Catholic Education Matters

This episode of Catholic Education Matters features an inspiring conversation with Dylan Drego, a Catholic educator, speaker, and creator of the Latin Prayer Podcast, as he shares his incredible journey of faith—from growing up in Dubai to discovering a deeper relationship with Christ through Catholic education, mentorship, and the rich traditions of the Church. Dylan reflects on the life-changing impact of prayer, the Rosary, the Latin Mass, and the Eucharist, while offering practical advice on raising children in the faith, overcoming vice through grace and sacrifice, and pursuing holiness in everyday life. Together, Dylan and host Troy Van Vliet discuss what it truly means to become a saint in the modern world, emphasizing that authentic Catholic living begins with prayer, intentional family life, and a wholehearted commitment to Christ. If you are interested in our school, make sure to check out our website: 🌐 https://www.sjp2academy.com/ Follow us on social media: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjp2academy/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sjp2academy 🐦 X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/SJPIIAcademy (00:00) - Intro (02:43) - Dylan’s Journey: India, Dubai, Canada & Finding His Catholic Identity (07:32) - Success, Wealth & Discovering What Really Matters (11:08) - The Purpose of Life: Becoming the Best Version of Yourself (15:55) - “What Would the Saint Version of Me Do?” (18:23) - Why Dylan Started the Latin Prayer Podcast (28:05) - How the Latin Mass Changed His Family’s Faith (33:43) - Teaching Children to Pray the Mass with Intention (41:05) - Can You Experience This at Any Catholic Mass? (45:52) - Overcoming Anger, Addiction & Vice Through Sacrifice (49:23) - Praying with the Saints & the Holy Souls (55:07) - The Rosary, Catholic Education & Rebuilding the Family (01:06:47) - Technology, AI & Forming Young Catholics in the Digital Age (01:26:42) - Final Advice for Parents Raising Children in the Faith (01:30:00) - Outro

In this episode of Catholic Education Matters, host Troy Van Vliet sits down with veteran educator, actor, and filmmaker Jimmy Crescenzo, founder of the East End Boys Club, to explore how faith, mentorship, and authentic relationships can transform the lives of young people. Drawing from his own experience growing up without a father, Jimmy shares how adversity shaped his mission to help at-risk youth build confidence, resilience, and purpose through theatre, filmmaking, and life-skills mentoring. Together, they discuss the importance of strong families, the role of community in supporting the next generation, the unique strengths of Catholic education, and why placing God at the center of education and life provides young people with the foundation they need to flourish. This inspiring conversation is a powerful reminder that one committed mentor—and one caring community—can change the course of a life. If you are interested in our school, make sure to check out our website: 🌐 https://www.sjp2academy.com/ Follow us on social media: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjp2academy/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sjp2academy 🐦 X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/SJPIIAcademy (00:00) - Intro (02:35) - Growing Up in an Italian Family & Losing His Father at Eight (07:21) - Why Family Dinners and Adversity Shaped His Life (09:12) - Turning Adversity Into Strength Instead of Victimhood (13:45) - From Acting and Teaching to Founding the East End Boys Club (17:20) - Reaching the Young Men Everyone Else Overlooked (20:20) - Expanding the Mission: Boys Clubs, Girls Programs & Lasting Mentorship (26:00) - Mentors, Life Skills & Why the Program Is Free for Every Student (30:15) - The Challenges Facing Education Today & the Importance of Faith (34:17) - Why Catholic Education Continues to Produce Strong Leaders (37:09) - Can Faith Be Integrated Into Mentorship Programs? (41:03) - Bureaucracy, Community Support & Serving Youth Outside the System (47:01) - Why Independent and Catholic Schools Are Thriving (50:45) - Ensuring Every Child Has Access to a Faith-Filled Education (54:02) - Incredible Success Stories from the East End Boys Club (58:20) - Why Relationships Matter More Than Résumés (01:01:45) - Preparing Young People for Careers, Leadership & Life (01:04:59) - The Simple Skills That Make Young People Stand Out (01:08:05) - Building Lasting Connections Through Respect and Gratitude (01:12:30) - Final Reflections: Faith, Mentorship & Changing Lives

In this episode of Catholic Education Matters, host Troy Van Vliet chats with renowned wildlife photographer, filmmaker, and St. John Paul II Academy parent John Banovich to explore an extraordinary journey of faith, suffering, resilience, and purpose. John shares the life-changing story of surviving a devastating head-on collision with an impaired driver that left him clinically dead, severely injured, and facing years of recovery and more than 140 surgeries. He reflects on how the experience deepened his faith, inspired his work with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and led him to speak to over 100,000 students across Canada. The conversation also touches on John's experiences during the Croatian War, the lessons he learned about mercy and forgiveness, and how encounters with God's presence in the wilderness shaped his award-winning career in wildlife photography and filmmaking. Through powerful stories of survival, service, and spiritual renewal, John reveals how suffering can become a path to purpose and how the beauty of creation can draw us closer to God. If you are interested in our school, make sure to check out our website: 🌐 https://www.sjp2academy.com/ Follow us on social media: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjp2academy/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sjp2academy 🐦 X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/SJPIIAcademy (00:00) - Intro (03:56) - Surviving a Deadly Head-On Collision and Miraculous Recovery (10:33) - From “Why Me?” to Trusting God’s Plan (17:35) - Serving in the Croatian War and Rediscovering Faith (21:33) - The Bishop’s Powerful Lesson on Mercy in War (24:42) - Transitioning from Trauma to Photography and Filmmaking (29:09) - Encountering the Holy Spirit in Canada’s Wilderness (34:08) - Creating Award-Winning Wildlife Art and the New Photography Book (37:31) - Exclusive Wildlife Prints and Limited Edition Art Collection (42:24) - Why I Never Photoshop My Wildlife Photography (43:45) - Finding God Through Nature and Catholic Education (45:02) - Wildlife Photography Adventures: Bears, Helicopters, and Remote Wilderness (49:12) - Life on the Road: Chasing Wildlife Across British Columbia (52:20) - Upcoming Art Show, Books, and Final Reflections (53:25) - Outro

In this special live panel discussion on the future and importance of Catholic education, host Troy Van Vliet brings together an outstanding group of Catholic educational leaders including Dr. Gerry Turcotte of Corpus Christi College and St. Mark’s College, Scott Roy of Catholic Pacific College, Anthony Walters of St. John Paul II Academy, and Mich DesLauriers for a thoughtful and engaging conversation about why Catholic education matters now more than ever. The panel explores the challenges facing young people in today’s increasingly secular and digitally driven culture, including loneliness, confusion around truth and identity, and the search for meaning and purpose. Throughout the discussion, the speakers explain how Catholic education offers students something deeper than academics alone — providing hope, authentic community, moral formation, spiritual grounding, and a clear sense of purpose rooted in faith in Jesus Christ. Drawing from decades of experience in Catholic schools, colleges, and universities, the panelists share personal stories and powerful insights about the role of prayer, service, virtue, leadership, and authentic Christian witness in shaping young people. The conversation dives into important themes such as objective versus subjective truth, the importance of living faith through action, the integration of intellectual and moral formation, and how Catholic schools help students develop confidence in their beliefs while engaging respectfully with a world that often challenges Christian values. From classroom culture and athletics to service projects and daily prayer, this discussion highlights how Catholic education seeks to form not only successful students, but compassionate, resilient, and faith-filled leaders prepared to serve their communities and live with integrity in today’s world. If you are interested in our school, make sure to check out our website: 🌐 https://www.sjp2academy.com/ Follow us on social media: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjp2academy/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sjp2academy 🐦 X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/SJPIIAcademy (00:00) - Intro (00:30) - Welcome & Introduction of the Catholic Education Panel (02:07) - Introducing the Educational Leaders and Their Mission (09:12) - Why Catholic Education Matters More Than Ever (10:12) - Hope, Loneliness, and the Crisis Facing Young People (12:27) - Meaning, Purpose, and Objective Truth in a Secular Culture (17:22) - Why Parents Continue to Choose Catholic Schools (21:16) - Beyond Academics: Formation, Prayer, and Character Development (30:18) - Faith in Action: Living the Gospel Through Service and Community (41:25) - Incarnational Education and the Crisis of Despair (43:26) - Forming Service-Minded Graduates Through Faith in Action (46:46) - Why Catholic Schools Must Prioritize Relationships Over Technology (50:15) - How the Alpha Program Reintroduces Students to Jesus Christ (52:25) - The One Virtue Young People Need Most: Grit (57:10) - AI, Human Connection, and the Future of Education (01:00:01) - How Catholic Schools Keep Their Identity and Faith Alive (01:09:09) - Answering Difficult Questions About the Catholic Faith with Confidence

In this episode of Catholic Education Matters, host Troy Van Vliet speaks with Mauricio Morales, director of Opus Dei’s Glenwood Centre in Vancouver, a vibrant character-building community for men focused on integrating faith into everyday life. Morales shares how Glenwood provides mentoring, spiritual direction, residence, and formation programs for high school students, university students, and professionals, all rooted in the vision of “sanctifying ordinary life” inspired by Saint Josemaría Escrivá. Through personal accompaniment, practical guidance, and strong community life, the Centre helps men grow in virtue, leadership, and purpose—especially amid modern cultural confusion about identity and masculinity. The conversation highlights the power of authentic friendship, mentorship, and living faith with intention, showing how small, consistent efforts toward excellence and integrity can transform lives and positively influence others in subtle but profound ways. If you are interested in our school, make sure to check out our website: 🌐 https://www.sjp2academy.com/ Follow us on social media: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjp2academy/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sjp2academy 🐦 X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/SJPIIAcademy (00:00) - Intro (00:49) - What Is Glenwood? Mission and Formation for Young Men (02:40) - Mauricio’s Journey: From Peru to Canada (05:08) - What Is Opus Dei? “God’s Work” Explained (07:16) - Life Inside Glenwood: Programs, Mentorship & Community (10:01) - Living at Glenwood: A Home for University Students (13:07) - A Day in the Life: Formation, Study, and Brotherhood (15:19) - Finding God in Ordinary Life: The Core Message (21:13) - Real Impact: Stories of Transformation Through Faith (28:48) - Challenges Facing Young Men Today (31:31) - Forming Leaders: Virtue, Excellence, and Purpose (36:26) - Beyond the Building: The True Mission of Opus Dei (37:24) - Bringing Faith Anywhere: Living the Message in Daily Life (37:32) - Can Opus Dei Gatherings Happen Outside Glenwood? (39:09) - How Schools Can Partner with Opus Dei (40:32) - The Critical Role of Teachers in Catholic Formation (42:00) - Why Faith Must Be Woven Into Every Subject (45:18) - Forming Students to Live Faith in the Real World (49:00) - Leading by Example: Faith in Action at Catholic Schools (54:12) - Outro