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The Jesuit Border Podcast

The Jesuit Border Podcast

By The Jesuit Post

Brian Strassburger, SJ, and Joe Nolla, SJ, are two Jesuits based in the diocese of Brownsville, TX, and working in the Rio Grande Valley along the U.S.-Mexico Border. This podcast will share on-the-ground stories and interviews that highlight the tremendous response to the migrant situation from a Catholic perspective.
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Preferential Option for the Poor with Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley

The Jesuit Border PodcastDec 21, 2021

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45:03
S6E7: “Holy Week” with Alejandro Olayo-Méndez, SJ, Jesuit priest and Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Boston College

S6E7: “Holy Week” with Alejandro Olayo-Méndez, SJ, Jesuit priest and Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Boston College

For our final episode of Season 6, we are pleased to welcome Fr. Alejandro Olayo-Méndez, SJ, a Jesuit priest and Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Boston College. Alejandro’s expertise is in migration, refugees, and humanitarian interventions, especially along migration routes in Mexico. He has led small groups of Jesuits to follow the migrant route from Central America to the U.S. He shares some of the takeaways from that experience, including the challenges to traversing all of Mexico, the stories that migrants carry, and the deep spirituality of migrants. He also reflects on his experiences of celebrating Holy Week with migrants and the meaning of those services in the migrant context.

Brian and Joe talk about the Paschal Mystery that is celebrated during Holy Week: the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It is a dynamic that we live in our own lives, and a dynamic that is revealed profoundly in the lives of migrants. Brian and Joe share the story of Luis, a migrant from Venezuela, who rose from the hardships of the migrant journey, including being kidnapped in Mexico, to eventually enter the U.S. with a scheduled appointment. Now he is living in Denver and has his drivers license, work permit, and a job at a downtown hotel restaurant. Luis is truly a success story who has overcome so many obstacles to seek safety and opportunity. 

Enjoy this final episode of Season 6, and blessings on your Holy Week.

Mar 26, 202438:40
S6E6: “Palm Sunday” with Michael DeBruhl, Shelter Director at Casa del Sagrado Corazón in El Paso, TX

S6E6: “Palm Sunday” with Michael DeBruhl, Shelter Director at Casa del Sagrado Corazón in El Paso, TX

We are pleased to welcome Michael DeBruhl, the shelter director at Casa del Sagrado Corazón in El Paso, TX. Michael also worked as a Border Patrol agent for 25 years, so he brings a wealth of experience to the interview. He reflects on the dual desires of most Americans to both secure the border and provide welcome to migrants, and how those two desires do not have to be in direct opposition. He also comments on the current situation in El Paso, where the Texas Attorney General is launching an attack on Annunciation House, a Catholic nonprofit serving migrants and asylum seekers on the border.

Brian and Joe reflect on Palm Sunday and the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, as we recall the palms laid before Jesus as he entered the city. Unfortunately, that is not the welcome most migrants receive upon entry into the U.S. Brian shares the story of an Ecuadorian father who had reached the U.S. with his son, but had an ankle monitor strapped to his leg and a credible fear interview scheduled in just ten days, not nearly enough time to seek the legal counsel that would best serve his case. It seems like an inconsistency between the values we profess as a country and the policies we enact. In contrast, Joe highlights the consistency of people like our guest, Michael DeBruhl, along with so many advocates on the border, and those who have visited us for immersion experiences. Of course, Joe can’t end without giving a shout out to his home Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, where parishioners have been sending us rosaries to share with migrants.

Mar 18, 202443:26
S6E5: “Rejoicing” with Amaya Valcárcel, International Advocacy Officer with Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS) in Rome

S6E5: “Rejoicing” with Amaya Valcárcel, International Advocacy Officer with Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS) in Rome

We are excited to welcome Amaya Valcárcel, International Advocacy Officer with Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS) in Rome, who also works in the area of research and reflection in the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development at the Vatican. Amaya helps to broaden our perspective beyond the US-Mexico border to recognize the harsh reality of forced migration around the world. She echoes the words of Pope Francis calling for a culture of encounter as a remedy to the globalization of indifference that causes societies to build more policies of resistance rather than welcoming for refugees and asylum seekers. 


This past Sunday, we celebrated Laetare Sunday (from the Latin for “rejoicing”) in the middle of our Lenten journey. Drawing from that theme, Brian and Joe share stories of joy that breaks through even the harshest of circumstances. Brian tells the story of Kayla, a 4-year-old girl who he baptized in Senda 2 in Reynosa. Despite the harsh conditions of the shelter and the desperation of a long wait to enter the US, Kayla’s parents took advantage of their time at the shelter to have their daughter baptized, which was a moment of joy for all who joined in the celebration. Joe recalls the birthday/farewell party for Carlos, a migrant who was staying at Casa del Migrante in Reynosa. The joy reached a new level when Sor Edith, an 80-year-old Daughter of Charity, broke into dance to the delight of all. If you want to see her cut a move, there’s got to be a Tik Tok video of her out there somewhere!

Mar 12, 202439:57
S6E4: “Almsgiving” with Sr. Rose Patrice, IHM, a religious sister based in McAllen, TX

S6E4: “Almsgiving” with Sr. Rose Patrice, IHM, a religious sister based in McAllen, TX

We are delighted to welcome Sr. Rose Patrice, IHM, who is a member of the community of Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) sisters based out of McAllen, TX, and working at migrant shelters on the border. Sr. Rose shares the story of how the IHM sisters recently started a community in the area, and she describes the work they do accompanying migrants. Reflecting on the Lenten theme of almsgiving, Sr. Rose talks about how generous people have been supporting their ministry, which they use for a variety of things, including buying shoes for migrants wearing flip flops before they board buses for the colder northern parts of the U.S.

Brian and Joe also reflect on the Lenten theme of almsgiving. Joe shares the recent example of a group of students from Boston College High School who extended charity by buying lunch for migrants they met at Whataburger. Beyond that, Joe also shares other ways that he saw the students giving of themselves in their time spent on the border, from helping to translate for a nurse to playing soccer with kids. Brian shares a remarkable story of self-gift through a young woman who put her talents and experiences to use in an emergency situation. The story begins with someone at the U.S.-Mexico bridge asking a group of migrants if any of them have medical experience. When Katy, a nurse from Venezuela, raised her hand, she had no idea what she was going to encounter as she went running onto that bridge!



Mar 05, 202442:51
S6E3: “Prayer” with Rafael Cortes, pilot with American Airlines and our companion in ministry

S6E3: “Prayer” with Rafael Cortes, pilot with American Airlines and our companion in ministry

We are thrilled to welcome Rafael Cortes to this episode of the podcast. While he works professionally as a pilot, he spends his days off joining us for our migrant ministry. He tells the story of how he connected with the Jesuits and started by making sandwiches at their sides. He became involved with the Catholic community at the plaza in Reynosa, and now he helps lead a men’s prayer group at Casa del Migrante by sending them a nightly reflection every day. He also loves to play favorites, so he shares the story of Eric, a young boy from Honduras who stole his heart with a hug.

Brian and Joe also reflect on the Lenten theme of prayer. Brian talks about the unaccompanied minors who write down their prayer intentions on little pieces of construction paper before Mass. It’s remarkable to hear the affectionate ways that they address God, and the moving prayers that they offer. Joe shares the story of Isis, a Venezuelan migrant who used to be a seminarian. He started leading a nightly rosary in his shelter in Matamoros to gather the people together for daily prayer. Joe and Brian have a good laugh about his name, Isis (pronounced “EE-sis” in Spanish). Rest assured, when we say that “Isis is at our border,” we’re not talking about terrorists!



Feb 27, 202437:57
S6E2: “Fasting” with Eleanor Acer, Senor Director of Refugee Protection at Human Rights First

S6E2: “Fasting” with Eleanor Acer, Senor Director of Refugee Protection at Human Rights First

We are excited to welcome Eleanor Acer, who is the Senior Director of Refugee Protection at Human Rights First. Established in 1978, Human Rights First works in the U.S. and abroad to promote respect for human rights and the rule of law. Eleanor shares how her pro bono work with asylum seekers inspired her to shift her legal career from securities litigation to human rights defense. Addressing the theme of fasting, Eleanor talks about the many essentials that migrants don’t give up willingly, but are denied, including access to safety and the protection of their rights.

Brian and Joe reflect on the ways that many migrants they encounter “fast.” Joe shares the story of Guerline, a migrant from Haiti who embodies the spirit of fasting in the sense of denying oneself in order to help others. Brian talks about unaccompanied minors in the U.S., like Carmen, who are forced to fast from cell phone use while they are in centers and their case is being reviewed. It often provokes self-reflection from the teenagers as they are freed from the distractions of social media. Of course, that doesn’t mean you need to force a cell phone fast from teenagers in your own family!

Eleanor also encourages listeners to contact their representatives in Congress to let them know that the protection of access to asylum is an important issue for you, especially in this election year. If you would like to call your own representative, you can find their information by inputting your address on this page.

Feb 20, 202437:01
S6E1: “Repentance” with Louie Hotop, SJ, Assistant Principal for Mission at Arrupe Jesuit High School in Denver, CO

S6E1: “Repentance” with Louie Hotop, SJ, Assistant Principal for Mission at Arrupe Jesuit High School in Denver, CO

For our first episode of Season 6, we are thrilled to welcome back to the podcast our former co-host, Louie Hotop, SJ, who is the Assistant Principal for Mission at Arrupe Jesuit High School in Denver, CO. Louie is helping us launch the Lenten theme for this season by sharing the moving experience of celebrating Ash Wednesday in the camp in Matamoros last year. He reflects on the theme of repentance as we enter Lent, and shares stories of some of the people whom he continues to carry with him even as he has moved on from the border. Plus, he talks about the time he heard confessions while sitting on an overturned bucket crammed between tents in a migrant camp.

In this episode, Brian and Joe talk about moments of repentance and God’s healing mercy. Joe reflects on the importance of discernment with feelings of guilt and sin. He shares the story of a young girl carrying a guilt that she needed to free herself from, to be able to see the way God was looking on her with love. Brian shares a time he responded uncharitably over text in a conversation with Yurlin, a pregnant woman who was in Reynosa. It didn’t take long for him to remember that a pregnant single mother of two young girls living in a shelter in northern Mexico deserves a little more compassion and respect!



Feb 13, 202443:41
Teaser: Season 6 of The Jesuit Border Podcast

Teaser: Season 6 of The Jesuit Border Podcast

We are getting ready for Season 6 of The Jesuit Border Podcast! As we continue to learn about the migrant situation at the U.S.-Mexico border and the humanitarian response of the Catholic Church, we will continue to share stories and experiences with you, along with great interviews with people dedicated to the accompaniment and protection of migrants. This season will be specifically designed for Lent. We will cover Lenten themes like prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Join us every Tuesday this Lent to reflect on the themes of the liturgical season in light of the migrant experience.

The first episode of Season 6 will come out on Tuesday, February 13, 2024.

Feb 06, 202402:29
BONUS CONTENT: full interview with Susan Bigelow-Reynolds, Assistant Professor of Catholic Studies at Emory University

BONUS CONTENT: full interview with Susan Bigelow-Reynolds, Assistant Professor of Catholic Studies at Emory University

Earlier this season, it was our pleasure to welcome Susan Bigelow-Reynolds, Assistant Professor of Catholic Studies at Emory University. If you enjoyed hearing from her in Episode 2, here is the full interview. Susan shares her experience of living in Brownsville years ago and watching out her front window as the border wall was being constructed, an experience that helped inspire her to study theology. Susan spent Holy Week with us in April 2023, so she reflects on that experience, and especially the power of the liturgy and its symbols in the midst of marginalized communities like a migrant camp.

The full interview also includes her reflections on the contrasts and commonalities between her experience living on the border, and her experience in the diverse parish of St. Mary of the Angels in the Roxbury neighborhood in Boston. Susan also advocates for the value of doing theological research on the ground to become more intimate with people’s lived realities.



Jan 23, 202453:46
S5E7: “Carrying Each Other” with Flavio Bravo, SJ, Jesuit priest with Del Camino Jesuit Border Ministries

S5E7: “Carrying Each Other” with Flavio Bravo, SJ, Jesuit priest with Del Camino Jesuit Border Ministries

For our final episode of Season 5, we are thrilled to welcome Fr. Flavio Bravo, SJ, a Jesuit priest working with us at Del Camino Jesuit Border Ministries. Flavio has been on the border since December of 2022, so he has a wealth of experiences to share from our ministry. He has a particularly strong link to the migrants we accompany since he himself came to the U.S. as a migrant, fleeing the violence in his home country of Nicaragua in the 1980’s and coming to the U.S. alone, as a teenager. 

The image of how we carry one another comes up throughout the interview. Flavio reflects on how we hold and carry the stories of so many migrants as they share with us their pain and suffering, their hopes and dreams. We talk about how we carry each other and lift one another up as a Jesuit community, bringing our unique gifts and talents. And we smile and laugh at stories of carrying migrants, literally speaking, when we pick small kids up and put them on our shoulders. It’s all fun and games, until Joe ends up with a leaky diaper on his neck!

Enjoy this final episode of Season 5, and look for us again in the new year!



Dec 05, 202337:36
S5E6: “Saying Yes” with Pastor Abraham Barberi, Pastor of Comunidad Esencia Urbana in Matamoros, Mexico

S5E6: “Saying Yes” with Pastor Abraham Barberi, Pastor of Comunidad Esencia Urbana in Matamoros, Mexico

We are pleased to welcome Pastor Abraham Barberi, Pastor of Comunidad Esencia Urbana in Matamoros and Director of Ministerio Una Misión. Pastor Abraham shares how his ministry started in Matamoros by reaching out to youth and young adults through hip hop music. His story is filled with moments where he just said yes when needs arose, including a chance encounter with asylum seekers on the bridge and the unplanned opening of the Dulce Refugio shelter at his church.

Brian and Joe share their own moments of saying yes. Brian tells the story of meeting Hajar, an Iranian migrant he met at the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, TX. His initial curiosity, aided by online translation, led him to learn more about her story and its complexities. Joe shares the story of a teenage girl who was released from being kidnapped in Mexico. They connected on a deeper level as she awaited the release of her other family members. It’s a moving story, and this was not the first time Joe has shared it publicly. But the first time came after a twelve-hour road trip across the state of Texas when he was unexpectedly put on the spot! Rest assured, he was better rested and more prepared this time.



Nov 28, 202338:19
S5E5: “We Can Do Hard Things” with Christine Meyer, parishioner at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York City

S5E5: “We Can Do Hard Things” with Christine Meyer, parishioner at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York City


We are delighted to welcome Christine Meyer, a parishioner at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York City and a member of their Ignatian social justice committee. Christine came to visit Brownsville in January 2022 with other members of the parish, and the experiences of that visit transformed the group. She shares the ways that she has gotten involved locally in New York City with migrants arriving in the city and facing numerous obstacles as they get settled. As stories of migrants arriving in New York City have dominated the news recently, Christine offers insightful and moving reflections from her on-the-ground perspective, while lifting up the stories of some real heroes.

Brian and Joe share stories of resilience in the midst of adversity. Joe talks about a food shortage at a shelter in Mexico and how he turned to his prayer squad for help. Brian shares the story of Alejandro, an older man from Venezuela, who was in a place of real despair. He needed a reminder of all the amazing ways God was working through him at the shelter, including his self-appointed role as photographer for every Mass! He might go a little overboard with the amount of photos and videos he takes, but there is no doubt that he has taken on the job with great pride.

Nov 21, 202345:53
S5E4: “Broadening Horizons” with Annie Leone, a nurse midwife at the Holy Family Birth Center

S5E4: “Broadening Horizons” with Annie Leone, a nurse midwife at the Holy Family Birth Center

We are thrilled to welcome Annie Leone, who is a nurse midwife at the Holy Family Birth Center and a care provider at the clinic at the Humanitarian Respite Center (HRC) run by Catholic Charities. Annie gives a helpful background on midwifery (including how to pronounce that word!), and she describes the birthing center and its origin story. She also shares from her years of experience attending pregnant women at the clinic at the HRC, including the many accounts of partners getting separated by U.S. immigration and stories of the trauma and violence encountered at home and on the journey.

Brian and Joe reflect on how their horizons have broadened from their ministry on the border. Joe talks about how drastically his perceptions of migrants have changed after his first few months on the border, including meeting William, a political refugee from Venezuela who went out of his way to care for others. Brian shares a privileged moment of being welcomed into the sacred space of a preteen girl’s farewell party at Casa del Migrante. It might be hard to believe, but it all started with a shared love for…mathematics.

Nov 14, 202337:26
S5E3: “Wounds” with Deacon Luis Zuñiga, Director of San Juan Diego Lay Ministry Institute in the Diocese of Brownsville, TX

S5E3: “Wounds” with Deacon Luis Zuñiga, Director of San Juan Diego Lay Ministry Institute in the Diocese of Brownsville, TX

We are happy to welcome Deacon Luis Zuñiga, the Director of San Juan Diego Lay Ministry Institute in the Diocese of Brownsville, TX. Deacon Luis is a native to the Rio Grande Valley and has a twin brother who is a priest. We talk about the great women in his life who raised him and his brother in the faith. Deacon Luis also serves at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral downtown, so we discuss how the cathedral opened up its old gym as a respite center for migrants. He shares stories of the many wounds that he has seen on migrants who have come to their door: from cuts crossing razor wire by the river, to bruises and scars from physical abuse during kidnappings.

Brian and Joe reflect on their own encounters with the woundedness of migrants they have accompanied. Joe shares the story of a woman who came to the hygiene counter at the Humanitarian Respite Center and needed healing that no medicine alone could provide. Brian recounts the story of Michel, a pregnant woman in Reynosa, whose situation kept increasing in vulnerability as he tried to help get her the resources she needed. It is a story that Michel will likely tell to her newborn child for the rest of her life, and one that Brian won’t soon forget!

Nov 07, 202335:29
S5E2: “The Tangible Dimension of Our Faith” with Susan Bigelow-Reynolds, Assistant Professor of Catholic Studies at Emory University

S5E2: “The Tangible Dimension of Our Faith” with Susan Bigelow-Reynolds, Assistant Professor of Catholic Studies at Emory University

We are excited to welcome Susan Bigelow-Reynolds, Assistant Professor of Catholic Studies at Emory University and author of the recently published book, People Get Ready: Ritual, Solidarity, and Lived Ecclesiology in Catholic Roxbury. Susan shares her experience of living in Brownsville years ago and watching out her front window as the border wall was being constructed, an experience that helped inspire her to study theology. Susan spent Holy Week with us in April of 2023, so she reflects on that experience, and especially the power of the liturgy and its symbols in the midst of marginalized communities like a migrant camp.

Brian and Joe share stories about the tangible dimension of our faith, including the popularity of getting sprinkled with holy water and the high demand for rosaries. They also share a moving story of a couple of young migrant girls turning waste into beauty by making crosses out of discarded items that they scrounged together in their camp in Reynosa. And at the end of the episode, you’ll hear Brian’s inevitable future assignment!

Nov 04, 202339:12
S5E1: “Hospitality” with Archbishop Thomas Wenski of the Archdiocese of Miami, FL

S5E1: “Hospitality” with Archbishop Thomas Wenski of the Archdiocese of Miami, FL

For our first episode of Season 5, we are humbled to welcome Archbishop Thomas Wenski of the Archdiocese of Miami, FL. Growing up in south Florida as the son of Polish immigrants, Archbishop Wenski learned Spanish in the seminary and Haitian Creole as a young priest. He shares stories from his 18 years of experience working with the Haitian community. He reflects on his understanding of a missionary spirit that invites one to enter another language or cultural space as a guest and learner.

In this episode, Brian and Joe talk about the hospitality that they have received from migrants. The shelters where they minister are spaces where they are really guests of the migrants who live there, and who often want to show hospitality, as any host would to a guest. They share the story of Yurgelis, a migrant woman from Venezuela who generously offered them a meal as a farewell. On another occasion, Juan Diego, a migrant man from southern Mexico, served them chalupas after a Mass in Reynosa. Keep in mind, these were authentic chalupas from Guerrero, Mexico, and not chalupas from Taco Bell. (Not that there is anything wrong with those!)



Nov 04, 202338:49
Teaser: Season 5 of The Jesuit Border Podcast

Teaser: Season 5 of The Jesuit Border Podcast

We are getting ready for the 5th season of The Jesuit Border Podcast! As we continue to learn about the migrant situation at the U.S.-Mexico border and the humanitarian response of the Catholic Church, we will continue to share stories and experiences with you! Fr. Louie moved to a new mission, so Joe Nolla, SJ, will be joining Fr. Brian as the new co-host. Meet Joe in this teaser. And stay tuned: the first episode of season 5 will come out on Tuesday, October 23, 2023.


Oct 17, 202302:24
BONUS EPISODE: Goodbyes- Louie’s last episode on the podcast

BONUS EPISODE: Goodbyes- Louie’s last episode on the podcast

It’s with heavy hearts but trust in God’s plan that we want to share the news that Fr. Louie has been missioned to a new apostolate, Arrupe Jesuit High School in Denver, CO. 

In this bonus episode, Louie and Brian reflect on saying goodbyes, something that is a regular part of life on the border working with migrants. They share the story of a Honduran family of five that spent several months in Casa del Migrante in Reynosa. During that time, their three children were baptized in a beautiful service at the shelter. After three months of trying, they finally got an appointment through the CBP One app to present at the bridge, and Louie and Brian were there to welcome them to the U.S. with (what else??) a trip to McDonald’s!

Louie and Brian also reflect on the news of Louie’s new mission and the sadness of saying goodbye to our ministry and friends here in the Rio Grande Valley. If you want to send a message of thanks and well-wishes to Louie, rate our podcast and add your message in a comment. Let’s send him out with lots of love!



Jul 25, 202326:02
BONUS EPISODE: Updates from Louie and Brian on the eight migrants struck and killed in Brownsville and the end of Title-42

BONUS EPISODE: Updates from Louie and Brian on the eight migrants struck and killed in Brownsville and the end of Title-42

In this bonus episode, Louie and Brian offer their perspective on recent events that have dominated news headlines. They talk about the tragic circumstance in which eight migrants were struck and killed by a truck outside of a migrant shelter, The Ozanam Center, in Brownsville on Sunday, May 7th. They attended a pair of vigil services the day after the tragedy to pray for the men who lost their lives and for their families. Then they discuss how, on May 11th, with much anticipation and heightened media coverage, Title-42 finally came to an end. In the days following the fall of the pandemic policy that has governed the border since March 2020, the Jesuits have encountered a different reality than was being predicted. The bottom line: the border has not suddenly “opened,” and many people are still stuck in terrible and dangerous conditions in northern Mexico. This episode ends with Brian and Louie sharing a couple of stories of the joy and humor that continues to mark their ministry. In this case, one story involves Fr. Louie being literally marked with the snot of a 2-year-old girl. It’s perhaps the closest he’ll ever get to true fatherhood!

May 16, 202327:33
BONUS CONTENT: full interview with Joanna Williams, the Executive Director of the Kino Border Initiative

BONUS CONTENT: full interview with Joanna Williams, the Executive Director of the Kino Border Initiative

Earlier this season, it was our pleasure to welcome Joanna Williams, the Executive Director of the Kino Border Initiative (KBI), onto the podcast. KBI is a binational program in the border cities of Nogales, Sonora and Nogales, Arizona, which includes a shelter and soup kitchen for migrants, education and encounter programs, along with advocacy outreach in both the U.S. and Mexico. If you enjoyed hearing from her in Episode 2, here is the full interview. Joanna shares the story of what brought her to KBI in 2011 and the stories that continue to inspire her work. She reflects on how her migrant ministry is truly a vocation, and how that ministry has been enhanced and deepened through her own motherhood since the recent birth of her daughter. The full interview includes stories of the many artistic talents she’s encountered among migrants, from a now “semi-famous” painter to many talented singers. She also reflects on persistence in the midst of adversity and offers her take on reframing migration in a more positive light through insights drawn from Catholic theology.

May 02, 202350:30
S4E7: “The Examen” with Fr. James Martin, S.J., best-selling author and editor-at-large of the Jesuit magazine America

S4E7: “The Examen” with Fr. James Martin, S.J., best-selling author and editor-at-large of the Jesuit magazine America

For our final episode of Season 4, we are thrilled to welcome Fr. James Martin, SJ, a Jesuit priest who is a best-selling author and editor-at-large at America Magazine, along with hosting a podcast on the Ignatian Examen. The Examen is a contemplative prayer of reflecting on the moments of your day, noticing how God has been at work, and considering how you responded.

For this episode, Louie and Brian turn the interview around, and invite Fr. Martin to interview them and lead them on a guided Examen of their nearly two years of ministry on the U.S.-Mexico border. They reflect on moments of growth and grace, of challenge and failure. They share stories that have meant so much to them, like when children carried the cross around the Reynosa plaza on Good Friday, or when Louie went looking for displaced migrant friends at local Reynosa shelters the day after the plaza was forcibly cleared out. They highlight two people who inspire them (that’s you Rafael and Sr. Rose!), and even spend a few minutes saying nice things about each other. They conclude the episode (and the season) with a prayer, for all the migrants that they have encountered carrying their crosses and in gratitude for this ministry that reveals the face of Christ daily.

Apr 04, 202348:09
S4E6: “The Art of Storytelling ” with Laura Peña, attorney and activist from the RGV and host of a new podcast, Valle de Sueños

S4E6: “The Art of Storytelling ” with Laura Peña, attorney and activist from the RGV and host of a new podcast, Valle de Sueños

We are pleased to welcome Laura Peña, the new Director of ProBAR, the south Texas pro bono asylum representation project. She is also the host of the new podcast, Valle de Sueños, which tells the story of the roll down of the “Remain in Mexico” policy in 2021 in Matamoros, Mexico. As a Rio Grande Valley native, Laura shares about the joys and challenges of living on the border and the beautiful networks that form among advocates when they work together for a common cause.

Louie and Brian explore the art of storytelling and reflect upon how this podcast has been not only a useful tool for their ministry, but also a means for them to personally reflect more deeply upon their own experiences. They share some of their favorite stories that have come out of the podcast, and they talk about some of the limitations of the medium. If anyone out there is looking to be a pro bono translator / voice-over artist, feel free to reach out!


Mar 28, 202338:40
S4E5: “The Joy of the Gospel” with Pastor Carlos Navarro from the Baptist Church in West Brownsville, TX

S4E5: “The Joy of the Gospel” with Pastor Carlos Navarro from the Baptist Church in West Brownsville, TX

We are excited to welcome Pastor Carlos Navarro from the Baptist Church in West Brownsville, TX. Pastor Navarro got a call from the Brownsville mayor a few years ago to help receive migrants. That phone call turned into a shelter that he continues to run today, along with the everyday operations of his ministry. Pastor Navarro also shares from his own experience as a migrant from Guatemala, and the unlikely path he took from San Francisco bartender to Baptist pastor.

Louie and Brian reflect on celebrating Mass with migrants during Lent and some of the difficulties of conveying the joy of the Gospel when the musical selections can be so somber. They also reflect on the joy that begins every celebration of Mass they share with migrants, when they call out the countries that people come from. Don’t forget “los gringos!”

Mar 21, 202338:21
S4E4: “Responding to Needs” with Fr. Rafael García, SJ, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in El Paso, TX

S4E4: “Responding to Needs” with Fr. Rafael García, SJ, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in El Paso, TX

We are pleased to welcome Fr. Rafael García, SJ, who is the pastor of Sacred Heart Church in El Paso, TX. He shares from his own background as a migrant fleeing Cuba for Miami, and how this inspired his deep care for migrants and his mission to the border city of El Paso. His church made the news in the winter when they opened up their gymnasium to house migrants in response to a pressing need in the community. Since opening their doors, they have continued to offer food and overnight shelter.


Louie and Brian reflect on their own experience of responding to needs. With the CBP One app currently serving as the only means for migrants in northern Mexico to access the U.S. through ports of entry, having a smartphone is essential. So imagine the exacerbation of an Ecuadorian couple in Senda 2 who had one phone stolen in southern Mexico, and dropped the other in a gutter. It was time to issue a call to search desk drawers to help this couple out!

Mar 14, 202337:19
S4E3: “Welcoming” with Martha Mercado from Good Neighbor Settlement House

S4E3: “Welcoming” with Martha Mercado from Good Neighbor Settlement House

We are happy to welcome Martha Mercado, from Good Neighbor Settlement House where she works as the Welcome Center Program Director and the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Welcoming Committee Facilitator. Martha shares what she loves about her job, including face-to-face ministry at the welcome center and big-picture coordination of local organizations. She offers her personal reflections on faith and gives thanks for the many “bendiciones” (blessings) that migrants shower on her daily.

Louie and Brian recount their celebration of World Day of the Sick in migrant shelters, where they invited migrants to be anointed. At the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Louie had to adjust some of the language on the fly when he realized most of the people who had come forward for anointing were pregnant women. It didn’t sound quite right to pray that they be “cured” of their pregnancy!

Mar 07, 202332:57
S4E2: “Vocation” with Joanna Williams, the Executive Director of the Kino Border Initiative

S4E2: “Vocation” with Joanna Williams, the Executive Director of the Kino Border Initiative

We are excited to welcome Joanna Williams, the Executive Director of the Kino Border Initiative (KBI). KBI is a binational program that includes a shelter and soup kitchen for migrants in Nogales, Senora, and education and encounter programs, along with advocacy outreach in both the U.S. and Mexico. Joanna shares the story of what brought her to KBI in 2011 and the stories that continue to inspire her work. She reflects on how her migrant ministry is truly a vocation, and how that ministry has been enhanced and deepened through her own motherhood since the recent birth of her daughter.

Louie and Brian share the story of Pilar’s vocation as a father, and the sacrifices he’s made to support his family on their journey north from Honduras. They also share their own vocational calls to minister at the border. Brian’s was a call born out of living in Nicaragua, spending a summer at KBI, and focusing on migration in theology studies. Louie’s was a phone call from the provincial that came by surprise!

Feb 28, 202337:32
S4E1: “Accompaniment” with Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, TX

S4E1: “Accompaniment” with Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, TX

For our first episode of Season 4, we are humbled to welcome Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, TX. Dating back to his time in formation for the priesthood, Archbishop Gustavo has a history of working with migrants, beginning in agricultural communities in California in the 1980s and extending to the ministry of the Archdiocese of San Antonio that cares for migrants today. He had to face two consecutive tragedies in late spring 2021, between the school shooting in Uvalde and the case of 53 migrants dying from heat exhaustion in the back of a trailer. In both cases, Archbishop Gustavo responded by meeting people where they were at: mourners outside the school, and survivors in their hospital rooms.

In this episode, we also offer our own humble reflections on the ministry of accompaniment amid the ever-changing realities along the border. That includes our visits with anxious families in a newly formed encampment in Matamoros, and time spent sitting with a pregnant woman from Haiti as she tries to navigate the newly launched “CBP One” app to schedule appointments at border ports of entry. Does anyone know how to say “password” in Haitian Creole??

Feb 21, 202338:23
Season 4 Trailer

Season 4 Trailer

We are getting ready for the 4th Season of the Jesuit Border Podcast! As we continue to learn more about the migrant situation at the U.S.-Mexico border and the humanitarian response of the Catholic Church, we will continue to share stories and experiences with you! The first episode of season 4 will come out on Tuesday, February 21, 2023.

Feb 14, 202302:14
BONUS EPISODE: Full interview with Bishop Mark Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso, TX

BONUS EPISODE: Full interview with Bishop Mark Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso, TX

It was our great pleasure to welcome Bishop Mark Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso, TX at the start of Season 3. Known for his advocacy for the poor and vulnerable, Bishop Seitz offers a unique perspective as a leader of the Church in a border community. If you enjoyed hearing from him in Episode 1, here is the full interview. In this episode, he calls for a deeper conversation about migration, one that is not solely dominated by socio-political concerns, but shaped by a theological perspective that identifies the migrant experience as essential for understanding the Church. He also talks about celebrating Mass at the border wall on an altar which straddled both sides; a reminder of the unifying force of the Eucharist even amidst division. The full interview includes his reflections on how priestly ministry in our world today needs to be rooted in humility and service. He also offers insights into his own prayer life and some of the saints who inspire him.

Jan 12, 202343:60
S3E7: “Friendship in Ministry” with Fr. Scott Santarosa, SJ, from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in San Diego, CA

S3E7: “Friendship in Ministry” with Fr. Scott Santarosa, SJ, from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in San Diego, CA

For our final episode of Season 3, we are thrilled to welcome Fr. Scott Santarosa, SJ, the former provincial of the Jesuits West Province and newly installed pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in San Diego, CA. Fr. Scott has become a fast friend to the two of us after visiting the Rio Grande Valley early in the year and then helping to host us on a visit to El Paso, TX, where he spent part of his sabbatical. He talks about how he’s gone from a childhood in Sacramento, to a love for Latino ministry, to his first assignment on the border. And he shares the consolation he experienced just taking out the trash at a migrant shelter after years spent working behind a desk as Provincial.

Reflecting on other friends in ministry for us, we give thanks for the Mercy Sisters and IHM Sisters who regularly minister in the same migrant shelters. And we give a shout-out to our newest friend in ministry, Jules, our Toyota Sienna. We’ve had a lot of hoops to jump through to get her into Mexico, but she’s worth the wait!

Oh, and in the area of current events, Title 42 is scheduled to be lifted on December 21st. It’s been the governing border policy since the pandemic started. We’ll see what happens, but we’re expecting big changes between now and the debut of Season 4 next year. Stay tuned and thanks for listening! We’ll see you next season!

Dec 06, 202239:44
S3E6: “Advocacy” with Sr. Tracey Horan, SP, from the Kino Border Initiative

S3E6: “Advocacy” with Sr. Tracey Horan, SP, from the Kino Border Initiative

We are excited to welcome Sr. Tracey Horan, SP, the Associate Director of Education and Advocacy for the Kino Border Initiative in Nogales, AZ.

Kino is a bi-national program that includes a shelter and soup kitchen for migrants in Nogales, Senora, and education and encounter programs, along with advocacy outreach in both the U.S. and Mexico. Sr. Tracey shares the challenges and hopes from Kino’s initiatives to advocate for immigration reform. She offers examples of how experiences of students coming to visit the border or hearing migrant’s stories helps to humanize the migrant experience and reshape the way people think about the issue.

We share our own joys and frustrations (mostly frustrations…only frustrations??) with our attempts at advocacy phone calls with the staff of our representatives in Congress. And we talk about what it’s like to be surrounded by pregnant women in a migrant shelter demanding help. Not something a pair of young priests are used to facing! But they are their own best advocates!

Nov 29, 202237:50
Happy Thanksgiving: A Prayer for Migrants

Happy Thanksgiving: A Prayer for Migrants

This week, we’re taking a bit of a break from the podcast to celebrate Thanksgiving! Episodes for season 3 will continue to be released next week. For now, however, there is so much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. Although the situation on the border is fraught with problems and our ministry can at times be challenging, we give thanks to God for the opportunity to accompany his beloved people on the margins, and we thank you for your support of this ministry over the past year and a half. Without the support of donors and listeners to the podcast, this ministry would not be possible.

With that in mind, we thought it would be fitting to join together with all of you in prayer this Thanksgiving for migrants around the world. In this brief episode, we offer a prayer from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for all migrants and refugees. Before the prayer, we debate our favorite Thanksgiving dish - canned cranberry, the unsung hero of Thanksgiving, takes the crown! Or, at least, that’s Louie’s opinion. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dish??

Nov 22, 202207:11
S3E5: “Attention to Details” with Tom Cartwright from the RGV Welcome Committee

S3E5: “Attention to Details” with Tom Cartwright from the RGV Welcome Committee

We are excited to welcome Tom Cartwright, an advocate and activist who volunteers with the RGV Welcome Committee and Witness at the Border. Tom retired after nearly forty years working for JP Morgan, but was inspired by a visit to a refugee camp in Greece to put his corporate skills to use on behalf of migrants. Among other things, he tracks the Department of Homeland Security flights for deportation, expulsion, or “lateral flights” that move migrants from one part of the border to another. We share from our recent experience encountering migrants who had crossed the border near El Paso, but then were flown a thousand miles away to Brownsville to be processed. What we thought was going to be the start of our weekend, turned into a frantic night of surveying about seventy migrants who were left to sleep on the street outside the local bus station. We end the episode pitching an Ignatian Camino to Spain for the summer of…2024? Who’s interested??

Nov 15, 202239:19
S3E4: “Faithfulness” with Mary Bull from Annunciation House in El Paso, TX

S3E4: “Faithfulness” with Mary Bull from Annunciation House in El Paso, TX

We are pleased to welcome Mary Bull, a house coordinator at Annunciation House in El Paso, TX. Annunciation House was founded in the 1970s to accompany the migrant, refugee, and economically vulnerable peoples of the border region through hospitality, advocacy, and education. They operate several houses of hospitality for migrants in El Paso. Mary talks about what first brought her from Michigan down to the border, and what has inspired her to continue her work there for the past ten years. We share examples of faithfulness in mission that we’ve encountered, including the two Mexican Jesuits who were killed earlier this year in the Tarahumara mountains, Fr. Javier Campos, SJ, and Fr. Joaquin Mora, SJ. We also talk about a local example of faithfulness, Sr. Edith Garrido, a Daughter of Charity working at Casa del Migrante in Reynosa. She has been rightly described as the beating heart of the shelter, and we get a laugh speculating widely about her age.

Nov 08, 202236:54
S3E3: “Particular Vulnerabilities” with Fr. Matt Kuczora, CSC

S3E3: “Particular Vulnerabilities” with Fr. Matt Kuczora, CSC

We are happy to welcome Fr. Matt Kuczora, CSC, a Holy Cross priest in law school at the University of Notre Dame. He spent the summer in Brownsville working with Project Dignity Legal Team, where he helped to set up a system for assisting migrants with “particular vulnerabilities” who are eligible to be paroled into the United States. We share our own experience helping submit cases for migrants with particular vulnerabilities, in particular, pregnant women. We talk about a couple of techniques we use to try to avoid getting overwhelmed with requests for legal aid, which have been met with mixed results, to say the least. Since Fr. Matt also lived in our community during the summer, we end the episode trying to get him to pick his favorite person to live with between the two of us. Who will he choose?!?

Nov 01, 202238:25
S3E2: “Staying in Touch / Seguimos en Contacto” with Astrid Dominguez from Good Neighbor Settlement House

S3E2: “Staying in Touch / Seguimos en Contacto” with Astrid Dominguez from Good Neighbor Settlement House

We are excited to welcome Astrid Dominguez, the Executive Director of Good Neighbor Settlement House. Good Neighbor is a nonprofit serving the unhoused in Brownsville, TX with meals, clothing, showers and support services. They also coordinate the migrant Welcome Center by the local bus station with other partner organizations. Astrid shares from her experience as a first generation immigrant and as a mother, and how those facets of her life inform her work for justice.

We reflect on the graces that have come from keeping in touch with migrants after they’ve entered the U.S. and dispersed around the country to be with family. We caught up with our good friend Claudia at our province ordinations in St. Louis in June and took some requisite selfies with her. And we’ve hosted a couple of Zoom Masses with migrants from the Catholic community in the Reynosa plaza, despite the challenges of trying to explain time zones!

Oct 25, 202238:33
S3E1: “Eucharist as a Bridge Across Borders” with Bishop Mark Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso, TX

S3E1: “Eucharist as a Bridge Across Borders” with Bishop Mark Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso, TX

For our first episode of Season 3, we are humbled to welcome Bishop Mark Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso, TX. Known for his advocacy for the poor and vulnerable, Bishop Seitz offers a unique perspective as a leader of the Church in a border community. In this episode, he calls for a deeper conversation about migration, one that is not solely dominated by socio-political concerns, but shaped by a theological perspective that identifies the migrant experience as essential for understanding the Church. He also talks about celebrating Mass at the border wall on an altar which straddled both sides; a reminder of the unifying force of the Eucharist even amidst division. We offer our own reflection on experiences of breaking bread with migrants through our Sacramental ministry; including a 12-year-old altar server named Vincent who just can’t quite seem to figure out when to ring the bells.

Oct 18, 202239:51
Teaser: Season 3 of The Jesuit Border Podcast
Oct 11, 202202:42
BONUS EPISODE: Updates on the migrant shelters in Reynosa and a visit to the Mexico-Guatemala border

BONUS EPISODE: Updates on the migrant shelters in Reynosa and a visit to the Mexico-Guatemala border

In this bonus episode, Louie and Brian share updates about their ministry this past summer. They talk about their new routine for visiting shelters in Reynosa, Mexico, including celebrating Mass at Casa del Migrante, and bringing donations to the newest shelter, Senda 2. They share the story of a migrant couple who staffed the bodega at Senda 2 and surprised them by wearing some Jesuit swag! They also reflect on a visit to a Jesuit project on the southern border of Mexico in Frontera Comalapa, including a birthday party for a 10-year-old Nicaraguan girl that gave Louie the opportunity to showcase his dance moves!

Sep 08, 202216:18
BONUS EPISODE: Updates from Louie and Brian on Holy Week and clearing the plaza in Reynosa, Mexico

BONUS EPISODE: Updates from Louie and Brian on Holy Week and clearing the plaza in Reynosa, Mexico

In this bonus episode, Louie and Brian offer updates on their ministry and the migrant reality in Reynosa, Mexico. They reflect on the experience of celebrating Holy Week with migrants in the plaza, as the incense masked the smell of nearby port-o-potties and the sprinkling of holy water helped cool the oppressive heat. They also talk about how the plaza was cleared out in the middle of the night. Most of the migrants were relocated to local shelters, which have become the new focus of their ministry in Reynosa. There has also been an increase in Haitians on the border, so tune in to hear Brian’s best attempt at getting the names right for three teenage girls he has befriended at Casa del Migrante.

Jun 07, 202226:49
Providing Shelter with Jennifer Harbury, co-founder of Angry Tías and Abuelas

Providing Shelter with Jennifer Harbury, co-founder of Angry Tías and Abuelas

This week we are very grateful to be joined by Jennifer Harbury, co-founder of Angry Tías and Abuelas, a grassroots organization that fights for the protection of migrants on both sides of the border and works tirelessly to secure much needed supplies for shelters, including the new shelter that is being built in Reynosa, Mexico. Jennifer has decades of experience working in Guatemala and along the US-Mexico border for the rights of vulnerable people. In this interview, she speaks in stark detail about the humanitarian crisis on the US-Mexico border, a direct result of both current US policy and decades of meddling in Central America. We share about our distribution of tents and tarps in the plaza, and argue over which one of us is Sherlyn’s favorite, a 7-year-old girl we’ve befriended in Reynosa.

Apr 12, 202239:30
Giving Clothing to the Naked with Hermi Forshage, Volunteer Coordinator at the Humanitarian Respite Center

Giving Clothing to the Naked with Hermi Forshage, Volunteer Coordinator at the Humanitarian Respite Center

This week we are grateful to be joined by Hermi Forshage who is the volunteer coordinator at the Humanitarian Respite Center (HRC) in McAllen, TX and the chairperson for the Catholic Charities RGV advisory board. Hermi has been instrumental in helping us to get involved at the HRC and has been a huge supporter of our work in Reynosa. In this episode, Hermi shares stories from her years of experience working with migrant families and encourages listeners to think beyond politics and see the dignity of each person. We also share about the fiasco we created by trying to bring used clothing across the border - let’s just say we learned our lesson pretty quickly!

Apr 05, 202236:41
Visit the Imprisoned with Trey Martinez, Brownsville Attorney and Co-Founder of Project Dignity Legal Team

Visit the Imprisoned with Trey Martinez, Brownsville Attorney and Co-Founder of Project Dignity Legal Team

This week we are very pleased to release our interview with Trey Martinez, an attorney from Brownsville and a very good friend of ours. In this episode, Trey tells the story about how, through the influence of Sr. Norma Pimentel, he chose to use his legal expertise to help migrants with their asylum cases and co-found Project Dignity Legal Team. Trey also speaks openly about the topic of immigration and humanitarian aid from his perspective as a lawyer and as a person of strong faith. We also share about our own struggles of getting involved with the migrant detention system and how difficult it can be to navigate - especially when you’re trying to track down a loved one!

Mar 29, 202235:03
Burying the Dead with Fr. Joel Flores, pastor of San Pedro Catholic Church in the Diocese of Brownsville, TX

Burying the Dead with Fr. Joel Flores, pastor of San Pedro Catholic Church in the Diocese of Brownsville, TX

We are thrilled to welcome Fr. Joel Flores, the pastor of San Pedro Catholic Church in the Diocese of Brownsville, TX. Fr. Joel shares some of the innovative ways his parish has responded to the needs of the community throughout the pandemic, including transforming a trailer into a mobile chapel. He also reflects on his ministry of burying indigent or unclaimed bodies in the parish cemetery. We talk about our experiences presiding at funerals in the Rio Grande Valley, which include cultural touches like mariachi bands and wailing women.

Mar 22, 202236:05
Caring for the Sick with Brendon Tucker from Global Response Management

Caring for the Sick with Brendon Tucker from Global Response Management

We are excited to welcome Brendon Tucker from Global Response Management, an organization that delivers emergency medical care in crisis situations around the world, including in northern Mexico along the border. In his interview, Tucker talks about how he got so involved in a medical organization without a medical background, and the drastic medical needs in Reynosa right now. We share about our experience of “caring for the sick” at the hygiene counter in the Humanitarian Respite Center of Catholic Charities in McAllen, TX. While we are only dispensing over-the-counter medication, it still causes us both to work up quite the sweat. We’re priests, not doctors!

Mar 15, 202232:52
Feeding the Hungry with Vero Dimas from Brownsville Wellness Coalition

Feeding the Hungry with Vero Dimas from Brownsville Wellness Coalition

We are delighted to welcome Vero Dimas from the Brownsville Wellness Coalition, an organization that offers programs that promote nutrition and healthy lifestyles. Brownsville has high rates of obesity and diabetes, and it’s one of the nation’s poorest cities by per capita income. The Brownsville Wellness Coalition addresses these issues by running a local farmer’s market, encouraging local produce growers, and offering lessons in healthy eating.

Vero Dimas, Executive Director of the Brownsville Wellness Coalition and a Brownsville native, talks about the wealth of the people, even among the poverty and low health marks. She emphasizes the value of not just feeding the hungry, but providing access to healthy food for everyone. We share a story about a meal with the family of the local car guard in Reynosa, who provides us with more than just parallel parking advice (although he provides that too!).

Mar 08, 202235:40
Giving Drink to the Thirsty with Chloe Rastatter and Christa Cook from Solidarity Engineering

Giving Drink to the Thirsty with Chloe Rastatter and Christa Cook from Solidarity Engineering

We are excited to welcome Chloe Rastatter and Christa Cook from Solidarity Engineering for our first episode of Season 2. Chloe and Christa are two of the three engineers who founded Solidarity Engineering, an organization working on the border to provide engineering solutions to water and sanitation problems, among other things. In this episode, they talk about the complexities of something as basic as providing clean drinking water, and what it’s like to work as women and engineers on the border. We share about the ways we’ve seen both the great needs for water for people in Reynosa, Mexico, and how water can make things more complicated, like when it rains!

Mar 01, 202237:09
Teaser: Season 2 of The Jesuit Border Podcast
Feb 22, 202201:56
BONUS EPISODE: Full interview with Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ

BONUS EPISODE: Full interview with Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ

It was our great pleasure to welcome Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ, the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley for the last episode of Season 1. Sr. Norma works tirelessly on behalf of the most vulnerable on the US-Mexico border, and she is a well-known advocate for migrants and asylum seekers. If you enjoyed hearing from her in Episode 6, here is the full interview. Sr. Norma reflects on her own call to serve the poor and marginalized as a member of the Missionaries of Jesus, and she calls on all people of good will to "come and see" how Christ is present along the border. The full interview includes insights into her own prayer life and how she handles the pressure that comes with being a high profile advocate on the border.

Jan 25, 202250:59
BONUS EPISODE: Full interview with Bishop Daniel Flores

BONUS EPISODE: Full interview with Bishop Daniel Flores

We were honored to have Bishop Daniel Flores for our first interview. As the bishop of Brownsville, TX, Bishop Flores is deeply invested in and knowledgeable of the border reality. If you enjoyed hearing from him in Episode 1, here is the full interview. Bishop Flores shares his reflections on the dignity of the human person, especially from the perspective of the poorest among us. The full interview also expands on the history of the Diocese of Brownsville and dives deeper into his own philosophy.

Jan 18, 202252:47