Beyond The Beacon
Join Bishop Kevin Sweeney and Communications Director Jai Agnish of the Diocese of Paterson, N.J., as they discuss current events and topics relevant to the local Church in Paterson and the global Catholic Church. Bishop Sweeney answers questions from listeners, interviews guests, and shares reflections and insights helpful for all striving to live a life of faith, hope, and love.
Episodes
"I just need a place to sleep," said a pregnant woman living in her car and washing up for work in a public bathroom. Another woman, a pregnant college student abandoned by her family, insisted on giving birth to her child. These are real-life stories of women in crisis pregnancy situations who received the help they needed from an organization called Birth Haven. Tina Magarino, the executive director of the...
Does a bishop get time off in the summer? Find out on this week's episode, when Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Jai Agnish catch up for a mid-summer episode. They discuss a wide array of current events and topics, including what's happening in Rome for the Jubilee Year of Hope, and the excitement around local pilgrimages and events in the Diocese of Paterson.
Show Notes:
https://rcdop.org/jubilee-2025-rcdop
Learn how end-of-life hospital care led Alyssa Renovales to embark on her role as the new Respect Life Coordinator for the Diocese of Paterson. She also discusses graces she has experienced as a result of her involvement with the Corazón Puro ministry. Eniola Honsberger, director of the Office of Family Life, also joins Bishop Kevin Sweeney and guest co-host Brian Honsberger for this lively episode recorded at our St....
What would happen if you ran for 24 hours straight? Daniel O’Keefe can tell you. The new president of the Catholic Academy of Sussex County is an avid runner, completing over 50 ultramarathons. O’Keefe joins Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Jai Agnish to share his passion for education leadership and more. The Catholic Academy of Sussex County consists of Rev. George A. Brown Memorial School (PK-4), Pope John XXIII Middle ...
Clergy abuse survivor Mark Joseph Williams joins Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Jai Agnish to share his powerful story of confronting the suffering caused by abuse. Williams is the author of “Torrent of Grace: A Catholic Survivor's Healing Journey after Clergy Abuse,” in which he details spiraling into substance abuse and shame in the aftermath of trauma. He finds hope and healing in a place few survivors would look...
Imagine if a spiritual retreat could have a life-changing impact on your life! For the guests of this episode, that is exactly what happened. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Jai Agnish talk with Dick Freiberger and Frank Farrell, members of the Called to Courage men’s retreat group; and Father Dan Murphy, a retired priest of the Diocese of Paterson. The annual Called to Courage retreat is where men listen and speak from t...
Father Kamil Kiszka joins Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Jai Agnish to discuss his unique calling to ministry in Alaska. The Polish priest often flies to parishes where parishioners haven't had Mass in months. There are funeral processions with snowmobiles, and afternoon ice fishing with Eskimo friends. Father Kiszka also opens up about the impact of darkness and isolation on his mental health and how he copes with ...
Bishop Kevin Sweeney shares his reaction to Pope Leo XIV's historic election. Our local church of Paterson rejoices with the Church throughout the world in the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as the Successor to the blessed Apostle Peter. Jai Agnish co-hosts.
This special episode reflects on Pope Francis's legacy and considers what the future might bring. Joining Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Jai Agnish is Msgr. Geno Sylva, to share joyful memories of his interactions with the Holy Father while working at the Vatican for many years. Msgr. Geno is the rector of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J. He is also vicar for Special Projects and serves as ...
Bishop Kevin Sweeney and Jai Agnish visit the beautiful campus of Saint Elizabeth University in Morris Township, N.J., for a remote episode recorded by students in the university's studio. Interviews include Dr. Gary B. Crosby, president of the Catholic university, and several students in different years of study. Hear their perspective about learning and growing, and what the day-to-day life of a college student...
What is it like to attend an all-girls Catholic high school? Two seniors and two sophomores attending Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon share an inside look at attending the Salesian-run all-girl Catholic high school, which has strengthened their faith lives and allowed them to focus on academic excellence away from the pressures many students face today. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Cecile Pagliarulo le...
What's better? A slice of pizza from the city or Jersey? What's the bishop's favorite book of the Bible? Favorite parable? In his second "mailbag" episode, Bishop Kevin Sweeney fields various questions from our viewers, listeners, and social media community. Jai Agnish and Cecile Pagliarulo take turns putting these questions and comments to the bishop and adding their own. Some topics are on t...
Three young adults share their experience of being Catholic in today's culture. Bishop Kevin Sweeney and Jai Agnish interview Michael Inguanti, David Martinez, and Matt Pana of the New Jersey chapter of Young Catholic Professionals. The organization offers a way for young workers in their 20s and 30s to go deeper into faith, life, and work. Its members seek authentic friendships, a richer sense of purpose, and pe...
As we look to Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, Bishop Kevin Sweeney offers practical advice about the Lenten practices of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer. Guest Father Jared Brogan joins Bishop Kevin and Jai Agnish to help illuminate the meaning and purpose of these traditions. Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It'...
A religious sister and two brothers engage in a lively interview with Bishop Kevin Sweeney about how they discerned God's call to consecrated religious life. Sister of Christian Charity Chiara Marie Stimpfle, Franciscan Father John Aherne, and Franciscan Father of the Renewal Isaac Spinharney also share insights into prayer, retreats, and living in community. Bishop Kevin also reflects on the state of immigratio...
For this remote episode, Bishop Kevin Sweeney and Jai Agnish visited All Saints Academy, a preschool through eighth-grade Catholic school of the Diocese of Paterson in Parsippany, N.J. The episode was recorded at St. Ann Church, where classes were being held temporarily. Joining them for interviews were Principal Leanne Gonzalez, Media Specialist Laura Carroll, and students Giulliana Lalo, Maggie Van Hoven, Matthew Si...
On Jan. 24, 2025, the 52nd annual National March for Life will take place in Washington, D.C., bringing together pro-life advocates to be a voice for the voiceless.
Two frequent attendees of the March, Julie McGurn, a parishioner of St. Vincent Martyr Church in Madison and coordinator of its Respect Life Ministry, and Russell Petrocelli, principal of DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne and state treasurer o...
Pope Francis invites everyone to participate in the grace-filled Jubilee “Year of Hope,” which opens in Rome on Dec. 24, 2024, and in every diocese on Dec. 29, Feast of the Holy Family. Bishop Kevin Sweeney welcomes Sister Theresa Lee, F.M.A., and Brian Honsberger to the show to discuss the Diocesan-wide Jubilee events and liturgies, pilgrimages, education, and catechesis. Sister Theresa is the Chancellor and Diocesan...
How can the Church best involve young people in their faith communities? This week, several students who attend DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne tackle this question with Bishop Kevin Sweeney and Cecile Pagliarulo. They also discuss how campus ministry has led them to build closer relationships with God. Led by the school’s campus minister, Annamaria Zaccardi, the students participate in service projects to help t...
Happy Thanksgiving from Bishop Kevin Sweeney, Jai Agnish, Cecile Pagliarulo, and all of us in the Communications Office of the Diocese of Paterson, N.J.! On this week's episode, Bishop Kevin and Jai discuss the difficult decision to close the print edition of The Beacon. It was recently announced The Diocese of Paterson would cease printing its beloved newspaper at the end of the year, concluding a 58-year public...
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