It is National Catholic Schools Week! Our Catholic schools offer a unique and essential educational paradigm in today's increasingly secular society. As well as instilling our young people with Christian values, Catholic schools seek to create productive and educated citizens who are able to carry out the Gospel message in a practical and tangible way. Dr Tom Noonan joins us for this special episode celebrating Missoula Catholic Schools and the values they aim to impart.

God calls all of us into his service, for his glory and for our wellbeing. Sometimes it can be hard to know what we are called to do. Are we called to participate in religious life? Do we best serve by entering into the sacrament of marriage and raising a family? These questions must be answered with a sober and purposeful mind. Fr Daniel Nevares helps us to understand the process of vocational discernment.

Baptism is one of the fundamental Christian rituals, honored and held in high esteem by all Trinitarian faiths. But what is baptism? Is it simply the act of immersion in water, or is it something more? And why did Christ, God incarnate in the world, undergo this process at the hands of his cousin John who, in his own words, was "unfit to kneel down and untie His sandals" (Mk 1:7-8)? Father Cochran joins Nicholas to further enlighten us on the baptism of our Lord.

For Catholics, one of the most powerful elements of the season of Advent is the music that draws us together. Whether they be old hymns that are near and dear to our hearts, or joyful tunes we hear when shopping for our families, the songs of this season speak to us of the magnitude of our Savior's coming. St Francis Xavier Parish's music director, Robert Harsch, is in the studio to speak to this ministry and its importance to us. Join Nicholas and Robert as we explore this season through the lens of sacred music.

As we journey through this Advent season, we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of our Savior. For those of us who work at a church, extensive preparation is needed to help parishioners experience the peace and wonder of the Mass. Come behind the scenes with the staff of St. Francis Xavier Parish as we make our sacred preparations.

Widely appreciated by both the faithful and the secular world, sacred art holds a place of special significance to our Church and society. Art speaks where words fail, imparting emotions in a way that unites us all in the appreciation of its beauty. It can take one's breath away with a glimpse of the divine and bring our stories to life. Fr Tom Lankenau shares his profound love of this subject with Nicholas as we learn a bit more about our faith through sacred art.

Every year, on the fourth Thursday of November, Americans are asked what they are thankful for. When we struggle, it can be difficult to come up with an answer. However, by cultivating a more positive outlook, we begin to see all of the gifts that God generously bestows on us. This perspectival shift empowers us to be divinely generous with others. Fr Conroy and Fr Cochran join us for this very special episode that encourages us to explore new ways to give thanks to God.

Fr Cochran rejoins Nicholas for the final installment of our three part series on the Beatitudes. Tune back into the conversation as we give a final examination of these powerful and proactive statements.