Catch up on the Week 3 video with author Julianne Stanz for the Fall 2024 Book Club: Braving the Thin Places: Celtic Wisdom to Create a Space for Grace.

Our Book Club selection for Fall 2024 is Braving the Thin Places: Celtic Wisdom to Create a Space for Grace by Julianne Stanz, published by Loyola Press.

Use promo code BRAVING to receive 30% off the cover price of Braving the Thin Places when you purchase your copy direct from the publisher. Does not include shipping and handling. This coupon code expires November 20, 2024. 

Visit Julianne's website, JulianneStanz.com

Follow Julianne on X: @juliannestanz

Follow Julianne on Instagram: @juliannestanz

Join Catholic Mom team members Maria Johnson, Barb Szyszkiewicz, Allison Gingras, and Victoria Hassan for a round robin conversation about Advent traditions and practices.

• Advent sweatshirt from Catholic artist Nichole Lanthier on Etsy
• Kelly Guest article: "Prepare for Advent Prayer: Now is the time!" 
• Barb Szyszkiewicz book review, "3 Books to Buy Before Advent" 
• Advent Playlist
• Follow CatholicMomCommunity on Instagram for Snap Advent

Catch up on the Week 2 video with author Julianne Stanz for the Fall 2024 Book Club: Braving the Thin Places: Celtic Wisdom to Create a Space for Grace.

Our Book Club selection for Fall 2024 is Braving the Thin Places: Celtic Wisdom to Create a Space for Grace by Julianne Stanz, published by Loyola Press.

This week, author Julianne Stanz and our own Allison Gingras discuss the concept of a "crossing the threshold" and how that relates to our relationship with God, prayer, sharing faith with our children, four ways to combat despair, and the importance of encouraging others by calling them toward the light of Jesus.

Use promo code BRAVING to receive 30% off the cover price of Braving the Thin Places when you purchase your copy direct from the publisher. Does not include shipping and handling. This coupon code expires November 20, 2024. 

Visit Julianne's website, JulianneStanz.com

Follow Julianne on X: @juliannestanz

Follow Julianne on Instagram: @juliannestanz

Mary Clare Hallman serves as the Diocesan Secretary for Parish Life in the Diocese of Scranton, bringing a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to fostering vibrant parish communities. With a background rooted in both pastoral ministry and organizational leadership, Mary Clare oversees a wide range of initiatives designed to support parish vitality, enhance liturgical and sacramental life, and strengthen ministries within the diocese.

excerpt from the Diocese of Scranton website:

The Catholic Church dedicates the month of October to the Holy Rosary. This year, this month takes on added significance because parishes in the Diocese of Scranton are participating in a Rosary Crusade, leading up to a large Rosary Rally that will take place on Nov. 16, 2024, at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton.

The Rosary Crusade, which is now underway, will look different in each parish. Some will celebrate Mass or schedule a special Holy Hour for the intention of an increase in family prayer. Others will have parishioners gather more often to recite the rosary – or ask families to sign a pledge card to recite the rosary as a family.... The Rosary Rally planned for Nov. 16 is being held to commemorate the first Rosary Rally held by Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., in the United States seventy-five years ago. That 1949 rally was held in Scranton and brought together 50,000 people. Father Peyton devoted his priestly life to spreading devotion to Mary and encouraging family prayer, especially the rosary. He used radio, television, and film, and 540 Rosary Rallies worldwide to accomplish his mission.

• Diocese of Scranton Rosary Rally
• Diocese to Host Rosary Rally on 75th Anniversary 
• Fr. Patrick Peyton
• Letter from the Bishop

Maria Johnson welcomes contributor Sherry Hayes-Peirce for an enlightening conversation about the Camino of Santiago and the power of pilgrimage.

Catholic Mom contributor Sherry Hayes-Peirce shares her experience of walking the Way of St. James, also known as the Camino of Santiago de Compostela, a 9th century walking pilgrimage to the city of Compostela where the remains St. James, son of Zebedee, are believed to be. Many routes leading to Compostela exist, originating in France, Portugal, or within Spain.

Sherry Hayes-Peirce is a Catholic social media strategist, blogger, conference speaker, podcast guest and contributing author of the Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers. She serves as Digital Engagement Coordinator for American Martyrs Catholic Community in Manhattan Beach, CA. Sherry has a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and is grateful to be a digital disciple of Christ.

Read all articles by Sherry Hayes-Peirce.

• Walk In A Relaxed Manner: Life Lessons from the Camino by Joyce Rupp
• The Way, My Way: A Camino Memoir by Bill Bennett
• Movie: "The Way" starring Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez
• Instagram: church_social_tips
• Facebook: Sherry Sheridan Hayes-Peirce

Heidi and Maria have a lively discussion about miracles and unexpected answers to prayers.

Links in Episode:

The Hidden Life of Angels by Heidi Hess Saxton

Pre-Order Maria Johnson's new book, A Beautiful Second Act

Our Book Club selection for Fall 2024 is Braving the Thin Places: Celtic Wisdom to Create a Space for Grace by Julianne Stanz, published by Loyola Press.

This week, author Julianne Stanz and our own Allison Gingras discuss the concept of a "thin place" and how that relates to our spiritual life, as well as what nourishes us as women and how being together is valuable to us. It's important to remember that there is no perfect balance.

Use promo code BRAVING to receive 30% off the cover price of Braving the Thin Places when you purchase your copy direct from the publisher. Does not include shipping and handling. This coupon code expires November 20, 2024. 

Visit Julianne's website, JulianneStanz.com

Follow Julianne on X: @juliannestanz

Follow Julianne on Instagram: @juliannestanz

Maria Morera Johnson and Heidi Hess Saxton David G. Bonagura, Jr. about his new book, Jerome's Tears (Sophia Institute Press).

from our guest's website:

David G. Bonagura, Jr. is an adjunct professor of classical languages at St. Joseph's Seminary, New York, and adjunct professor of theology at Catholic Distance University. He serves as Religion Editor of The University Bookman, the flagship publication of the Russell Kirk Center. He is the 2023-2024 Cardinal Newman Society Fellow for Eucharistic Education.

He is the author of Steadfast in Faith: Catholicism and the Challenges of Secularism (Cluny Media, 2019) and Staying With the Church: Trusting God's Plan of Salvation (Scepter Publishers, 2021). He is the translator of Jerome's Tears: Letters to Friends in Mourning (Sophia Institute Press, October 2023).

Links in Episode:

• David G. Bonagura, Jr. website
• David G. Bonagura, Jr. books

Maria Johnson and Barb Szyszkiewicz welcome Gretchen and Bill O'Brien from Room Two Productions, for a lively conversation about sound editing, music, and Fr. Patrick Peyton.

Room 2 Productions helps Catholic Mom bring our stories to life through expert podcast production, audio storytelling, and digital media services. They offer personalized support from concept development to final editing, dedicated to the technical details so the Catholic Mom team can focus on great content from our guests. 

Links in Show:

• RoomTwoProductions.com 
• YouTube: William R O'Brien 
• Spotify: William R O'Brien 
• Amazon Music: William R O'Brien 

Maria Johnson is joined by Andrew MacDonald, Director of Mission Advancement for Holy Cross Family Ministries, to interview Chris and Michael Flood, co-founders of Family Rosary Rallies.

Chris and Michael Flood are co-founders of FamilyRosaryRallies.org. 

• Family Rosary Rallies
• Fr. Patrick Peyton
• Rallies
• Instagram-- Family Rosary Rallies

Maria Johnson and Catholic Mom contributor, Kristina Talbot interview the mother and son filmmakers behind the powerful film about Boys Town, Blue Baby.

Matters Media announces the new feature documentary film BLUE BABY that follows eight boys through Fr. Edward J. Flanagan’s Boys Town, a prison alternative established in Omaha, Nebraska in 1917. With unprecedented access, filmmakers take the audience inside Boys Town to a world that challenges what people have believed about problem behavior for thousands of years. This is a film that goes beyond the heart of a Catholic priest, and into the real-world impact of what he created. BLUE BABY will be available starting October 9. We need your help to get the word out via your network of influence.

About the filmmakers: 

Josh and Lisa Sabey are the filmmakers behind American Tragedy, The Basement Talks, Blue Baby, and Going Sane. Their film American Tragedy won best documentary at the prestigious Boston Film Festival where it was one of three films screened opening night. (The other two were Terrence Malick’s USA premiere of A Hidden Life and Taika Waititi’s Jo Jo Rabbit.) Their latest film, The Basement Talks, debuted on Prime Video, Apple TV, and PBS World. 

Watch the trailer here: