Four Dominican friars translating centuries of wisdom for modern Catholics
Behind every episode of the Godsplaining podcast is a team of four Dominican friars who bring centuries of theological tradition into sharp, accessible conversation for the modern Catholic. Their academic backgrounds are impressive — but what sets them apart is how deeply they care about helping ordinary people encounter God.
Quick Reference| Host | Academic Focus | Key Role |
|---|---|---|
| Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress | Sacred Theology, Divinity | Promoter of the Rosary, chaplaincy |
| Fr. Gregory Pine | Dogmatic Theology | Moral theology, virtue ethics |
| Fr. Patrick Briscoe | Moral Theology | Social communication, preaching |
| Fr. Bonaventure Chapman | Philosophy, Metaphysics | Faith and contemporary culture |
Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress, O.P.
Fr. Joseph-Anthony entered the Dominican Order in 2010 and has focused his formation on theological study, liturgical life, and pastoral service. He earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology and a Master of Divinity from the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception. He has served as Chaplain to the Catholic Hoos at the University of Virginia and currently serves as Associate Director of the Dominican Friars Foundation.
As Promoter of the Rosary for the Province of St. Joseph, Fr. Joseph-Anthony is deeply invested in spreading Rosary devotion and raising awareness of its significance among the faithful — a passion that flows naturally into his podcast conversations.
Teaching Style and Themes
Fr. Joseph-Anthony has a reflective, gentle style that makes personal growth and spiritual formation accessible to all listeners. His chaplaincy background allows him to help people understand Catholic doctrine in the context of their daily lives. On Godsplaining, he discusses the rosary's role in spiritual warfare, the lives of the saints, and how young and new Catholics can enter more deeply into the faith.
In "Bl. Bartolo Longo and the Holy Rosary," Fr. Joseph-Anthony joins Fr. Patrick to trace Longo's remarkable conversion and how his devotion to the rosary reshaped the Church's understanding of prayer as a path to healing.
Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P.
Fr. Gregory Pine is an Assistant Professor at the Dominican House of Studies and holds a doctorate in dogmatic theology from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. His published works include Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly and Training the Tongue and Growing Beyond Sins of Speech. He is also a contributor to the Thomistic Institute, where he focuses on moral and dogmatic theology.
Teaching Style and Themes
Fr. Gregory's greatest gift is clarity. He makes complex theological concepts understandable without reducing their depth — whether discussing the nature of grace, virtue ethics, or the intricacies of Catholic moral teaching. On Godsplaining, his warmth and precision create a space where listeners of any background come away with a richer understanding of the Church and its traditions.
In "The Rosary, St. Dominic & a Path to Purity," Fr. Gregory explores how the rosary supports both personal spiritual journeys and the broader life of the Catholic community.
Fr. Patrick Briscoe, O.P.
Fr. Patrick Briscoe is Promoter General for Social Communication of the Order of Preachers, based in Rome. He holds a licentiate in moral theology from the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception and has served as a theology instructor at Providence College and a parish priest at St. Pius V Catholic Church. His books include Saint Dominic's Way of Life and Witness: A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation.
Teaching Style and Themes
Fr. Patrick brings an engaging, pastoral warmth to every discussion. His experience with students and young adults gives him a natural ability to connect theological concepts with everyday lived faith. On Godsplaining, he explores the rosary, the Eucharist, contemporary issues facing the Church, and the lives of the saints — including detailed episodes on Bl. Bartolo Longo and the papacy of Pope Francis.
Fr. Bonaventure currently serves as Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the Catholic University of America. He entered the Order of Preachers in 2011 and holds theology degrees from Oxford University and the Dominican House of Studies, along with a Ph.D. in philosophy focused on early modern German metaphysics. His work intersects faith and philosophy in a way that makes the deepest intellectual questions of the faith accessible.
Teaching Style and Themes
Fr. Bonaventure pushes listeners to engage with the faith from an intellectual standpoint while grounding every discussion in personal devotion. On Godsplaining, he tackles questions many Catholics are too hesitant to ask — including the existence of God, whether Christians worship three gods, and how the Church Fathers speak to today's questions. His philosophical rigor, paired with pastoral warmth, makes difficult concepts genuinely approachable.
All four friars share a deep commitment to the rosary as a path to Christ. Whether from the angle of history, moral theology, pastoral preaching, or philosophy, each friar brings the rosary to life differently — and together they make Godsplaining one of the richest Catholic podcasts available.
Source: Content produced for The Catholic Woodworker · youtube.com/@thecatholicwoodworker · April 2026
Q&A Flashcards: The Dominican Friars of Godsplaining
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