This makes me think... use GOOD words today. Do GOOD. It's Advent.

Among Women Podcast #115 -- Virtuous Women

Among Women 115 features the voices of two bloggers.

First, there is Kathy Schiffer whose writing supplements our "Blessed Are They" segment. Her post, from her blog Seasons of Grace, features a look at the life of Blessed Marianne Cope, a saintly woman who served Christ in the United States both in New York and Hawaii.

Second, there's Julie Robison, a blogger at The Corner with a View and a writer for Virtuous Pla.net, a website reaching out to the JP2 and BXVI generations. 

And frankly, I just love women who strive to make the internet a more virtuous place by offering their witness to the world in and through their lives, and the stories they tell. It's another podcast for women by women, here on Among Women. 

Remembering a friend's holy influence

Today in the feast of St. Clare of Assisi. I had the great blessing of praying before St. Clare's remains in Assisi alongside my husband and daughter, back in 2004. Clare remains a good spiritual friend in heaven. But my thoughts today turn also to another spiritual friend. Today is also the 5th anniversary of her death. May she rest in peace, and may I ask you to lift a prayer on her behalf?

Judi was a wife, mother, grandmother, and a writer. She was also a lover of Jesus. She stepped boldly into my life when she heard I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996. And when the crisis was over, she hung around. Our lives were in different orbits most often, and our get togethers rare treats. But when we did get together, she and I talked and prayed and laughed and lunched and read each other's works-in-progress.

If I have written anything worth reading in the last 15 years or so, it is because Judi's words and example coaxed me out of the cocoon where the writing had retreated when I gave up my career in radio to be at home with my children. I was always a writer, but for many years I simply diverted that creativity into other things. Judi reminded me of that love and nudged me to produce something more than journal entries. I will always be grateful.

The end was hard, and every August as I have celebrated another year cancer-free, I remember her too.

My former pastor would always talk about God's little saints... the people whose names may never make it onto the canonization roles in heaven... but who have done our souls great good by their prayers and loving service. I'm sure you can name a few in your own life. Judi was one in mine.

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen.


St. Clare, pray for us!

More from the Catholic Writers of LI event last Saturday

From Net NY: Using Media to Evangelize – 6/22/10 : Currents

Update, June 24: The Long Island Catholic's review of the day.

Update, June 24: From Cause of our Joy.  And Dr. Gerard Nadal weighs in.

The Happy Recap* -- Catholic Writers of Long Island, "The Word Made Flesh"

John 1:16 And from his fulness have we all received, grace upon grace. 

Last Saturday, I was happy to be a presenter and team member for a day of enrichment for writers, "The Word Made Flesh", sponsored by a fledgling group, the Catholic Writers of Long Island. (Being a LI native, now living in exile in Massachusetts, they graciously invited me back.)  It was one part prayer, pep talk, and practicum for both new and veteran writers alike.  A wonderful spirit of community emerged between these writers; a good thing indeed for people who often toil at a very solitary endeavor.

It was just the kind of event that the mission of the Catholic Writers' Guild has sought to spawn.  CWG President, Ann Lewis, was on hand to present a lifetime achievement award to keynote speaker, Rick Hinshaw, editor of the Long Island Catholic.


Two blog posts have showed up touting some of the positive messages of the day.

First, go read this inspiring homily, offered by Monsignor Charles Fink, as he preached on John 1: 1-5, 14-16.  That will give you just a hint of the nourishment we all received by one another, and by our Lord Jesus in the Eucharist.

Then read Elizabeth Scalia's round up at The Anchoress.  (It was certainly a highlight for me to meet Elizabeth in person, after years of experiencing her great wealth of soul in her words.)

I couldn't let this recap conclude without finally high-five-ing my friend and colleague, Lisa Mladnich, founder of Amazing Catechists. (When Lisa's new book comes out on being a catechist, you'll hear about it here, so stay tuned.) (And come meet Lisa in Boston Aug 6-7, as she presents at the children's track at the CNMC.)

Lisa was a gracious and well-spoken MC, and a tireless leader in bringing this event to fruition, along with a wonderful team made up of the Amazing Catechists' crew:  Peggy Clores, Alex Basile, Catholic bloggers, Mary Ellen Barrett, Leticia Velasquez, and Alice Gunther. Click around the AC site to learn about all of them. Besides being catechists, many are authors too!

Did I mention yet that this was an event at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception?  Many thanks  to our generous hosts, especially, Rector Monsignor Peter Vaccari, and Monsignors Richard Henning and Charles Fink, and their seminarians.

COOL UPDATE: June 23rd: Check out this video from NetNY.

COOL UPDATE #2: June 24th: Check out this recollection article from the pen of Alice Gunther of The Long Island Catholic.

COOL UPDATE #3: June 24th: My writer-gal-pal Leticia Velasquez describes her experience.

COOL UPDATE #4: June 30, but this post was dated June 23rd, from Dr. Gerard Nadal.


*Being born in Queens and growing up out on Long Island, I was a Mets fan. (Apologies to those AW listeners who are taken by the mystique of the woman who now coos about living down "a country lane in New England.)" But back to the Mets... at the end of a winning game, Bob Murphy, their original longtime announcer, would set up the break before the post-game show, by saying he'd be back in a moment with "the happy recap." Thank you Bob -- you had a great voice, a great love of the game, and a tag line that forever remains with me whenever I recount or recall a happy event.

The Word Made Flesh - An event for writers

"The Word Made Flesh" is the theme for a day of encouragement for writers who are Catholic, whether they write within Catholic media or beyond. It is also the launching of the Long Island (NY) chapter of the Catholic Writers Guild.  Mark your calendar for this June 19th event.

The Long Island Catholic says:

Lisa Mladinich, founder of Catholic Writers of Long Island and organizer of the event hopes the day will bring together a wide spectrum of people interested in writing from a Catholic perspective.

“We really want it to be open,” she said. “It is for anybody interested in Catholic writing, from high school and college students, creative writers, journalists, novelists, bloggers, the mom writing poetry at her kitchen table, the volunteer who writes the parish bulletin, the catechist who uses the written word.”

Writing is usually a solitary pursuit, she explained. “It’s a lot more fun, a lot more productive, when you are hooked into a writing community that can provide encouragement and feedback.” The event will also serve as a fundraiser for Catholic Relief Services by raffling off Catholic books, theater tickets and other prizes. The conference is called “The Word Made Flesh,” emphasizing the connection of Catholics in the Body of Christ.

The keynote speaker, Rick Hinshaw, editor of The Long Island Catholic, will receive the Catholic Writers’ Guild’s “Lily” award for Meritorious Achievement in Catholic Arts and Letters. The Catholic Writers’ Guild is a professional group of writers, artists, editors, and illustrators, whose mission is to help build a vibrant Catholic literary culture. 

Yours truly gets to give a little talk about getting starting with new media.

The date for this event is June 19, and it will be held at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, NY.

Full program and registration details here.

Are you a writer? Join us in The Catholic Writer's Guild!

Registration for the annual online conference is going on now!  Check it out!

Whoa, did I mention ya gotta sign up by Feb 15th?  Do it!