Episodios

  • Ep. 11: Sr. Mary and Catherine | From Age to Age - Oral History - Series 2
    Feb 5 2026
    Catherine, a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier since 2011, interviews Sr. Mary, a member of the Xavier community since 1980, about her life of faith, ministry, and service at the parish during a time of profound change in New York City. Sr. Mary reflects on her vocation as a Sister of Mercy, her early years of pastoral outreach at Xavier, and her deep involvement in ministries of presence, justice, and spiritual formation. She shares moving reflections on Xavier’s response to the AIDS crisis, the parish’s commitment to welcoming marginalized communities, and the significance of women’s leadership and preaching. Their conversation traces how Xavier has continually challenged and expanded faith—calling parishioners to authenticity, compassion, and action rooted in Gospel values.

    To access a transcript of this episode, or to learn more about the Church of St. Francis Xavier visit: https://sfxavier.org/from-age-to-age-an-oral-history-podcast/# This episode was recorded and edited by Cynthia Bastidas of Semillita Productions. Photography by Donald Kennedy. Cover illustrations by Greg Guiteras. Podcast introduction song is “Here I Am, Lord (I Come To Do Your Will),” music composed by Michael Ward and performed by the Music Ministry of the Church of St. Francis Xavier. All copyrighted music reproduced with permission of OneLicense copyright A-700530, rights reserved; music reprint license number 944. A special thanks to the staff of St. Francis Xavier and Father Ken Boller, SJ.
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    27 m
  • Ep. 10: Grace, Andrea and Marjorie | From Age to Age - Oral History - Series 2
    Feb 3 2026
    Andrea, a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier since 2001, sits down with her daughter Grace and longtime parishioner Marjorie to reflect on faith, community, and belonging across three generations of Catholic women. Marjorie, a daily communicant for decades, shares how Xavier has anchored her spiritual life and sustained her through profound changes in the Chelsea neighborhood and the Church itself. Grace reflects on coming to Xavier as a child, growing through family faith formation, and now teaching younger children in the parish. Together, their conversation explores how Xavier has remained a spiritual home—shaping values, nurturing curiosity, and offering continuity, welcome, and hope across the seasons of life.

    To access a transcript of this episode, or to learn more about the Church of St. Francis Xavier visit: https://sfxavier.org/from-age-to-age-an-oral-history-podcast/# This episode was recorded and edited by Cynthia Bastidas of Semillita Productions. Photography by Donald Kennedy. Cover illustrations by Greg Guiteras. Podcast introduction song is “Here I Am, Lord (I Come To Do Your Will),” music composed by Michael Ward and performed by the Music Ministry of the Church of St. Francis Xavier. All copyrighted music reproduced with permission of OneLicense copyright A-700530, rights reserved; music reprint license number 944. A special thanks to the staff of St. Francis Xavier and Father Ken Boller, SJ.
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    28 m
  • Ep. 9 - Aedan and Luz | From Age to Age - Oral History - Series 2
    Jan 29 2026
    Aedan, a lifelong parishioner of St. Francis Xavier, interviews Luz, the parish’s longtime Director of Religious Education, about her journey of faith, vocation, and service at Xavier. Luz reflects on her path to New York City, her transition from computer science to professional dance, and the moments that led her to Xavier during a difficult period in her life. Together, they explore Luz’s deep involvement in family faith formation, youth ministry, RCIA, interfaith dialogue, and care for the homebound, as well as Aedan’s own experience growing up in the parish. Their conversation highlights how Xavier has shaped generations through welcome, creativity, and a strong sense of belonging.

    To access a transcript of this episode, or to learn more about the Church of St. Francis Xavier visit: https://sfxavier.org/from-age-to-age-an-oral-history-podcast/# This episode was recorded and edited by Cynthia Bastidas of Semillita Productions. Photography by Donald Kennedy. Cover illustrations by Greg Guiteras. Podcast introduction song is “Here I Am, Lord (I Come To Do Your Will),” music composed by Michael Ward and performed by the Music Ministry of the Church of St. Francis Xavier. All copyrighted music reproduced with permission of OneLicense copyright A-700530, rights reserved; music reprint license number 944. A special thanks to the staff of St. Francis Xavier and Father Ken Boller, SJ.
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    30 m
  • Ep. 8: Stephanie & Natasha -"Desire the gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy." | From Age to Age - Oral History
    Aug 14 2022
    Natasha interviews Stephanie, who was led to Xavier by her brother in 2001. Natasha and Stephanie, both LGBTQ+ women of Filipina heritage, talk about negotiating their relationships with their sexual orientation, the tug of faith in their hearts and the call to prophetically proclaim the Good News.

    To access a transcript of this episode, or to learn more about the Church of St. Francis Xavier visit:

    https://sfxavier.org/from-age-to-age-an-oral-history-podcast/episode-8-stephanie-natasha/

    This episode was recorded and edited by Cynthia Bastidas of Semillita Productions. Photography by Donald Kennedy of Donald Kennedy Photography. Podcast introduction song is “Here I Am, Lord (I Come To Do Your Will),” music composed by Michael Ward and performed by the Music Ministry of the Church of St. Francis Xavier. All copyrighted music reproduced with permission of OneLicense copyright A-700530, rights reserved; music reprint license number 944. A special thanks to the staff of St. Francis Xavier and Father Ken Boller, SJ.

    To access a transcript of this episode, or to learn more about the Church of St. Francis Xavier visit: https://sfxavier.org/from-age-to-age-an-oral-history-podcast/# This episode was recorded and edited by Cynthia Bastidas of Semillita Productions. Photography by Donald Kennedy. Cover illustrations by Greg Guiteras. Podcast introduction song is “Here I Am, Lord (I Come To Do Your Will),” music composed by Michael Ward and performed by the Music Ministry of the Church of St. Francis Xavier. All copyrighted music reproduced with permission of OneLicense copyright A-700530, rights reserved; music reprint license number 944. A special thanks to the staff of St. Francis Xavier and Father Ken Boller, SJ.
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    22 m
  • Ep. 7: John & Caitlin: "I like that you found Xavier out of a necessity of getting out of the rain." | From Age to Age - Oral History
    Aug 14 2022
    John, a cradle Catholic who grew up in a very spiritual and religious home in the Franciscan tradition, had fallen away from the faith during his 20s and 30s. One day nearly 40 years ago, John found his way into the Xavier church while trying to escape a rain storm, which led him to spiritually "escape the rain" and find shelter within and amongst the community through the storms the AIDS crisis, and other crises of faith related to being a Catholic gay man of faith. Caitlin talks with John about journeying through the trauma of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and how Xavier played a role in ministering to those on the margins then and now.

    To access a transcript of this episode, or to learn more about the Church of St. Francis Xavier visit:

    https://sfxavier.org/from-age-to-age-an-oral-history-podcast/episode-7-john-caitlin/

    This episode was recorded and edited by Cynthia Bastidas of Semillita Productions. Photography by Donald Kennedy of Donald Kennedy Photography. Podcast introduction song is “Here I Am, Lord (I Come To Do Your Will),” music composed by Michael Ward and performed by the Music Ministry of the Church of St. Francis Xavier. All copyrighted music reproduced with permission of OneLicense copyright A-700530, rights reserved; music reprint license number 944. A special thanks to the staff of St. Francis Xavier and Father Ken Boller, SJ.

    To access a transcript of this episode, or to learn more about the Church of St. Francis Xavier visit: https://sfxavier.org/from-age-to-age-an-oral-history-podcast/# This episode was recorded and edited by Cynthia Bastidas of Semillita Productions. Photography by Donald Kennedy. Cover illustrations by Greg Guiteras. Podcast introduction song is “Here I Am, Lord (I Come To Do Your Will),” music composed by Michael Ward and performed by the Music Ministry of the Church of St. Francis Xavier. All copyrighted music reproduced with permission of OneLicense copyright A-700530, rights reserved; music reprint license number 944. A special thanks to the staff of St. Francis Xavier and Father Ken Boller, SJ.
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    25 m
  • Ep. 6: Paula, Roe & Brandon - "This is what we were baptized into" | From Age to Age - Oral History
    Aug 14 2022
    Through the persistent invitation of a friend who was a Xavier parishioner, Paula and Roe eventually attended mass in May 2000 at Xavier and were taken aback by their first experience of the radical welcome of the Xavier parish community. Brandon, a parishioner for about five years, talks with Paula and Roe about the faithful people they've known at Xavier throughout the years and thoughts about what's changed in their over twenty years at Xavier.

    To access a transcript of this episode, or to learn more about the Church of St. Francis Xavier visit:

    https://sfxavier.org/from-age-to-age-an-oral-history-podcast/episode-6-paula-roe-brandon/

    This episode was recorded and edited by Cynthia Bastidas of Semillita Productions. Photography by Donald Kennedy of Donald Kennedy Photography. Podcast introduction song is “Here I Am, Lord (I Come To Do Your Will),” music composed by Michael Ward and performed by the Music Ministry of the Church of St. Francis Xavier. All copyrighted music reproduced with permission of OneLicense copyright A-700530, rights reserved; music reprint license number 944. A special thanks to the staff of St. Francis Xavier and Father Ken Boller, SJ.

    To access a transcript of this episode, or to learn more about the Church of St. Francis Xavier visit: https://sfxavier.org/from-age-to-age-an-oral-history-podcast/# This episode was recorded and edited by Cynthia Bastidas of Semillita Productions. Photography by Donald Kennedy. Cover illustrations by Greg Guiteras. Podcast introduction song is “Here I Am, Lord (I Come To Do Your Will),” music composed by Michael Ward and performed by the Music Ministry of the Church of St. Francis Xavier. All copyrighted music reproduced with permission of OneLicense copyright A-700530, rights reserved; music reprint license number 944. A special thanks to the staff of St. Francis Xavier and Father Ken Boller, SJ.
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    24 m
  • Ep. 5: Maria, Joan & Tess - "They want to worship. Where do you want them to go?" | From Age to Age - Oral History
    Aug 14 2022
    Joan and Maria, who count over 50 years together in a committed relationship, recount their journey of faith as members of the Xavier community since the early 1990s with Tess, a younger, more recent Xavier parishioner. Together they talk about the value of being integrated into the wider fabric and community of the faithful as a lesbian couple, and worshiping and expressing their faith side by side with other seekers of Christ's peace. "This is what makes Xavier very great."

    To access a transcript of this episode, or to learn more about the Church of St. Francis Xavier visit:

    https://sfxavier.org/from-age-to-age-an-oral-history-podcast/episode-5-joan-maria-tess/

    This episode was recorded and edited by Cynthia Bastidas of Semillita Productions. Photography by Donald Kennedy of Donald Kennedy Photography. Podcast introduction song is “Here I Am, Lord (I Come To Do Your Will),” music composed by Michael Ward and performed by the Music Ministry of the Church of St. Francis Xavier. All copyrighted music reproduced with permission of OneLicense copyright A-700530, rights reserved; music reprint license number 944. A special thanks to the staff of St. Francis Xavier and Father Ken Boller, SJ.

    To access a transcript of this episode, or to learn more about the Church of St. Francis Xavier visit: https://sfxavier.org/from-age-to-age-an-oral-history-podcast/# This episode was recorded and edited by Cynthia Bastidas of Semillita Productions. Photography by Donald Kennedy. Cover illustrations by Greg Guiteras. Podcast introduction song is “Here I Am, Lord (I Come To Do Your Will),” music composed by Michael Ward and performed by the Music Ministry of the Church of St. Francis Xavier. All copyrighted music reproduced with permission of OneLicense copyright A-700530, rights reserved; music reprint license number 944. A special thanks to the staff of St. Francis Xavier and Father Ken Boller, SJ.
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    26 m
  • Ep. 4: Nadine & Alan - "Xavier is a place that feeds me, supports my vocation and challenges it." | From Age to Age - Oral History
    Aug 14 2022
    Nadine, a member of the religious order of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate has a Franciscan heart. Although her order is based in the Midwest, family obligations led her to request to be posted back in the New York City region in the 1980s. Upon her return, conversations during a retreat led her to the Church of St. Francis Xavier, where she eventually become a member and has been worshiping since 1989. Alan, a member of the parish for nearly twenty years, interviews Sister Nadine about her life as a religious, a member of the Xavier parish community and the people who have made the community what it is.

    To access a transcript of this episode, or to learn more about the Church of St. Francis Xavier visit:

    https://sfxavier.org/from-age-to-age-an-oral-history-podcast/episode-4-nadine-alan/

    This episode was recorded and edited by Cynthia Bastidas of Semillita Productions. Photography by Donald Kennedy of Donald Kennedy Photography. Podcast introduction song is “Here I Am, Lord (I Come To Do Your Will),” music composed by Michael Ward and performed by the Music Ministry of the Church of St. Francis Xavier. All copyrighted music reproduced with permission of OneLicense copyright A-700530, rights reserved; music reprint license number 944. A special thanks to the staff of St. Francis Xavier and Father Ken Boller, SJ.

    To access a transcript of this episode, or to learn more about the Church of St. Francis Xavier visit: https://sfxavier.org/from-age-to-age-an-oral-history-podcast/# This episode was recorded and edited by Cynthia Bastidas of Semillita Productions. Photography by Donald Kennedy. Cover illustrations by Greg Guiteras. Podcast introduction song is “Here I Am, Lord (I Come To Do Your Will),” music composed by Michael Ward and performed by the Music Ministry of the Church of St. Francis Xavier. All copyrighted music reproduced with permission of OneLicense copyright A-700530, rights reserved; music reprint license number 944. A special thanks to the staff of St. Francis Xavier and Father Ken Boller, SJ.
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    22 m