Catholic Momcast

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Catholic Momcast 338: A Beautiful Second Act Book Club Week 3 (Part 2) Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

Listen to the podcast playback or watch the video from Week 3 of the Catholic Mom Book Club featuring A Beautiful Second Act by Maria Morera Johnson.

Maria and host Allison Gingras discuss Chapters 9 and 10 of our Book Club selection, chatting about the fascinating women profiled in this book and what we can learn from their successes and their difficulties. You have plenty of time to catch up on the reading if you're just getting started with this beautiful book.

What's the book about?

In A Beautiful Second Act, bestselling author Maria Morera Johnson explores the adventure of life's second half, drawing inspiration from twenty saints and "soul sisters" who faced these challenges with courage.

As advancements in health and medicine extend our lifespan, women of the sandwich generation — those balancing the needs of both children and parents — are experiencing a multitude of challenges as they transition out of the workforce and into the promise of retirement. A Beautiful Second Act: Saints and Soul Sisters Who Taught Me to Be a Badass Age with Grace contains encouragement and wisdom from saints and contemporary soul sisters who experienced similar challenges during their transition to midlife and beyond and offers insight into the aging process.

Chapter after chapter, these inspiring saints and contemporary changemakers from all over the world will help you, too, embrace your second half and the changes it brings to our health, our personal relationships, our responsibilities, our work, and our faith.

Catholic Momcast 337: Bishop Fulton Sheen with Cheryl Hughes Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

Maria Morera Johnson interviews Cheryl Hughes, mom, convert, and author of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: Convert Maker.

Cheryl C. D. Hughes holds a Ph.D. in historical theology from Durham University in England. Her books include Katharine Drexel: The Riches-to-Rags Story of an American Catholic Saint (2014) and Crossing Boundaries and Confounding Identity: Chinese Women in Literature, Art, and Film (2023). She and her husband live in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Links in Show:

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: Convert Maker

Catholic Momcast 336: A Beautiful Second Act Book Club Week 3 (Part 1) Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

Listen to the podcast playback or watch the video from Week 3 of the Catholic Mom Book Club featuring A Beautiful Second Act by Maria Morera Johnson.

Maria and host Allison Gingras discuss Chapters 7 and 8 of our Book Club selection, chatting about the fascinating women profiled in this book and what we can learn from their successes and their difficulties. You have plenty of time to catch up on the reading if you're just getting started with this beautiful book.

What's the book about?

Catholic Momcast 335: Retreat Mom Nancy Smith Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

Maria Johnson interviews Nancy Smith, O.F.S., Director of Holy Cross Retreat House in North Easton, Massachusetts.

from the Holy Cross Retreat House intro:

Launched in 1964 in a converted cow barn, the Retreat House has been a spiritual haven for thousands who have passed through its welcoming doors. It is located in Easton, Massachusetts, adjacent to Stonehill College, also founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross. The Retreat House is operated solely on private donations and retreat fees, and receives no state or federal funding. Among retreat houses in the Boston area and south of Boston, our retreat house has established its "market niche" by emphasizing Cursillo and Matt Talbot programs.

Link in Show:

Catholic Momcast 334: A Beautiful Second Act Book Club Week 2 Mar 27, 2025

Show notes

The March 2025 Book Club features Catholic Mom media editor Maria Morera Johnson and her new book, A Beautiful Second Act: Saints and Soul Sisters who Taught Me to Be a Badass Age with Grace, published by Ave Maria Press.

What's the book about?

Where can I get a copy of this book?

Ave Maria Press, the publisher, is offering a generous discount on A Beautiful Second Act: use code CATHOLICMOM to save 10% off the purchase price of the book. This offer expires April 27, 2025.

Catholic Momcast 333: Great and Small with Meg Herriot Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

Maria Morera Johnson interviews Catholicmom.com contributor Meg Herriot at the Catholic Mom Contributor retreat.

Meg Herriot is a veterinarian and Third Order Dominican. She enjoys spending time with family, friends, and pets and blogging at All Creatures Great and Crazy about being a veterinarian, mother, wife and most of all a Catholic trying to grow closer to God in a chaotic world.

Link in Show:

Catholic Momcast 332: A Beautiful Second Act Book Club Week 1 Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

What's the book about?

Where can I get a copy of this book?

Ave Maria Press, the publisher, is offering a generous discount on A Beautiful Second Act: use code CATHOLICMOM to save 10% off the purchase price of the book. This offer expires April 27, 2025.

Catholic Momcast 331: Meatless Recipes with Elizabeth Varga Mar 19, 2025

Show notes

Maria Morera Johnson and Barb Szyszkiewicz interview Elizabeth Varga, founder of At Elizabeth's Table, a recipe blog that exolores the intersection of food and the Catholic faith.

Elizabeth Varga is the founder of At Elizabeth's Table, a plant-based recipe blog that explores the relationship between food and the Catholic faith. With a passion for healthy living, she is a full-time food blogger and food photographer. When not in the kitchen, Elizabeth enjoys drinking coffee, working out, listening to podcasts, and going on long walks. Follow along with her blog at AtElizabethsTable.com.

Links in Show:

Catholic Momcast 330: Heart of Vines Mar 12, 2025

Show notes

Maria Morera Johnson interviews Lisa Brenninkmeyer, Founder and Chief Purpose Officer of Walking with Purpose (WWP), a Catholic women's ministry, and the new book for young women, Heart of Vines.

Lisa Brenninkmeyer is the Founder and Chief Purpose Officer of Walking with Purpose (WWP), a Catholic women's ministry. Lisa has authored 19 WWP Bible study courses, two devotionals, BLAZE and Sisters of Strength resources for Catholic tween/teens, and a guided prayer journal, and Heart of Vines for young adults — all of which lead women and young girls to a closer relationship with the Lord.

After hearing story after story of women looking for a safe place to ask questions about faith and needing ways to refuel, Lisa decided to do something to bring change. The result of her holy discontent is Walking with Purpose. Lisa is crazy about women, loves Christ passionately, and thinks the most exciting thing in the world is to connect the former with the latter. Lisa holds a BA in psychology from St. Olaf College and is pursuing her masters degree in Theology from Franciscan University. She and her husband Leo have seven children and five grandchildren and reside in St. Augustine, Florida.

Links in Show:

CatholicMom Prayercast 37: Joan Watson Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

Heidi Hess Saxton and Maria Morera Johnson interview Joan Watson, author of Opening the Holy Doors: Hope-Filled Scripture Reflections from St. Peter's Basilica.

In Opening the Holy Door, scripture teacher and seasoned tour guide Joan Watson takes you on a journey through the sixteen panels of the Jubilee Holy Door. With her knack for storytelling and love for scripture, she invites you to pause, pray, and reflect on the deeper meaning behind these stunning images. Using a blend of scripture and imaginative prayer, Joan helps you see each panel not just as art, but as a doorway into the great story of salvation.

Link in Show:·

Opening the Holy Door: Hope-Filled Scripture Reflections from St. Peter's Basilica.

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