Open Door Policy

Bonus Episode: The Impact of Catholic Schools

August 30th, 2022  |  Season 6  |  21 mins 16 secs

catholic education, catholic schools, education

The role of Catholic schools in unleashing the Gospel must not be underestimated. Archbishop Vigneron writes that, “Our catholic schools must be training grounds for future saints.” It’s these training grounds where countless young people are invited to encounter Jesus, grapple with the tough questions, and grow into a wholehearted Christian worldview, where the dignity of the human person is consistently upheld. Listen to disciples in the Archdiocese who have been impacted by Catholic schools and have lent their gifts to the mission of Catholic education; and be inspired by Archbishop Vigneron’s vision of allowing Catholic schools to be the heart of the evangelistic efforts of the Church.

Bonus Episode: Grief and Hope

August 17th, 2022  |  Season 6  |  21 mins 51 secs

grief, hope, loss

Loss, as painful as it can be, is something we all will face in this life. And being thrust into a season of grieving can be disorienting and overwhelming. Yet, our faith in Jesus and his resurrection always gives us a reason to remain hopeful. In this episode, hear from three courageous women who have suffered tremendous loss yet, through it all, remained faithful and allowed grace to inform their grief.

Bonus Episode: Called to Serve our Parish Communities

August 9th, 2022  |  Season 6  |  24 mins 54 secs

catholic church, parish ministry, service

Join Open Door Policy as we revisit the inspiring stories of guests who have responded to the call to share their gifts in service of their parish communities. Our spiritual homes at our parishes are supposed to be founded upon prayer and a culture of encounter with Jesus. Listen as your peers share how God is unleashing the Gospel through them by leading and serving in their parish communities.

Bonus Episode: The Journey of Discernment

July 29th, 2022  |  Season 6  |  37 mins 30 secs

The process of discernment is oriented towards the life that God created you for—a life of holiness, and authentic happiness! In this episode, hear from joyful missionary disciples whose lives have been marked and changed forever through a process of discernment, and allow their witnesses to inspire you and the way you live according to God’s mission for your life.

Bonus Episode: The Impact of Grandparents

July 21st, 2022  |  Season 6  |  5 mins 56 secs

grandparents

In this Open Door Policy mini-sode, we revisit some of the conversations with two of our guests who recognize and celebrate the importance of their grandparents on their paths to becoming joyful missionary disciples. Take a listen!

Bonus Episode: Confession, a Tenderizer of Hearts

June 23rd, 2022  |  Season 6  |  19 mins 59 secs

In this bonus episode, hear from some of our guests from our most recent Open Door Policy season, as they share their experiences of Confession, how they handle the nerves that can accompany seeking the sacrament, and their desire to share the goodness of it with others. In this episode, you’ll hear great anecdotes from our guests and our co-hosts, Emily Mentock and Fr. Patrick Gonyeau, as they discuss the role of Confession in their lives!

Bonus Episode: Love For the Eucharist

June 8th, 2022  |  Season 6  |  15 mins 51 secs

catholic, open door policy, unleash the gospel

In the inaugural edition of Open Door Policy “mini-sodes,” listen to some of our favorite moments from past shows, where guests share why they love the Eucharist and how it has changed their lives. Hear how Sr. Maria Veritas encounters Jesus as her spouse daily, in the Blessed Sacrament, how Melissa Florian’s desires that fueled addiction were transformed into a hunger for the Eucharist, and how Fr. David Pellican’s love for the Eucharist is propelling his dream of cultivating a love for the Eucharist among young people.

Episode 88: Emily Mentock and Fr. Patrick Gonyeau

May 25th, 2022  |  Season 6  |  37 mins 51 secs

catholic, detroit, open door policy, unleash the gospel

“It’s like sitting in God’s living room.” This episode of Open Door Policy is a season finale! Join hosts Emily Mentock and Fr. Patrick Gonyeau as they share their highlights from the previous season. Together they marvel at how God is alive and active in the life of each guest who has joined them. From storytelling to music, from mental health struggles to a new vocation to the permanent diaconate, each guest has exhibited how unique God’s plan is for each life. Your hosts share their dreams to see the Church alive with a new Pentecost and a Church filled with gratitude. Join Open Door Policy as we wonder at God’s power to change lives, and unleash the Gospel in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Take a listen!

Episode 87: Deacon Fred Billotto

May 11th, 2022  |  Season 6  |  42 mins 47 secs

catholic, detroit catholic, unleash the gospel

Hosts Emily Mentock and Fr. Patrick Gonyeau welcome Deacon Fred Billotto, who has been propelled into service of the Gospel by a great love for the laity and docility to the Holy Spirit. Listen in as Dcn. Fred shares about his discernment to become a permanent deacon, the impact of investing in his parish community, the role of scripture in his life, and finally his dreams for the future. Our God-given missions are not simply places we pour out our time and energy, but rather, they are the places God pours his life and grace into our hearts. Take a listen!

Episode 86: Sr. Mary Martha and Sr. Maria Veritas

April 27th, 2022  |  Season 6  |  46 mins 18 secs

catholic, detroit, open door policy, unleash the gospel

This episode of Open Door Policy is overflowing with consecrated love for Jesus in the Eucharist. Two members of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, Sr. Mary Martha and Sr. Maria Veritas share insight into how they have encountered the Lord, grown to serve the Lord as brides of Christ, and witness to God’s love through their service — including writing for Detroit Catholic. This episode includes “treasures from prayer,” and asks the question, “What saint has captured your heart recently?” and “What is holiness?” We pray this podcast will instill in your heart hope for the future, faith in God’s goodness, and a deeper love for Jesus in the Eucharist.

Episode 85: Anna Picasso

March 30th, 2022  |  Season 6  |  47 mins 31 secs

catholic, detroit, open door policy, unleash the gospel

Open Door Policy brings you the inspiring testimony of a young Catholic missionary serving in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Anna Picasso serves as a Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) missionary at Wayne State University, and surrounding campuses. Anna shares her story of growing up Catholic, but falling away from the faith in high school. Intentional friendships during a semester-long trip to Rome in college led to a life-changing encounter with Jesus through returning to the Sacrament to Confession after 10 years. She now lives out intentional friendship through her ministry to college students. This episode addresses fears of returning to confession, and the power of Jesus’ example of friendship. Take a listen!

Episode 84: Dr. Marlon De La Torre

March 16th, 2022  |  Season 6  |  45 mins 54 secs

catholic podcast, joyful missionary disciple, open door policy

In this episode of Open Door Policy, Dr. Marlon De La Torre, the Archdiocese of Detroit’s Director of Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship, shares his story – one that, at times, might sound like the words from a great audiobook. Listen as he describes his journey from a culturally Catholic youth, to an adventurous and faithful disciple, following wherever God leads him, all the way from California to Ohio, and, most recently, to right here in Detroit.

Episode 83: Eileen Newell

March 2nd, 2022  |  Season 6  |  40 mins 14 secs

catholic, detroit, open door policy, unleash the gospel

This episode of Open Door Policy is a generous taste of modern Irish Catholicism. Eileen Newell joins hosts Emily Mentock and Fr. Patrick Gonyeau in this discussion of Eileen's walk with the Lord. Her upbringing, the witness of her parents’ faith, and a trip to El Salvador helped her answer the big questions of life that she encountered in college. These days, serving on the Catholic Schools Council and her involvement with Family of Parishes prove to be experiences of God at work through her. Eileen’s love of St. Patrick shows as she closes the episode with a powerful Irish prayer. Take a listen!

Episode 82: Elizabeth Spencer

February 16th, 2022  |  Season 6  |  43 mins 48 secs

catholic, detroit, open door policy, unleash the gospel

Elizabeth Spencer joins Fr. Patrick and Emily in the virtual studio, where she shares how her experience of encountering Jesus in a personal way as a college student led to her career dedicated to ministry in youth and family faith formation.

Episode 81: Alex Lynch

February 2nd, 2022  |  Season 6  |  38 mins 53 secs

archdiocese of detroit, catholic, catholic moms, catholic podcast, detroit, unleash the gospel

Emily and Fr. Patrick welcome Alex Lynch to the podcast, and she reflects on her journey as a joyful missionary disciple as she has cultivated faith and community in her family and ministry involvement in her parish.

Episode 80: Bishop Donald Hanchon

January 5th, 2022  |  Season 6  |  36 mins 12 secs

Emily and Fr. Patrick welcome Bishop Donald Hanchon, who shares the story of his journey through the priesthood and how his many years serving minority communities in Detroit have formed him as a joyful missionary disciple with a heart for God’s people.