• Bridging Generations: The Heart of Catholic Family Life
    Jul 10 2025

    In the latest episode of Desert Wanderers, Father Cintra introduces the Generational Catholicism series, a vital exploration into how families can successfully pass on their Catholic faith to the next generation. This episode is particularly significant as it highlights the sobering reality that only 15% of children raised in Catholic households remain faithful as adults. This statistic serves as a wake-up call for parents and families who wish to foster a deeper connection to their faith.

    Father Cintra leads us in a thoughtful discussion about the importance of creating a warm and affectionate home environment. He emphasizes that this nurturing atmosphere is foundational for children to feel seen, known, and loved, which ultimately translates into a stronger faith. Through engaging conversations with four couples, listeners gain insights into the practical ways these families have cultivated their faith at home.

    The episode also delves into the role of grandparents in shaping the faith of younger generations. As families often find themselves in a multi-generational living situation, the influence of grandparents can provide a unique perspective on faith transmission. This discussion encourages listeners to consider how family dynamics can either support or hinder their faith journey.

    One of the standout themes of the episode is the balance between high expectations and high affection in parenting. Father Cintra and the guests share that while it’s essential to have expectations for children, it’s equally important to envelop them in love and support. This balance creates an environment where children feel valued and understood, thus fostering their desire to embrace their faith.

    The episode wraps up with practical advice on family rituals, particularly the significance of shared meals and open communication. By establishing traditions that promote connection and dialogue, families can cultivate a sense of belonging and community that extends beyond just Sunday Mass.

    Overall, this episode of Desert Wanderers serves as a heartfelt reminder of the importance of intentional parenting and the power of family in nurturing faith. Tune in to discover how you can create a lasting legacy of faith in your family.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr
  • The Joy of Religious Life: Father Jonathan's Vocation Journey
    Jul 10 2025

    In this episode of Desert Wanderers, we sit down with Father Jonathan, a priest/Brother from Fraternity Verbum Spei , to explore his unique vocation journey. From his beginnings in New Zealand to his experiences in Mexico and Luxembourg, Father Jonathan shares insights about the importance of community, the role of priests in nurturing young faith, and the beauty of living a religious life. Discover how his upbringing and the influence of dedicated priests shaped his path to the priesthood and why he believes in the power of discernment. Join us for this inspiring conversation! 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more stories of faith, hope, and community! 👂 Tune in and be inspired! Social Media: Instagram ( / desertwandererspodcast ) Tiktok ( / desertwandererspodcast ) Chapters: (00:00) Intro (01:54) Father Johnathan's background. (01:00:09) What would be your advice to anyone interested in pursuing religious life

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Father Hippolytus: Priest on Mission (A Vocation Story)
    Jun 26 2025

    Today Father Hippo sits down at the Desert Wanderers Podcast table to talk about his vocation story. He talks about how he was formed by his family, what inevitably lead him to want to be a priest and how he joined the Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy at 17. Join us to get to know our local priest a little better and see how the gift of "Mission" is healing the USA.

    As always if you want to support us please subscribe, like, and give us your feedback in the comments. We read and engage with all our comments on the podcast and we would love to hear who you would like to hear from next!

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 21 mins
  • Generational Catholicism: The Art of Human Formation
    Jun 26 2025

    In this episode of Desert Wanderers, this discussion focuses on the transmission of faith from one generation to the next, drawing insights from the book Forming Families, Forming Saints by Father Carter Griffin. Join us as we explore the importance of human formation in parenting, the role of family dynamics, and how to cultivate virtues in our children. It's a heartfelt conversation that bridges the gap between faith and everyday family life. Chapters: (00:00) Father Cintra is doing his Generational Catholicism series on Desert Wanderers (00:38) What does it look like to live a generational Catholicism (01:34) Father, as you inspired St. Benedict, guide our families with an ordered way of life (02:38) You guys are getting ready to have one more baby any day now (05:27) The fourth pillar of priestly formation is pastoral formation (10:04) Father: Being humble in front of your kids is important (13:09) There are two separate categories of parenting that are important to unpack (16:52) Human information seeks to bring the best ingredients into the lives of our children (23:43) Human formation piece is essentially like building virtue (33:36) Ken talked about rewarding positive behavior. One of the words from the book was generous (37:36) My first memory of you guys was helping someone on Memorial Day (42:30) Teresa: There was a reasonableness to helping people (49:30) Catherine: I have three questions for Ken Senior about his upbringing (52:51) My parents were really big on making sure we had healthy peer relationships (59:54) Ken and Catherine started teaching their children about Catholicism early on (01:03:49) You mentioned that there is a high expectation for kindness in your home (01:07:58) You learn a lot about your relationship with the Father through relationship with parents (01:11:14) Would you want to speak to that, ke (01:11:27) So you mentioned about, um, my upbringing. It was a challenging childhood for sure (01:14:08) Teresa Moss: Order, sincerity, chastity and magnanimity (01:20:39) Order itself is important, but a tyrant brings about order and he succeeds

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 22 mins
  • Finding Joy in Parenting: Lessons from Waldorf Early Child Development Teacher
    Jun 17 2025

    In this episode of Desert Wanderers, we sit down with Evelyn, a passionate educator and advocate for early childhood development, to discuss the intersection of faith and education. Evelyn shares her journey of founding her own childcare center, Joyful Noise. We explore her experiences with Waldorf education, the importance of community, and how to foster a nurturing environment for children. Join us as we explore the profound significance of seeing the divine in every person and the transformative power of kindness and understanding in our daily interactions.

    Chapters:
    (00:00) Desert Wanderers Intro
    (1:02) Evelyn's Story
    (07:20) After graduating from college, I wanted to work for a parish
    (12:25) I think you have a real gift for people, which is attractive
    (18:04) Sometimes we're so obsessed with productivity that we miss the journey
    (19:36) How do you think your faith influenced your journey into early education
    (22:31) Why should we not have plastic toys
    (27:00) Montessori vs Waldorf
    (37:50) Thoughts on allowance
    (43:01) Winning the power struggle: From If to When
    (44:06) Sometimes parenting advice seems targeted at older kids, not younger one
    (45:07) Addressing Discipline and motivators for young children
    (51:34) Helping kids understand sorry is the number one thing we do (52:30) Why you shouldn't make your kids say sorry
    (55:50) The threenager
    (56:31) Sibling confrontations (3,4,5 year olds)
    (59:16) Waldorf and the four temperaments
    (01:04:32) Waldorf education is all about child development. American education isn't
    (01:09:36) Alternative to phones
    (01:09:55) For families trying to get away from TV; there are different strategies
    (01:13:53) So what would your advice be for someone who's already introduced tv
    (01:21:04) How do you deal with sharing toys
    (01:27:12) When it comes to parenting, what kind of self-awareness do we need
    (01:34:19) One of my favorite things to say to children is: I hear you
    (01:35) How to deal with an interrupting child
    (01:41:50)The Burrito for Energetic Children
    (01:49:56) The Being Good Jar: Make it easy to be good
    (01:55:45) What are realistic expectations versus unrealistic expectations when discussing children's chores
    (01:59) Sleep: Being good Juice
    (02:09) Children in Nature
    (02:32) Parting Advice for parents

    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 41 mins
  • Discovering your path to prayer: With Father Tim
    Jun 5 2025

    In this episode of Desert Wanderers, we sit down with Father Tim as he shares his unique journey to the priesthood. From his initial unease in a seemingly perfect life to the profound moment of calling he experienced at a young adult event, Father Tim recounts the pivotal moments that led him to embrace his vocation. Join us as we explore the nuances of prayer, the different modalities of spirituality, and how to navigate the challenges of a busy life while cultivating a deeper relationship with God.

    Chapters:
    (00:00) Desert Wanderers interview priests, religious and others in Boise diocese
    (01:14) Fr. Tim Story
    (12:21) I think people are built very differently in prayer
    (17:00) For me, prayer felt selfish because I would just talk at God (19:16) I think sometimes we think of prayer and worship in a certain way
    (20:22) You can use visualization to help God speak to you in different ways
    (23:53) You can make the rosary very visual.
    (24:14) So you've got the written word and the spoken word. (27:30) How would you determine if what voice you're hearing is GOD
    (29:33) How to decern Gods will when choosing two goods
    (30:13) The devil can use anything and everything, including scripture
    (33:31) How do you develop understanding who Jesus is and discerning his voice
    (37:25) So what kind of questions should we
    be asking ourselves about what type of prayer we are inclined to (43:45) How to pray in our busy lives
    (47:14) Do we need to simplify our lives
    (51:57) Let's talk about the intensity of prayer.
    (57:35) Accountability in prayer
    (01:04:07) Living a Catholic life doesn't necessarily mean that it's always prayerful
    (01:04:36) What does it look like for Beginner, intermediate, and Expert Prayer
    (01:08:04) Let's talk about the environment
    (01:09:40) So any last piece of advice do you have for, um, busy people
    (01:10:10) Do you want to lead us in prayer then, to end our conversation

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 11 mins
  • The Joys and Challenges of Growing Families
    May 30 2025

    In this heartfelt episode, we welcome Natalie Lair to the Generational Catholicism Series. She joins us ( Father Cintra and The Dysons) to explore the profound dynamics of parenthood, particularly the journey of welcoming a new child into the family. Through engaging discussions and personal anecdotes, we explore the practicalities of parenting, the sacrifices involved, and the spiritual growth that accompanies raising children. Join us as we reflect on the joys and challenges of family life, and how each new addition shapes not only the children but also the parents in their quest for sanctification.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 17 mins
  • Science and Faith Episode 4
    May 21 2025

    Dr. David Lamey discusses the intersection of science and faith, focusing on biology, particularly DNA and the genetic code. He explains that cells are like automated factories, with DNA as the central information system. Human cells contain 3.2 billion nucleotide bases, with only 1.5% coding for proteins. The ENCODE project revealed that 80% of DNA is functional. Lamey critiques evolutionary theories, noting the lack of transitional fossils and the improbability of random genetic mutations leading to functional improvements. He concludes that functional information in life suggests an intelligent source, challenging the notion that life is a cosmic accident.

    🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more stories of faith, hope, and community!

    👂 Tune in and be inspired!

    Social Media:

    Instagram ( / desertwandererspodcast )

    Tiktok ( / desertwandererspodcast )

    Show More Show Less
    42 mins