Draw Near

Coming Home: A God Who Runs to Us

April 2nd, 2025  |  43 mins 5 secs

catholic lent, catholic podcast, catholic teaching, christian love, coming home to god, confession, faith and forgiveness, god’s mercy, gospel reflection, grace and mercy, parables of jesus, prayer and reflection, prodigal son, returning to the father, spiritual journey

This week on Draw Near, we dive into one of the most beloved parables in all of Scripture—the Prodigal Son. But this time, we ask three questions that challenge us to look deeper:

How is God’s love different from the love we experience from others—or even from ourselves?

What does “coming home to the Father” look like in real life?

And how do we respond when grace feels... unfair?

With humor, vulnerability, and heart, we reflect on the extravagant mercy of God, the wounds we carry in how we love (and fail to love), and the real-life humility it takes to return home—again and again. Whether you relate most to the younger son, the older son, or the waiting father, there’s something here for you.

Into the Desert: Overcoming Temptation

March 13th, 2025  |  1 hr 4 mins

almsgiving, catholic faith, catholic podcast, christian discipleship, cs lewis, faith journey, fasting, jesus in the desert, lent, overcoming sin, prayer life, resist temptation, screwtape letters, spiritual renewal, spiritual warfare

Lent isn’t just about giving things up—it’s about conversion, renewal, and drawing closer to Christ. In this episode, we dive into Jesus’ time in the desert (Luke 4:1-13) and what it teaches us about resisting temptation, deepening our faith, and embracing the call to holiness.

🔥 We also explore:
✔️ How The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis reveal the battle of temptation.
✔️ The distractions that sabotage our prayer life—and what to do about them.
✔️ For some reason, we talk about zombies and we share some news on some big changes coming in April!

Plus, practical ways to grow this Lent through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—not just as obligations, but as pathways to real transformation.

Roses from Heaven: In Loving Memory of Catherine Thérèse Shellabarger

January 29th, 2025  |  5 mins 13 secs

catholic grief, catholic podcast, child loss, christian podcast, heaven’s little saints, hope coping with miscarriage, infant loss, pregnancy loss, stillbirth, support grieving parents

This episode is a tribute to Catherine’s life, an acknowledgment of the deep grief of losing a child, and a witness to the hope we hold in Christ.

Washed and Chosen: Living Out Our Baptismal Call

January 15th, 2025  |  55 mins

baptismal call, beloved child of god, bible study, catholic living, catholic podcast, catholic teachings, catholic theology, christian discipleship, christian inspiration, christian spirituality, dance dance revolution, faith in action, faith journey, identity in christ, living your faith, missionary discipleship, pokemon, practical discipleship, prayer and reflection, renewing faith, spiritual renewal

In this inspiring episode of Draw Near, we delve into the transformative power of our baptism and its enduring impact on our identity and mission as disciples of Christ. Through meaningful reflection and practical insights, we explore the deep truth that each of us is a beloved child of God, uniquely called to live out our baptismal mission with purpose and joy. This episode offers not only spiritual depth but also actionable ways to deepen your relationship with God in the midst of life’s busyness. You’ll be inspired to embrace your identity, rediscover your mission, and live as a light in the world.

A Future & A Hope: A Lectio Divina Discussion

July 24th, 2024  |  39 mins 40 secs

catholic podcast, prayer, spiritual

In this surprisingly personal episode of Draw Near, Fred and Kara share how the words of Jeremiah 29 can change hearts.
It gives a "map" of how to find God and what God wants to bring into your life! Where can hope be found as we look at the future? Listen to this Catholic Podcast.