Ave Spotlight
with Oscar Rivera
Displaying Episode 1 - 10 of 26 in total of Ave Spotlight with the tag “oscar rivera”.
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Episode 170: Seen and Beloved: Cristina Pocta on Advocacy, Identity, and Hope
July 21st, 2025 | 51 mins 35 secs
ave maria press, ave spotlight, cristina pocta, free catholic podcast, organization to help those who often go unseen, oscar rivera, seen
Cristina Pocta joins Oscar to share her powerful story of love, faith, and advocacy. As a mother of children with spina bifida and the co-founder of Seen, Cristina is on a mission to bring visibility and healing to families often overlooked. In this inspiring conversation, she talks about her new initiative to offer real rest to caregivers, the beauty of cultural identity, the hope of heaven, and the deep comfort of knowing that God sees us—especially in our suffering.
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Episode 169: The Universal Church and Urban Roots with Brandon Morel
July 7th, 2025 | 34 mins 19 secs
ave maria press, ave spotlight, brandon morel, catholic faith, catholicism, cultural evangelization, evangelization, gospel rooted in justice and joy, ministry in new york city, oscar rivera, pierre toussaint, the catholic church and hip hop, the symbol, youth ministry
Ministry in New York City isn’t for the faint of heart but it's full of grace. Oscar and Brandon Morel talk about the power of cultural evangelization, the immigrant roots of Catholic New York, and how figures like Pierre Toussaint still inspire a gospel rooted in justice and joy. Plus, they explore the surprising harmony between the Church and hip hop, and what it means to become saints in the middle of the city.
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Episode 168: Bridging Culture and Christ with Mari Pablo
June 23rd, 2025 | 37 mins 2 secs
ave maria press, ave spotlight, free catholic podcast, in his heart ministries, mari pablo, oscar rivera, podcast for everyday catholics, the sacred heart
In this vibrant and heartfelt episode of Ave Spotlight, host Oscar Rivera sits down with Mari Pablo to explore what it means to grow up bicultural and live out a faith shaped by both tradition and personal encounter. They unpack the beauty and challenges of cultural Catholicism, the need to move beyond fear-based faith, and the importance of healing and hope found in Christ. Mari also shares the mission behind In His Heart Ministries, offering a powerful call to embrace both devotional practices and open, honest conversations about mental health. And yes—there’s a little talk about caffeine-free mornings and why the Sacred Heart continues to transform her life.
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Episode 167: High School Seniors Take Over Ave Spotlight
June 9th, 2025 | 40 mins 5 secs
ave maria press, ave spotlight, catholic church, catholicism, high school seniors, oscar rivera, sharing the faith
On this episode, Oscars talks to high school seniors from public, private and Catholic Schools about their Catholic experience in each of their school settings. This conversation is not only eye opening but hopeful. These teens are not the future of the Church, but the RIGHT NOW of the Church.
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Episode 166: Beyond Labels: Rethinking Sexual Sin and Embracing God’s Pursuit with Kim Zember
May 26th, 2025 | 35 mins 25 secs
ave maria press, ave spotlight, faith and freedom, free catholic podcast, kim zember, oscar rivera
Oscar and Kim Zember have an honest conversation about how the Church often mishandles sexual sin—treating some sins as worse than others—and how this mindset drives people away from mercy. Kim shares her personal journey of faith and freedom, challenging listeners to stop ranking sins and start recognizing how fiercely Jesus is pursuing their hearts.
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Episode 165: Durable Motherhood and Divine Femininity with Pamela Rivera
May 13th, 2025 | 37 mins 6 secs
ave maria press, ave spotlight, femininity, free catholic podcast, mother's day celebration, motherhood, oscar rivera, pamela rivera
This episode’s guest isn’t just beloved by God—she’s my beloved! I sit down with my wife, Pamela Rivera, for an honest conversation on the strength, beauty, and resilience of motherhood. We talk about how true femininity isn’t a one-size-fits-all and how society is now rebelling against the very image it created. But God’s vision for womanhood is deeper, more durable, and divinely designed. Don’t miss this one.
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Episode 164: Cold Matcha, Charisms, and the Call of the Holy Spirit with Jill Simons
April 28th, 2025 | 44 mins 21 secs
ave maria press, ave spotlight, charisms, free catholic podcast, jill simons, oscar rivera, supernatural gifts, the authentic uprising show
Oscar and Jill Simons have an honest conversation about the Holy Spirit in today’s modernist world. Together they explore the power of charisms—gifts from the Holy Spirit—and how they shape our mission as baptized people. This conversation challenges listeners to consider diving deeper into what it really means to walk with the Spirit.
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Episode 163: Last Week of Lent: Finish Strong with Oscar Rivera
April 14th, 2025 | 21 mins 2 secs
almsgiving, ave maria press, ave spotlight, fasting, free catholic podcast, how is lent going for you, lent, oscar rivera, podcast for the everyday catholic, prayer
As we enter the final week of Lent, host Oscar Rivera reminds us that it’s not the time to dwell on any shortcomings in our almsgiving, fasting, and prayer. Instead, it’s a moment to refocus, recommit, and finish strong. Whether your Lent has gone exactly as planned or felt a bit off track, these last few days offer a powerful opportunity to embrace the spirit of sacrifice and spiritual growth. In this episode, Oscar shares encouragement and practical wisdom to help you make this final stretch count—so you can prepare your heart for the joy and renewal of Easter.
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Episode 162: Faithful Surrender: Adoption, Marriage, and Bold Prayers with Allison Gingras
March 31st, 2025 | 29 mins 29 secs
adoption, allison gingras, ave maria press, ave spotlight, family, free catholic podcast, marriage, oscar rivera
In this episode, Oscar sits down with Catholic author and media evangelist Allison Gingras to talk about marriage, family, and the boldness of saying "yes" when God calls you into the unexpected. Allison shares her powerful journey of surrender and trust, which led her all the way to China to adopt a specific child. We also explore the beauty of the Sacrament of Marriage, how God guides couples, and the importance of open communication in following his lead.
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Episode 161: From Struggles to Strength: Real Talk on Marriage and Faith feat. Mary Bruno
March 17th, 2025 | 32 mins 36 secs
ave maria press, ave spotlight, embracing love in marriage, free catholic podcast, infertility and faith, intimacy, maria bruno, marriage, oscar rivera
In this episode, Oscar sits down with Mary Bruno to unpack the quirks, challenges, and joys of marriage. From humorous food debates to deep struggles with infertility and faith, they share raw and uplifting stories of love, loss, and transformation. Mary opens up about her journey through infertility, the adoption of her daughter, and the powerful moment she encountered Jesus in her pain. Together, they explore the beauty of intimacy, the importance of vulnerability, and how God’s light shines through even the darkest moments. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation on embracing love, suffering, and purpose in marriage.