Michael Chamberland (left), director of evangelism at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Farmington, and Fr. Walter Ptak, a stalwart priest serving his parish community, records episodes for a new media initiative called “Pope, Prayer and Ptak.'' Ptak will share with parishioners his personal life, insights into Polish customs and Catholic tradition, and stories about catechesis. (Karla Dorweiler | Special to Detroit Catholics)
At Our Lady of Sorrows in Farmington, podcasts help priests share personal stories and engage with families on a deeper level
farmington — Listeners tune in to the latest episode of the podcast “Popes, Prayers & Ptak” for ideas for staying spiritually focused during the liturgical period of Lent.they will learn it too Kurushki, or “Angel's Wings,” teeth Father Walter Ptak's favorite Polish dish, and even though he's Polish, he's not a fan patchy.
The podcast was launched last fall and features Fr.Father Ptak with solid food A conversation between him, who serves at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Farmington, and Michael Chamberland, director of evangelism at the parish.
In “Seek What's Above,” another podcast produced by Our Lady of Sorrows, listeners hear from Fr. Derrick Peterman is referred to as a “young lad” by a priest friend who jokes that he has an affair with the priest. Peterman embarks on his retirement plans. Father Peterman served as associate pastor of the parish until January, when he was assigned to Our Lady of Refuge Parish in Orchard Lake.
Details like sweet treats and nicknames may seem frivolous, but they go a long way in helping parishioners feel a personal connection to their priest. In a large parish like Our Lady of Sorrows, the priests' schedules don't allow them to say “yes” to every dinner invitation, so the podcast is a great way to share not only Catholic teaching and guidance, but also connecting stories. It serves as an easy way to Their flock as spiritual fathers.
become personal
After last fall's Mass, it became a goal of the parish's public relations team to get to know the priests of Our Lady of Sorrows beyond prayers and simple greetings. The group meets bimonthly to discuss ways to keep up with parishioners and find new ways to engage with them.
Tori Polhill (left), director of youth discipleship at Our Lady of Sorrows, records an episode of “Seeking What's Above” with Fr. Derrick Peterman. (Karla Dorweiler | Special to Detroit Catholics)
Tori Polhill, director of youth discipleship at Our Lady of Sorrows, co-hosts “Seek What’s Above” with Fr. Peterman. Polhill is part of his communication team and co-hosted a podcast with his friends in 2020 called “Salt the Earth.”
“As a team, we really understand the need and desire to get to know (our) priests, and podcasting is an easy and relatively low-cost way to do that,” Paul Hill said. said. “(Our Lady of Sorrows) has a history of creating videos and livestreams to assist in serving our parishioners, and this was a natural extension of that.”
When asked about the podcast last fall, Fr. Ptak was hesitant at first, but quickly calmed down.
“Podcasts give people a chance to get to know me and get to know them as well when they listen to an episode in their car or home and then come up to me and join in the conversation.” said the priest. Ptak said.
Chamberland, who also co-hosts the “Jesus on Jesus” podcast with Detroit Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, asks Fr. during a recording session. Ptak shares a story about Pope St. John Paul II. Father Ptak had many interactions with the Polish Pope, including being chosen to preach the Gospel in Polish during Mass with the Pope when he visited Detroit in 1987. Ptak also shares stories and traditions about Polish heritage.
“I think people like to learn about customs other than their own and adapt them. I also love hearing about other traditions,” said Fr. Ptak said. “I think this shows the richness of the church and is a beautiful mosaic of culture and faith.”
Father John Ricardo, a priest in the Archdiocese of Detroit and executive director of ACT XXIX, produces a weekly podcast called “You Were Born For This” with the apostolate. (Valorian Waller | Detroit Catholic)
Father John Licciardo, a priest in the Archdiocese of Detroit and executive director of ACTS XXIX, co-hosted the Catholic Radio show Holy Ground in 2002, using digital technology as a way to address topics of heart and spirit. I started using media. . He believes parish-centered podcasts can help break down barriers.
“The challenge of parish life is that we do not know each other, but we all have a strong desire to know and be known by others.” the priest said. Ricardo said. “If you just listened to my sermon at Mass, you probably have one impression about me, but that's not always who I am. With podcasts, especially when you can have discussions with the public, It gives us the opportunity to have more conversations, so we can make the parish feel smaller.”
teaching tools
Podcasting is growing as a popular tool in the Catholic media world. In addition to “Jesus on Jesus,” which features a monthly conversation with Archbishop Vigneron, the Archdiocese of Detroit also publishes several other programs aimed at providing spiritual support, practical assistance, and inspiration. I am producing a podcast.
These include “Detroit Stories,” a biweekly storytelling and informational podcast produced by. Detroit Catholic. Beyond Sunday is a podcast for busy families and parents. “Men of the Hearts” is a vocational discernment podcast by Fr. Craig Gierra and Fr. Drew Mabee. And the “I AM HERE” podcast features inspiring stories about Eucharistic devotion.
Other podcasts at the parish level include “Fathers and Fathers,” produced by Fr. John McKenzie and Jason A. Smith of Christ the King Parish in Detroit can have a more personal touch.
Nicole Joyce (left) and Raki McCormick share the podcast Beyond Sunday, produced by the Archdiocese of Detroit, with fellow parents and families looking to incorporate more prayer, family activities, and faith education into their lives. He serves as co-host. (Valorian Waller | Detroit Catholic).
Both Our Lady of Sorrows podcasts not only help listeners get to know the priests on a personal level, but also provide an opportunity to address topics that may not apply in the context of a sermon. Parishioner Sarah Emmerling joined the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil in 2016. She learned about both podcasts in the parish newsletter and quickly became a fan.
“I listen to other podcasts, and there are a lot of them out there, but it's a great opportunity for me to have a personal connection with priests like this,” Emmerling said. “I enjoy hearing their own experiences that they wouldn't share in a sermon, and I also use it as a teaching tool for myself. I talk to (hosts) at church every week and add to it. I haven’t listened to any other podcast where you can ask questions like this.”
In December, Emmerling enjoyed listening to Fr. Peterman's explanation of the scripture “O Antiphon,” which quotes the seven titles of Jesus Christ and is read before the Liturgy of the Hours during the final week of Advent.
“It's a great way to learn something in a short amount of time without having to go anywhere,” Emmerling said. “It’s like a mini-RCIA, opening doors for people who don’t realize that priests are guiding and helping them at a level that’s not behind the pulpit.”
Bridging parishes and people
The first “Seek What's Above” podcast was released on November 14, over a month before Fr. Peterman received word that he was going to a new parish. Since he moved to Our Lady of Refuge, which is part of the same parish family as Our Lady of Sorrows, Fr. Peterman and Polhill have recorded two new episodes of him.
“We decided to continue for various reasons,” said Fr. Peterman said. “This is a way for me to build connections with the people at Our Lady of Refuge as I settle down, and a way to stay in touch with the people I met at Our Lady of Sorrows. It is a way for the two parishes to connect with each other. I think it will help us build.”
Father's logo. His Ptak podcast “Popes, Prayers & Ptak” at Our Lady of Sorrows, designed by Michael Chamberland. (Courtesy of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish)
The communications team at Our Lady of Sorrows is considering adding other podcasts to the lineup in hopes of connecting not only with members of their own parish, but also with families in the parish and beyond. Podcast data shows people tune in from across Michigan and other states, as well as from Canada, Italy, India, Ghana and the Philippines.
“My encouragement, especially to pastors and their associates, is to let people know you in a different way,” the priest said. Ricardo continues to produce his own podcast “You Were Born for This” at ACTS XXIX. “Because then people can say, 'I know almost nothing about my father now.' That may not seem important, but it's incredibly important. Because the church desperately needs to know how to become human again. We become so functional and transactional in our relationships that sometimes we don't really love each other. One is that it's hard to love what you don't know. This is how you become known.”
To listen
The “Popes, Prayers & Ptak” and “Seek What's Above” podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, Pocket Cast, Podcast Index, Podchaser, and the Our Lady of Sorrows website. Visit www.olsorrows.com and click on “Church.”
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