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. Special Book Club offer! 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.  Bonus Links: 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.  Links for the Show: 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.  Links in Show: Watch the trailer here:

Maria Morera Johnson and Heidi Hess Saxton discuss praying the Seven Sorrows of Mary. Pray the Seven Sorrows of Mary Learn about this powerful devotion to the Seven Sorrows of Mary and pray the mysteries along with meditations from the Family Rosary team. Heidi Saxton is co-host of the CatholicMom.com Prayercast, and author of Stories of the Eucharist (OSV) and The Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers (Ave).  She and her husband Craig divide their time between northern Michigan and West Palm Beach, Florida. You can read about her adventures on Life on the Road Less Traveled.  Maria Morera Johnson, author of My Badass Book of Saints, Super Girls and Halo, and Our Lady of Charity: How a Cuban Devotion to Mary Helped Me Grow in Faith and Love writes about all the things that she loves. A cradle Catholic, she struggles with living in the world but not being of it, and blogs about those successes and failures, too.  

Maria Johnson and Barb Szyszkiewicz are joined by Catholic Mom contributor and author, Karen Estep, for a fun conversation about Fall memories and traditions. Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at CatholicMom.com, is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at FranciscanMom and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information  at Cook and Count. Barb is the author of The Handy Little Guide to Prayer and The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours, available from Our Sunday Visitor. Karen Estep is the host of the podcast Stand, Kneel, Now What? In coming home to the Catholic faith as an adult she hopes to share her love of the Church on a daily basis. Karen has been shown many graces through the Sacraments even through all of her blunders. She hopes to help other adults navigate their faith journey as well.   Maria Morera Johnson, author of My Badass Book of Saints, Super Girls and Halos, and Our Lady of Charity: How a Cuban Devotion to Mary Helped Me Grow in Faith and Love writes about all the things that she loves. A cradle Catholic, she struggles with living in the world but not being of it, and blogs about those successes and failures, too.   Links for Show:  Read all articles by Barb Szyszkiewicz. Read all articles by Karen Estep. Read all articles by Maria Morera Johnson.

Maria Johnson and Barb Szyszkiewicz welcome Catholic Mom contributor Kathryn Swegart for a lively conversation in our series show-casing our contributors. Kathryn Griffin Swegart is an award-winning author of Catholic books for children. Kathryn and her husband raised three children on a small farm in rural Maine. She is a professed member of the Secular Franciscan Order and contributor to Magnificat. Visit her website at KathrynSwegart.com.  Links in Show:  Read all articles by Kathryn Swegart. KathrynSwegart.com Magnificat Magazine

Maria Morera Johnson interviews authors Leslea Wahl and Antony Kolenc about their newly released anthology, Shadows: Visible and Invisible. Shadows: Visible & Invisible is a collection of short stories by 7 different authors, Leslea Wahl, Carolyn Astfalk, Corinna Turner, Antony B. Kolenc, Theresa Linden, Marie Keiser, T. M. Gaouette. and is centered around the All Hallowtide Triduum of All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. These fictional stories are meant to help teens learn more about the history of these important days on the Church calendar through engaging tales. Links in Show: Shadows: Visible & Invisible Goodreads: Shadows: Visible &Invisible Tour-wide Giveaway: (US Winners Only) Catholic Mom contributor, Katie Fitzgerald, reviews Shadows: Visible & Invisible

Maria Morera Johnson interviews Catholicmom.com contributor, Janelle Peregoy, Associate Director in the Office of Family Life & Spirituality at the Diocese of San Diego for an important discussion on separation and divorce. Janelle Peregoy, M.Div, is an Associate Director in the Office of Family Life & Spirituality at the Diocese of San Diego. So yes, she has found one of the few positions where it is professionally acceptable to contemplate the spirituality of potty training. A Pope Francis bobble-head sits on her desk for inspiration.  See more from Janelle on her blog, Faithfully Irreverent. Besides Catholic Mom, Janelle’s writing has been featured in Grotto Network and America Magazine. Links for the Show:  Faithfully Irreverent, Janelle’s blog Separated or Divorced?, Diocese of San Diego Read all articles by Janelle Peregoy.