Fr. John Riccardo is the host of "You Were Born for This with Father John Riccardo", Executive Director of ACTS XXIX, and a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit, ordained in 1996. He has served as pastor of St. Anastasia Catholic Church in Troy, MI, and at Our Lady of Good Counsel (OLGC) in Plymouth, MI. As pastor of OLGC, together with his parish team, he was witness to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to move a parish from maintenance to mission in a way that caught the attention of pastors and parishes across the country. As a result, he has done ongoing work with pastors, diocesan leaders, and parish staffs throughout the country to respond to the urgent call of the past four Popes for a new Pentecost and a new evangelization, and to equip parishes to be better able to respond to the times we live in. Fr. John was a member of the leadership team from its very beginning of what became Synod 16 in the Archdiocese of Detroit, a Synod focused on the New Evangelization. He continues to serve on the New Evangelization Council, whose task it is to assist the Archbishop in stewarding the graces of Synod 16. He also serves in several other advisory roles for the Archdiocese of Detroit. In addition to his work in Detroit, Fr. John has served as a member of the USCCB National Advisory Council and is currently a member of the Alpha USA Pastors Forum. He is the host of Christ is the Answer, a radio show that can be heard on EWTN, and is the creator of hundreds of podcasts and videocasts. He has spoken at diocesan events across the country and is passionate about the power of the Gospel to transform people’s lives. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan, The Gregorian University in Rome, and The Pope John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family.
Father John Riccardo has hosted 110 Episodes.
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Episode 85: Why We Need to Reimagine Our Parishes Now, Part III
July 13th, 2020 | 31 mins 49 secs
christianity, detroit, evangelization, fr. john riccardo, gospel, parish renewal, priest
What can and should we do to reach the fallen-away and the nones?
In this episode, Fr. John, Nick, and Mary continue to talk about the white paper and speak specifically about how to reach the fallen-away and the nones.
To read ACTS XXIX's white paper, visit https://www.imaginethis.actsxxix.org/.
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Episode 84: An Examination of Conscience for Mission
July 6th, 2020 | 17 mins 42 secs
christianity, detroit, evangelization, fr. john riccardo, gospel, parish renewal, priest
In this episode, Fr. John, Nick, and Mary continue to break open the white paper and begin to tackle the topic of reimagining our parishes to reach the nones and fallen-away.
Please visit https://actsxxix.org/media/podcasts/ to access the pdf mentioned in the podcast.
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Episode 83: Why We Need to Reimagine Our Parishes Now, Part II
June 29th, 2020 | 23 mins 22 secs
christianity, detroit, evangelization, fr. john riccardo, gospel, parish renewal, priest
Your parish is probably broken and you might not know it, round 2!
In this episode, Fr. John, Nick, and Mary continue their discussion around why parishes need to be reimagined now.
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Episode 82: We Need to Reimagine Parishes Now
June 22nd, 2020 | 27 mins 50 secs
christianity, detroit, evangelization, fr. john riccardo, gospel, parish renewal, priest
Your parish is probably broken and you might not know it!
In this episode, Fr. John, Nick, and Mary continue with their series on their white paper and talk about why re-imagining parishes is so critical right now.
To read ACTS XXIX's white paper, visit https://www.imaginethis.actsxxix.org/.
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Episode 81: Dare to Dream With Us About What Parishes Can Be
June 15th, 2020 | 45 mins 38 secs
christianity, detroit, evangelization, fr. john riccardo, gospel, parish renewal, priest
This parish would be your dream come true!
In this episode, Fr. John, Nick, and Mary welcome Dcn. Steve to the podcast to talk more about their white paper and to imagine with them what parishes can be.
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Episode 80: A Plea from Fr. John for the Church to be Prophetic
June 8th, 2020 | 40 mins 52 secs
#godwantshisworldback, #youwerebornforthis, christianity, detroit, evangelization, fr. john riccardo, gospel, parish renewal, priest
A Plea from Fr. John for the Church to be Prophetic.
In this episode, Fr. John speaks to the civil unrest in our nation and the prophetic role of the Church in these times
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Episode 79: Imagine This
June 1st, 2020 | 28 mins 43 secs
#godwantshisworldback, #youwerebornforthis, christianity, detroit, evangelization, fr. john riccardo, gospel, parish renewal, priest
As much as we want answers to “why,” the real question is “what do we do now?”
In this episode, Fr. John, Nick, and Mary talk about where we are in the country and the Church as a result of COVID-19 and introduce the first in a series of episodes on their white paper, “Re-Imagining What a Catholic Parish Can Be: A Destination for the 21st Century."
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Episode 78: Final Be Not Afraid: Pour Out Your Spirit
May 31st, 2020 | 8 mins 19 secs
#benotafraid, #godwantshisworldback, #youwerebornforthis, christianity, detroit, evangelization, fr. john riccardo, gospel, parish renewal, priest
An announcement, a plea, and a prayer!
In this final episode of the “Be Not Afraid” series, Fr. John announces a new series on the Sunday Mass Readings coming later this summer with Deacon Steve Mitchell and also encourages us to press into the power of the Holy Spirit and pray for healing and unity for our nation in this time of civil unrest.
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Episode 77: Be Not Afraid: Proclamation and Commission
May 30th, 2020 | 9 mins 59 secs
#benotafraid, #godwantshisworldback, #youwerebornforthis, christianity, detroit, evangelization, fr. john riccardo, gospel, parish renewal, priest
Sent forth on mission as heralds of the Gospel
In this episode, Fr. John shares again from one of his favorite books, “From Christendom to Apostolic Mission: Pastoral Strategies for an Apostolic Age" and reminds us that we are being sent into the world as heralds of the Gospel.
To purchase the book Fr. John mentions, please visit https://www.amazon.com/Christendom-Apostolic-Mission-Pastoral-Strategies/dp/099887289X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=From+Christendom+to+Apostolic+Mission%3A+Pastoral+Strategies+for+an+Apostolic+Age&qid=1590611152&sr=8-1
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Episode 76: Be Not Afraid: Do You Love Me More Than These?
May 29th, 2020 | 7 mins 49 secs
#benotafraid, #godwantshisworldback, #youwerebornforthis, christianity, detroit, evangelization, fr. john riccardo, gospel, parish renewal, priest
What are the “these” in your life?
In this episode, Fr. John unpacks today’s Gospel that shows forth how Jesus handles the sins of His loved ones and how much Jesus wants our love.
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Episode 75: Be Not Afraid: Open My Eyes
May 28th, 2020 | 8 mins 46 secs
#benotafraid, #godwantshisworldback, #youwerebornforthis, christianity, detroit, evangelization, fr. john riccardo, gospel, parish renewal, priest
It’s how, not what!
In this episode, Fr. John continues unpacking a book he highly recommends entitled, “From Christendom to Apostolic Mission: Pastoral Strategies for an Apostolic Age, and encourages us, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to ask for the grace to have our minds brought into conformity with the mind of God.
To purchase the book Fr. John mentions, please visit: https://www.amazon.com/Christendom-Apostolic-Mission-Pastoral-Strategies/dp/099887289X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=From+Christendom+to+Apostolic+Mission%3A+Pastoral+Strategies+for+an+Apostolic+Age&qid=1590611152&sr=8-1
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Episode 74: Be Not Afraid: Conversion of Mind and Vision
May 27th, 2020 | 7 mins 37 secs
#benotafraid, #godwantshisworldback, #youwerebornforthis, christianity, detroit, evangelization, fr. john riccardo, gospel, parish renewal, priest
Do we see reality as it truly is?
In this episode, Fr. John reminds us that St. Paul didn’t teach those he was preaching to what to think, but rather how to think and he exhorts us to beg the Holy Spirit to illumine our minds as we approach Pentecost.