The Shepherd's Voice with Archbishop George J. Lucas

Episode 23: The shepherd is listening

Episode  |  November 3rd, 2018  |  22 mins 13 secs

In October, Archbishop George J. Lucas conducted listening sessions on the sexual abuse scandals with parishioners across the Archdiocese of Omaha. In this week’s interview, communications manager David Hazen speaks with him about what he learned at those meetings and his commitment to even higher standards of ministerial and personal conduct on the part of bishops and priests.

Episode 22: A preview of ArchOmaha Unite

Episode  |  October 20th, 2018  |  15 mins 3 secs

Archbishop Lucas is joined by Fr. Jeff Lorig to talk about the archdiocese's upcoming ArchOmaha Unite event.

Back to basics: The vocation of a bishop

Episode  |  October 4th, 2018  |  22 mins 20 secs

bishops, ecclesiology

All of the tumult in the US Church in recent months has in some way pointed back to the question: What is the true vocation of a bishop? Archbishop Lucas helps us understand what it means to be charged with teaching, governing, and sanctifying the people of God in a particular local Church.

Episode 20: Asking Jesus to heal us

Episode  |  September 22nd, 2018  |  19 mins 25 secs

It is obvious that recent scandals in our church have demoralized, confused and wounded many of the faithful. How can we begin to move toward some kind of healing?
Says Archbishop Lucas: This is precisely the time when we should be looking for Jesus and asking how we might come closer to him, how we might invite him into the places where individual people and the whole church are feeling burdened and broken.

Episode 19: Facing the ugliness in the Church

Episode  |  August 29th, 2018  |  33 mins 40 secs

Archbishop Lucas addresses the twin evils of clerical sex abuse and the abuse of power in our Church.

Episode 18: 60 Years a Priest: A conversation with Archbishop Elden F. Curtiss

Episode  |  July 9th, 2018  |  29 mins 28 secs

In this month's episode, Archbishop Lucas chats with his predecessor, Archbishop Elden Curtiss, on the occasion of the latter's 60th anniversary of priestly ordination. Archbishop Curtiss recalls his own vocation to the priesthood, shares how his relationship with Jesus has grown over the years, and talks about some of the new challenges facing priests and seminarians today.

Episode 17: Homily for Priestly Ordinations

Episode  |  June 9th, 2018  |  8 mins 25 secs

Archbishop George J. Lucas ordained three men to the priesthood on Sunday, June 3 at St. Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha. This is the homily he preached, exhorting the newly-ordained to be shepherds after Christ's own heart.

Episode 16: The Church's birthday

Episode  |  May 17th, 2018  |  16 mins

catholic, jesus, pentecost, pope francis

"After Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples were praying on the day of Pentecost. They then had a powerful experience of the coming of the Holy Spirit. Their response is striking and instructive: They went out the door of the place where they had been gathered, and they began to talk about Jesus. They used their own words, gave examples of their own life with Jesus, they witnessed their faith in him as the risen Son of God, and an amazing thing happened: People believed them."

Archbishop Lucas expounds on the importance of this feast, and a brand new one established this year by Pope Francis which celebrates Mary, Mother of the Church.

Episode 15: "The only tragedy in life is not to become a saint."

Episode  |  May 4th, 2018  |  17 mins 10 secs

Archbishop Lucas unpacks Pope Francis' latest exhortation, "Gaudete et Exsultate," pointing out first of all that we should actually read it (instead of just reading about it). The pope is very clear: Jesus wants to make a saint out of each and every person.

Episode 14: What difference does the Resurrection make?

Episode  |  April 24th, 2018  |  16 mins 30 secs

The central question of the Easter season is the central question of our entire lives: Do we really believe that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead?

Episode 13: The newness of JPII Newman

Episode  |  April 9th, 2018  |  19 mins 56 secs

The first-ever RCIA class at the new JPII Newman Center saw 5 college students enter the Church this Easter. Archbishop Lucas talks with Fr. Joe Taphorn about the beautiful community of students that's growing on the UNO campus.

Episode 12: Welcoming the newly-initiated

Episode  |  March 23rd, 2018  |  17 mins 56 secs

Archbishop Lucas shares his hopes for those who are entering the Church this Easter, and invites all Catholics to take responsibility for these newest members of the family of faith.

Episode 11: Baptism as the focal point of Lent

Episode  |  March 10th, 2018  |  11 mins 10 secs

Episode 10: The meaning of stewardship

Episode  |  February 15th, 2018  |  11 mins 13 secs

"The Church established by Our Lord is both a spiritual and a physical organism. We live out the Gospel and we proclaim and promote the Kingdom of God in this world. We do not do it in our imagination, and we do not do it in some totally spiritual world; we do it here." - Archbishop Lucas

Episode 9: The young aren't the Church's future--they're the present

Episode  |  January 24th, 2018  |  10 mins 22 secs

There's a lot talk about studies showing a rapid rise in the number of religiously non-affiliated young people -- the "nones" for short. But Archbishop Lucas recently attended two events which clearly demonstrate the zeal and faithfulness of large numbers of teenagers and young adults.

Episode 8: "...I was a stranger and you welcomed Me."

Episode  |  January 7th, 2018  |  21 mins 12 secs

catholic, immigration, justice, mercy

January 7-13, 2018 is the USCCB's National Migration Week. In this first episode of the new year, Archbishop Lucas and Fr. Scott Hastings discuss what it means for Catholics to welcome, understand, and accompany the immigrants and refugees living in our communities.