Send us a text

In this episode of Open Seat, Stephanie Jimenez courageously shares her journey through doubt, anxiety, and an emotionally harmful relationship—and the faith that ultimately gave her the strength to leave.

Raised in the Catholic Church, Stephanie reflects on moments when she questioned God, felt overwhelmed by fear, and struggled to believe she was worthy of love. Through prayer, family support, and grace she didn’t always recognize in the moment, she discovered that leaving was not a failure—but an act of faith.

This is a story about:
• The courage to leave when it feels impossible
• Faith that waits patiently through doubt
• Healing from emotional harm
• Learning gratitude on the other side of pain

Whether you are questioning, healing, or learning to trust again, Stephanie’s story reminds us that God never lets go—and that courage often begins with a single prayer.

Open Seat is a space for authentic conversations about faith, unfiltered and unapologetic. Wherever you find an open seat in your life, we invite you to pull up a chair and listen.

🕊️ Is there a difficult season God brought you through that you need to thank Him for?

Support the show

This is a podcast of Holy Family Parish, located in Adrian MI. We are a Catholic people, not a place, striving to Live Jesus through celebrating the sacraments and forming disciples in Adrian and beyond.

www.HolyFamilyAdrian.org
Instagram: Instagram.com/holyfamilyadrian
Facebook: Facebook.com/adrianCatholic
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@holyfamilyadrian

Open Seat es un podcast Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia ubicada en Adrian, Michigan. Somos un pueblo católico, no un lugar, que se esfuerza por vivir a Jesús celebrando los sacramentos y formando discípulos en Adrian y más allá.

Send us a text

In this powerful episode of Open Seat, we welcome Rick Cox, a parishioner whose journey to the Catholic faith is marked by resilience, grace, and an unshakable desire for God.

Rick shares how a cancer diagnosis unexpectedly led him to church for the first time—not out of obligation, but through a simple act of friendship. What began as accompaniment soon became a calling. With no religious upbringing and no intention of becoming Catholic, Rick found something he never expected: a family.

As he walked through OCIA, Rick faced serious medical complications, including major surgery just weeks before the Easter Vigil. Yet even in moments where death was a real possibility, his deepest desire remained clear—baptism. Rick recounts a profound hospital experience that he believes involved his guardian angel, a moment that strengthened his faith at its most fragile point.

Now two years Catholic, Rick reflects on how faith has transformed his outlook on life, deepened his compassion, and led him to serve others—especially fellow veterans. From greeting parishioners at Mass to listening to those who need someone to lean on, Rick embodies what it means to live faith through presence and love.

This episode invites listeners to reflect on a simple but challenging question:
What do you desire of God in your life?

Pull up a seat—Rick’s story is one you won’t forget.

Support the show

This is a podcast of Holy Family Parish, located in Adrian MI. We are a Catholic people, not a place, striving to Live Jesus through celebrating the sacraments and forming disciples in Adrian and beyond.

www.HolyFamilyAdrian.org
Instagram: Instagram.com/holyfamilyadrian
Facebook: Facebook.com/adrianCatholic
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@holyfamilyadrian

Open Seat es un podcast Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia ubicada en Adrian, Michigan. Somos un pueblo católico, no un lugar, que se esfuerza por vivir a Jesús celebrando los sacramentos y formando discípulos en Adrian y más allá.

Send us a text

In this episode of Open Seat, we welcome Bill Fetzer, a lifelong parishioner, husband, father, grandfather, and neighbor whose story is rooted in faith, hard work, and treating others with dignity. From growing up in Adrian and playing baseball as a young man, to building a career through perseverance and integrity, Bill shares lessons learned through decades of work, family life, and service to the Church.

Bill reflects on leadership, loss, love, and resilience — including the profound impact of his wife Rose, the pride he has in his children and grandchildren, and the importance of showing up for others, even in life’s hardest moments. His simple yet powerful advice — “Treat other people the way you want to be treated” — weaves through every part of his story.

As you listen, we invite you to reflect: Who is your neighbor, and how do you act as a neighbor?

Support the show

This is a podcast of Holy Family Parish, located in Adrian MI. We are a Catholic people, not a place, striving to Live Jesus through celebrating the sacraments and forming disciples in Adrian and beyond.

www.HolyFamilyAdrian.org
Instagram: Instagram.com/holyfamilyadrian
Facebook: Facebook.com/adrianCatholic
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@holyfamilyadrian

Open Seat es un podcast Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia ubicada en Adrian, Michigan. Somos un pueblo católico, no un lugar, que se esfuerza por vivir a Jesús celebrando los sacramentos y formando discípulos en Adrian y más allá.

Send us a text

The heat is definitely turned up in this episode of the Hot Seat as we welcome back Father Michael Newman, OSFS, for an honest, thoughtful, and wide-ranging conversation on questions you submitted, and quite possible some of our most challenging questions yet!

Topics include:
•How to respond to claims that the Church excludes people, especially those who are LGBTQ+
• Why can't there be women priests?
•What Eucharistic ministers should say when someone approaches with arms crossed
• When and why we bow (or don’t) during Mass
• The purpose and value of spiritual direction—and who it’s for

Grounded in Church teaching and experiences, we invite listeners into a deeper understanding rather than easy answers. May we continue to walk together where Christ leads us. Want another episode of Hot Seat? Submit a Question by emailing us at podcast@holyfamilyadrian.org or go to HolyFamilyAdrian.org/Podcast
.

Support the show

This is a podcast of Holy Family Parish, located in Adrian MI. We are a Catholic people, not a place, striving to Live Jesus through celebrating the sacraments and forming disciples in Adrian and beyond.

www.HolyFamilyAdrian.org
Instagram: Instagram.com/holyfamilyadrian
Facebook: Facebook.com/adrianCatholic
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@holyfamilyadrian

Open Seat es un podcast Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia ubicada en Adrian, Michigan. Somos un pueblo católico, no un lugar, que se esfuerza por vivir a Jesús celebrando los sacramentos y formando discípulos en Adrian y más allá.

Send us a text

In this special episode of Open Seat, we welcome Rocio Vazquez from the Guadalupe Society for a conversation on the beauty, history, and living traditions of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Advent season at our Parish. Rocio shares the meaning behind the Novena, Mañanitas, the Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day, and other Hispanic cultural practices that prepare our hearts for Jesus’ birth, including Las Posadas, gift giving and Baby Jesus!

The purpose of this episode is also to extend an invitation to the events going on at our parish. If you would like more information on where and when these events take place, please visit our website: https://holyfamilyadrian.org/advent-christmas

Support the show

This is a podcast of Holy Family Parish, located in Adrian MI. We are a Catholic people, not a place, striving to Live Jesus through celebrating the sacraments and forming disciples in Adrian and beyond.

www.HolyFamilyAdrian.org
Instagram: Instagram.com/holyfamilyadrian
Facebook: Facebook.com/adrianCatholic
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@holyfamilyadrian

Open Seat es un podcast Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia ubicada en Adrian, Michigan. Somos un pueblo católico, no un lugar, que se esfuerza por vivir a Jesús celebrando los sacramentos y formando discípulos en Adrian y más allá.

Send us a text

In this heartfelt episode of Open Seat, we welcome Sister Xiomara Méndez Hernández, OP — a proud “Double Dominican,” born in the Dominican Republic and now an Adrian Dominican Sister. Her story is one of faith, courage, and hope that transcends borders.

From fashion designer in Santo Domingo to hospital chaplain in Chicago and now Executive Director of the Dominican Sisters Conference, Sister Xiomara shares her remarkable journey of listening to God’s call — even when it led her from warm island life to the cold of Alaska!

Together, we explore:
• How to live as a presence of hope in uncertain times
• The power of connection, compassion, and authentic relationships amidst a lonely world
• Why responding ,not reacting , can change how we live and love

Her reflections on faith, loneliness, and love remind us all that hope is not lost, it’s found in the everyday ways we show up for one another.

So pull up a seat and join the conversation as we learn how to breathe, connect, and be a light in the world.

Support the show

This is a podcast of Holy Family Parish, located in Adrian MI. We are a Catholic people, not a place, striving to Live Jesus through celebrating the sacraments and forming disciples in Adrian and beyond.

www.HolyFamilyAdrian.org
Instagram: Instagram.com/holyfamilyadrian
Facebook: Facebook.com/adrianCatholic
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@holyfamilyadrian

Open Seat es un podcast Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia ubicada en Adrian, Michigan. Somos un pueblo católico, no un lugar, que se esfuerza por vivir a Jesús celebrando los sacramentos y formando discípulos en Adrian y más allá.

Send us a text

In this episode of Open Seat, Deacon Jonathan Dick, OSFS, shares his journey with the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, discussing his path to priesthood, the significance of Salesian spirituality, and the challenges and joys encountered in his formation. Jonathan reflects on his evolving faith, the importance of being present, offering mercy, and the profound connections built through genuine friendships. Join us for inspiring discussion on the transformative power of genuine human connections.

Support the show

This is a podcast of Holy Family Parish, located in Adrian MI. We are a Catholic people, not a place, striving to Live Jesus through celebrating the sacraments and forming disciples in Adrian and beyond.

www.HolyFamilyAdrian.org
Instagram: Instagram.com/holyfamilyadrian
Facebook: Facebook.com/adrianCatholic
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@holyfamilyadrian

Open Seat es un podcast Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia ubicada en Adrian, Michigan. Somos un pueblo católico, no un lugar, que se esfuerza por vivir a Jesús celebrando los sacramentos y formando discípulos en Adrian y más allá.

Send us a text

Fr. Michael Newman, OSFS, is back in the Hot Seat to answer your questions about faith, life, and everything in between. We dive into topics like leaving Mass early, a deep dive into Mary Magdalene and we also talk about walking with LGBTQ+ individuals in faith, why priests are called “Father,” and how to navigate the gray areas of Christian life. With humor, stories, and real-life wisdom, this episode is a reminder that faith is a journey—sometimes messy, always challenging, and never meant to be done alone.

Have a question? Send it to podcast@holyfamilyadrian.org
and let's keep the Hot Seat burning!

You can also send questions to us online at https://holyfamilyadrian.org/podcast

Support the show

This is a podcast of Holy Family Parish, located in Adrian MI. We are a Catholic people, not a place, striving to Live Jesus through celebrating the sacraments and forming disciples in Adrian and beyond.

www.HolyFamilyAdrian.org
Instagram: Instagram.com/holyfamilyadrian
Facebook: Facebook.com/adrianCatholic
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@holyfamilyadrian

Open Seat es un podcast Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia ubicada en Adrian, Michigan. Somos un pueblo católico, no un lugar, que se esfuerza por vivir a Jesús celebrando los sacramentos y formando discípulos en Adrian y más allá.