Lessons from a Year of COVID-19: Compassion, Community, and Hope

Host Jack Socha explains this episode is a re-edited revisit of last week’s important interview, which many missed due to a network pledge drive and Mother’s Day. He highlights major local giving by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, including a surprise $1.1 million grant to the Family & Children’s Center and $6 million pledged to 23 organizations over three years. Socha then speaks with Viterbo University servant-leadership professor Tom Thibodeau about lessons from the first year of COVID-19: global interconnectedness, the hunger for face-to-face relationships, compassion and empathy for those grieving, creative renewal, letter writing, and the need to rebuild community through places like parish life. Thibodeau describes The Place of Grace hospitality ministry, pandemic hardships, and personal takeaways of marriage, contemplation, and technology-enabled connection.

00:00 Show Opening

00:31 Why Last Week Was Missed

01:31 Tom Thibodeau Returns

02:43 FSPA Surprise Gift

05:40 Interview Setup

07:17 Viterbo Students on Frontlines

08:55 Catholic Means Connected

11:07 Isolation and Human Need

12:51 Empathy and Compassion

16:08 Creativity in Crisis

19:03 Aging Well Skills

20:17 Healing After Pandemic

23:12 Letters as Love

26:49 Break and Norway Story

28:51 Small Kindnesses

30:20 Common Good and Justice

31:29 Origins of Place of Grace

32:39 Pandemic Pantry Struggles

33:32 Honoring Guests Lost

35:57 Gifts to Offer Others

38:12 Catholic Giving Impact

40:50 Marriage in Hard Times

42:40 Street Monk Contemplation

43:29 Tech Connections Worldwide

44:40 Cooking and Creative Writing

46:58 Stories Feed Your Wolf

50:40 New Normal Lessons

53:19 Gratitude for Essential Work

56:01 Conspiracy of Goodness

58:02 Final Sign Off