As November approaches, the Church turns our hearts toward those who have died and toward the hope of the resurrection. Bishop Hying sits down with Damian Lenshek, director of cemeteries for the Diocese of Madison, to talk about how Catholics understand death, why we pray for those who have gone before us, and what the Wisconsin bishops’ renewed pastoral letter, Now and at the Hour of Our Death, teaches about end-of-life decisions, cremation, and the dignity of every human life. They also offer practical advice on planning a Catholic funeral and burial, and share upcoming Catholic Cemeteries Week events.

Ahead of his Oct. 22 feast day, Bishop Donald J. Hying reflects on St. John Paul II, the Polish pope he calls his spiritual father. He traces the saint’s life from his boyhood in Wadowice through the Nazi occupation, his secret formation for the priesthood, and his fearless stand against communism, to a papacy that carried the Gospel to every corner of the world. Bishop Hying also shares how, as a 16-year-old scrubbing restaurant fryers at 2 a.m., he heard the pope speak to America’s young people on the radio and knew God was calling him to be a priest.

Ivan grew up non-denominational. Charlie was a cradle Catholic whose faith was lukewarm. Through their friendship, each drew the other closer to Christ, and today Ivan is preparing to enter the Catholic Church. Bishop Donald Hying is joined by the two Madison-area high schoolers behind project_2.42, an Instagram apologetics account named for Acts 2:42. They talk about what won Ivan over to Catholicism, why young people are looking for tradition and structure rather than a watered-down faith, and what the Church could do better to form and reach their generation.