Thriving in the Trenches a Catholic Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 49: Summer Series with Kristine Franklin of the Hello and Welcome Podcast Jul 30, 2018

Show notes

We are continuing our fun summer series with a fellow podcaster, Kristine Franklin of the Hello and Welcome Podcast. We had a most delightful time with this brilliant storyteller who is full of wit, wisdom, and a wealth of knowledge. Kristine is a woman after God's own heart and she not only shares her journey to Catholicism but also shares about her 20 plus years in Catholic media ministry. You don't want to miss this episode.

#womenencouragingwomen

Please consider financially supporting our Podcast Our Guest:

Kristine L. Franklin was raised in a fundamentalist evangelical church where she learned to love Jesus, read the Bible, and share her faith with anyone who would listen. She graduated from Biola University with a B.A. in Communications, a Minor in Biblical Studies and the deep desire to serve as a foreign missionary.

In 1991 Kristine and her husband Marty and their two children moved to Central America as lay missionaries. During this time they began to question many of the presuppositions of Protestantism as they saw its problems fully exposed in an international, multi-denominational setting. After several years of study, prayer and difficult inner struggle, Kristine and Marty knew that to live in obedience to Christ meant being fully united with His Church. The whole family was received into the Catholic Church in 1995.

Kristine is the award-winning author of a dozen children's books. She has written for ENVOY, NEW COVENANT, and OUR SUNDAY VISITOR. Kristine was the co-host of the popular EWTN series, "Household of Faith," and "Now That We're Catholic!" and has been a guest on both "The Journey Home," and "The Abundant Life" television programs. She is an occasional conference speaker.

Kristine has worked in Catholic Radio and now produces and hosts the podcast Hello and Welcome! She can be reached at helloandwelcomepodcast@gmail.com

Website www.helloandwelcomeshow.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hellowelcomeshow/ Instagram: hellowelcomeshow Twitter name @hellowelcomerc Show Notes:

Mercy Unwrapped, a Podcast, was recorded in the Extraordinary Year of Mercy. In this series you will hear remarkable stories of ordinary people, touched by the mercy and grace of God.
Powerful Radio, a book by Valerie Geller
Kristine Franklin's episode on Journey Home
Podcast episode with Timothy O'Malley on Infertility from the Male Perspective

Episode 48: Summer Series with Noelle Mering Jul 15, 2018

Show notes

Please consider supporting our Podcast

One thing we have come to love to do around here is get to know other women that have a postive online presence and/or are also giving of their time and talents for a Catholic ministry focused on encouraging women. This week we get to do just that with a lighthearted conversation with Noelle Mering. Noelle is a wife and mother, writer, and editor/social media manager for Helena Daily. Noelle shares her journey of faith to this point in her life. We think you will enjoy getting to know the faith-filled and fun woman behind the very popular Met Gala and Sex and City media pieces. One of those articles actually landed her on a Fox News Live radio segment. Listen in to hear the rest of the story.

Our Guest:

Noelle Mering Noelle Mering is the Arts and Culture editor and social media manager for helenadaily.com. She studied philosophy and theatre at Westmont College in California and did graduate work in philosophy at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. Noelle and her husband live in Southern California with their six children.

You can connect with Noelle on FB, IG, Twitter

You can find all of her published work at NoelleMering.com

Show Notes:

Since Its Debut 20 Years Ago, 'Sex And The City's' Profoundly Unrealistic View Of The World Has Hurt Women (The Federalist)
Takeaway Message from the Met Gala: The Sexual Revolution is Tired (National Catholic Register)
Many more articles can be found at NoelleMering.com

Episode 47: Humanae Vitae with Mallory Smyth Jun 17, 2018

Show notes

"Humanae Vitae made me embrace the Church again". These words spoken by our guest, Mallory Smyth of ENDOW, are both gripping and also echo the hearts of many women whose hearts have been touched by the profound words of Pope Paul VI in Humanae Vitae. Fifty years ago, July 25, The Church and the world received this church document and the words are just as important today:

"The transmission of human life is a most serious role in which married people collaborate freely and responsibly with God the Creator. It has always been a source of great joy to them, even though it sometimes entails many difficulties and hardships.

The fulfillment of this duty has always posed problems to the conscience of married people, but the recent course of human society and the concomitant changes have provoked new questions. The Church cannot ignore these questions, for they concern matters intimately connected with the life and happiness of human beings."

These are the treasures of wisdom gifted to us from Jesus through Mother Church.

Please consider supporting our Podcast Our Guest:

Mallory Smyth speaks around the country on topics such as catholic worldview, inheritance of faith and the feminine genius. Mallory fell in love with Jesus during her junior year at Louisiana State University and entered into full-time ministry after working one year as an accountant. She served as a FOCUS missionary for five years and is currently the director of program growth for ENDOW, Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women. It is her dream to see Catholics fall deeply in love with the God who loved them first, fully living the joy of the Gospel. Mallory currently lives in Denver with her husband, Jared and their two daughters, Penelope and Eliza.

Show Notes:

ENDOWgroups.Org
What They Didn't Teach You in Sex Ed, by Vicki Thorne
Humanae Vitae, 50 Years Later: Progress or Regress?, by Janet Smith at Christendom
Girl Genius I – Defining Dignity, by Endow Groups
Letter to Women, by Pope John Paul ii
The God Delusion, by Richard Dawkins

Call to Action –

Let us not be afraid to unearth the treasures of The Church, especially Humane Vitae. Know more, learn more, and share more with others.

Scripture –

18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." – Matthew 28:18-20

Saint Quote –

"Thank you, every woman, for the simple fact of being a woman! Through the insight which is so much a part of your womanhood you enrich the world's understanding and help to make human relations more honest and authentic." – St. John Paul ii

Episode 46: Evangelization Through Geo-Location with Catholic Connect Jun 04, 2018

Show notes

Want to be inspired by the younger generation of Catholics? Would you like to be encouraged in your own journey and how you can connect with other Catholics in your own neck of the woods? This type of evangelization is far beyond what social media platforms can do. Richy Orozco of Catholic Connect has embarked on this remarkable journey of taking online connections and making them happen in real life. His passion to build community within our local communities is a huge task but he is using the uniqueness of his stage of life to build up the kingdom of God.

Please consider supporting our Podcast Our Guest:

Richy Orozco is bilingual and in his last semester of college at C. T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston. He's most likely drinking coffee, hanging out with friends, learning new things about technology, or talking to his priest friends. Throughout his youth he was always involved in youth groups and after finishing high school he realized that there was a lack of resources to connect Catholics to their community. He founded Catholic Connect, a social media apostolate that reaches over five million people per week. His original goal was to help young fallen away Catholics reconnect with their faith although it quickly turned into an apostolate for all, young, old, and reaching people from all over the world. His largest audience are 25-34 year olds and his top countries include USA, Brazil, Indonesia, Phillipines, Venezuela, Colombia, and Mexico. For the last two years Richy and his programmers have been working on a social media platform that will help everyday Catholics connect with their community. Connect more with Richy through his social media or emailh him at richyorozco@catholicconnect.co

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richyorozco

Twitter: https://twitter.com/richyorozco2013 FB: facebook.com/richy.oro Show Notes:

If you would like to support Catholic Connect, go to YouCaring

Call to Action –

What desire has God planted in your heart to further the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ? Let us connect with one another not only in a social media way but also let us increase our face to face community impacts.

Scripture –

"19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teachingthem to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." – Matthew 28: 19-20

Saint Quote –

"Your daily encounter with Christ takes place right where you work, where your aspirations and your affections are. There we must seek sanctity, in the midst of the most material things of the earth, serving God and all humankind." -St. Josemaría Escrivá

Episode 45: Unbound Ministries – Matt Lozano May 14, 2018

Show notes

Happy Mother's Day to all those who have built up and nurtured others as either physical mothers or spiritual mothers.

On the heels of our 2 episodes about the occult and New Age, we decided that it was a good idea to go ahead and release this episode a week early. (We may take the whole month of June off, haha :)) We heard from so many of you telling us how those previous episodes had helped you and are now looking for the next step. Of course, as we have said so many times, Confession is your Sacrament of healing. But we also want to talk about a beautiful ministry that is an absolute jewel for us in the trenches of this world. This step is one to be used over and over in our daily lives and also is a valuable tool to use with children and friends.

UNBOUND Ministry is an approach to deliverance and healing prayer developed by Neal Lozano. The focus of the UNBOUND model is on an individual as you deeply listen into their story and heart. UNBOUND is a safe, loving, effective prayer model that helps people to respond to the good news of the gospel. UNBOUND applies the truth to our lives by using five basic responses called the Five Keys .The Five Keys are: Repentance and Faith, Forgiveness, Renunciation, Authority, and The Father's Blessing

Please consider supporting our Podcast Our Guest:

Matthew Lozano serves as Director of Leadership Development for Heart of the Father Ministries. He has twelve years of teaching experience and holds a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Villanova University and a Master's Degree in Theology from the Augustine Institute. He and his wife Jennifer have four children and live in the Philadelphia area. He is the coauthor of the Unbound Ministry Guidebook and Abba's Heart.

Show Notes:

Call to Action –

Is there an area of your life that is making you feel a little more irritated or angry and reacting in harsher ways than normal? Let us all consider what area or areas in our life that may be bound by the lies of the evil one. Let us all pursue freedom in Christ.

Scripture –

"10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." – John 10:10-11

Saint Quote –

"Whoever does not seek the cross of Christ doesn't seek the glory of Christ." – St. John of the Cross

Episode 44: The Occult and New Age – Sue Brinkmann Part 2 May 07, 2018

Show notes

Have you started to feel this strange lack of desire for your faith or not really wanting to pray your rosary? Have you started to actually question and disagree with some of the Church's teachings? Have you noticed an inability to focus or an irritability while trying to pray or read the Scriptures? We finish the rest of the conversation with Sue Brinkmann where we share and unpack some more of the false notions and downright lies we have been sold about personality tests, enneagrams, witchcraft, and other New Age practices. Referring to St. Teresa of Avila's writings, Sue shares that even if we are close to a transforming union with the Lord we are still capable of falling. Most importantly we must remember we can be deceived at all times. May you be blessed in this final installment on New Age.

Please consider supporting our Podcast Our Guest:

Susan Brinkmann, OCDS, author and journalist, has joined Living His Life Abundantly & Women of Grace as Staff Writer. Susan is a member of the Third Order of Discalced Carmelites and comes to us from The Catholic Standard and Times, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, where she served for six years as a Correspondent. She has won numerous national awards for her work and has published several books, including two historical fiction novels, a book on Carmelite prayer entitled, "Lord Teach us to Pray" and a book on the fraudulent research of Alfred C. Kinsey entitled, "The Kinsey Corruption," published by Ascension Press. She has devoted her life and talents to building up the Church and tearing down the culture of death, and is pleased that the Lord has called her to LHLA/Women of Grace to continue this vocation. Susan is single and writes for us from her home in Horsham, Pennsylvania. Look for Sue's articles on websites www.womenofgrace.com and in future issues of Canticle. You can reach Sue at sbrinkmann@womenofgrace.com.

Show Notes:

Pontifical Document, Jesus Christ The Bearer of the Water of Life, A Christian reflection on the "New Age"
Sue's articles at Women of Grace
New Age Blog from Women of Grace
The Enneagram, by Sue Brinkmann
What's Missing from the Mindful Catholic?
The Catholic Guide to Mindfulness, by Sue Brinkmann
We Need to Talk: God Speaks to a Modern Girl, by Sue Brinkmann
Catholics and the New Age, Father Mitch Pacwa
Yoga: A Cautionary Tale by Jenny Uebbing
SoulCore – A great workout that you could try in place of yoga
The Temperament God Gave You by Art and Laraine Bennett
Learn to Discern a Compendium by Sue Brinkkmann

Call to Action –

When we start having weird levels of anger, let us be honest with ourselves and ask the Lord what is it that is actually agitating us. If you feel like you may have opened the door to any negative spiritual influences, please find your way to the confessional. Confession is the Sacrament of Healing that can release you from bondage. Come Home.

Scripture –

"3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. " – 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Saint Quote –

"If we want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it." -St. Mother Teresa

Episode 43: New Age and the Occult – Sue Brinkmann Part 1 Apr 30, 2018

Show notes

Yoga, Enneagram, New Age, Mindfulness. Every time these topics came up as one to address, it always came with a huge hesitation. The New Age movement within Christendom is quickly becoming an undeniably divisive and dangerous issue. We knew that if we were to do this well, we needed someone to help us wade through these waters by giving solid statistics and years of experience. Sue Brinkmann was our first choice. Sue reminds us so beautifully that when people get caught up in the New Age or Occult they are typically just searching. As one who used to be entrenched in The New Age practices herself, Sue has become one of the leading researchers for the Catholic Church. Most people who participate in New Age have no substantial knowledge of what it is they are getting into. Our desire in this two-part series is to inform and to encourage our listeners to know how to better choose solely a Christ-centered spirituality.

Please consider supporting our Podcast Our Guest:

Show Notes:

Pontifical Document, Jesus Christ The Bearer of the Water of Life, A Christian reflection on the "New Age"
Sue's articles at Women of Grace
New Age Blog from Women of Grace
What's Missing from the Mindful Catholic?
The Catholic Guide to Mindfulness, by Sue Brinkmann
We Need to Talk: God Speaks to a Modern Girl, by Sue Brinkmann
Catholics and the New Age, Father Mitch Pacwa
Yoga: A Cautionary Tale by Jenny Uebbing
SoulCore – A great workout that you could try in place of yoga

Call to Action –

Let us all take a moment and ask us what we have made an idol in our lives. Is there something that we have allowed to take the place of Christ in our lives? If so, let us go to the Sacrament of Healing, Reconciliation. We must be open to receive God's Mercy and Healing and make Jesus Christ the only Lord of our lives.

Scripture –

Saint Quote –

"If we want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it." -St. Mother Teresa

Episode 42: Mentorship/Discipleship Apr 16, 2018

Show notes

We are created for relationships: parents and children, siblings, best friends, spousal relationships, work place friendships, and neighborhood communities. We are fed and encouraged and supported through others. Christians refer to this beauty as the mystical Body of Christ; we are His hands and feet. Have you ever been intentional with another woman in matters of spiritual growth or just day to day life? Has another woman ever poured this life giving energy into you? Megan and Becky have both been blessed by other women in this way and they have tried to gift that to others also. This week we want to encourage all of our listeners to ask God to help you seek out women who can intentionally pour into their lives. Or, ask the Lord if it is your calling to pour into another. Is there a woman in the pew every Sunday morning that continues to move your heart? And by all means ladies, just living a faithful life and keeping our tongues from gossip and slander will go a very long way in building up the women around us. Evangelization is not only a right but also an obligation.

Please consider supporting our Podcast Show Notes:

Johnette Benkovic of Women of Grace has plenty of great resources
Mary Healy's book, Healing: Bringing the Gift of God's Mercy to the World
Amy Thomas article about being called and gifted
Forming Intentional Disciples by Sherry Weddell
Called and Gifted from the Catherine of Siena Institute
The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle
Vatican II document
"The sacred liturgy does not exhaust the entire activity of the Church": it must be preceded by evangelization, faith, and conversion. It can then produce its fruits in the lives of the faithful: new life in the Spirit, involvement in the mission of the Church, and service to her unity." CCC 1072
"The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions." CCC 1131

Call to Action –

Let us focus on hearing from the Lord more and hearing when He has asked us to encourage another. God wants to love on us through other persons.

Scripture –

"Bid the older women likewise to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be sensible, chaste, domestic, kind, and submissive to their husbands, that the word of God may not be discredited." – Titus 2:3-4

Saint Quote –

"It is not enough to love the young, they must know that they are loved" – St. John Bosco

Episode 41: Our Inheritance as a Daughter of God with Megan Hjelmstad Apr 02, 2018

Show notes

HAPPY EASTER FRIENDS! "See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are." -1John 3:1a

Listener: "Hi! I just started listening to your podcast and am so excited to listen thru them all! I was wondering if you could have an episode about what it means to be a "daughter of God" or "child of God" and how you know that and recognize that yourself. This topic of defining myself and my value with just being a "child of God" – not my work, my mothering, but just as a child of God – has come up lately for me and I just really don't know what that means and how to get started with growing in that. I think this would be an awesome topic for your podcast and would be eager to hear your thoughts and guidance on this. Thanks so much!!!!"

Our beautiful guest, Megan Hjelmstad, agrees with us and our listener that this understanding of who we are as children of God can be a tough truth to understand. Knowing that Baptism make us God's children; receiving an unrevokable adoption; this vital point is the foundation. Once we accept this truth, how do we truly live like a daughter of God? This is not about being a perfect child, but about pursuing and being pursued by the love of the Father. May we all be blessed with a more love filled and secure walk with God the Father so that we might go out and preach the Good News to others.

Please consider supporting our Podcast Our Guest:

Megan Hjelmstad writes from the suburbs of Denver, Colorado, where she's a wife and mom 24/7 and an Army Reservist in her "spare" time. Megan shares her uncontainable love for faith and the written word as a writer and speaker for Blessed is She, and feels especially called to encourage women in the areas of suffering, fertility issues, self-worth, and discernment. When not writing, Megan is happily indulging her hobbies as a bibliophile, tea drinker, sleep lover, and avid admirer of Colorado's great outdoors. Aside from Blessed is She, you can find her writing in Chicken Soup for the Soul, Radiant Magazine, or on her personal blog, www.positivelyimperfect.com. Connect more with Megan through her email, megan@positivelyimperfect.com.

Show Notes:

Reject the lies and stand on Truth as the Scriptures exhort us in Phillipians 4: 8-9: "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you."
CCC 270 God is the Father Almighty, whose fatherhood and power shed light on one another: God reveals his fatherly omnipotence by the way he takes care of our needs; by the filial adoption that he gives us ("I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty"):109 finally by his infinite mercy, for he displays his power at its height by freely forgiving sins.
21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him." 1Peter 3:21-22
"Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." -2 Cor 6:17-18

Call to Action –

Open yourself to the love of The Father. Ask Him to show you how to know that Truth even more intimately. Read the Scriptures listed and mentioned during the podcast and really meditate upon them daily, asking God to give you the Graces He has in store for you. Accept your inheritance and then share the Good News with others.

Scripture –

"15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16 it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." – Romans 8:15-16

Saint Quote –

"The glory of God is man fully alive"- St. Irenaeus

Episode 40: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Mar 18, 2018

Show notes

Thriving in the Trenches Podcast turns ONE!!! Megan and Becky end up spending the time laughing about the past year, the goof ups, the bloopers, and the behind the scenes unexpected fun. Looking back and also looking forward at all the growth and blessings that God has bestowed and will bestow upon us all; we are happy to share this journey with you in the trenches of life. Thank you so much for supporting and encouraging and listening this past year. Let us continue to pilgrimage together by following the cloud by day and fire by night, the Catholic Church. And might we press forward in encouragement for each other as sisters in Christ. #womenencouragingwomen

Please consider supporting our Podcast Show Notes:

Episode 18 with Dwija Barobia
Episode 9 with Helen Alvare
Episode 7 with Gloria Purvis
Episode 13 with Susan Husband: Modesty as an Act of Charity
Episodes 36 and 37 with Christopher West to follow up on Modesty
Episode 4 – Friendship and Laughter (Take 2)
Episode 11 with Timothy O'Malley
Episode 25 with LMFT Candice Ruttner-Duryea
Episode 21 with Carrie Gress
Sweet friend, Sonja Corbitt, the Bible Study Evangelista
Blessed is She top favorite podcasts

Call to Action –

Celebrate! Invite your friends to join us all in the trenches!

Scripture –

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing" – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Saint Quote –

"Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort me and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger." – St. Patrick

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