The Word Goes Out

A podcast from New Ways Ministry sharing insights from LGBTQ+ Catholics and their allies about the Sunday scripture readings

We at New Ways Ministry believe that LGBTQ+ Catholics bring unique spiritual gifts to the world and the Church: the courage to be truth-tellers, a deep sensitivity to those on the margins, and the vital reminder that we are all wonderfully made.

Each weekend on this podcast, LGBTQ+ Catholics and their allies will share their own stories and insights on the Sunday scripture readings, offering a perspective rooted in the truth of lived experience. These reflections reveal the deep faith and spirituality that LGBTQ+ people have discovered and nurtured, even if sometimes in challenging situations. They are an invitation to find God’s word within the reality of our own lives, whether LGBTQ+ or not.

To listen to The Word Goes Out, click the title of the episode you want to hear in the feed below. Or visit the show’s page on Spotify or Youtube.

RSS The Word Goes Out | Episode List

  • The Groaning In My Soul July 9, 2026
    How do we maintain radical hope when the institutional church continually tosses us between progress and systemic rejection?In this episode, guest contributor Michaelangelo Allocca—a seasoned catechist, retreat leader, and humanities educator—reflects on the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Amidst the tension of celebrating legal protections while navigating painful ministerial exceptions and employment discrimination within Catholic […]
    New Ways Ministry
  • An Easy Yoke July 2, 2026
    What if the boundaries and identities we are forced to fit into are the very things keeping us from living freely?In this episode, guest contributor Cristina Traina—Professor of Theology at Fordham University—reflects on the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Drawing a vivid parallel between the custom-carved wooden yokes of history, modern adjustable hiking backpacks, and […]
    New Ways Ministry
  • The Queer Wisdom of Disorientation June 25, 2026
    What if the moments that completely upend our lives—and our faith—are exactly where we find our true moral compass?In this episode, guest contributor Barbara Anne Kozee—a doctoral candidate in theological ethics at Boston College—reflects on the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Confronting the Gospel’s intense demands to prioritize Christ over family and comfort, Barbara draws […]
    New Ways Ministry
  • Time and Again, the Same Message: 'Do Not Be Afraid' June 18, 2026
    What do you do when the systems around you—whether political or religious—use fear to keep you silent?In this episode, guest contributor Mike O’Donnell—a member of Dignity/Washington and a theology and philosophy teacher—reflects on the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Confronting the Gospel’s recurring command to "do not be afraid," Mike contextualizes this radical call through […]
    New Ways Ministry
  • Finding the Divine Spark Within to Heal Us and the World June 11, 2026
    What if the authority to heal isn't something given to us from the outside, but a divine presence already waiting within?In this episode, guest contributor Hugh Smeltekop—a researcher of queer experience in Catholic higher education and an educator at the University of St. Thomas—reflects on the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Drawing from the Gospel […]
    New Ways Ministry
  • We Are Jesus’ Hands, Feet, and Beating Heart for LGBTQ+ Inclusion June 4, 2026
    What does it truly mean to receive the Body of Christ?In this episode, Bondings 2.0 contributor Yunuen Trujillo shares a deeply personal reflection on returning to her home parish for a friend's ordination and navigating the anxiety that many LGBTQ+ Catholics face in the Communion line. Celebrating the Feast of Corpus Christi, she explores how […]
    New Ways Ministry
  • When Our Plans for Christian Living Meet Life’s Messy Reality May 28, 2026
    It is easy to have a "pristine" and perfect plan for Christian living... until other people show up!In this episode, Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director of New Ways Ministry and Editor of Bondings 2.0, reflects on how the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity helps us think about the comedic, challenging, and beautiful reality of church […]
    New Ways Ministry
  • Pentecost Reminds the Church That All Are Welcome May 21, 2026
    What does it truly mean to build a Church where everyone belongs?In this episode, Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv. of Lexington, Kentucky reflects on how the Holy Spirit didn't come to keep the early disciples safe and comfortable inside a closed house; rather, the driving wind of Pentecost blew the doors wide open. Discover how […]
    New Ways Ministry