
Heritage and Service: Reflecting on Columbus Day and Honoring a Champion of Charity
On today’s episode of JustLove, Monsignor Kevin Sullivan engages in two timely conversations. First, in recognition of Italian American Heritage Month and Columbus Day Weekend, he speaks with Professor William Connell, Professor of History and Italian Studies at Seton Hall University. Together, they explore the life and legacy of Christopher Columbus, the evolving ways his holiday has been celebrated in the United States by different communities, and the ongoing debates surrounding its observance. In the second segment, Monsignor Sullivan is joined by Deacon David Hessling of Catholic Charities of Western Tennessee, who was recently named Catholic Charities USA’s 2025 Volunteer of the Year. Deacon Hessling shares about his work leading the agency’s food pantry at Saint Alphonsus Catholic Church in Ovington, Tennessee, and how the pantry supports hundreds of families each week with essential food and services.
