Platform

The Napa Institute

Hope in the Music Industry w/ Mario Costabile | Napa Institute Conference Series

Mario Costabile knows his way around the music industry. Costabile, Executive Director of Array of Hope, uses his knowledge of the Christian music scene, from his experience in Nashville and Los Angeles, to apply that to the Catholic space to create dynamic Christian concerts geared toward a Catholic audience. Array of Hope does so much more than just music too, focusing on high quality media to create a meaningful experience for viewers.

Costabile sits down with Dr. Richard Ludwick, president of the University of St. Thomas - Houston, at the 12th Annual Napa Institute Conference in Napa Valley California. They discuss Costabile's background, the contemporary Christian music scene and its influence, where Costabile's team finds the talent for this work and how a university can foster this kind of musical talent.

Links:

Array of Hope

Mario Costabile, Executive Director | Array of Hope

The Napa Institute

A Bold Vision for Catholic Education w/ Kyle Pietrantonio | Napa Institute Conference Series

What does the future of Catholic Education look like? That is what Kyle Pietrantonio, Executive Director of Duc In Altum Schools Collaborative, set out to answer as he and a number of school presidents founded the DIA schools. What they crafted was a bold vision for 21st century educators, creating an extensive network of entrepreneurial and passionately Catholic educators seeking to challenge conventional thinking while striving for excellence in faith-first school communities across the country and the world.

Pietrantonio sits down with Dr. Richard Ludwick, president of the University of St. Thomas - Houston, at the 12th Annual Napa Institute Conference in Napa Valley California. They discuss the role of evangelization within an educational setting and how a school can function as a "furnace of formation" for everyone involved.

Links:
Duc In Altum Schools Collaborative

The Napa Institute

Celebrating a Diversity of Gifts w/ Deacon Charlie Echeverry | Napa Institute Conference Series

Deacon Charlie Echeverry, a deacon of the Diocese of Los Angeles, understands the beauty of embracing a diversity of gifts and expressions of those gifts in the Catholic Church. One of his goals is for others to recognize their own gifts and use them to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In this episode of our Napa Institute Conference Series, Deacon Charlie sits down with Dr. Richard Ludwick, president of University of St. Thomas-Houston, at the 12th Annual Napa Institute Conference in Napa Valley California. In a wonderful dialogue, they discuss why Deacon Charlie became a deacon, how deacons are meant to create bridges, and the magnitude of recognizing the richness of cultures in the Catholic Church and how they can only enhance our mission - in liturgy and in life.

Links:
Living the CALL Podcast

Black//Brown

The Napa Institute

Creating of Culture of Evangelization w/ Jason Simon | Napa Institute Conference Series

What does it mean to be an Evangelical Catholic? For Jason Simon, president of The Evangelical Catholic, it means putting in the work to make disciples of all nations! Since their founding in 1998, The Evangelical Catholic has reached thousands of people across the nation to activate and create cultures of evangelization and discipleships.

Simon sits down for a conversation with Dr. Richard Ludwick, president of the University of St. Thomas - Houston, at the 12th Annual Napa Institute Conference in Napa Valley California. They discuss the importance evangelization and the shift happening in our churches today, instead of drawing people to an ever increasing number of church activities, to form parishioners to go out into the world to draw more people towards Christ.

Links:
Evangelical Catholic

The Napa Institute

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