Catholic Momcast 274: In the Trenches Book Club Week Two

Join author Kelsey Gillespy for the third session of our 4-week Book Club and nurture your spiritual life amid the chaos and beauty of raising littles.

We're reading In the Trenches: Finding God Through Parenting Littles by Kelsey Gillespy for our Winter 2024 Book Club!

This week, we hosted the second session of our Winter 2024 Book Club! We're reading In the Trenches: Finding God Through Parenting Littles by Kelsey Gillespy. 

In our Book Club discussion, Kelsey and her editor Courtney Saponaro joined us to talk about part 3 of this book, "Who Are You?" Beginning by focusing on moms' tendency to focus so deeply on others that their sense of self disappears, Kelsey affirms that God wants us to continue, as mothers, to live as the person He has made us to be.

Lisa Hendey and Maria Johnson sit down with Celeste Behe to discuss the St. Monica Ministry, an apostolate of prayer and support for families of those no longer practicing the faith.

Lisa Hendey and Maria Johnson sit down with Celeste Behe to discuss the St. Monica Ministry, a dedicated community and prayer network offering support to the families and friends of fallen-away Catholics. It is a rapidly-growing apostolate, with subscribers in forty U.S. states, as well as in Spain, South Africa, Malta, Trinidad and Tobago, the Philippines, Nova Scotia, Ireland, Australia, and Canada. 

Show Notes Links: 

• CelesteBehe.com  
• www.instagram.com/stmonicaministry/  
• www.facebook.com/stmonicaministry/ 

Heidi Hess Saxton and Maria Morera Johnson welcome Marge Steinhage Fenelon, author of Behold Your Mother: Marian Stations of the Cross (OSV)

Marge Steinhage Fenelon is an award-winning and best-selling author, international speaker, certified spiritual mentor, and Professional Life Coach. She has written several books on Marian devotion and Catholic spirituality. As a life coach, she is passionate about helping others grow personally and spiritually. Her podcast, Simply Holy, airs on many popular podcast platforms.

Links in Show:Behold Your Mother: Marian Stations of the Cross (OSV)
Our Lady, Undoer of Knots: A Living Novena (Ave Maria Press)

Join author Kelsey Gillespy for the second session of our 4-week Book Club and nurture your spiritual life amid the chaos and beauty of raising littles.

We're reading In the Trenches: Finding God Through Parenting Littles by Kelsey Gillespy for our Winter 2024 Book Club!

This week, we hosted the second session of our Winter 2024 Book Club! We're reading In the Trenches: Finding God Through Parenting Littles by Kelsey Gillespy. 

In our Book Club discussion, Kelsey and her editor Courtney Saponaro joined us to talk about the way God is parenting us through our parenting journey. (Courtney confided that this is probably her favorite section of the book! Do you agree?) They also answered questions about spiritual reading, getting to know God as both Father and Bridegroom, and how moms can heal spiritually after miscarriage.

Rob Kaczmark is an Emmy award-winning filmmaker, producer, and the proud father of two young sons. He's also the CEO and President of Spirit Juice Studios, a company leading the way in the high-quality production of multimedia content for Catholic dioceses, schools, non-profit organizations, religious orders, and other clients across the country and around the world. 

Juice Box is an online children’s show and YouTube channel designed to entertain kids and grown-ups while teaching the Catholic faith. We introduce faith-based topics on a level that young children will understand, engage with, enjoy, and (most importantly) remember. 

Show Notes Links: 

• https://www.spiritjuicekids.com/ 
• https://www.youtube.com/@SpiritJuiceKids 
• https://www.instagram.com/spiritjuicekids/ 
• https://www.facebook.com/spiritjuicekids 

CatholicMom Prayercast hosts Heidi Hess Saxton and Maria Morera Johnson discuss Lenten practices on this upcoming Ash Wednesday.

Heidi and Maria discuss the Lenten practice of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Links for Show: 

The Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers edited by Heidi Hess Saxton

• Heidi's author page
• Maria's author page

Lisa Hendey and Maria Morera Johnson share a conversation with Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross, on the upcoming Global Rosary for World Peace. 

Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., the Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross, invites the Catholic Mom community and their families to join Holy Cross ministry centers around the world on five continents in 18 countries, to pray for world peace on the First Friday in Lent, February 16. 

Links in Show:

Holy Cross Family Ministries Pray for Peace

A World at Prayer Is a World at Peace By Fr. Willy Raymond, C.S.C.

We're reading In the Trenches: Finding God Through Parenting Littles by Kelsey Gillespy for our Winter 2024 Book Club!

In our Book Club discussion, Kelsey and her editor Courtney Saponaro joined us to talk about how, just by being moms, we get to live the call of Jesus. We get to put flesh and bone onto the works that He's called us to do. 

Kelsey reminded us that our kids are not there to distract us from God, but to bring us closer to God.

We chatted about why the book begins with the topic of loneliness, the influence of social media on moms, and the works of mercy. And we talked quite a bit about sleep, because sometimes that's what a mom needs most!

Join the CatholicMom Team, Lisa Hendey, Maria Johnson, Barb Szyszkiewicz, and Allison Gingras to celebrate a virtual baby shower for Bayleigh Marquis and all expectant mothers.

This week, we gather our entire Catholic Mom team to talk about babies, advice for new mothers, and of course, to celebrate with Bayleigh and precious Baby M. We’ll offer some sage advice from our Catholic Mom contributors and give Bayleigh an opportunity to share a little bit of her journey to motherhood. 

Hosts Maria Morera Johnson and Heidi Hess Saxton welcome Margaret H. (Peggy) Hartshorn, Ph.D., currently Chairman of the Board of Heartbeat International,

Margaret H. (Peggy) Hartshorn, Ph.D., currently Chairman of the Board of Heartbeat International, has served on the Board for 30 years, and served as Heartbeat’s President for 23 years (1993-2015). She is the author of The Love Approach: 4 Proven Steps to Transforming Relationships in Your Family, Church, and Community.

In August 2023, Dr. Hartshorn was recognized by the USCCB, and presented with the “People of Life” Award. Today, Peggy travels and speaks extensively, sharing her hands-on experience with pregnancy help ministries as they develop programs on abortion recovery and alternatives, sexual integrity, and adoption. She has been married to Michael Hartshorn for 47 years. They have two adopted children and five grandchildren.

Links in Show

• Heartbeat International
• The Love Approach: 4 Proven Steps to Transforming Relationships in Your Family, Church, and Community