Monday, March 2, 2026

Restoring the Family and the Mission of Men (Guest: Pete Burak)

In this episode of Power and Witness, Pete Burak, Director of Renewal Ministries and author of Man on Purpose, joins the show to discuss the fundamental cell of society: the family. As marriage rates plummet and secular ideologies fail to deliver on their promises, Pete shares practical, hard-won lessons from 15 years of marriage, offering a roadmap for young people who are hesitant to say "I do."

Key Discussion Points

  • The Marriage Crisis: Why the instability of modern culture is directly linked to the breakdown of the domestic church.

  • The Forgiveness Process: Why a simple "I'm sorry" isn't enough, and how a formal exchange of forgiveness heals resentment.

  • The Mission of Men: Why the father’s spiritual presence and authenticity are the greatest predictors of a child’s future faith.

  • Growing Together: The unique joys and advantages of marrying young and maturing as a "team."

  • Total Intimacy: How to build intellectual and spiritual oneness that goes far beyond the physical act.

  • The Family Culture: The power of the "Team Burak" pledge and speaking truth into your children's identity every night.

Episode Chapters

00:00 – The Social Crisis of Declining Marriage. 
02:10 – Maintaining Awareness: The "St. Paul" Marriage Method. 
03:07 – Beyond "I'm Sorry": A 4-Step Forgiveness Process. 
08:47 – Growing Together: The Benefits of Marrying Young. 
11:11 – The "Driveway Prayer": Relying on Grace as a Parent. 
14:35 – Forming Family Culture: The "Team Burak" Pledge. 
15:48 – The Spiritual Attack on Men and the Family. 
18:44 – Beyond the Physical: Building Total Intimacy. 
22:21 – Winning Her Heart: Why a Husband Never Stops Pursuing. 
26:55 – Masculine vs. Feminine: The Power of Complementarity. 
31:15 – The Father’s Influence: How Kids "Catch" the Faith.

Listen to the Full Episode

About the Guest

Pete Burak is the Director of Renewal Ministries, a Catholic ministry dedicated to renewal and evangelization. He is a frequent speaker at conferences and events worldwide and is the author of Man on Purpose: Ten Life Lessons from My Father. Pete and his wife, Kate, live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with their five children.

 

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Why Our Priests are Lonely and Our Parishes are Stuck (Guest: Marcel LeJeune)

In this episode of Power and Witness, Fr. Mark sits down with Marcel LeJeune, President of Catholic Missionary Disciples, for a raw and candid look at the state of the priesthood and the modern parish. From the "lonely island" of clerical life to the practical "how-to" of sharing your faith in an Uber, this conversation moves past the buzzwords to offer real solutions for a Church in transition.

Key Discussion Points

  • The Priesthood Crisis: Why the jump from seminary to parish life causes a spike in anxiety and cynicism.

  • Creating "Bethany": How lay families can provide a space of rest and friendship for their priests (without worrying about the laundry on the couch!).

  • Evangelizing Without Being "Weird": Why questions like “Tell me about the God you don't believe in” are more effective than any argument.

  • The Messy Witness: Why a "crying" parish is a living parish, and how imperfect families lead others to Christ.

  • Parish Renewal: The secret to resolving staff conflict and why most strategic plans end up as dust-collecting binders.

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Introduction: Marcel LeJeune and Missionary Disciples.
00:45 – The "Lonely Island" of the Priesthood.
05:30 – Creating "Bethany": Inviting Father into your domestic mess.
12:15 – Seminary vs. Reality: The culture shock of the newly ordained.
21:17 – "Land the Plane": The secret to effective homilies.
33:53 – God Has No Grandchildren: How marriage and family evangelize.
40:30 – The Coffee Shop Strategy: "Underhanded" evangelization.
45:18 – Practical Tips: Asking the right questions to strangers.
51:27 – Closing: Just have the guts to try.

Listen to the Full Episode

About the Guest

Marcel LeJeune is the President and Founder of Catholic Missionary Disciples. As a veteran of campus ministry and a nationally recognized author and speaker, Marcel has dedicated his life to helping Catholic leaders move from "maintenance to mission."


Monday, January 12, 2026

A Chemist's Conversion to Catholicism (Guest: Dr. Stacy Trasancos)

Dr. Stacy Trasancos joins Fr. Mark Mary for a wide‑ranging conversation on science, faith, and the limits of materialism. A former senior research chemist at DuPont with a PhD in chemistry, Stacy shares her journey from atheism and a strictly materialist worldview to Catholicism, theology, and philosophy.

Together they explore how science was born from faith, why materialism fails to explain human dignity and meaning, and how philosophy and theology help restore a fuller vision of reality. From transubstantiation and the Eucharist to evolution, AI, and ethics in modern science, this episode offers a hopeful and intellectually rigorous vision for evangelizing through reason.

Dr. Trasancos is an adjunct professor at Holy Apostles College and Seminary, holds graduate degrees in theology and philosophy, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in philosophy in Ireland.

00:15 – Welcome & Introduction
01:14 – Materialism & Early Career
03:34 – Conversion Turning Point
05:01 – Marriage & Family
06:31 – Studying Theology
08:24 – Understanding the Eucharist
10:53 – Feminine Genius in Science & Theology
16:28 – Evangelizing Through Science
20:47 – Philosophy & Limits of Science
30:41 – Re-examining Atomic Theory
33:34 – Looking Ahead

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Why Trust Still Matters (Guest: Doug Keck)

Former EWTN President Doug Keck joins Fr. Mark Mary on Power & Witness to explain why trust still matters in Catholic media amid scandals, digital chaos, and cultural doubt. He reflects on 30 years at EWTN, the rise of lay evangelization, young Catholics (especially men) seeking solid tradition, Mother Angelica’s legacy of bold faith and redemptive suffering, and the network’s role as a reliable touchstone today.

00:00 – Welcome & Doug Keck’s Retirement
00:29 – Current Shows and Ongoing Work
01:25 – Inside EWTN: News, Commentary, and Segments
02:23 – Joining EWTN in 1996 & Rise of Lay Evangelists
03:50 – Vatican II, Lay Apostolate, and Mother Angelica’s Vision
05:42 – Technology, Social Media, and Modern Evangelization
07:39 – Why Trust Still Matters in Catholic Media
11:55 – Talent, Truth, and EWTN’s Mission
16:36 – Young Catholics, Men Returning to Faith, and Tradition
25:15 – Hope, Suffering, Mother Angelica’s Legacy, and God’s Call 

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