The Follow to Lead Podcast

#88: “The Catholic Talent Project” with Tom Carroll, Founder and President

Up until this summer, Tom Carroll was serving as the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Boston and created what the National Catholic Register has called a “renaissance of Catholic education.” He has taken one of the facets of his work there - in the recruiting and training of new Catholic educators and offering it on a greater scale to participating dioceses. Join us on this edition of “Follow to Lead” to learn more about the Catholic Talent Project.

#87: "DIA Update" with Kyle Pietrantonio, Excecutive Director of Duc In Altum Schools Collaborative

On this episode of "Follow to Lead" we will be talking with Kyle Pietrantio, Executive Director, about current happenings and developments in the DIA Schools Collaborative. He will be sharing more details about the upcoming Fall Summit as well as highlighting some of the other benefits, offerings and resources available.

#86: “An Unplanned Dialog” with Kyle Pietrantonio, Executive Director of DIA

A surprise episode of “Follow to Lead!” We were planning on talking to the Duc In Altum Schools Collaborative Executive Director Kyle Pietrantonio about upcoming events. What happened instead was an unplanned and interesting discussion about current trends and values in Catholic Education.

#85: “Introducing Word of Life: A New K-8 Curriculum for Catholic Schools” with Mark Brumley, President of Ignatius Press

Our guest on Follow to Lead is Mark Brumley, President of Catholic publisher Ignatius Press. Ignatius united with the Augustine Institute to complete the Word of Life K–8 curriculum. These two apostolates combined their expertise to craft a curriculum in which students, parents, and teachers learn the truths of the faith alongside each other while deepening their relationships with Christ. Emphasizing dialogue between teachers and students, Word of Life creates a shared experience rather than a download of information.

#84: “The Rescue Project: Being Formed by the Gospel” with Fr. John Riccardo, Mary Guilfoyle of ACTS XXIX

On this episode of Follow to Lead we’ll be talking with Fr. John Riccardo and Mary Guilfoyle of ACTS XXIX about their video series “The Rescue Project.” The Rescue Project seeks to proclaim the gospel clearly in a compelling and attractive way over eight weeks in a small group format. This experience is imbued with beauty, authentic humanity, and accompaniment. We will also explore ways in which this series might be used in Catholic Schools.

#83: “The New Symbolon” with Taylor Kemp, Vice-President of Content, The Augustine Institute

For the past ten years, “Symbolon,” a video series on essential Catholic teachings, was an important resource for RCIA, general faith formation and even spiritual direction. In Catholic schools it was a great source of information for religion classes as well as Faculty Faith Formation.

On today’s “Follow to Lead,” we’ll be talking with Taylor Kemp, of the Augustine Institute, about the new edition of Symbolon that will launch on the “Formed” streaming platform on July 17. Together we will explore the new programs and ways that they can enhance spiritual growth and formation personally, in the parish and in our Catholic Schools.

#82 - “The Hallow App in Catholic Schools” with Alessandro DiSanto, Co-founder of Hallow

It is rare for a Catholic with a smartphone to be unaware of the devotional app “Hallow.” Hallow is a simple, easy-to-use mobile app that helps us foster a relationship with God and the peace of prayer through guided prayer and meditation. You can pray with millions around the world alongside Mark Wahlberg, Jonathan Roumie, Sr. Miriam, Fr. Mike Schmitz, and more on Hallow.

Recently, their Super Bowl ad plus the Lenten prayer challenge pushed Hallow to No 1 spot on Apple App Store among all applications. On This episode of Follow to Lead we will be talking with Alessandro DiSanto, one of Hallow’s Co-founders, especially focusing on its use by Catholic Schools.

#81: “Catholic Powerhouses Unite to Provide Wholesome New Book Fairs,” with Fr. Joseph Fessio, Ignatius Press

Ave Maria University and Ignatius Press have teamed up to offer Ignatius Book Fairs, a Catholic-focused book fair for parents and schools who want to offer their children an alternative to the Scholastic Book Fairs, which have recently become a haven for inappropriate content for children. Today, on “Follow to Lead” we’re talking with Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ, about the current state of book fair content and this new Catholic-based approach.

National alternatives to such inappropriate and harmful content have not existed until now, leaving Catholic schools in a difficult position when they want to provide great books to their students. Ignatius Book Fairs has been launched to fill this void, with the ability to ship a high-quality, beautiful and fun book fair anywhere in the United States.

#80: “A New Cutting Edge Masters in Evangelization,” with Dr. Tom Harmon, University of St. Thomas

It is no secret that the Church has been hemorrhaging members in recent years. Troubled by polarization, skepticism, narcissism, our culture aches for the peace and joy of life in Jesus Christ. But how can they hear the truth of the Gospel anew? To take on this challenge, Word on Fire Institute and UST-Houston created a new accredited Master’s of Arts program offering academically rigorous engagement with the thinkers, ideas, and practical methods necessary to proclaim the Gospel to a secularized and tech-saturated world.

This episode of “Follow to Lead” features a conversation with Dr. Tom Harmon, Professor and Scanlan Foundation Chair of Theology as well as the Associate Director of Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas. He is the director of this new academic initiative.

#79: “Building a Culture of Discipleship for Catholic School Students,” with Pat Reidy of JSerra High School

Today we will be talking with Pat Reidy, Vice-President of Mission and Faith at JSerra High School in Orange County, CA about discipleship in the lives of our Catholic School Students. In Luke 6:40, Jesus talks about discipleship, saying, “A disciple who is fully taught will be like his teacher.” So, forming disciples is about communicating likeness - being like Jesus, which can happen to students in class, community life, small groups and through extra-curricular activities. Pat will also share their experiences with RCIA in a school setting.