We love what we do.
It’s our passion.

Founder/Host

Vince Dragone

Vince Dragone is a husband, a father, a brother, a friend, a son, a follower of Jesus Christ. As our host for the Encounter Mercy Podcast, he strives to share his own personal experiences of the love and mercy of Jesus Christ in his own life. A self-proclaimed “cradle-Catholic,” Vince recognizes that his faith journey was not always the easiest. Being a father, Vince recognized the need for faith and God in his and his family’s life after the birth of his first child. 

Vince likes to explore many hobbies, including podcasting, photography, whiskey tasting, beer brewing, wine making, and working out. While an introvert, he likes to share his experiences with others. Through the power of prayer and recognition of a need to follow the Will of God, Vince began the process to discern where God was calling him to share his experiences. In this moment of discernment, Vince felt called by God to start a podcast, thus the Encounter Mercy Podcast was born.

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Fr. Andy Boyd

Father Andrew Boyd is a Roman Catholic Priest for the Diocese of Erie, PA.

Father Andy entered seminary after high school, graduating from Gannon University and Saint Mark Seminary in 2014. In the fall of 2014, Father Andy began his Major Seminary Studies at Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe PA. Father Andy graduated from Saint Vincent Seminary with his Masters of Divinity in May 2018, and was ordained a priest in June 2018.

An avowed “Catholic Geek,” Fr. Andy spends his free time dabbling in media creation and network and server management.

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Jesse Spanogle

Jesse Spanogle is a father of four wonderful children and husband to his lovely wife Jessica. He functions as the Director of Faith Formation & Parish Ministries for St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Erie PA. Jesse has many years of experience in youth ministry and coordinates retreats/mission trips in the tri-state area. He has recently graduated from Mercyhurst University with a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. Jesse sits on many boards and committees for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie. In addition to his roles at the parish, he is a Retreat Master at Villa Maria Educational Center near Pulaski, PA.

Jesse enjoys Catholic Podcasts and YouTube videos which help him stay connected and relevant in his professional field. In his personal life, Jesse enjoys spending time in Quebec City with his family for summer vacation. He rather enjoys Catholic Conferences like NCCYM as well. He is honored to be surrounded by many great people who inspire him and allow creativity to flow for the Good of the Kingdom.

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Fr. AJ Gedney

Father AJ Gedney is a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington, KY.  After earning a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Cincinnati, he worked for a year doing polymer research and development.  In 2016, he quit his job and entered seminary.

Fr. AJ is a multi-instrumentalist, but enjoys playing guitar and bass the most.  He is a songwriter and for the last several years has been recording his music.  In addition to writing music, Fr. AJ spends his free time learning about science, especially in the fields of astronomy and chemistry.

Father AJ Gedney was ordained a priest on June 3, 2022 and is assigned as Parochial Vicar of Holy Cross Parish in Covington, KY and chaplain to Newport Central Catholic High School.

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Fr. Barnabas O’Reilly

Fr. Barnabas O’Reilly is a monk and priest of Saint Vincent Archabbey.

Fr. Barnabas is a very funny and loving monk. He truly has a spirit of servant leadership. He is a guide and a brother to all he meets.

Father Barnabas was ordained a priest May 14, 2022 and was assigned to Benedictine Military School in Savannah, Georgia, where he teaches Theology and Science.

If you are reading this, and know Fr. Barnabas, tell him to write a better biography.

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Your faith will grow only in the measure that you give it away.

–Bishop Robert Barron

Wait, who are you guys?

The Encounter Mercy Podcast is the result of prayerful discernment to evangelize our brothers and sisters utilizing Twenty-First Century methods in our Catholic Faith. We are not professional podcasters in any way, nor are we experts in communications. We don’t claim to know everything, but we are, however, men (some who happens to be priests, and a monk) who have a strong desire to share knowledge, faith, love, and experiences of Christ to the world.

Sometimes we will be funny. 

Sometimes we will be serious. 

Every time, we will be real and honest with you our listener, our family, our friends.

 …so make sure to subscribe to listen to our episodes weekly.

Evangelization is not something optional, but the very vocation of the People of God, a duty that corresponds to it by the command of the Lord Jesus Christ himself

Pope Benedict XVI, 40th Anniversary of Vatican II’s “Ad Gentes,” March 13, 2006

Moving Forward

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:19-20 NASB)

Throughout all of human history, all the way back to our first parents Adam and Eve, God made numerous covenants with His people. These covenants have always been promises to us, of the Father’s goodness and mercy, that He showers upon us, His Chosen People.

From the very beginning, God promised that He would be with His people. He guided His people out of Egypt, through the wilderness to the Promised Land. He is always with us guiding us, leading us back to Himself.

He has made us His disciples. He commissioned us to go into the world proclaiming the True and Living God to the ends of the earth. Our mission is not complete until we do this, living our life as a witness to His Merciful Love.

As we continue forward, let us find the peace of Jesus Christ in all aspects of our lives, showing the world the Risen Christ alive in our presence. We are the face of Christ, we are the hands and feet of Christ in this troubled world. For remember, Jesus Christ is truly risen from the dead!

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Gal 2:20 NASB)

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