In this deeply personal episode, Dan Tuma shares his journey from childhood prayers to a life-changing encounter with God at a Christian youth camp in northern Michigan. Through candid stories and honest reflection, Dan explores Romans 5 and the profound truth that while sin entered the world through Adam's disobedience, grace and eternal life come through Jesus Christ's obedience. Dan recounts how his faith moved from his head to his heart while counseling high school teenagers, how God spoke directly to him during a worship night at camp, and how nearly 12 years of returning to that camp—plus his involvement in Christ Renews —taught him that grace isn't earned but freely given. Despite feeling limited by his past and brokenness, Dan discovered that Jesus had been with him all along, walking beside him through every high and low. This episode is an invitation to recognize that we are all broken, beautiful creations desperately in need of a Savior—and that his grace surpasses everything.

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A Midland native, Dan Tuma is both a Special Education teacher and a business owner - doing what he loves working with children at Central Park Elementary, and providing photo and videography services through his company, Dan Tuma Media. Dan is a proud graduate of both Delta College (Associate's Degree in Electronic Media Broadcasting) and Ferris State University (Bachelor's of Science Degree in Television and Digital Media Production). Dan deeply values spending time with his family, which includes his golden retriever best friend, Joey. Dan is involved in the Men’s Christ Renews team at Blessed Sacrament Parish, and also volunteers at the Children's Grief Center of the Great Lakes Bay Region. Dan is passionate about many things in life - including his faith, his Children's Televison Program, “Mr. Tuma & Friends”, future chaplaincy opportunities (for hospitals/hospice), and also, later in his life, working in Memory Care/Assisted Living facilities in some capacity. Last, but not least, Dan is passionate about his favorite TV show, The Chosen!

What did you do with five minutes of downtime before your phone could offer endless scrolling? This simple question, posed by a friend after discussing "The Anxious Generation," becomes the launching point for a timely Lenten reflection on distraction, fragmentation, and the practice of presence. In this episode, recorded live at our Word & Ashes service, Kristyn Russell explores how constant digital distractions keep us separated from the world around us, the people in front of us, and even our own interior lives—and how that fragmentation feels "kind of yucky." Through the lens of Lent's three traditional practices—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—we discover practical ways to tune out the noise and tune into God's presence. From giving up the morning scroll instead of coffee, to showing extra kindness as a form of charity, this reflection offers a 40-day invitation to reclaim those five-minute pockets of time and rediscover what it means to truly pay attention. Whether you're wondering why otters keep favorite rocks or why God allows hate to exist, this episode challenges you to set aside distractions and be present—to the world, to each other, and to God.

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In this week's episode, Corinne Cathcart uses a charming story from the Hallmark show "When Calls the Heart"—where a Mountie tells a white lie about loving lemon curd—to explore Jesus' simple yet profound command: "Let your yes mean yes and your no mean no." Corinne reflects on how we live in a world where artificial intelligence and internet misinformation make truth increasingly difficult to find, where even second graders must be taught to fact-check their research. She contrasts this with a time when the World Book Encyclopedia was the unquestioned source of truth, and challenges us to imagine a world where everyone has the integrity of a frontier town Mountie or the reliability of that encyclopedia. Through personal anecdotes and honest reflection, Corinne invites us to accept Jesus' challenge to co-create God's kingdom of love, justice, and truth here on earth—one honest word at a time.

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Corinne was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, but has been a member of the Blessed Sacrament community for 14 years. She earned a bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University, where she met her husband of over 25 years, and a Master's in Education from the University of Cincinnati. She was a second grade Catholic school teacher in Cincinnati before moving here when her husband started working for Dow Chemical. She loves working with the littles of the Blessed Sacrament family as the Children's Faith Formation Coordinator. When she's not at work, you'll find her with her nose in a book or learning something new!

In this episode, Anna Doering explores the timeless gospel message of being "salt of the earth" and "light of the world"—but what does that actually mean for us today? Drawing on Isaiah's call to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless, paired with Paul's reminder that our faith rests on God's power, Anna unpacks how we witness to our faith through both grand gestures and small acts of kindness. Using the beautiful imagery of the Easter Vigil candle, she reminds us that God's light is meant to be shared, not dimmed, and that each of us reflects that light uniquely. From holding a door open to offering up an inconvenience for someone struggling, Anna challenges us to live as prophets of hope in a broken world, motivated by God's love rather than mere duty.

Links:

Bring Forth the Kingdom

Light of the World

This Little Light of Mine

City on a Hill

Prophets of a Future Not Our Own

The Exsultet: The Proclamation of Easter

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A life-long parishioner of Blessed Sacrament and graduate of Blessed Sacrament elementary school, Anna is a middle school and high school choir teacher. She is a double graduate of Michigan State University, holding a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting. Anna enjoys teaching and performing in the area, including cantoring and sacristaning at Mass. When not teaching and music-making, Anna loves to sew and travel.

In this episode, Vicki Briggs unpacks St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians, exploring how pride and power can blind us from God's truth—just as it did for Paul before his Damascus road encounter. Vicki reflects on how God consistently chooses the lowly and despised to accomplish His work, from the shepherds at Christ's birth to the possibility of redemption even for King Herod. She challenges us to recognize that our talents, achievements, and successes are all gifts from God, not personal accomplishments to claim as our own. Through personal stories and examples from everyday life (including football players pointing to heaven), Vicki invites us to look back on our lives, identify where God has been working, and give credit where it's truly due.

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Vicki grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas. She attended Catholic schools before moving to Austin to earn a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Texas. After graduating, she moved to Houston to work for Exxon Refining at Baytown. There she met Mike Briggs, a native of Midland. Mike returned to Midland to work for Dow Corning, and Vicki followed shortly thereafter. They were married here at Blessed Sacrament and have three children and eight grandchildren. Mike and Vicki lead a Small Faith Group and enjoy being active in our Midland community.

In this episode, Cathy Richard journeys through a gospel passage that moves from John the Baptist's arrest to Isaiah's prophecy of a great light piercing despair—and culminates in the instant, radical calling of the first disciples. Drawing on personal anecdotes (including a longing for Jesus' gaze and finding solace in creation), Cathy explores what it truly means to say "Thy will be done," to surrender our fears, and to let Christ's light shine through our acts of love, compassion, generosity, and forgiveness. Join Cathy as she discovers how hope arises even in our darkest seasons—and how each of us is invited to become a beacon for others.

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Cathy has been a member of Blessed Sacrament since 1986. She and her husband Tim did youth ministry for 18 years and have been Catechists for OCIA for many years. She also enjoys leading retreats. Helping people grow in their spiritual life is her passion, along with gardening and grandchildren. She continues to pursue her own spiritual growth, an ongoing quest.

Pulling back the curtain on the podcast, Kristyn Russell turns our attention to one of the most overlooked—and most relatable—parts of Scripture: the Psalms. Through music, memory, and Psalm 40, we explore how praise and lament often live side by side, just like they do in our own hearts. From prayers that sound like “What the heck, God?” to quieter moments of gratitude, this homily reminds us that every honest prayer counts. The psalms don’t ask for polished performances or grand sacrifices; they invite us to listen, to love, and to live lives shaped by obedience and compassion. A reflection on hearing God’s voice, trusting the law written on our hearts, and responding with courage: “Here I am, Lord.”

Psalm Recommendations:

For Joy & Praise

• Psalm 100: "Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth."
• Psalm 103: Blesses the Lord for His forgiveness, healing, and love.
• Psalm 150: A crescendo of praise using all instruments.

For Hope & Trust

• Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd..."
• Psalm 62: "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him."

For Fear & Anxiety

• Psalm 27: "The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?"
• Psalm 46: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."

For Grief & Distress

• Psalm 6: "Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony."
• Psalm 13: "How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?"

For Anger & Outrage

• Psalm 137: Expresses righteous anger and longing for justice.
• Psalm 4:4: "Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent."

For Loneliness & Abandonment

• Psalm 142: A cry for refuge when no one cares.

For Confession & Repentance

• Psalm 51: A classic prayer for mercy and cleansing.
• Psalm 130:

From rustic camping trips and the long-awaited relief of a hot shower to the sacred waters of the Jordan River, Christy Granda draws a vivid connection between physical cleansing and spiritual transformation. As Jesus enters the waters of baptism—not out of need, but out of love—he transforms ordinary water into a vessel of the Holy Spirit. This reflection invites us to remember our own baptism, to hear God’s voice calling us beloved, and to recognize how deeply we have been washed, renewed, and claimed in Christ. A powerful reminder that baptism is not just a moment from our past, but a living source of grace meant to flow into the world through us.

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Christy was born and raised in Bay City. She met her husband on a blind date and they worked briefly together at Dow when she was a co-op and he was a contractor. Soon after that their work paths diverged as she finished her degree in Elementary Special Education and he continued as a graphic designer. She worked as a Special Education teacher for 32 years before retiring and immediately jumped into her new role as Adult Faith Formation Coordinator. When asked about the differences between working with adults and children she might reply "so far, nobody has tried to kick, bite or scream at me." She and her husband have two adult children and have been members of Blessed Sacrament for the past 20 plus years.