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The Institute on Religious Life’s Podcast, Ever Ancient, Ever New, marks our golden anniversary, 50 years of serving religious and consecrated life in the Catholic Church! This podcast features talks and interviews with consecrated religious men and women from many different religious communities throughout the United States and the world. Thus, giving people access to the rich and varied archives of IRL seminars, classes, talks, and interviews, while also giving those in religious life the opportunity to tell their vocation stories and share insights into their apostolates. Today, religious life is not only surviving, but thriving. It is ever ancient, ever new, ever beautiful, and ever necessary for our church today.

Ever Ancient, Ever New
The Institute on Religious Life’s Podcast, Ever Ancient, Ever New, marks our golden anniversary, 50 years of serving religious and consecrated life in the Catholic Church! This podcast features talks and interviews with consecrated religious men and women from many different religious communities throughout the United States and the world. Thus, giving people access to the rich and varied archives of IRL seminars, classes, talks, and interviews, while also giving those in religious life the opportunity to tell their vocation stories and share insights into their apostolates. Today, religious life is not only surviving, but thriving. It is ever ancient, ever new, ever beautiful, and ever necessary for our church today.
Episodes

4 days ago
4 days ago
27 min
On this week's episode, we're listening to a Facebook Live interview featuring
Sr. Teresa Maria Leis of the Sisters of the St. Francis of the Martyr St. George in Alton, IL. The Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George have been called by God to take an active part in rebuilding the Church, which was born from the heart of the crucified Christ. Flowing out of His open side, the charism entrusted to their community is to make the merciful love of Christ visible in our service. They do this through a variety of apostolic activities throughout the United States.
Sr. Teresa’s topic today is “Religious Life and Liturgy” and she is interviewed by IRL Board member, Jesse Weiler.
Thank you for listening! May God bless you and enjoy!

Jul 23, 2026
Jul 23, 2026
44 min
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Fr. John A. Hardon's death, December 30th, 2025, the Institute on Religious Life will be launching a series of Fr. Hardon talks from our own archives!
Father Hardon entered the Society of Jesus in 1936. He authored over 200 books, including The Catholic Catechism (1975) and was a consultant for the drafting of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He wrote countless articles, conducted numerous catechetical classes for religious and lay people, developed a series of full-semester courses and was a popular speaker and retreat master as well as a spiritual director and confessor to many. He also founded the Institute on Religious Life, Marian Catechists and Eternal Life.
Father Hardon died on December 30, 2000. His cause for canonization has been opened.
Today, we will be listening to his talk titled, " The Teaching of the Church on Vows: Chastity."
Thank you and we hope you enjoy! May God bless you!

Jul 14, 2026
Jul 14, 2026
55 min
On today’s episode, we will be featuring a talk from our recent 2026 National Meeting by Sr. Mary Eucharista Muse, who serves as the Vicar General of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Healing Love in Manchester, New Hampshire.
The Daughters of Mary Mother of Healing love seek to do the Father’s Will by adoring and serving the Sacred Heart of Jesus in imitation of Mary. They embrace the evangelical counsels and act to bring God’s Healing Love to families and individuals. They defend the dignity of human life, especially wherever the gift of life has been devalued, whether in the unborn, in children, in individuals and in families.
Sr. Mary Eucharista Muse is the author of two books: Learning to Live Again and UNPETALED and is the founder of Vita Benedicta Ministry, a ministry which offers accompaniment, spiritual direction, and formation to women who have been wounded in consecrated life
Today, we will be listening to Sr. Mary Eucharista’s talk, "To Love with the Heart of a Mother”.
Thank you for listening and we hope you enjoy! May God bless you.

Jul 6, 2026
Jul 6, 2026
32 min
On this week's episode, we're listening to a Facebook Live interview featuring Antonella Di Piazza, FKMI.
Antonella Di Piazza was born and raised in Bologna Italy, and is a perpetually professed member of Fr. Kolbe Missionaries of the lmmaculata. Antonella has been stationed in Italy, Poland, and the United States, carrying out various assignments and evangelization ministry, especially promoting Consecration to Mary according to the teachings and example of St. Maximilian Kolbe. She served as general editor for the first critical English edition of The Writings of St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe. She serves as national coordinator and director at the Ml-USA National Center.
Antonella’s topic today is “The Militia of the Immaculata” and she is interviewed by IRL Board member, Jesse Weiler.
Thank you for listening! May God bless you and enjoy!

Jun 22, 2026
Jun 22, 2026
1hr 14 min
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Fr. John A. Hardon's death, December 30th, 2025, the Institute on Religious Life will be launching a series of Fr. Hardon talks from our own archives!
Father Hardon entered the Society of Jesus in 1936. He authored over 200 books, including The Catholic Catechism (1975) and was a consultant for the drafting of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He wrote countless articles, conducted numerous catechetical classes for religious and lay people, developed a series of full-semester courses and was a popular speaker and retreat master as well as a spiritual director and confessor to many. He also founded the Institute on Religious Life, Marian Catechists and Eternal Life.
Father Hardon died on December 30, 2000. His cause for canonization has been opened.
Today, we will be listening to his talk titled, "Happiness Only From Doing God's Will"
Thank you and we hope you enjoy! May God bless you!

Jun 10, 2026
Jun 10, 2026
48 min
On today’s episode, we will be featuring a talk from our 2013 National Meeting by Fr. Brian Mullady, O.P.
Fr. Mullady recently passed into eternal life on April 22, 2025. Please pray for the repose of his soul. You can read his obituary to learn more about his amazing life serving the church.
Fr. Mullady taught at the Vita Consecrata Institute for nearly 20 years and served as the Theological advisor for the Institute on Religious Life for over 30 years. Fr. Mullady was a mission preacher and retreat master for the Dominican Friars, Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in Oakland California. He hosted a twelve-part series on Mother Angelica's EWTN television network, authored of four books and numerous articles and wrote the Answer column in Homiletic and Pastoral Review. Fr. Mullady was also designated as an official Missionary of Mercy by Pope Francis for the Year of Mercy.
Thank you for listening, may God bless you!

May 25, 2026
May 25, 2026
29 min
On this week's episode, we're listening to a Facebook Live interview featuring Abbot Sharbel Ewen, OSB, of Prince of Peace Benedictine Monastery in Oceanside, California.
Abbot Sharbel grew up surrounded by the values of hard work and simplicity, cultivated in a family of six children. His upbringing was deeply influenced by the rhythms of rural life, where faith and community were intertwined. In 1980, Abbot Sharbel responded to a profound spiritual calling, entering the monastery of St. Charles Priory (later renamed Prince of Peace Abbey). Ordained a priest on July 2, 1988, Abbot Sharbel’s vocation blossomed, eventually leading to his appointment as Prior in 2000.
On August 20, 2013, Abbot Sharbel was elected to lead his monastic community as Abbot. His Abbatial Blessing on October 10, 2013, marked the beginning of a new chapter of stewardship and spiritual guidance.
Abbot Sharbel’s topic today is “How Does a Monastery Impact its Local Community?” and he is interviewed by IRL Board member, Jesse Weiler.
Thank you for listening! May God bless you and enjoy!

May 11, 2026
May 11, 2026
39 min
o commemorate the 25th anniversary of Fr. John A. Hardon's death, December 30th, 2025, the Institute on Religious Life will be launching a series of Fr. Hardon talks from our own archives!
Father Hardon entered the Society of Jesus in 1936. He authored over 200 books, including The Catholic Catechism (1975) and was a consultant for the drafting of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He wrote countless articles, conducted numerous catechetical classes for religious and lay people, developed a series of full-semester courses and was a popular speaker and retreat master as well as a spiritual director and confessor to many. He also founded the Institute on Religious Life, Marian Catechists and Eternal Life.
Father Hardon died on December 30, 2000. His cause for canonization has been opened.
Today, we will be listening to his talk titled, "The Way of the Cross"
Thank you and we hope you enjoy! May God bless you!
