Proclaim The Good News Radio Show

Last episode memories

pgn — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 12:22:05 +0000

The Diocese of Metuchen has decided to suspend the broadcast of “Proclaim the Good News”. In this episode, which aired on November 25, 2007, Fr. Jay Toborowsky spoke with Fr. Guy Selvester, a former host of PGN. Together, Frs. Toborowsky and Selvester discussed their experiences of hosting the radio show over the past ten years.

Metuchen Diocese’s “Year of Prayer for Vocations”

pgn — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:25:52 +0000

This episode, which aired on November 11, 2007, is a repeat of an episode which aired in July of 2007. In it, Fr. Jay Toborowsky spoke with Fr. Randy Vashon, Vocation Director for the Diocese of Metuchen. The Diocese will dedicate a special “Year of Prayer” for vocations to the priesthood and religious life beginning on December 2, 2007 (the First Sunday of Advent), and Frs. Toborowsky and Vashon discussed what events will take place during the year.

$450m for State Funded Stem Cell Labs?

pgn — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:21:44 +0000

This episode, which aired on November 4, 2007, is a repeat of the October 7, 2007 interview with Jennifer Ruggiero of the Respect Life office of the Diocese of Metuchen. In the episode, Fr. Toborowsky and Mrs. Ruggiero discussed the proposed New Jersey ballot initiative to spend 450 million dollars to create stem cell research labs across New Jersey. Also in the episode, Fr. Toborowsky speaks with Stephen Sprague, who was cured of Leukemia through treatment with adult stem cells.

All Saints and All Souls with Fr. Guy Selvester

pgn — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:33:54 +0000

This episode, which aired on October 28, 2007, is a repeat of a “Best of” episode which originally aired in November of 2005. This coming week the Church will celebrate All Saints Day on Thursday (Nov. 1) and All Souls Day on Friday (Nov. 2). Fr. Jay Toborowsky discusses the Roman Catholic Church’s teachings on the Communion of Saints, on death, and the doctrine of Purgatory with his guest, Fr. Guy Selvester of the Diocese of Metuchen, NJ.

Fr. James Martin

pgn — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 20:43:31 +0000

In this episode, which aired on October 14, 2007, Fr. Jay Toborowsky interviewed Fr. James Martin, SJ. Fr. Martin recently spent time working as a consultant on an off-Broadway production, and he spent time talking to Fr. Toborowsky about his book based on the experience, called “A Jesuit Off-Broadway”.

Respect Life Sunday and Stem Cell Research

pgn — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 14:55:01 +0000

In this episode, which aired on October 7, 2007, Fr. Jay Toborowsky interviewed Jennifer Ruggiero, Director of the Diocese of Metuchen’s Office of Pro-Life Activities. The first Sunday in October is observed as “Respect Life Sunday”, and Fr. Toborowsky and Mrs. Ruggiero discussed the ”Stem Cell Research Bond Act” being proposed in the State of New Jersey. If approved by New Jersey voters this November, 450 million dollars of public funds would be spent on the stem cell research, including stem cells obtained by the killing of human embryos. Also on the show, Fr. Toborowsky interviewed Stephen Sprague, who was cured of Leukemia using adult stem cells, who is now an advocate for the use of adult stem cells and against the use of embryonic stem cells.

Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ

pgn — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:12:04 +0000

In this episode, which aired on September 30, 2007, Fr. Jay Toborowsky interviewed Fr. Joseph Fessio, the founder of Ignatius Press. Ignatius recently published the book, Jesus, The Apostles, and the Early Church, a collection of Pope Benedict XVI’s catechetical addresses from his weekly general audiences of 2006 and early 2007. In the interview, Frs. Toborowsky and Fessio discussed Pope Benedict’s reasons for wanting to teach about such things as Jesus Christ’s intention to establish the Church, the supernatural nature of the Church, those who were chosen to be Apostles, as well as those men and women who became followers. Fr. Fessio, a former student of the Holy Father as well as his longtime friend, also spoke about the yearly reunions the Pope continues to have with his former students.

Catholic Outreach to inactive Catholics

pgn — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:53:38 +0000

In this episode, which aired on September 23, 2007, Fr. Jay Toborowsky interviewed Fr. Joseph Celano, pastor of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish in Bridgewater, New Jersey, and Mr. Neal Vartanian, a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Old Bridge, N.J. Frs. Toborowsky and Celano discussed work being done in parishes to reach out to Catholics who don’t practice their faith, and Mr. Vartanian explained how a program in his parish brought him back to an active life in the Roman Catholic Church.

Bishop’s Annual Appeal

pgn — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 16:36:36 +0000

In this episode, which aired on September 16, 2007, Fr. Jay Toborowsky interviewed the directors of the Diocese of Metuchen’s Offices for Family Life, Respect for Life, Youth and Young Adult Ministries, and Catholic Campus Ministry of Rutgers University. The weekend of September 16/17 is the kickoff for the 2007 Bishop’s Annual Appeal, and Fr. Toborowsky spoke with the directors about how contributions to the appeal help them in their work.

Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski

pgn — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 23:10:35 +0000

In this episode, which aired on September 9, 2007, Kathleen Ogle, editor of The Catholic Spirit (the diocesan newspaper), filling in for Fr. Toborowsky, interviewed Metuchen Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski. This month Bishop Bootkoski celebrates 10 years since his episcopal ordination, and 2007 marked his 5th anniversary as Bishop of Metuchen. In the interview, Bishop Bootkoski shares his memories of being named a bishop, being appointed Bishop of Metuchen, and his experiences in the Metuchen diocese during these past five years.

Atheism’s Return?

pgn — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 21:58:39 +0000

In this episode, which aired on September 2, 2007, Fr. Jay Toborowsky interviewed Msgr. Michael Alliegro, Executive Director of the Metuchen Diocese’s Department of Worship and Liturgical Formation, and Msgr. David Fulton, a Priest of the Metuchen Diocese and a theology professor at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore. They discussed the return of the atheism movement as it is found in recent books by Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, and Christopher Hitchens. In this time of year when many incoming freshmen are stepping into college classrooms for the first time, this show is meant to inform parents what kind of books their children might be asked to read.

Postpartum Depression

pgn — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:14:32 +0000

In this episode, which aired on August 26, 2007, Fr. Jay Toborowsky interviewed Nurse Educator Charlotte Feeney about “Speak Up When You’re Down“, a program meant to educate people about the warning signs of Postpartum Depression. The New Jersey Catholic Conference, in conjunction with the New Jersey State Department of Health, is organizing one-day seminars in each of the five Roman Catholic dioceses in New Jersey to educate clergy and parish staff about PPD’s warning signs.

Fr. Fred Miller: Assumption of Mary

pgn — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:13:01 +0000

In this episode, which aired on August 12, 2007, Fr. Jay Toborowsky interviewed Fr. Frederick Miller about the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, body and soul, into heaven (which the Catholic Church celebrates each year on August 15). Fr. Miller is a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, and currently a professor at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He has served as Spiritual Director of the North American College in Rome, and has taught theology and spirituality at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary (Philadelphia), St. Joseph Seminary (New York), Notre Dame Institute (Arlington, VA), and Franciscan University of Steubenville (Ohio). He is the former executive director of the World Apostolate of Fatima, editor of Soul magazine, and has published over 50 articles in scholarly and popular journals.

Cardinal Tomko: On Missionary Roads

pgn — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 14:27:59 +0000

This episode, one of the “Best of Proclaim the Good News”, originally aired on April 22, 2007. For sixteen years, Josef Cardinal Tomko served the Roman Catholic Church as the Vatican’s Prefect for the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Cardinal Tomko spoke with Fr. Toborowsky about his new book , On Missionary Roads, which is a memoir of his missionary work. Also present for the interview was Msgr. Richard Behl, Director of the Diocese of Metuchen’s local office for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, who spoke about what Catholics in the Metuchen Diocese do to actively support the Church’s evangelization efforts.

Jack McKeon: Champions of Faith

pgn — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 12:55:00 +0000

In this episode, which aired August 5, 2007, Fr. Jay Toborowsky interviewed former Florida Marlins Manager Jack McKeon. They discuss Champions of Faith, an hour long DVD which showcases the intersection of sports and faith in Major League Baseball by profiling many of the most accomplished and devout figures in the game both on and off the field. Mr. McKeon, a native of the Diocese of Metuchen (South Amboy, NJ), spoke to Fr. Toborowsky about his role in the production of the DVD, as well as his experiences of living his Catholic faith in the world of professional sports.

Fr. Benedict Groeschel: There Are No Accidents

pgn — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:55:59 +0000

This episode, one of the “Best of Proclaim the Good News”, originally aired in April of 2005. In January of 2004, Fr. Benedict Groeschel of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal was nearly killed after being hit by an automobile. After more than a year of recuperation, Fr. Benedict wrote about the experience in a book entitled, “There Are No Accidents” (published by Our Sunday Visitor). In this interview, he spoke with Fr. Jay Toborowsky about his experiences of weakness, helplessness, and suffering.

Fr. Randy Vashon: Vocations

pgn — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 01:15:46 +0000

In this episode, which aired July 29, 2007, Fr. Jay Toborowsky spoke with Diocese of Metuchen Vocations Director Fr. Randy Vashon. Metuchen Bishop Paul Bootkoski has called for a special year dedicated to “prayer for vocations to the priesthood and religious life”, beginning on the First Sunday of Advent this year (Dec. 1, 2007) and concluding just before Advent (Nov. 30) of 2008. Frs. Toborowsky and Vashon discussed Fr. Vashon’s recent trip to Rome, during which two monstrances were blessed by Pope Benedict. These monstrances will be a central point in the year of prayer.

Archbishop John Foley

pgn — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:07:04 +0000

This episode, one of the “Best of Proclaim the Good News”, originally aired in January of 2006. Fr. Jay Toborowsky interviewed Archbishop John Foley, an American recently named by Pope Benedict as the Pro-Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem.

At the time, Archbishop Foley was the President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications (a position he held from 1984 to 2007), and so during the interview Fr. Toborowsky and Abp. Foley discuss the history and methods of mass communications used by the Holy See.

Jon Voight: Pope John Paul II

pgn — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 18:38:42 +0000

This episode, one of the “Best of Proclaim the Good News”, originally aired in December of 2006. Fr. Jay Toborowsky interviewed actor Jon Voight, who portrayed Pope John Paul II in a 3-hour “made for TV” movie. Fr. Toborowsky and Mr. Voight discuss how he prepared for the role by researching the Holy Father’s writings and poetry, as well as the emotions he experienced (both personally as well as from the crowds) while filming on location in places like St. Peter’s Square and Pope John Paul’s native Poland.

Scott Hahn: Ignatius Catholic Study Bible

pgn — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 17:16:49 +0000

This episode, one of the “Best of Proclaim the Good News”, originally aired in February of 2006. Fr. Jay Toborowsky interviewed well known Catholic scholar and apologist Dr. Scott Hahn about the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible series, which he helped to create and edit. Fr. Toborowsky and Dr. Hahn discuss the Catholic “reluctance” to study the Scriptures for fear of either bored or overwhelmed, and how this series makes learning about the Word of God both possible and user-friendly.