Becoming Who God Dreams Me to Be with Ismael Fierro

Ismael Fierro and his wife Vanessa prepared for three years--and even learned French--to move from Mexico to Canada. However, when the time came to go, Ismael's company didn't offer him a job in Canada--they unexpectedly invited him to work in Nashville, Tennessee.

Ismael learned to let go of his own plan and surrender to God's will. He prayed, “Let me be the person you dreamt of when you created me.”

Soon thereafter, Ismael, Vanessa and their two small children landed in the Nashville airport to create a home in a country they didn't know with a language they didn't speak. Ismael sensed God with him in a sacred moment he will never forget.

In this Easter podcast, be inspired as Ismael shares what “Thy Will be Done” in the Our Father means to him, as well as his love for Saint Joseph and the Surrender Novena.

May we, like Ismael, always invoke the Holy Spirit in prayer and surrender our lives to God's will.

Love is Everything with Immaculée Ilibagiza

Immaculée Ilibagiza followed her father’s instructions and ran to her neighbor’s house to hide at the start of the Rwandan genocide. She spent the next three months huddled in a tiny bathroom with seven other women, while extremist members of another tribe tried to find and kill them.

It was in this bathroom that Immaculée gave her heart to God and began to pray in a way she never had before—as she recited the words of the Rosary, peace veiled and healed her from the anger and fear that otherwise consumed her.

When Immaculée finally left the bathroom at the end of the genocide, she learned that her parents, grandparents, siblings, 950 schoolmates and so many more had been murdered.

While Immaculée cried out for her loved ones, she sensed God holding her tight and telling her that her journey on Earth was not over. While her family was in heaven, she still had a mission.

Since that moment thirty years ago, Immaculée continues to wake up every day and ask the same question that echoed in her heart so long ago: How much can you love with what God has given you?

In this Easter podcast, learn that love is everything.

Saying "Yes" to God's Plan with Brenda Hauk of BrightStone

"You know who's going to have to do this."

The words Brenda Hauk's husband spoke penetrated her heart--she knew she was called by God to something so much bigger than herself.

Even though Brenda was frightened, she said "yes" to a plan that was clearly not her own.

Brenda started BrightStone, a comprehensive work, social support, and residential community for adults with special needs, expanding their potential and helping them develop mentally, physically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.

Let Brenda's "yes" and the tremendous blessing that has come from it inspire your own fiat in this Advent podcast.

Learn more at brightstone.org.

Totally Dependent on God with Frank of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

Five-year-old Frank sat on the steps of his parents' home and couldn't wait to drink like the adults he was watching.

From 16 to 60 alcohol consumed Frank's life--it was an obsession of his mind. Frank would wake up each morning recovering from the night before, eat mid-day and spend the afternoons functioning until he could finally be drinking again.

At sixty Frank found himself hospitalized when he was visiting Memphis, TN. The doctors were concerned he may have a heart problem and required he drive back to Nashville, TN in an ambulance.

Frank's wife trailed the ambulance for three hours of his journey back to Nashville--Frank recounts how the look in her eyes moved from contempt to pity. He couldn't take the look of pity and it broke open his heart.

Frank asked for help that day and has remained sober due to his daily dependence on God for thirteen years. Frank tells listeners that while we may give up on ourselves, God never gives up on us. Frank is now happier than he ever imagined possible.

Preparing My Husband for Heaven with Kendra Tierney of Catholic All Year

Kendra Tierney's husband Jim was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma sixteen years before he passed away last summer. Kendra faced great ambiguity beginning the day Jim was first diagnosed--that very morning Kendra chose to "wait to worry."

God carried and consoled Kendra each day as she trusted in the Lord and radically surrendered to His plan, rather than her own.

The rich tradition, prayers and Sacraments of our Catholic faith blessed Kendra as she prepared Jim for Heaven, processed all that was unfolding and walked with her children (ages 3-19) through the passing of their father.

Kendra shares intimate moments she witnessed God at work: Jim's last conversation before dying was "a good Confession" and the final thing he saw and ate was the Eucharist.

Kendra is a Catholic homemaker, homeschooler and mother of ten children. She created Catholic All Year (CAY) to use food, prayer, and conversation based around the liturgical calendar to share the lives of the saints and the beautiful truths and traditions of our Catholic faith.

Mercy with Lara Patangan

Lara Patangan was feeling lost in the suffering of this world and losing sight of God’s mercy. She reached a milestone birthday and began to reflect more deeply on her life. Lara decided to spend the next year practicing corporal and spiritual acts of mercy and writing about it.

God changed Lara and worked on her heart throughout the year. She was surprised to learn not only to share God’s merciful love, but also to receive it.

Lara says, “We are called to serve, not to solve.” When we walk into another's pain there is no way we will leave without being changed.

A Plan More Beautiful Than My Own

When Cathy Collins was pregnant with her youngest daughter Bridget, she had a vision of Our Blessed Mother. Mother Mary revealed to Cathy that Bridget was going to be disabled-- Cathy would need to trust that Jesus would provide her with everything she needed to raise Bridget. This vision blessed Cathy with the supernatural peace and strength she needed to care for her daughter.

Being Bridget's mom has completely changed Cathy; it has taught her the true meaning of God's beauty and helped Cathy to realize we are not our exteriors--we are our souls.

When Cathy was on bed rest with Bridget, she discovered Mother Angelica on Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and prayed the Rosary with her daily. Two decades later, Cathy works at EWTN. This is a blessed example of God's providence at work in Cathy's life.

Holy Thursday: A Love So Great It Feels Undeserved

When Jesus told Simon Peter that he was going to wash the disciples’ feet in the Gospel of John, Simon Peter told Jesus that he would never let Jesus wash his feet. Yet once Simon Peter understood that he must let Jesus wash his feet in order to receive his inheritance and be with Jesus eternally, Simon agreed with all his heart.

Simon Peter felt undeserving of the humble act of love and example Jesus offered.

In this week's podcast, Brian and Lindy Wynne share moments in their marriage when they have received love from one another that they have felt undeserving of. Hear how Christ's example has helped Brian and Lindy to create a safe place of vulnerability with one another and, ultimately, discover more fully the meaning of Christ's sacrificial love.

On Fire with the Holy Spirit

This Pentecost, Father Jon Meyer shares how Christians are called to be on fire with the Holy Spirit--no exceptions. Father Jon Meyer is the Chaplain of Mamas in Spirit.

Heartfelt conversations with guests about how god has transformed their LIVES