In Podcasts, The Inner Life

Faith’s Role in Tragedy – The Inner Life – September 11, 2025

Patrick Conleyby Patrick Conley

Fr. Ryan Brady joins Patrick to discuss Faith’s Role in Tragedy

  • Father shares his story and where he was during 9/11
  • (13:27) what is the community’s role when going through traumatic events?
  • (15:23) Addison – My husband’s birthday is today. On his 21st b-day, the planes hit. It was probably the hardest day of his life. His mom also passed from Covid. It’s definitely been hard, but in the hardest times, our faith has been the safe place.
  • (19:47) Robert – So much bad happening right now. Going through crisis. We also have faith and Jesus’s apostles all suffered…we draw solace from it.

(28:45) Break 1

  • Mickey – My brother is being buried today. Riding a bike and a car crashed and killed him instantly. He was a veteran. after 9/11, he reenlisted. All of this tragedy, makes me as a Catholic, believe in God more and to be thankful to God for peace during this time.
  • (35:57) Ona Lee – I am the mom of Fr. Steve McGraw who was a 9/11 first responder. Took a wrong turn. Just ordained 3 months. God took him along the road and he landed in front of the Pentagon when the plane was crashing. By the grace of God…Fr. Steve was able to go there and give the last rites to 1 or 2 people. He was able to visit for many years many of the people affected.

(41:13) Break 2

  • Eduardo – Our freewill and how God gave it to us and how we’ve abused it with everything happening right now.
  • How can we have hope through difficult times.

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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.