Province of St. Albert the Great, USA
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Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP

Fr. Scott is the Promoter of Media for the Province, and is an author and professor, specializing in systematic theology and interreligious dialogue.

Videos

17 August • What is Your Passion?

Speaking from a beautiful garden in Madison, Wisconsin, Fr. Scott connects his friend's retirement passion for gardening with the spiritual call to passionate prophetic action. Using Jesus' words about lighting fires and Jeremiah's willingness to face persecution, he challenges viewers to identify what they're passionate enough about to risk everything for. Addressing current world crises like Gaza and Ukraine, he calls for moving beyond comfortable inaction to light the fires of change our broken world desperately needs.

The Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The video powerfully connects ancient biblical themes of prophetic courage with contemporary challenges. The informal garage setting and family context make the message very relatable while addressing serious themes about standing up for justice, trusting God when facing consequences, and the call for all Christians to be prophetic voices in today's world. Karen's story provides a concrete example of what prophetic action looks like in professional healthcare settings.

11 August • Care for the Immigrant, for We Are Immigrants

In today's first reading, Moses tells us that what God wants from his people: to "befriend" the immigrant, because we were once ourselves all immigrants. What was true of the Jewish people, is true of most Americans—98% of us were once aliens. As we deal with our broken immigration system, we need to recognize that God requires us to befriend immigrants, to feed and clothe them. Do we live up to that minimum standard?

30 July • A Broader Vision of Preaching the Good News

In the Letter to the Ephesians, we see Paul's vision that the Church is called to proclaim Christ to the entire universe, even the "principalities and authorities in the heavens." As we ponder our own role in God's plan, know that it includes even one day preaching to extraterrestrials, and let that broaden out your vision.

19 July • Managing Diversity

When the Israelites left Egypt, they also left with "people of various ancestry" who joined them in the desert. This diversity became problematic in the desert, but by God's plan, it is an essential part of the story of God's "chosen people." The parishes of St. Patrick and St. Hedwig were separated int eh 19th Century to accommodate diversity and now have to work to manage that diversity as they once again become one parish. Managing diversity is always difficult, but it is essential if we are going to all be God's children.

18 July • "I Desire Mercy, Not Sacrifice"

In our Gospel today, Jesus argues with the Pharisees and declares definitively that God desires mercy more than following the letter of the law. In our dealing with ourselves and with others, are we more concerned about making sure that everyone is following the rules or about helping the people who are suffering?