St. Basil Catholic Church Brecksville Podcast

The woman at the well was running from and trying to solve her problems on her own.  This is not a unique story. Fr. Ryan shares how St. Francis of Assisi and his own personal story of running away to a "well." We are called to find the "wells" in our own lives, and take time this Lent to detach from them and turn toward Jesus. 

 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Cari and Stephanie pray with the sixth station, Veronica wipes the face of Jesus. Journey with St. Basil this Lent through the Stations of the Cross as we contemplate through imaginative prayer the Stations of the Cross. As we walk alongside those that were in and around Jesus during His final walk to Calvary, we will learn to pray with them in a new way, and bring that prayer into our lives. Episodes will release Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent. You can find them wherever you listen to podcasts, or on our YouTube Channel / @stbasilthegr8 Verse by

St. Bernard: I see your strength and vigor All fading in the strife, And death with cruel rigor, Bereaving you of life; O agony and dying! O love to sinners free! Jesus, all grace supplying, O turn your face to me.

 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Cari and Dan pray with the fifth station, Simon helps Jesus carry His cross. Journey with St. Basil this Lent through the Stations of the Cross as we contemplate through imaginative prayer the Stations of the Cross. As we walk alongside those that were in and around Jesus during His final walk to Calvary, we will learn to pray with them in a new way, and bring that prayer into our lives. Episodes will release Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent. You can find them wherever you listen to podcasts, or on our YouTube Channel / @stbasilthegr8

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/14RS6micrUA/ 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

When we give things up for lent, coffee, candy, social media, and ask ourselves, do I love coffee more than Jesus? Do I love candy more than Jesus? And as we grow in intimacy with God we can begin to say, Jesus, I want to love you more than coffee, please help me. 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Cari and Amy pray with the fourth station, Jesus Meets His Mother. Journey with St. Basil this Lent through the Stations of the Cross as we contemplate through imaginative prayer the Stations of the Cross. As we walk alongside those that were in and around Jesus during His final walk to Calvary, we will learn to pray with them in a new way, and bring that prayer into our lives. Episodes will release Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent. You can find them wherever you listen to podcasts, or on our YouTube Channel / @stbasilthegr8

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/14RS6micrUA/ 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Cari and Fr. Liptak pray with the third station, Jesus Falls the First Time. Journey with St. Basil this Lent through the Stations of the Cross as we contemplate through imaginative prayer the Stations of the Cross. As we walk alongside those that were in and around Jesus during His final walk to Calvary, we will learn to pray with them in a new way, and bring that prayer into our lives. Episodes will release Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent. You can find them wherever you listen to podcasts, or on our YouTube Channel / @stbasilthegr8

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/14RS6micrUA/ 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

As we journey through Lent, we are called to spend time in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.  St. Francis of Assisi is a great example to us of giving of ourselves in service to others, and as a parish we have an opportunity to help those in need through Catholic Charities.  

Give to the Catholic Charities Annual Appeal: https://www.catholiccommunity.org/support/catholic-charities/catholic-charities-appeal 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Cari and Andrew pray with the second station, Jesus. Journey with St. Basil this Lent through the Stations of the Cross as we contemplate through imaginative prayer the Stations of the Cross. As we walk alongside those that were in and around Jesus during His final walk to Calvary, we will learn to pray with them in a new way, and bring that prayer into our lives. Episodes will release Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent. You can find them wherever you listen to podcasts, or on our YouTube Channel / @stbasilthegr8

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/14RS6micrUA/ 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

As we begin our Lenten journey, we look to the story of St. Francis of Assisi during this extraordinary jubilee and reflect on the way that he loved.  St. Francis loved with the love that Christ has for us, and we are called to do the same for others. 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Cari and Deacon Rob pray with the first station, Pilate Condemns Jesus. Journey with St. Basil this Lent through the Stations of the Cross as we contemplate through imaginative prayer the Stations of the Cross. As we walk alongside those that were in and around Jesus during His final walk to Calvary, we will learn to pray with them in a new way, and bring that prayer into our lives. Episodes will release Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent. You can find them wherever you listen to podcasts, or on our YouTube Channel / @stbasilthegr8

 

Don't like this idea for Lent? Check out 101 Things to Do for Lent: https://basilthegreat.podbean.com/e/5...

 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

As Lent begins, we are faced with a choice, to take the easy way, or to do something that will actually change and transform our lives, so at the end of our lives we will be able to see the face of God and say, Lord I am ready.  

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Bill and Margarita share their love story and how the Lord brought them together for a purpose, to get each other and their family to heaven.

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Salt brings flavor, safety, and healing to our world.  When Jesus tells us to be salt, he calls us to go out to the world, and bring flavor, safety, and healing to it.  

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Fr. Ryan shares a time of prayer with husbands and wives during a marriage night of renewal.

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Cari and Tommy reveal St. Basil's Lenten Challenge, Via Crucis.  Journey with St. Basil this Lent through the Stations of the Cross as we contemplate through imaginative prayer the Stations of the Cross.  As we walk alongside those that were in and around Jesus during His final walk to Calvary, we will learn to pray with them in a new way, and bring that prayer into our lives.  Episodes will release Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent.  You can find them wherever you listen to podcasts, or on our YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@stbasilthegr8 

 

Don't like this idea for Lent? Check out 101 Things to Do for Lent: https://basilthegreat.podbean.com/e/517-101-things-to-do-for-lent-with-cari-and-tommy/ 

 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Jesus knows who He is and how the Father sees Him, which allows Him to shine. At times we don't shine as we ought, but rather allow the world and what others say to dull our light. How do we invite Christ in, shining ever brighter? 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

As Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount, we can often feel like it is a harsh ruling that he delivers.  But what if we instead remembered that Jesus talks to each of us personally, inviting us to the fulfillment that he offers.  

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

God trusts us with a mission to bring His Word to the world.  Do we respond to this mission with open hearts and minds, or are we worried of what others think of us.  When Jesus speaks, how do we respond?

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

In the Eucharist, we find peace, joy, love, hope and so many things that the world is desperately in need of.  We are able to be Christ Himself out in the world, bringing Him to light the dark places.  

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Fr. Ryan gives a talk to the staff of St. Mary Parish, Wooster for their staff retreat.  Digging into the desires of our hearts, we are able to hear the Lord and know that He has deep desires for us and our flourishing too. 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

We can often believe that there is a limit to the Father's love, just like you can only get so many ice cream samples.  But neither are the case, and we believe that we don't deserve to be immersed in the love that we are baptized into. 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

The wisemen follow the star that brings others to Jesus, and often we contemplate who or what led us to Jesus, but how often are we aware of who we are leading to Jesus? We can be that star, that light, in the lives of our loved ones, introducing them to the one who loves, heals, and changes our lives. 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

As we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, we reflect on how we can make this year the best year yet.  The Lord wants us to have the best, how are we holding ourselves back from all his good gifts?   

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Have you heard of Theology of the Body, but aren't quite sure what it means? What it is? Fr. Ryan shares an introduction to Pope St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body with adults in Lorain county. 

 

Books recommended: 

Good News About Sex and Marriage: https://shop.corproject.com/collections/books/products/good-news-about-sex-and-marriage 

Fill These Hearts: https://shop.corproject.com/collections/books/products/copy-of-fill-these-hearts-paperback 

These Beautiful Bones: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/these-beautiful-bones-an-everyday-theology-of-the-body 

 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Our homes and families are called to mirror the Holy Family, which can sound quite overwhelming at first.  But when we look to the example of St. Joseph, we learn that spending time in silence, listening for God, is the model for families.  It is in that silence that our hearts are filled, and we can best serve our families.  

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

On Christmas we celebrate a God who became little, like us, entering into our world, lives, and mess, so that we would know that we don't have to hide ourselves from Him, but can share our struggles, hurts, wounds, and weakness with the newborn King.        

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

There are those in our lives that need the gift of peace from us more than anything this holiday season.  Jesus calls us to be instruments of peace as we share a smile, a compliment, or offer forgiveness to those in our lives most in need of it.       

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Deacon Dave walks us through the scriptures as he reflects on what it means to be holy as the Lord is holy.

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

In the Gospel Jesus proclaims, blessed are those who take offense in me.  As we get closer to the holidays, we are reminded of these words, that when we encounter someone or something other than what we want, that it may be Jesus in disguise, and reflect on how to love best.      

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Fr. Ryan reflects on his recent pilgrimage to Portugal with our parish. He shares stories of joy, peace, and laughs from the pilgrimage, and shares how we can take the lessons of pilgrimage and apply them to our daily life.

 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

In the season of Advent, we await the hope of new life, the baby Jesus coming at Christmas.  In that hope, we are given the freedom to dream, dream of a life more wonderful than we can imagine, eternity, with God.     

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

As we begin the season of Advent, we are reminded to stay awake and be ready for when Jesus comes again.  As we wait in the silence and stillness, He comes to us, if only we stay awake to hear Him.    

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

We gather to give thanks for every good gift, which ultimately comes from God above.    

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Tommy, Joe, and Cari get together for a fun podcast, trying pies inspired by the saints and trying to match them up.  Learn more about St. Hildegard, St. Basil, St. Bernadette, St. Andre Bessette, St. Damian of Molokai, and St. Benedict.  To watch this podcast, visit our YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@stbasilthegr8 

 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

As we celebrate the feast of Christ the King, we reflect on Jesus's authority in our lives.  We can be often confused with the idea of authority, especially that of a king, but when we live within Jesus's authority, we live in the right order of the kingdom.   

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

As we hear Jesus preach to us about the end times, we can quickly go into one of two camps, either no one is getting into heaven, or everyone is getting into heaven.  But when we realize that we have a God full of mercy and hope, we can prepare ourselves and those around us for heaven, knowing of the mercy of God and the hope of being with Him again in heaven.  

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

We are told to hold onto hope and believe in the goodness of Christ.  But sometimes our reality feels hopeless, so what are we to do then? In this talk to the Cleveland Catholic Women's Conference, Fr. Ryan speaks into the lies that we are alone, that God does not care, or that there is no hope, and shows us how Christ gently speaks to us in hard places. 

 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

As we celebrate the dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica, we reflect on our churches and church building and how we treat our holy places. Do we get distracted, making them feel like the marketplace in the Gospels, or do we show the Lord the honor of the holy places, leaving room for Him to come?

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Fr. Ryan asks the questions to business leaders at Legatus "What is a Parish?" Is it a building? The people? What is the goal? And in knowing what a parish is, we can learn how to serve our local parish. 

 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Cari is joined by Hailie Jester from St. Charles Borromeo in Parma as she shares her experience of pilgrimage and attending the canonizations of St. Carlo Acutis and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati as she shares ways that we can take the heart of a pilgrim into our daily lives.

 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

At the end of our lives, we go one of three places.  Heaven with God, hell, away from God, or purgatory, a time of cleansing before meeting God. The way we lives now prepares us for eternal life, how are we preparing ourselves for heaven?

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

A podcast from the archives, Cari shares with the teens on the 2024 Fall Retreat stories of the saints, and encourages those walking in faith to strive for nothing less than being a great saint! 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Angels and demons are real and around us, fighting for our souls. Sometimes we are having a bad day, but sometimes it is demons trying to divide, steal, kill, and destroy. When we stay close to Jesus and the Scriptures, we can battle the evil one.

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Pope Francis called for priests to minister to the poor, but while important to serve the materially poor, he meant priests for spiritual poverty. How can we encourage priests and be open to them ministering to the poor places in our own hearts?

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Luke Brown, LPCC, shares with Men's Ministry about Fatherhood, reflecting on our own fathers and how they shaped us and own fatherhood with our children, and how what we do influences and shapes their lives.    

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

There are many things that compete for our attention when we pray, our preoccupations, technology, to do lists, and more. The Catechism describes prayer as a battle, how do we ready ourselves for that battle?   

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Deacon Dave walks us through stories in the Bible and within his own life where the Lord has called and encourages us to respond to His call with "Here I am Lord!"

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

We see beautiful churches and are stopped in our tracks at the grandeur that they speak to our worship.  When that becomes the norm, and no longer stops us in our tracks, what can we do to reignite our worship?  

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

Our seniors group were glad to welcome Officers Tom and Ryan from the Brecksville Police's Community Outreach Team for a smart and safe presentation, going over home safety, personal safety, and scam prevention.  Thank you to our police officers for their time and all they do to protect us! 

 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

When we contemplate the Sorrowful Mysteries of our lives, we find that they aren't just something sad that happened to us, but we learn the ways that Jesus worked through them. 

 

Sorrowful Mysteries Journaling Page: https://basilthegreat.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/sorrowful-mysteries-journal-page.3-1.pdf 

 

Come, follow us:

Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music