Actress Nonie Newton Riley plays Sister in the upcoming Long Wharf Theater production of “Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold,” which will run from Dec. 8-20 at the New Haven theater (www.longwharf.org). The show is just one in a series of catechism comedies featuring Riley, who travels the country playing a role she considers something of a vocation: “I’ve done nothing but this for the last 15 years of my life.”

Click below to hear the episode:

Also, please take a moment to donate the WESU-FM’s fall/winter pledge drive. Mention “Reasonably Catholic” with your donation of any size and I’ll send you your choice of the Catholic-themed books listed in the previous blog post. Thanks!

Please give to WESU during our fall pledge drive by going to http://www.wesufm.org and clicking on Donate Now.

For a donation of any amount, mention “Reasonably Catholic: Keeping the Faith” and/ or contact me through this website, and  I’ll send you your choice of the following books:

Peace and Good: Through the Year with Francis of Assisi, by (Reasonably Catholic guest) Pat McCloskey, OFM
The Vatican Diaries: A Behind the Scenes Look at the Power, Personalities, and Politics at the Heart of the Catholic Church, by John Thavis
Good Pope, Bad Pope: Their Lives, Our Lessons, by Mike Aquilina
Spiritual A.D.D: Overcoming Spiritual Deficit Disorder, by Hank Kunneman
Startled by God: Wisdom from Unexpected Places, by Joe McHugh
Love Never Fails: 120 Reflections, by Debra Herbeck
Integrating Ecofeminism, Globalization, and World Religions, by (Reasonably Catholic guest) Rosemary Radford Ruether
America, Amerikkka: Elect Nation and Imperial Violence, by Rosemary Radford Ruether
Christianity and Social Systems: Historical Constructions and Ethical Challenges, by Rosemary Radford Ruether
My Struggle with Faith, by Joseph F. Girzone
Stories of Jesus: 40 Days of Prayer and Reflection, by Joseph F. Girzone
Celebrating the Spirit of Christmas, written and illustrated by Tim Coffey
Keys to the Council: Unlocking the Teaching of Vatican II, by Richard R. Gaillardetz and Catherine E. Clifford
The Sacraments: Thoughtful Reflections for Catechists, by (former Wesleyan chaplain and Reasonably Catholic guest) Fr. Halbert Weidner
For Love of Animals: Christian Ethics, Consistent Action, by (Reaasonably Catholic guest) Charles Camosy
St. Francis, Pope Francis: A Common Vision, by Gina Loehr, with Al Giambrone
150 North American Martyrs You Should Know, by Brian O’Neel
Epic Food Fight: a Bite-Sized History of Salvation, by Fr. Leo Patalinghug
John Paul II: A Short Biography, by Kerry Walters
Made for Love, Loved by God, by Fr. Peter John Cameron, OP
Praise God and Thank Him: Biblical Keys for a Joyful Life, by Jeff Cavins
The Last Words of Jesus: A Meditation on Love and Suffering, by Daniel P. Horan, OFM
Breaking Grand Silence: A Former Catholic Priest Speaks Out, by Marvin Josaitis, PhD
The Justice Imperative: How Hyper-Incarceration Has Hijacked the American Dream, by (Reasonably Catholic guest) Brian E. Moran
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Catholicism, by Bob O’Gorman, Ph.D. and Mary Faulkner, M.A.
The Holy Land: An Armchair Pilgrimage, by Fr. Mitch Pacwa, SJ
Bambinelli Sunday: A Christmas Blessing, children’s book by Amy Welborn and illustrator Ann Kissane Engelhart
Adventures in Assisi: On the Path with St. Francis, a children’s book by Amy Welborn and ilustrator Ann Kissane Engelhart
The Joyful Spirit of Padre Pio: Stories, Letters and Prayers, by Patricia Treece
The Spiritual Genius of Thomas Merton, by Anthony T. Padovano
The Dark Box: A Secret History of Confession, by John Cornwell
40 Days, 40 Ways: A New Look at Lent, by Marcellino D’Ambrosio
When Our Church was Young: Voices of the Early Fathers, by Marcellino D’Ambrosio
The Spirit of St. Francis: Inspiring Words from Pope Francis
The Princess Guide: Faith Lessons from Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, by Jennessa Tepraccino
Spiritual Reslilience: 30 Days to Refresh Your Soul, by Robert J. Wicks
Sacred Silence: Daily Meditations for Lent, by (Reasonably Catholic guest) Phyllis Zagano
What Do I Say? Talking and Praying with Someone Who Is Dying, by Margrit Anna Banta
Visiting Mary: Her U.S. Shrines and Her Graces, by Julie Dortch Cragan
Simply Merton: Wisdom from His Journals, by Linus Mundy
Embracing Edith Stein: Wisdom for Women from St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, by Anna Costa
Skirting Heresy: The Life and Times of Margery Kempe, by Elizabeth MacDonald
Fearless: Stories of the American Saints, by Alice Camille and Paul Boudreau
Pope Francis and Our Call to Joy, by Deane M. Houdek
A Eucharistic Christmas: Advent Meditations on the Presence of Christ
Zealous: Following Jesus with Guidance from St. Paul, by Mark Hart and Christopher Cuddy
Accidental Theoogians: Four Women Who Shaped Christianity: Hildegard of Bingen, Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Avila, Therese of Lisieux, by Elizabeth A. Dreyer, with a foreword by Joan Chittister
The Gospels According to St. Francis, by Hilarion Kistner, OFM
Answers: Catholic Advice for Your Spiritual Questions, by Fr. John Bartunek
Seven Saints for Seven VirtuesJohn Paul II, Catherine of Siena, Monica, Augustine, Mother Teresa, Agnes, and Joseph, by Jean M. Heimann
Catholics, Wake Up! Be a Spiritual Warrior, by Jesse Romero
Encounter Jesus: From Discovery to Discipleship, by Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR, and Deacon Ralph Poyo
Joyful Witness: How to Be an Extraordinary Witness, by Randy Hain

Thanks to the following publishers: Franciscan Media, Servant Books, Basic Books, Tate Publishing, Significance Press, Penguin Books, Rowman & Littlefield, Doubleday, Destiny Image, Harvest House Publishers, Liturgical Press, Twenty-Third Publications, and Alpha Books

Click below to hear the episode:

Prof. Mat Schmalz, of the College of the Holy Cross, an expert in global Catholicism; Deb Rose-Milavec, executive director of FutureChurch; and Miriam Duignan of the Women’s Ordination Conference who, with colleague Kate McElwee, was detained by Rome police to keep them from approaching bishops exiting the synod.

Find Deb’s excellent coverage of the synod at futurechurch-blog.org.

Love “Reasonably Catholic: Keeping the Faith”? Show WESU-FM some love by donating during our fall pledge drive. Go to http://www.wesufm.org. The station has cool thank-you gifts to offer, and so do I. Check out the list of books I’ll post on this site soon. Make a donation of any size, choose a book, and I’ll send it along with my thanks!