Ask Father Josh (Your Catholic Question and Answer Podcast)

Fr. Josh helps you navigate the tricky times in life when our Catholic Faith doesn’t give you an easy, “fill-in-the blank” answer.

About the show

Ask Fr. Josh is the podcast where I hear you out and do my best to help you navigate the tricky times in life when our Catholic Faith doesn’t give you an easy “fill-in-the blank” answer. On this show, we’ll listen to one another, problem solve together, and ultimately entrust everything to our Lord. If this is your first time tuning in, here’s how the show goes: Each episode, I'll address three to four of your questions. I’ll cover everything from Catholic teaching to moral dilemmas to relationship advice. I'm not perfect, and I can’t guarantee that my advice is going to make things easy, but I'll do my best to share what I've learned during my time as a priest, pastor, and friend.

Send me your questions at ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh

Episodes

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    The Identity of Beloved Son and Making Sense of Mystical Writings

    November 4th, 2021  |  21 mins 51 secs
    ascension, ascension catholic, ascension catholic faith formation, ascension presents, ascension press, ask father josh, ask fr josh, ask fr. josh, catholic, catholic beliefs, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic faith formation, catholic podcast, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholic teachings, catholic theology, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, faith, father josh, father josh johnson, fr josh, fr josh johnson, fr. josh johnson, god, holiness, jesus, jesus christ, prayer, praying, priest, relationship with jesus, religion, roman catholic, saints, spirituality, theology

    Fr. Josh answers questions about what it looks like for a man to live out his identity as a beloved son of God, and how to properly understand mystical writings.

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    Praying the Angelus, Bad Homilies, and Mother Nature

    October 28th, 2021  |  29 mins 10 secs
    ascension, ascension catholic, ascension catholic faith formation, ascension presents, ascension press, ask father josh, ask fr josh, ask fr. josh, catholic, catholic beliefs, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic faith formation, catholic podcast, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholic teachings, catholic theology, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, faith, father josh, father josh johnson, fr josh, fr josh johnson, fr. josh johnson, god, holiness, jesus, jesus christ, prayer, praying, priest, relationship with jesus, religion, roman catholic, saints, spirituality, theology

    Fr. Josh answers questions about the origin of the Angelus prayer, why some Catholic priests give bad homilies, and whether or not we can call creation our "mother".

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    Vocation Confusion and Taking the Morning After Pill

    October 21st, 2021  |  26 mins 52 secs
    abortion, ascension, ascension catholic, ascension catholic faith formation, ascension presents, ascension press, ask father josh, ask fr josh, ask fr. josh, catholic, catholic beliefs, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic faith formation, catholic podcast, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholic teachings, catholic theology, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, faith, father josh, father josh johnson, forgiveness, fr josh, fr josh johnson, fr. josh johnson, god, holiness, jesus, jesus christ, morning after pill, prayer, praying, priest, reconciliation, relationship with jesus, religion, roman catholic, saints, sin, spirituality, theology, vocation

    Fr. Josh answers questions about experiencing confusion and doubts discerning one's vocation, and why taking the morning after pill is a serious sin, but a sin that God forgives through the sacrament of Reconciliation because there is no sin that God doesn't forgive in confession.

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    Possessing vs. Loving Others and Understanding Modesty

    October 14th, 2021  |  19 mins 50 secs
    ascension, ascension catholic, ascension catholic faith formation, ascension presents, ascension press, ask father josh, ask fr josh, ask fr. josh, catholic, catholic beliefs, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic faith formation, catholic podcast, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholic teachings, catholic theology, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, faith, father josh, father josh johnson, fr josh, fr josh johnson, fr. josh johnson, god, holiness, jesus, jesus christ, prayer, praying, priest, relationship with jesus, religion, roman catholic, saints, spirituality, theology

    Fr. Josh answers questions about the difference between possessing others versus authentically loving them, and how to properly understand modesty, and why how we dress matters.

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    Coping with Grief, Naming Children, and Discerning the Contemplative Life

    October 7th, 2021  |  25 mins 1 sec
    ascension, ascension catholic, ascension catholic faith formation, ascension presents, ascension press, ask father josh, ask fr josh, ask fr. josh, catholic, catholic beliefs, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic faith formation, catholic podcast, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholic teachings, catholic theology, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, contemplative life, faith, father josh, father josh johnson, fr josh, fr josh johnson, fr. josh johnson, god, grief, holiness, jesus, jesus christ, monastic life, naming children, prayer, praying, priest, relationship with jesus, religion, roman catholic, saints, spirituality, theology, vocation to religious life

    Fr. Josh answers questions about how to cope with grief from a Catholic perspective, how to choose patron saint names for your child, and how to discern a vocation to the contemplative life.

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    Retreat Highs, Fear of Marriage, and Facing An Unplanned Pregnancy

    September 30th, 2021  |  21 mins 52 secs
    ascension, ascension catholic, ascension catholic faith formation, ascension presents, ascension press, ask father josh, ask fr josh, ask fr. josh, catholic, catholic beliefs, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic faith formation, catholic podcast, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholic teachings, catholic theology, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, faith, father josh, father josh johnson, fr josh, fr josh johnson, fr. josh johnson, god, holiness, jesus, jesus christ, prayer, praying, priest, relationship with jesus, religion, roman catholic, saints, spirituality, theology

    Fr. Josh answers questions about how to hold on to the graces we receive on retreats once they are over, why young people today shouldn't be afraid of marriage, and how to find courage during an unplanned pregnancy.

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    Be My Guest: Cultivating a Healthy Lifestyle (with Megan and Jared Braud)

    September 23rd, 2021  |  37 mins 5 secs
    ascension, ascension catholic, ascension catholic faith formation, ascension presents, ascension press, ask father josh, ask fr josh, ask fr. josh, catholic, catholic beliefs, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic faith formation, catholic podcast, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholic teachings, catholic theology, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, faith, father josh, father josh johnson, fr josh, fr josh johnson, fr. josh johnson, god, holiness, jesus, jesus christ, prayer, praying, priest, relationship with jesus, religion, roman catholic, saints, spirituality, theology

    Megan and Jared Braud join Fr. Josh to discuss how to cultivate a healthy and integrated lifestyle that enables us to physically and spiritually thrive as disciples of Christ.

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    Waiting to Enter the Church, College Greek Life, and Feeling Alone in the Faith

    September 16th, 2021  |  26 mins 52 secs
    ascension, ascension catholic, ascension catholic faith formation, ascension presents, ascension press, ask father josh, ask fr josh, ask fr. josh, catholic, catholic beliefs, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic faith formation, catholic podcast, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholic teachings, catholic theology, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, community, faith, father josh, father josh johnson, feeling alone in the faith, fr josh, fr josh johnson, fr. josh johnson, fraternities, god, greek life, holiness, jesus, jesus christ, prayer, praying, priest, rcia, relationship with jesus, religion, roman catholic, saints, sororities, spirituality, theology

    Fr. Josh answers questions about waiting to enter the Church as an RCIA candidate, whether Catholics should join college fraternities and sororities, and what to do if you are feeling alone in the faith and yearning for community.

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    Special Episode: Finding God in Devastation (with Fr. Mark Toups)

    September 13th, 2021  |  36 mins 28 secs
    ascension, ascension catholic, ascension catholic faith formation, ascension presents, ascension press, ask father josh, ask fr josh, ask fr. josh, catholic, catholic beliefs, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic faith formation, catholic podcast, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholic teachings, catholic theology, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, faith, father josh, father josh johnson, fr josh, fr josh johnson, fr. josh johnson, god, holiness, jesus, jesus christ, prayer, praying, priest, relationship with jesus, religion, roman catholic, saints, spirituality, theology

    Where is God in devastation? In this special episode, Fr. Mark Toups gives us an insight into the devastating impact of Hurricane on countless lives, communities, and parishes in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana. Fr. Mark Toups encourages us to support survivors of Hurricane Ida, and reveals how God unfolds miracles in the midst of great loss and suffering.

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    All About Mary: Hail Mary Prayer, Ark of the Covenant, and Mary's Virginity

    September 9th, 2021  |  20 mins 54 secs
    ascension, ascension catholic, ascension catholic faith formation, ascension presents, ascension press, ask father josh, ask fr josh, ask fr. josh, catholic, catholic beliefs, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic faith formation, catholic podcast, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholic teachings, catholic theology, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, faith, father josh, father josh johnson, fr josh, fr josh johnson, fr. josh johnson, god, holiness, jesus, jesus christ, prayer, praying, priest, relationship with jesus, religion, roman catholic, saints, spirituality, theology

    In honor of Mary's nativity celebrated by the Church this week, Fr. Josh answers questions about the biblical origin of the Hail Mary prayer, whether Mary is the new Ark of the Covenant, and how we can understand Mary's perpetual virginity.

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    Be My Guest: All About Catholic Social Teaching (with Mari Pablo)

    September 2nd, 2021  |  40 mins 43 secs
    ascension, ascension catholic, ascension catholic faith formation, ascension presents, ascension press, ask father josh, ask fr josh, ask fr. josh, be my guest, catholic, catholic beliefs, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic faith formation, catholic podcast, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholic social teaching, catholic teachings, catholic theology, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, connected, diversity, faith, father josh, father josh johnson, fr josh, fr josh johnson, fr. josh johnson, god, holiness, jesus, jesus christ, mari pablo, prayer, praying, priest, relationship with jesus, religion, roman catholic, saints, social justice, spirituality, theology

    Mari Pablo joins Fr. Josh to answer questions about saints who embody Catholic social teaching, how to make people from diverse cultural backgrounds feel welcome in the Church, and how to work with people who believe in some Church teachings, but not others.

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    Fasting for Beginners, Spiritual Dryness, and the Engagement Season

    August 26th, 2021  |  37 mins 57 secs
    ascension, ascension catholic, ascension catholic faith formation, ascension presents, ascension press, ask father josh, ask fr josh, ask fr. josh, catholic, catholic beliefs, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic faith formation, catholic podcast, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholic teachings, catholic theology, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, faith, father josh, father josh johnson, fr josh, fr josh johnson, fr. josh johnson, god, holiness, jesus, jesus christ, prayer, praying, priest, relationship with jesus, religion, roman catholic, saints, spirituality, theology

    Fr. Josh answers questions about the importance of fasting and how to start fasting for beginners, how to navigate spiritual dryness, and how to prepare for the vocation of marriage as an engaged couple.

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    Be My Guest: All About Same-Sex Attraction with Fr. Phillip Bochanski

    August 19th, 2021  |  39 mins
    ascension, ascension catholic, ascension catholic faith formation, ascension presents, ascension press, ask father josh, ask fr josh, ask fr. josh, catholic, catholic beliefs, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic faith formation, catholic podcast, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholic teachings, catholic theology, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, faith, father josh, father josh johnson, fr josh, fr josh johnson, fr. josh johnson, god, holiness, jesus, jesus christ, prayer, praying, priest, relationship with jesus, religion, roman catholic, saints, spirituality, theology

    Fr. Phillip Bochanski joins Fr. Josh to talk all about same-sex attraction and how the Catholic Church ministers to people who experience same-sex attraction so they can live in the freedom of Christ's love. Fr. Phillip Bochanski is the Executive Director of Courage International, an apostolate that provides pastoral support in the form of spiritual guidance, community prayer support, and fellowship for people who experience same-sex attraction.

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    Dealing with Shame, Bringing Your Kids to Adoration, and Combatting the Power of Evil

    August 12th, 2021  |  34 mins 20 secs
    adoration, ascension, ascension catholic, ascension catholic faith formation, ascension presents, ascension press, ask father josh, ask fr josh, ask fr. josh, catholic, catholic beliefs, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic faith formation, catholic podcast, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholic teachings, catholic theology, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, evil, faith, father josh, father josh johnson, fr josh, fr josh johnson, fr. josh johnson, god, holiness, jesus, jesus christ, prayer, praying, priest, relationship with jesus, religion, roman catholic, saints, shame, spirituality, theology

    Fr. Josh answers questions about dealing with shame, how to bring your young kids to adoration, and how to combat the power of evil.

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    Cremation, Crosses versus Crucifixes, and Forgetting Sins During Confession

    August 5th, 2021  |  26 mins 35 secs
    ascension, ascension catholic, ascension catholic faith formation, ascension presents, ascension press, ashes, ask father josh, ask fr josh, ask fr. josh, catholic, catholic beliefs, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic faith formation, catholic podcast, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholic teachings, catholic theology, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, cremation, crosses versus crucifixes, crucifix, faith, father josh, father josh johnson, forgetting sins during confession, fr josh, fr josh johnson, fr. josh johnson, god, holiness, jesus, jesus christ, prayer, praying, priest, reconciliation, relationship with jesus, religion, roman catholic, saints, spirituality, theology

    Fr. Josh answers questions about the Church's teaching on cremation and ashes, what the difference between crosses and crucifixes is, and whether the sins we forget during confession are forgiven.

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    Loving the Homeless, Struggling with Infertility, and Losing Members of the Body of Christ

    July 29th, 2021  |  36 mins 48 secs
    ascension catholic, ascension catholic faith formation, ascension presents, ascension press, ask father josh, ask fr josh, ask fr. josh, catholic, catholic beliefs, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic faith formation, catholic podcast, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholic teachings, catholic theology, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, faith, fallen away catholics, father josh, father josh johnson, fr josh, fr josh johnson, fr. josh johnson, god, holiness, homeless, infertility, jesus, jesus christ, leaving the church, prayer, praying, priest, relationship with jesus, religion, roman catholic, saints, spirituality, theology

    Fr. Josh answers questions about how to love and serve the homeless, how to handle discouragement when struggling with infertility, and how to come to terms with family members and friends turning away from God and leaving the Catholic Church.