Welcome to “Discerning Hearts”
a spiritual retreat stop for those who travel on the digital sea.

“Discerning Hearts is a trusted resource for Catholic spirituality and teaching. I support it as an apostolate for the new evangelization that brings the Good News to every corner of the world through the internet.”   Most Reverend George J. Lucas, Archbishop of Omaha

[powerpress]

Discerning Hearts became an official non-profit apostolate in 2011. It is dedicated to evangelization and spiritual formation through new media. Discerning Hearts creates engaging multi-media, specializing in audio productions (known as podcasts and radio broadcasts) faithful to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and it’s rich authentic spiritual tradition. Its mission responds to the Church’s call to use the media for evangelization, catechesis and spiritual renewal.

Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict recently spoke to the US Bishops from Region 2 saying, “Only through interior renewal will we be able to discern and meet the spiritual needs of our age with the ageless truth of the Gospel”…that is our goal.

Thanks to the generosity of its large online community over this past year, Discerning Hearts has grown both the sizes of its audiences and the number of shows it produces. As a ministry, Discerning Hearts makes real contributions to the use of new media in the Catholic Church.  Many of our series are produced and formatted so they may used freely on Catholic radio stations (such as the Spirit Catholic Radio Network, it’s “parent” in ministry), as well as, other new media outlets in their various forms….allowing broadcasting to occur in it’s “broadest” sense.

With a consistent and growing number of podcasts in its line-up, Discerning Hearts is looking forward to the upcoming year of 2012 with prayer-filled hope and enthusiasm. The New Year, which Pope Benedict XVI has dedicated to the New Evangelization, will see:

• new series dedicated to prayer and formation by Archbishop George Lucas, Fr. Timothy Gallagher (The Examen Prayer and More), Deacon James Keating, Dr. Anthony Lilles (Beginning to Prayer and Elizabeth of the Trinity), Adrian Walker (Adrienne von Spyer), Omar F. A. Gutierrez, Teresa Monaghen, Msgr. John Esseff and so much more.
• More audio books will supply the best teachings from the Saints, as well as more prayers and devotionals set to the highest of audio productions standard which will be available to all freely around the world.
• The production of “Inside the Pages” will expand in three different directions:
• 1. For current writings
• 2. The best of Spiritual writing
• 3. The Great Works of Modern Literature.

In 2011, Discerning Hearts was an invited participant in the first Vatican Bloggers Meeting, held in Rome on May 2nd. Additionally, a new social media strategy gave Discerning Hearts a wider online presence on sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus, allowing it to build a stronger online community and to reach out to the secular world in new ways.

Our dream is to one day offer conferences featuring Discerning Hearts contributors, and possibly expanding into areas of video and electronic publishing production. We are discerning, pondering and asking for the Father’s guidance for the future. Please pray for us and for that clarity.

For many people all around the world, Discerning Hearts is a daily source of inspiration, spiritual nourishment and encouragement. We can only do this thanks to the generous financial support of our friends and benefactors.

The world is looking for answers, for spiritual guidance and authentic discernment, for relationship and community. Your support is very much needed and appreciated. Please keep our mission in your prayers.

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary, nurture and pray for us.

Our Leadership Board

Deacon James Keating Ph.D.
Director Theological Formation,
Institute for Priestly Formation located at Creighton University, Omaha, NE
Director of Permanent Diaconate Program, Archdiocese of Omaha, NE

Mr. Omar Gutierrez, M.A.
Special Assistant to the Archbishop of Omaha, NE
Manager: Office of Missions and Justice, Archdiocese of Omaha, NE

Dr. Karen Dwyer, Ph.D.
Assistant Director,
School of Communication
Speech Communication Division Coordinator
University of Nebraska, Omaha

Msgr. John Esseff
Diocese of Scranton, PA
Spiritual Director, Institute for Priestly Formation, Omaha, NE and Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity, International

Ms. Teresa Monaghen, AO
Moderator of the Secular Institute of the Apostolic Oblates
National Director of the Pro Sanctity Movement holds an STB in Theology from Rome and a MA in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University, Omaha

Mrs. Sharon Doran, MA
Teaching Director “Seeking Truth Catholic Bible Study”

Privacy Policy

Founder and editor/producer/executive director of  “Discerning Hearts”

Kris McGregor met her husband Bruce while they were working at the same rock radio station in Minnesota. The McGregor’s have been married for 28 years, a number which confounds those who knew them then, but affirms both of their mother’s belief in the power of prayer. Because of Bruce’s very successful career as a radio programmer with some of the largest broadcast groups in the country (Milwaukee, Detroit, Orlando and Baltimore), they’ve lived and traveled far and wide, but 9 years ago they finally said “enough” and they returned to the nest they call home…Omaha, Nebraska. The McGregor’s would return to be a part of Spirit Catholic Radio. With Bruce as station programmer and Kris’ education and experience in theology and ministry within the Catholic Church (having served as a DRE, Pastoral Minister and Liturgist), they would once again work together in radio for 5 years on the “Spirit Morning Show” .

Kris has interviewed literally hundreds of today’s major educators, authors and evangelists in (and outside) the Catholic Church. She has broadcast from areas as far away as Rome and as remote as the mountain tops of Guatemala. Kris has also produced a wide range of series under the banner “Discerning Hearts presents” with topics ranging from the Fathers of the Church to Christian Spirituality and Apologetics to Women’s Fertility, hosting series for Catholic leaders like Mike Aquilina, Joseph Pearce, Dr. Thomas Hilgers, Deacon James Keating, and Dr. R. R. Reno to name a few. As the host of “Inside the Pages”, Kris talks with many of today’s most compelling authors and which is heard on Catholic Radio stations around the country. She has also given numerous talks on subjects ranging from the Blessed Virgin Mary to Media and the Family.

Her latest endeavor is “Discerning Hearts”, a Catholic website which was recently selected as by the OSV readers guide to the Internet, as one of the top spots highlighting Catholic Spirituality. She was also invited by the Pontifical Council for Social Communication to participate in the first ever “Blogger Gathering” in Rome on May 2, 2011, the day after the beatification of John Paul II, who some would say is the Father of the New Evangelization.

Bruce and Kris have 3 unique kids (2 of which are challenged with autism) and 3 unique dogs (all challenged with being Pugs).

Here I am with my wonderful husband, Bruce…he’s the best man I know! We’ve had great fun working together on KVSS Spirit Catholic Radio’s – Spirit Morning Show!!!

Click here for the Our Sunday Visitor article on us by Mark Sullivan!

Here are just some of our interviews over the last few years.

And our Funniest Moments with T. Scott Marr (a crowd favorite)