Sharing the Faith with Dr. Tom Neal

In his latest teaching episode, Dr. Tom Neal explains the structure and meaning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist, showing how the Mass is rooted in Scripture—especially the Road to Emmaus and the Last Supper—and reveals Christ as the one who orders and sustains the Church’s worship. He also unpacks the symbolism of the offertory, bread and wine, and our personal sacrifices, inviting everyone to see the Mass (and all of life) as a participation in God’s redeeming work and an act of profound thanksgiving.

Dr. Tom Neal talks with Adam Storey, Vice Chancellor of Canonical Affairs for the Diocese of Des Moines, about how canon law, rooted in Vatican II, protects the rights and dignity of the baptized, especially through the laity’s “right to be heard” in Church governance. They also discuss the art of listening, shared responsibility in decision-making, and how a just canonical structure strengthens the Church’s credibility and witness in the world.

Dr. Tom Neal reflects on the gift of the priesthood by honoring several priests who have profoundly shaped his life through their prayer, simplicity, love for the poor, and sacrificial service. Through stories of figures like Fr. Anthony J. Manochio, Fr. Philip Scott, Fr. Michael Champagne, and Fr. Rick Frechette, he highlights how their hidden fidelity and pastoral charity reveal the beauty of Christ’s priestly heart.

Dr. Tom Neal talks with theologian Dr. Jordan Wood about St. Maximus the Confessor and how his vision of Christ and creation can reshape how ordinary Catholics see their daily lives. They discuss how work, family, and life in the world—lived with virtue—can become a real participation in Christ’s presence and the transformation of the world.

Dr. Tom Neal reflects on the spirituality of marriage and family, drawing especially from Pope Francis’s "Amoris Laetitia" to show how ordinary family life—its joys, wounds, and daily demands—becomes a path of sanctification and mystical growth. He then offers practical guidance on cultivating prayer in the home, highlighting the parents’ witness, daily intercession for children, and the creative use of sacramentals to root children’s imaginations in a living relationship with God.