Upfront with the Archbishop
Upfront with the Archbishop is a podcast where our goal is to strengthen the relationship between the hierarchy and the faithful through informal conversations about our Catholic faith. Featuring Archbishop Richard Smith (Archdiocese of Edmonton, AB) and our host Jenny Connelly. Produced by Matthew Bodnarek and Jenny Connelly.
Episodes
109 episodes
106. Divorce in Scripture and The Mission of Marriage
What is the mission of married couples? Join Archbishop Smith as he discusses the sacrament of marriage in Scripture, divorce and annulment, how marriage is meant to be a witness to communion in an era of division, and his thoughts ...
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Episode 106
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23:45
105. Authentic Catholic Schools, Mental Health, Catholic Anthropology and Sexuality in Our Schools
Today, Archbishop Smith is talking about Catholic education and the urgent need to proclaim the Gospel in our Catholic schools, especially with the widespread presence of anxiety and depression among young people. In anticipation o...
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Episode 105
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34:31
104. The Missionary Church, Archbishop Smith’s Adventures in Northern Canada
What kind of missionary am I called to be? Join Archbishop Smith for a discussion about our second pastoral priority of “Forming Confident Witnesses,” the universal call to share the Gospel, what it means to be a missionary parish ...
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Episode 104
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30:05
103. What We Believe About the Eucharist, Being in a State of Grace and Our New Pastoral Priorities
How do I know if I am in a state of grace? What do Catholics actually believe about receiving the Body of Christ in the Eucharist? Join Archbishop Smith for our first episode back after summer break, for a discussion about Eucha...
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Episode 103
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39:21
102. Archbishop Reviews The Chosen, Season 4
Is The Chosen worth watching as a Catholic? Does it portray Jesus as he should be?Join Archbishop Smith for his review of Season 4 of The Chosen, as we discuss how Judas is portrayed, the bold soundtrack choices that the director made f...
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Season 1
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Episode 102
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48:45
101. Will the Catholic Church Change What It Teaches? An Archbishop on Dogma and the Magisterium
Will the Catholic Church change its teaching on marriage? On female priesthood?Join Archbishop Smith for a discussion about how to define, dogma, doctrine and the Magisterium, about whether the Church will change some of its most-discus...
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Season 1
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Episode 101
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35:22
100 Episodes! Reviewing Our Most-Viewed Episodes and the “Missionary Sacrament” of Confirmation
Today’s episode is the 100th episode of Upfront with the Archbishop and we’re talking about themes from our most viewed episodes over the past two years: What is appropriate to wear to Mass, how to respond to division over Marian apparitions an...
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Season 1
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Episode 100
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35:25
99. The Fatherhood of St. Joseph and Why the World Needs Men
What is the mission of men?Join Archbishop Smith for a discussion about his advice for men, the fatherhood of St. Joseph, the suffering of having an absent father and the response of God the Father, and what it takes to be an excellent ...
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Season 1
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Episode 99
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27:33
98. Saint Maria Goretti, Radical Forgiveness and a "Revolution of Tenderness"
Maria Goretti was just 11 when she forgave her would-be rapist and the man who killed her. How does a person do that? How do we grow in our ability to have mercy and forgive?Join Archbishop Smith to hear his advice on growing in the vir...
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Season 1
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Episode 98
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24:47
97. My Testimony: Archbishop Smith Shares How He Became a Follower of Jesus
Did you know Archbishop Smith used to lead music (with his guitar!) at Mass as a young adult?Join Archbishop Smith as he tells the story of how he started to pray as a child, the challenges of being a Catholic “nerd” in high school, his...
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Season 1
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Episode 97
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40:40
96. Facing Our Discomfort with Death and Suffering: A Catholic Doctor and Archbishop Smith Discuss Palliative Care, Losing a Parent to Dementia and How to Respond to a Request for Euthanasia
Join Archbishop Smith for a conversation with Dr. Lauren Girard, a palliative care and family medicine doctor from Edmonton, Alberta as they discuss why palliative care is an answer to the rise in euthanasia and assisted suicide, the sophistica...
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Season 1
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Episode 96
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1:00:00
95. What You Don’t Know About St. Kateri: Extreme Penance, Perpetual Virginity and Eucharistic Fervor
As we near her feast day (April 17), join Archbishop Smith for a discussion about St. Kateri Tekakwitha and lesser-known facts about her life, including her Catholic formation in a Mohawk women’s community, her relationship with radical forms o...
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Season 1
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Episode 95
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37:41
94. The Virtue of Religion and The Definition of a “Good Person”
Are we striving to be “good” people? Or virtuous people?Join Archbishop Smith and host Jenny Connelly for a discussion about virtue ethics, the virtues that Archbishop Smith learned from his parents, the cardinal virtues and what it mea...
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Season 1
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Episode 94
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29:07
93. Proof for the Resurrection, the Resurrection of Our Bodies, Relics and Doubting Thomas
Will our bodies rise again?Join Archbishop Smith and host Jenny Connelly for our Easter episode on evidence for Christ’s Resurrection, the theology of the resurrection of our bodies, the relationship between wisdom and doubt, and why Ca...
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Season 1
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Episode 93
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37:27
92. Canada’s Fight Against the Culture of Death: Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia in Canada ft. Deacon Larry Worthen
What is happening in our nation? Join Archbishop Richard Smith, Deacon Larry Worthen and host Jenny Connelly for a discussion about the expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada, how Christi calls us to respond to this culture ...
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Season 1
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Episode 92
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1:09:48
91. Lent: The Call to Fast, Exodus 90 and Asceticism
Join Archbishop Smith for his annual Lent episode! We discuss why we fast on Wednesdays and Fridays, the theology of sacrifice, why young men are committing to the Exodus 90 program, and why asceticism is part of our Catholic tradition....
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29:28
90. The Catholic Crisis and How To Respond
Join Archbishop Richard Smith for a discussion about what it means to be in crisis as a Church, why we must respond to crisis with obedience and repentance, the call to defend our family, the Church, and what it means that the Church has “lost ...
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Season 1
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Episode 90
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57:29
89. Private Revelation, Marian Apparitions and Prophecy
Join Archbishop Richard Smith for a discussion about private versus public revelation, Marion apparitions, how to discern whether a prophecy is legitimate or not, the origins of the Rosary and how Tradition relates to Revelation.
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Season 1
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Episode 89
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23:17
88. Forgiveness After Kidnapping, Slavery and Abuse: St. Josephine Bakhita
Join Archbishop Smith for a discussion about why the Catholic Church canonizes saints, the heroic story of St. Josephine Bakhita, how the grace of God can transform trauma and abuse into healing and forgiveness, and how we can bring heroic forg...
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Season 1
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Episode 88
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41:14
87. The Arrival of Meaning: Christmas, Zion, and the 5th Gospel
Join Archbishop Smith for our Christmas episode where we discuss the virtue of joy, the Christmas liturgies and the prophet Isaiah as the “5th Gospel,” Christmas-only Catholics and the ancient promises of God that he keeps to every one of us th...
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33:15
86. We Need More Priests (Canada) w/ Dr. Ryan Topping
How many priests does Canada need? Join Archbishop Smith and Dr. Ryan Topping (Benedict XVI Institute, Newman Theological College) for a discussion about the priestly “vocations crisis” in the Catholic Church, the brand-new study that D...
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Season 1
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Episode 86
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1:02:26
85. Marian Devotion: The Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe
As we near the feasts of the Immaculate Conception (December 8) and Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12), join Archbishop Smith for a discussion about his own Marian devotion, his trips to Mexico in honor of our Lady of Guadalupe, the significan...
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Season 1
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Episode 85
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27:58
84. Purgatory, Indulgences and Praying for the Dead: Asking Archbishop Smith
As November – the Month of Souls – comes to a close, Archbishop Smith speaks about the Church’s teaching on praying for the dead, indulgences, purgatory and the importance of the ministry that our Catholic cemeteries offer. On last week’s episo...
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Season 1
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Episode 84
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29:14
83. Advent Is A Season of Repentance
What have we forgotten about Advent?Join Archbishop Smith as he shares about Advent as a season of penitence, the purpose of the liturgical year vs. the secular year, Advent as a season of being shook out of our apathy and the irregular...
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Season 1
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Episode 83
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22:36
82. The Forgotten Book of Tobit and World Day of the Poor
“A great river of poverty is traversing our cities."Join Archbishop Smith as he talks about why Pope Francis instituted the annual World Day of the Poor, the (strange) Book of Tobit that Pope Francis wants us to reflect upon for this ye...
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Season 1
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Episode 82
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26:30