# When your son becomes a priest—and you’re not so sure about the Catholic Church

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/jesuitical-1116545/when-your-son-becomes-a-priest-and-you-re-not-so-sure-about-the-catholic-church
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/jesuitical-1116545/when-your-son-becomes-a-priest-and-you-re-not-so-sure-about-the-catholic-church.md
Podcast: [Jesuitical](https://stenobird.com/podcast/jesuitical-1116545)
Published: 2026-02-20T05:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.americamagazine.org/subscribe
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/AMMD9864566083.mp3?updated=1771686612
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/jesuitical-1116545/episodes/when-your-son-becomes-a-priest-and-you-re-not-so-sure-about-the-catholic-church
Duration seconds: 4229

## Resource

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian sit down with Kristen Gilger, author of My Son, The Priest: A Mother’s Crisis of Faith and her son, Patrick Gilger, S.J., to discuss their interwoven journeys of faith. 0:00 Critiquing our ashes 3:00 Pope Leo's first Ash Wednesday 4:35 Vatican won't join "Board of Peace" 5:50 St. Peter's has a new snack bar! 8:10 Kristin's shock when Paddy joined the Jesuits 16:58 The challenges of poverty, chastity and obedience 22:00 Giving up marriage and a family 34:45 Cafeteria Catholicism 38:35 Reconciliation without agreement 45:10 Being open to change 50:22 Catholicism's lingering appeal 1:04:25 Faith sharing: love your enemies Links for further reading: My son became a priest. I still felt conflicted about God and religion. Buy Kristen’s Book: My Son, The Priest: A Mother’s Crisis of Faith Pope Leo on Ash Wednesday: It’s ‘rare to find adults who repent’ Vatican will not join Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza, Cardinal Parolin says Vatican expands visitor experience at St. Peter’s Basilica to mark 400th anniversary You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow. You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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