Among Women ReadHER 4.28.12... converts, moms, daughters, and Stephen Colbert

Among Women ReadHER 4.28.12

A Letter to the Neophytes
By Dr. Timothy O'Malley from Oblation: Catechesis, Liturgy, and the New Evangelization 
An excellent read... for new Catholic converts, and the rest of us, frankly. If the joy of Easter is waning for you, this will jolt you back toward "Alleluia!"


How I Feel Out of My Mini-van and into My Identity
By Jennifer Fulwiler, book excerpt
This is a chapter excerpt from a new release, Style, Sex, and Substance, edited by Hallie Lord. You can dial back and listen to Hallie's visit to Among Women last year.


Stephen Colbert and Faithful Citizenship
By Katherine Schmidt at Archidiocese of Cincinnati
The role humor plays in getting important messages heard.


Why They Left
By William J. Byron and Charles Zech at America magazine
Just more ammo for why we need evangelization, and love... lots of love. Two professors with quotes from exit interviews regarding a study on why Catholics leave the Church. 


When "Sorry" Just Isn't Enough
By Rachel M at Catholic Sistas
A good start on what to say/do when someone faces miscarriage or baby loss. (Don't forget, Among Women recently had a two-part series on miscarriage.) 


The 30 Day Plan: Once a Month Cooking Can Be Easy and Fun
By Kate Wicker at Catholic Mom
So says Kate Wicker, and I usually love her cooking posts elsewhere. Hear Kate talk about her recent book, Weightless, on Among Women 107. 


Keep Laughing, Keep Listening, Keep Loving
By Marcia Morrissey at Patheos
Are we talking too much and not hearing God? Good one, Marcia! 


Calling a Truce between Mother-Daughter Conflict
By Elizabeth Bernstein in the Wall Street Journal
Dealing with adult - adult child relationship... some good tips here. The best advice? Ask what your daughter needs help with...


A great podcast with Dr. Meg Meeker and Dr. James Dobson on the subject of "Strong Fathers and Strong Daughters" - A Catholic pediatrician and an Evangelical Christian psychologist weigh in on this important topic.


Speaking of daughters, a little girl grows up before our eyes in this extraodinary video:
H/T Deacon Greg at The Deacon's Bench.


And one for road... this one for all the mothers... (yes, this is ultimately a Proctor and Gamble commercial, but very well done.)

Among Women ReadHER 4.14.12 podcast marathon, movies, bishops' new statement on liberty...

Among Women ReadHER 4.14.12

SQPN Podcast Marathon on Divine Weekend
By Fr. Roderick VonHogen at SQPN
Ongoing fundraising and fun-raising event from 10am-10pm Eastern on SQPN's U-Stream channel. Proceeds benefit the non-profit organization. Your truly will be praying the Regina Coeli, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and the Rosary in the noon hour. Drop by anytime. 

Our First Most Cherished Liberty
Posted by the American Bishops at USCCB
The most recent response by the bishops regarding attacks on religious liberty and conscience. Very important reading.


Traditional Catholicism is Winning
By Anne Hendershott and Christopher White
An op-ed with very interesting stats by diocese on what attracts vocations.


Did You Get Your Business Done?
By Tony Rossi at Christopher Close Up
Tony highlights the TV sitcom "The Middle"... check out his remarks.


Charity in the Face of Opposition
By Jennifer Feeney at Crisis Magazine
Timely advice... yet another person converted to reading the Catholic Catechism when looking for guidance on moral subject matter.

5 Ways to Find Joy in Stressful Times
By Dudley Rutherford at Catholic Mom
To the point.


Embracing the Challenge as Catholic Parents
By Randy Hain at The Integrated Catholic Life
Some very solid recommendations here.


The Gist
Posted at Catholic TV
The premiere season of this new Catholic tv talk show for women can be watched on demand, so go catch up on The Gist, featuring Danielle Bean, Rachel Balducci, and Carolee McGrath.

Among Women Podcast #131 celebrates new life in Christ!

Among Women 131 celebrates women who find new life in Christ. In our first segment, "Blessed Are They", Pat relates the story of St. Mary of Egypt, a former prostitute from the 4th century whose instantaneous conversion leads her to give up her old ways for a new life in Christ.

In our "Among Women" segment, Pat is joined by Sr. Emily Beata Marsh FSP, a newly-professed sister from the Daughters of St. Paul.

Sr. Emily graciously shares her vocation story and tips for strengthening our relationship with Jesus, especially through prayer and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Pat also shares a new timeline for Among Women podcasts over the next several weeks while she meets some important deadlines in he professional life, and can attend to some important family events.

Don't miss this uplifting episode in preparation for the celebration of the New Life we receive at Eastertime.

Among Women ReadHER 1.14.12... the gamut today: joy... yummy things.. time savers... death... mothering & more

Among Women ReadHER

1.14.12

The Space Between
By Jaymie Stuart Wolfe from her column at The Pilot
Always smart, always reflective, that's why I follow Jaymie's column. I was pleased to welcome her to Among Women back on episode 114.

Being a Single Parent Isn't So Bad. There are worse things. Trust me.
By Katrina Fernandez at The Crescat
The #1 rule of good writing: write what you know. Kat speaks from a deep, compassionate well of experience.


SCOTUS Unanimous on Religious Freedom
By Elizabeth Scalia at The Anchoress
We all have to stay abreast of the news: As Christians continue to face persecution both here and abroad, this ruling from the US Supreme Court is particularly important for the operation of churches in the USA. Elizabeth Scalia gives a good round up of the issue and the ruling. Be sure to see her links embedded in the post.


Bringing Death Into the Light Was Never Crazy
By Elizabeth Scalia at First Things
Yes, a second offering from Elizabeth Scalia... another culture-related post. This time it is a cogent, compassionate, and occasionally humorous consideration on how our society avoids the truth of death, and what we lose when we do.  Elizabeth was a guest on Among Women last year, listen here.

The Fallacy of the "Yummy Mummy"
By Betty Duffy at Patheos
A sanity check here for all of us who may struggle with weight issues and perspective. 

Rape Definition Updated by the FBI
By Peter Yost of the Associated Press
Women and men need to know this information. Pass this on to college age and high school age kids too. (Sadly, date-rape is more widespread that we might like to think or imagine.) And then, there is this sad statistic.

Motherhood and the Call to Holiness
By Thomas L. McDonald at National Catholic Register
Some good comments by the women interviewed.


The Happy Mother Challenge, Day 1
By Meg Meeker, MD at her website
A good book to put on your reading list!

25 Tips to Make Your Life Easier
By the Daily Buzz 
Wow! I loved this list. (H/T The Anchoress)


Tim Tebow's Testimony
By Jennifer Roche at CatholicVote.org
I'm seeing more and more women write about Denver's QB. (Of course I live in Patriots Nation, so there's lots of trash talk going on around here. But that's besides the point. I agree with Jennifer here: Give Tebow credit for living his faith in the public square. There is persecution of such a soul, and there are graces too.


Beautiful Joy: for you!
By Hallie Lord (guest posting at Elizabeth Foss' blog)
Recalling delight in being a girl, a woman. Hear Hallie guest on AW 84.


My Father's Rosary
By CCR at The Conservatory
Found this article via someone's twitter feed. I don't really know the writer or his religious views, but I was moved that he was moved by his father's beads. Sometimes we may feel our children, or loved ones may never fully embrace the faith, but moments like this show the allure of the Holy Spirit is always at work.


12 Signs of a Spiritual Awakening
A resource posted at SilentNoMore.org
-- Silent No More Awareness is a Campaign whereby Christians make the public aware of the devastation abortion brings to women and men. The campaign seeks to expose and heal the secrecy and silence surrounding the emotional and physical pain of abortion. Find their new updated website here. If you have suffered an abortion, you may wish to listen Among Women 75 on that subject.


Jesus' life was about joy... 

On Being A Mother

As we welcome the month of Mary and Mother's Day, my column, A Word in Season, turns an eye toward motherhood... and the transformation it brings to a woman's life.  Here's a snippet:

Speaking as a woman, I can honestly say that nothing has rocked my world as much motherhood. Nothing has brought me to my knees, or made me laugh uproariously, or confused or challenged me, or given me a glimpse of the Heavenly Father’s love, as being a mother.

With the arrival of her first child a woman undergoes a titanic change, a shift in identity and responsibility from what she was or did before. She is now forever a mother and in charge of the life of her child until it is grown. And after her child reaches maturity, she remains a mother in a more nuanced way. A child is a profound and humbling gift to receive; at the same time, the child is poised to receive everything a mother can possibly give.

Don’t let the parenting brochures fool you. This is a life of hard work and sacrifice.

The sacrificial side of motherhood first becomes evident during a pregnancy. A woman yields her body and wellbeing that a child may take shape and develop, as it changes her shape and her calendar forever. While a biological mother conceives and gestates and gives birth, it harkens to the fact that all mothers experience the physicality of sacrifice as they nurture and rear their children. The shedding of blood, sweat, and tears is more than an apt proverb.

Yet, motherhood is also a life of deep joy and renewal. Mothers are routinely awed and delighted by their growing children, as well as buoyed by their smiles and achievements. Often, when we lovingly gaze at our children, we are transported by belief in all that is true, good, and beautiful. And that is a very good thing. It bespeaks an encounter with the Holy.

You'll find the second half here.  And please feel free to subscribe to the column over there. I'd be very grateful to show up in your email inbox or reader once a week.

Image credit

This makes me think... Let the Joy of Easter Continue

My latest on Today's Catholic Woman...

...is a challenge to read about all the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus.  And on the third day, he rose again.

Go meet Jesus again through the eyewitnesses who saw him first from the grave, and in the thrilling days that followed.

Keep the Easter joy alive by delving deep into the word. Full accounts can be linked from the article.

Among Women Podcast #49, tho' late, is up!

This week's Among Women episode is titled, "A Flood of Joy and Mercy".  

<--You can see the flood part to the left... 

in Pat's backyard! But seriously, folks!  

Spend an interesting hour with Pat as she talks about how Lent really does equip us for Joy. Plus enjoy a delightful conversation with the Happy Catholic herself, Julie Davis.  Plus get ready for the flood of mercy that comes from Jesus and the celebration of Divine Sunday. 

Also, AW is getting ready to celebrate its first anniversary... send Pat your audio feedback! See below.

Links for this episode:

Divine Mercy Novena (Good Friday to Mercy Sunday)

Divine Mercy Devotions

Divine Mercy 101 - articles by Dr. Robert Stackpole STD

Julie Davis’ links:

--Happy Catholic Blog

--Forgotten Classics Podcast

--Meanwhile Back in the Kitchen Blog

St Patrick’s Breastplate - the long version of the prayer

Note from Pat about the cover art: Yes, that really is my backyard, covered over by a flooding pond due to the March Nor’easter of ’10. And, yes that little white figure is a statue of the Blessed Mother. And yes, this podcast is posting late due to that storm.

Contact Pat Gohn via amongwomenpodcast@me.com

or phone your feedback to 206-338-6077.(Remember Among Women is celebrating its first anniversary with Episode 51-- give us your feedback!)  

Leave us a rating or a review on iTunes! Or leave a comment below.  Reviews on iTunes help us grow!

UPDATE on 3/19/10:  that phone number is red above is not the phone number I gave out on this podcast.  If you wish to call and leave a message, go to 206-338-6077. Sorry for the inconvenience.