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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
Tuesday Sep 02, 2025
Tuesday Sep 02, 2025
On today’s episode, we will be featuring part two of a talk from our 2009 National Meeting by Bishop Robert Barron.
Bishop Barron was ordained a priest in 1986 in the Archdiocese of Chicago and appointed to the theological faculty of Mundelein Seminary in 1992. He served as the Rector/President of Mundelein Seminary from 2012 until 2015. In 2015, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Barron to be Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. In 2022, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Robert Barron as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota.
Bishop Robert Barron is an acclaimed author, speaker, and theologian. He is also the founder of the global media ministry Word on Fire, which reaches millions of people by utilizing the tools of new media to draw people into or back to the Catholic Faith. Francis Cardinal George has described him as “one of the Church’s best messengers.”
Bishop Barron and his Word on Fire team have released dozens of films, books, and study programs. Bishop Barron has produced over 400 online video commentaries. The ministry strives to consistently produce high-quality productions, including brief and lively theological reviews of contemporary culture in movies, books, music, current events, and more.
Bishop Barron’s talk we will be listening to is titled, "Evangelization". Thank you for listening! May God bless you and enjoy!
Monday Aug 25, 2025
Monday Aug 25, 2025
On today’s episode, we will be featuring part one of a talk from our 2009 National Meeting by Bishop Robert Barron.
Bishop Barron was ordained a priest in 1986 in the Archdiocese of Chicago and appointed to the theological faculty of Mundelein Seminary in 1992. He served as the Rector/President of Mundelein Seminary from 2012 until 2015. In 2015, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Barron to be Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. In 2022, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Robert Barron as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota.
Bishop Robert Barron is an acclaimed author, speaker, and theologian. He is also the founder of the global media ministry Word on Fire, which reaches millions of people by utilizing the tools of new media to draw people into or back to the Catholic Faith. Francis Cardinal George has described him as “one of the Church’s best messengers.”
Bishop Barron and his Word on Fire team have released dozens of films, books, and study programs. Bishop Barron has produced over 400 online video commentaries. The ministry strives to consistently produce high-quality productions, including brief and lively theological reviews of contemporary culture in movies, books, music, current events, and more.
Bishop Barron’s talk we will be listening to is titled, "Evangelization". Thank you for listening! May God bless you and enjoy!
Monday Aug 18, 2025
Monday Aug 18, 2025
On this week's episode, we're listening to a Facebook Live interview on “Praising God with the Archangels” with IRL board member, Jesse Weiler, and Fr. Michael Donovan, O. de M. of The Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, Mercedarian Friars in Cleveland, Ohio.
Thank you for listening! May God bless you and enjoy!
Monday Aug 11, 2025
Monday Aug 11, 2025
Started in 1986, the Pro Fidelitate et Virtue Award is conferred each year at the Institute on Religious Life’s National Meeting to someone who has been outstanding in the support and promotion of authentic religious life.
Today's episode is honoring our 2019 award recipient, The Little Sisters of the Poor. Continuing the work of their foundress, Saint Jeanne Jugan, The Little Sisters’ mission is to offer the neediest elderly of every race and religion a home where they will be welcomed as Christ, cared for as family and accompanied with dignity until God calls them to himself. The Little Sisters of the Poor take a fourth vow of hospitality, to consecrate themselves totally to the service of the elderly poor.
The Little Sisters have elderly homes all across the country including their Baltimore/Brooklyn Province and their Chicago Province, and are also located in 30 countries around the world!
We will be listening to the banquet address of Sr. Constance Carolyn, L.S.P., accepting the award on the Little Sisters’ behalf. Thank you for listening! May God bless you and enjoy!
Monday Aug 04, 2025
Monday Aug 04, 2025
On today's episode, we're listening to an interview with Mother Cecilia Marie, I.H.M. who is the General Superior of The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Wichita Kansas.
The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary’s primary service to the Church is the contemplation of the Word and the spreading of His message of salvation through various works of education and spiritual retreats. In union with Mary, they pray for the Church, especially for the conversion of sinners and for the sanctification of priests. Their spirituality is Eucharistic and Marian. Devotion to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary leads them to her Eucharistic Son and she nurtures within them a deep and abiding love of the Church. The heart of the Sisters’ life and the source of their unity is Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Thank you for listening! May God bless you and enjoy!
Monday Jul 28, 2025
Monday Jul 28, 2025
On today’s episode, we will be featuring a talk from our 2009 National Meeting by Dr. Scott Hahn.
Dr. Hahn received his Bachelor of Arts degree with a triple-major in Theology, Philosophy and Economics from Grove City College, PA, his Masters of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and his Ph.D. in Biblical Theology from Marquette University. He was ordained in 1982 at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Fairfax, VA, but resigned his ministry to enter the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil in 1986.
He began teaching at Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1990, where he now holds the Father Michael Scanlan, T.O.R., Chair of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization. An exceptionally popular speaker and teacher, Dr. Hahn has spoken nationally and internationally on a wide variety of topics related to Scripture and Catholic theology. His talks have been effective in helping thousands embrace the faith.
Dr. Scott’s talk is titled, " The Lamb’s Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth". Thank you for listening! May God bless you and enjoy!
Monday Jul 21, 2025
Monday Jul 21, 2025
On this week's episode, we're listening to a Facebook Live interview on “How to Pray the Mass” with IRL board member, Jesse Weiler, and Fr. Ken Geraci, CPM of The Congregation of the Fathers of Mercy in Auburn, Kentucky.
Thank you for listening! May God bless you and enjoy!
Monday Jul 14, 2025
Monday Jul 14, 2025
On today's episode, we're listening to an interview with Sr. Susanna Arpidone, PSGM, of The Little Friars and Little Nuns of Jesus and Mary in Theriot, Louisiana.
the Little Friars and Little Nuns is composed of two celibate branches of brothers and sisters, who through the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, consecrate all of their life to the Lord, at the service of the Catholic Church and of their neighbor. The brothers and sisters work together, although living in completely separate houses. They have a "dual spirituality" drawing both from the contemplative silence and prayer of the early Carmelites and from the active poverty and evangelization of the early Franciscans.
Please check out these amazing groups that help support the Little Friars and Nuns!
If you would like to donate to support their mission you can donate HERE!
Thank you for listening! May God bless you and enjoy!