Ave Spotlight

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.

Episode 151: Rough Waters Ahead: A Mission to Navigate Youth Anxiety with Deacon Bob Rice

October 28th, 2024  |  37 mins 21 secs

accompaniment, ave spotlight, deacon bob rice, free catholic podcast, living the gospel, oscar rivera, teens, the anxious generation, youth ministry

In this episode, we dive deep into the complexities of trust issues and anxiety that so many teens face today. Can relational ministry be the ultimate tool for guiding them through the rough waters of adolescence? Join us as we explore the thrilling yet perilous world of accompanying teens and how we can help teens recognize that they are not just the future—they are the right now!

Get ready for an insightful conversation with Deacon Bob Rice about the mission territory that is ministry to youth and how living the Gospel can be the life raft they need. Buckle up, because this episode is all about embracing the deep waters of youth ministry!

Episode 140: Sparking Faith in the Hearts of Teens: YDisciple's Annie Grandell on Transformative Media

March 11th, 2024  |  19 mins 4 secs

annie grandell, ave maria press, ave spotlight, catholic youth ministry, chenele shaw, intersection of faith and media, media and young people, net ministries, ydisciple, youth ministry

In this episode of Ave Spotlight, Annie Grandell, Director of YDisciple, discusses the impact of transformative media. Join us as Annie shares insights on ways that media can assist us in ministry while being fun, informative, and well done. Explore the intersection of faith, media, and personal transformation in this enlightening conversation!

Episode 138: Sparking Faith in the Hearts of Teens: The Transformative Power of Spiritual Events with Julianna Nett of Life Teen

February 12th, 2024  |  25 mins 3 secs

ave maria press, ave spotlight, catechesis, catholic teens, chenele shaw, empowering teens to deepen their relationship with jesus, evangelization, julianna nett, life teen, sparking faith in the heart of teens, youth ministry

Join us for the first episode of our series Ignite: Sparking Faith in the Heart of Teens with our special guest, Julianna Nett of Life Teen. She shares her insights and experiences in navigating the intersection of faith and community. Through thoughtful discussion and personal anecdotes, we uncover the transformative power of events in shaping the spiritual growth of young Catholics and empowering teens to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ.