In Podcasts, The Inner Life

Spiritual Friendship – The Inner Life – January 7, 2025

Patrick Conleyby Patrick Conley

Fr. Bobby Blood joins Patrick to discuss Spiritual Friendship

  • What is Friendship?
  • (10:47) How do we navigate seasons of life?
  • (15:20) Susanne – Greeting people daily. Having been retired taking care of people. I’ve found that being kind like to the cashier at the grocery store.

(19:06) Break 1

  • Maria – How can I attain a spiritual director so I can have a spiritual friendship?
  • (22:59) Nora – I have a couple of nieces who are adults. They appreciate my friendship, but I don’t hear back from them. How should I deal with this?
  • How do we know what friendships are good to have and which ones are not healthy?
  • What is the role of forgiveness in friendship?
  • Jessica – I was just recently at confession and my priest told me that I need to seek friends in the church. Why is that so important? I feel that I am old now and have a hard time understanding the why.

(40:44) Break 2

  • How do you navigate friendships between men and women?
  • Francesca – I’m a convert. 10 years ago. Old friends who are certainly non-Catholic. There’s been tension. Any ideas if I should pursue this friendship or how to approach.

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Patrick Conley

Patrick Conley

Patrick Conley was born, raised, and baptized in Wisconsin in a Protestant tradition. After meeting his wife, Kendra, through an Evangelical ministry at the University of Minnesota, they entered the Catholic Church in 2010. They listened to Relevant Radio, specifically The Inner Life, while preparing to enter the Church. Conley now holds a degree in theology from Oxford University and has served the Church in both academic theology and grassroots pastoral ministry. Conley teaches religion classes in a Catholic elementary school, serves as his parish Director of Religious Education, and is in formation for the permanent diaconate. He also hosts Practicing Catholic on Relevant Radio, exclusive to the Minneapolis area’s airwaves, and is a traveling presenter for the Catherine of Siena Institute apostolate. He lives in rural Wisconsin with his wife and their bulldogs, Georgie and Bingley.