VOX SFX

Luciano Lamonarca, also known as the Good Will Tenor, is known internationally for his incredible voice.  His passion, other than music, is the promotion and mission of the Padre Pio Foundation.  Rooted in the humility and service of this saint, this Foundation is a force for good works for the most needy in this world.  Who is this man who uses his voice for the benefit of countless faithful in cities across the world?  Listen to ...

We have a new priest at St Francis Xavier!  Father Mark Hoelsken, who spent thirty years working up in Alaska, has an infectious laugh and a deep well of knowledge to draw from.  In addition to exploring the path that led him here to Missoula, we also delve into the history of the Church when it comes to our interaction and ministry to the indigenous tribes of America.  Join us as we get to know our newest addition to the SFX famil...

2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea, the first of what came to be known as ecumenical councils.  Nicea, and the many subsequent councils held by the titans of the church, has helped to codify our beliefs and teachings and promote greater understanding of the precepts of our faith.  The Catholic Church we know today was built on the foundations of the unity these councils established.  Fr Cochran joins Nicholas...

Padre Pio is coming to St. Francis Xavier in Missoula, Montana!  On August 25th and 26th, people will have the wonderful opportunity to venerate this marvelous saint of healing.  This is known as a devotion, which is a practice of faith which may involve prayer or other activities but is not part of official liturgy and doctrine.  It is meant to deepen our love and reverence for God and those who have done his work in the world.  F...

The word 'miracle' is often used to describe a variety of positive occurrences: a good day, a gorgeous sunrise, or the birth of a child.  These may be wonderful things, but a miracle as defined by the Catholic Church is a highly specific concept.  There is a process for determining whether or not a phenomenon qualifies, involving exhaustive testing and evaluation by the Vatican, scientists, and other experts.  At its core...

Religious liberty is not just a concept enshrined by secular governments.  It is also taught as a critical piece of Catholic social teaching.  The Second Vatican Council's Declaration on Religious Freedom, Dignitatis Humanae, promulgated on December 7th, 1965, by Pope Paul VI, gives Catholics an essential framework for understanding our duties when interacting with the secular world and with peoples of a different faith.  Fr P...

When we are in mourning, we hardly feel blessed.  Grief can shatter us in mind and spirit, it can take a heavy toll on the body, and it can devastate our faith.  In these moments of weakness it is often difficult to see the light.  The love of God is always there, but sometimes we can render ourselves numb to His compassion.  But God can use our grief to help others and to build a bridge between us that was stronger than before, if...

It is hard to imagine Christianity without the prophets of old.  They correct us when we've gone astray and speak to God on our behalf.  Most importantly, they point to the coming of our Savior.  Their words ring true throughout the ages, touching our hearts and guiding us even today.  Many women also had the role of a prophet, though their contributions of often tragically overlooked.  Fr Victor Cancino joins Nicholas to delv...

One of the core Catholic experiences is participation in the Rite of Reconciliation, commonly known as Confession.  We reflect on where we have fallen short of God's expectations and bring this to a priest who serves as Christ's messenger of absolution.  Beyond the rote recitation of sins, it is an invitation to go deeper into our own nature with the intent of not just identifying our sins, but working through the root ca...

The Summa Theologica is a masterpiece in the Catholic lexicon.  St. Thomas Aquinas beautifully lays out a logical way of understanding God and our faith.  Our episode today specifically concerns his proofs of the existence of God.  Using human reasoning and our understanding of the world around us, St. Thomas expertly explains this deepest of mysteries.  To help us understand these concepts better, Fr. Hightower has joined Nicholas...

In 2022, St Francis Xavier Parish was blessed by the arrival of Father Paul Cochran.  In his time here he has proven vital to our community.  Whether delivering moving homilies or mentoring the faithful, his service to this parish has earned him the love of its congregation.  The path that brought him to us is a fascinating one, full of lessons and inspiration.  In this episode, Nicholas has the honor of sitting down with this wond...

Throughout history, the Holy Spirit has moved our faith to greater understanding of God's remit for us.   As our society has evolved over the last century, the ways in which women participate in and shape our faith have expanded and become more prominent.  From the heroines of the Old Testament to the devoted disciples of Christ, women have walked with the Spirit in a myriad of ways.  In this episode, Fr Pat Conroy sits down w...

Catholicism has a deep tradition of faith and science, but scientific approaches rarely allow for the role of God in our observations of the physical universe.  Fr Ed Kohler proposes a new paradigm to unify hard science with our understanding of God's creation.  Part theology, part physics, Divine Mechanics provide a bridge between the two.  

Further explorations of the world of Divine Mechanics can be found at Fr Kohler's...

1.4 billion voices lifted in joy on May 8th when the announcement rang out: Habemus Papam!  Though his Papacy is only just taking form, we can see much of the character of Leo XIV in his Augustinian charism, his missionary work in the world, and his cardinalate.  The name Leo also has great historic significance that gives us a vision of his hopes for our future.  Fr Hightower joins us to give some opening analysis and impressions ...

Early on Easter Monday in the Jubilee Year 2025, Pope Francis went home to the Lord.  His legacy is sure to be one of compassion and humanity, always focusing on and lifting up the voices of the poor and disenfranchised, in the spirit of the Jesuit charism of drawing in the people of God rather than hiding behind a veil of clericalism.  The first Pope from the Americas, as well as the first Pope from the Jesuit order, Francis broug...