Ave Spotlight

Episode 197: Step Up to the Plate feat. Fr. John Garabedian

August 18th, 2026  |  37 mins 15 secs

ave maria press, ave spotlight, diocese of fall river, faith and baseball, fr. john garabedian, free catholic podcast, massachusetts, oscar rivera, podcast for catholics, trusting god's call, vocations

Fr. John Garabedian, associate director of vocations for the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, talks with Oscar about baseball, priesthood, creativity, and learning to trust God’s call. A former college baseball player and graphic designer, Fr. John reflects on how the highs and lows of athletics taught him to keep success and failure in perspective, and how these lessons transfer to the spiritual life. He also shares his journey from recognizing a possible call to priesthood, and eventually surrendering to the vocation God had been placing on his heart all along.

Three takeaways:
Use the tools without losing the human touch.
Your identity is bigger than your performance.
God’s call requires a response.

Episode 196: What Are We Holding On To with Tom Corcoran

August 5th, 2026  |  30 mins 15 secs

ave maria press, ave spotlight, catholic podcast, jesus, oscar rivera, rebuilt, rebuilt parish, the rich young man and the menaing of life, tom corcoran

I sit down with Tom Corcoran, co-founder and president of Rebuilt Parish, to explore one of the most challenging encounters in the Gospels: Jesus and the Rich Young Man. Drawing from his new book, Tom unpacks why this story continues to speak to every Christian wrestling with the tension of happiness. Together, we discuss how Jesus always begins with love before inviting us to the cross.

Three Takeaways:

Jesus loves us before He challenges us. Every invitation to sacrifice begins with an encounter rooted in His love and desire for our happiness.

Idols take many forms. Wealth, status, comfort, family, entertainment, and even good things can become obstacles when they take God's rightful place.

Mission begins with surrender. Personal conversion and parish renewal both start by letting go of what keeps us from fully following Christ.

Episode 195: Beyond the Church Walls with Andy Churray

July 20th, 2026  |  45 mins 2 secs

andy churray, authentic relationships, ave maria press, ave spotlight, catholic podcast, evangelization, mission, missionaries, oscar rivera, share the gospel, vagabond missios

Oscar welcomes Andy Churray, president of Vagabond Missions, to Ave Spotlight for a conversation about what it means to live on mission. Andy shares how Vagabond Missions brings the Gospel to inner-city neighborhoods by reaching young people who are often overlooked by traditional ministry. Rooted in Jesus' words that "the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head," their mission isn't built on flashy programs but on a simple philosophy: make a friend, be a friend, and bring a friend to Christ. Through stories of authentic relationships, Andy reminds listeners that evangelization begins not with projects or programs, but with presence, grace, and the courage to go where others will not.

Episode 194: Beyond the Scoreboard feat. Santonio Hill

June 22nd, 2026  |  34 mins 23 secs

ave maria press, ave spotlight, catholic podcast, discipleship, discipline, eucharistic adoration, faith, oscar rivera, sacrifice, santonio hill, spiritual growth, sports

Oscar welcomes Santonio Hill for a conversation that bridges the worlds of sports, faith, and discipleship. Together, we explore why people passionately identify with teams, wear their colors, defend their loyalty, and find community through sports. But what might happen if that same energy were directed toward a relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church?

Drawing from the examples of elite athletes, Santonio challenges listeners to embrace the discipline, sacrifice, and consistency required for spiritual growth. Through his personal conversion story in Eucharistic Adoration, he reveals how falling in love with God transformed his life and gave him a mission greater than himself.

Episode 193: Humanity in the Age of AI with Paul Blanchard

June 9th, 2026  |  54 mins 1 sec

a catholic approach to ai, ai, ave maria press, ave spotlight, digital evangelization, human dignity, magnifica humanitas, oscar rivera, paul blanchard, pope leo xiv

Oscar sat down with Paul Blanchard, director of social media outreach and IT specialist for the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi, to explore one of the most important questions facing the Church today: How do we embrace technology without losing our humanity? Drawing from Pope Leo XIV recent encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, Paul shares insights from the front lines of digital evangelization, where technology serves the mission of making disciples rather than replacing relationships. Together we discuss AI companions, social media, human dignity, and the Church’s responsibility to provide moral guidance in a rapidly changing world. Through it all, Paul reminds listeners that the goal of technology should not be efficiency alone, but deeper communion with God and one another.

Three Takeaways:

1. Technology should serve relationships, not replace them.
2. Human dignity must remain at the center of AI development.
3. Evangelization is ultimately personal.

Episode 192: Faithful Discernment with Helena Heffernan

May 26th, 2026  |  38 mins 15 secs

ave maria press, ave spotlight, discernment, helena heffernan, life teen international, listening to god, oscar rivera, prayers, vocation

On this episode, Oscar sits down with Helena Heffernan of Life Teen International to explore the often challenging journey of discernment. Helena shares how prayer, silence, and honest self-awareness helped her recognize where her gifts could truly flourish. Their conversation is a powerful reminder that vocation is not about forcing a path forward, but faithfully responding to where God is genuinely calling you.

Episode 191: Motherhood’s Humble Confidence feat. Pamela Rivera

May 12th, 2026  |  53 mins 40 secs

ave maria press, ave spotlight, catholic podcast, eucharistic adoration, feminine genius, humility, marriage, mother's day, motherhood, oscar rivera, pamela rivera, prayer

In this episode, my wife, Pamela Rivera, joins me for a heartfelt conversation about how motherhood changes when our prayer life and interior life begin to deepen. Pam encourages listeners to embrace humility, rediscover the beauty of silence, and make space for the Lord to speak in the quiet moments of Adoration. Sometimes what our souls need most is less noise and more time in God’s presence.

In this conversation, we explore:

Why pride stands in opposition to the feminine genius

How trust in God’s providence grows when we take courageous leaps of faith

Whether marriage is more like a football team or a track team—and why the difference matters

Plus, I sit down with my own mother to ask one simple question: “What was I like as a kid?”

Episode 190: Climb Anyway with Joshua Rosa

April 28th, 2026  |  34 mins 1 sec

ave maria press, ave spotlight, catholic podcast, catholicism, joshua rosa, made for this mountain podcast, oscar rivera, stepping out of comfort zones

Josh Rosa joins Oscar to unpack the mindset needed to overcome life’s “mountains.” From stepping beyond comfort zones to rejecting performative faith, he explores how real transformation begins with action—not just emotion. This conversation challenges listeners to stop waiting, start moving, and trust that God meets them in the climb.

Episode 189: The Camino de Santiago: More Than Just a Walk feat. TJ Bogan

April 13th, 2026  |  26 mins 52 secs

ave maria press, ave spotlight, camino de santiago, catholic pilgrimages, oscar rivera, the way of st. james, tj bogan

In this episode, TJ Bogan joins Oscar to talk about the Camino de Santiago as more than a physical challenge, it’s a spiritual awakening. Through his work with Follow My Camino, TJ leads pilgrims through sacred sites and into deeper faith, rooted in Catholic tradition. This conversation reveals how pilgrimage can move from tourism to transformation, guiding souls closer to Christ through every step.

Episode 188: The Ride of Our Life: Holy Week Reflections

March 30th, 2026  |  29 mins 23 secs

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In this Holy Week reflection, Oscar looks back on the Lenten journey—its highs and lows—and considers how God meets us in all of it. As beloved sons and daughters, we can trust that he responds to every effort we make. But how are we called to respond in return?

We’re not made to avoid suffering, but to embrace it with gratitude and grace, trusting that even our hardships have purpose. This week, as we walk more closely with Jesus, we remember that we’re already strapped into the ride of his love. The question is: will we trust him enough to pull the cord and follow where he leads?