Last Memorial Day weekend Father John Riccardo of the Archdiocese of Detroit was invited to address the congregation of Kensington Church, a large, non-denominational, Protestant “seeker” church located in Troy, Michigan.
With some concern that it might be a bit over their heads, I showed this talk to my 7th and 8th grade religious ed kids a couple of months ago. As it turned out I needn’t have worried. I was impressed by both their level of attention and how much they got out of it.
Father Riccardo is introduced by Kensington’s Senior Pastor, Steven Andrews.
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Tags: Orthodoxy at Work
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Wow! Fr. John is a dynamic speaker! He’s well worth the 37 minutes of time…its good to be challenged once in a while in our faith! I love to hear a priest who speaks with such faith and confidence!
Before Saint Andrew Catholic Church closed and was sold, I would hear Father John Riccardo on 1460 AM after Mass.
The radio programs featuring this Catholic priest always were interesting and informative. Father John Riccardo teaches the Catholic faith with clarity, conviction and committment.
What makes the difference between a merely academic exercise and a really passionate presentation is a speaker who knows the Lord Jesus Christ personally, intimately and covenantly. What makes the difference is a believer who experiences and expresses that most precious of relationships with the Son of God, our Savior. This faith relationship becomes dynamic and evangelistic when experienced and expressed through Christ’s Catholic Church. What a marvelous Gift of God to know, love and serve Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church!
Father John Riccardo is that kind of believing priest. Father John Riccardo is living out this gracious gift of faith and passing it on to others with the fire and power which indicate the Holy Spirit’s annointing.
Father John Riccardo, a pastor/preacher/teacher, is a genuine gift to us.
Now, I can’t wait to watch Mike’s video post.
Thanks, Mike. Thanks so much.
brother of penance,
The audio versions of hundreds of Fr. Riccardo’s homilies and longer talks are available online. See here.
Thank you for sharing that video, Mike! It made for good Christmas viewing. And thanks for the link to the audio – I will definitely be checking it out. A couple of questions for you – 1) what age do you teach? and 2) do you bus kids in from the east side? I’m somewhat joking on that, but seriously it’s so encouraging to know that kids have you for a teacher. Keep up the great work!
Ben,
We were short a junior high teacher this year so I ended up with a mixed class of fifteen 7th and 8th graders. That would make their ages 12 to 14, depending on birth dates.
Oh, and I do have some kids from the east side – Irondequoit, to be specific – but they are parishioners and their parents drive them.
And I should also mention that I have a great DRE who trusts my judgement when I feel the need to depart from the established curriculum like this.