Diocese of Fargo to launch new podcast “Sent”

The idea to begin a podcast began during the preparation period for the Diocesan Synod. During the three-day gathering in April 2024 of clergy, religious, and laity about the condition and direction of the Church in the Diocese of Fargo, delegates asked how the Diocese was going to communicate the Synod’s findings moving forward. So that the pastoral plan from Bishop Folda does not gather dust, how is the Diocese going to communicate the plan to the faithful on an active basis? 

Starting March 17, the 30-minute show “Sent” will air every Monday to dive into the findings of the Synod and discuss the workings of the Holy Spirit in the Diocese of Fargo. Real Presence Radio will air the 30-minute shows at 7 a.m. Monday mornings and links to the podcast will be available on www.fargodiocese.org. It will also be available on Spotify, iTunes, and other podcast platforms.  

 Hosts of the podcast are Steve Splonskowski, Director of Evangelization for the Diocese of Fargo and Brad Gray, Director of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese. Brandon Clark, Catholic Media Specialist, will produce the podcast. 

“We’d like to feature the entire church in the area: Bishop Folda, priests, deacons, and laity,” said Steve. “The Synod showed us that there is great wisdom in each one of these members of the Church. We all work together, and we all have a different approach, and we also have different charisms that we can share.” 

The name “Sent” speaks to the three aspects of evangelization: encounter, formation, and mission. 

“In preparation for the Synod, we focused on how we’ve encountered Christ,” said Steve. “During the Synod, we shared those ideas with one another about how we understand this encounter—that’s formation—understanding our identity in Christ. And now we’re in that third part: mission. We are being sent in Matthew 28: the Great Commission. ‘Go and make disciples of all nations.’” 

While the full pastoral plan for the Synod hasn’t been released just yet, the podcast will be one way of having ongoing discussion of how to take the plans presented into action. The first guests on the show will include Bishop Folda and Monsignor Robert Laliberte. Future guests will include delegates of the Diocesan Synod and local clergy, religious, and lay people of the Diocese of Fargo. 

Admitting that there are many great Catholic podcasts available, there isn’t anything quite like what Steve and Brad hope “Sent” to be. 

“It’s not just about having a local flavor, but a local context, a local setting that speaks to the situations the Diocese of Fargo is facing,” said Brad. “What are the things that we confront locally? In what ways is the Holy Spirit moving in our diocese? There’s something grounding about discussing these things in our own cultural setting.” 

Steve and Brad agree that when talking about the mission of the church, the podcast should be challenging to its listeners, but not crushing. 

 “The whole idea of evangelization just seems so big,” said Steve. “We want to unpack it from an overwhelming and complex concept to something doable. Pope Paul VI, in his encyclical on evangelization, says evangelization can be summed up in one phrase, ‘bringing the gospel message of Christ into every human situation.’ That’s the vision.” 
    “We’d love to have people’s feedback,” Steve said. “If you’d like to be on the podcast, reach out. We’d love to have you share stories of encounter with Christ.” Call (701) 356-7900.