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Preparing Myself for Heaven with Kathy McLeroy of Celebrating the Saints

Kathy McLeroy of Celebrating the Saints thinks her life could seem sad at first glance--she has lived through four serious illnesses and corresponding treatments over many decades. Kathy had Hodgkins Disease at twenty-one, breast cancer at forty-one, a massive heart attack at forty-six and now metastasized breast cancer. 

While Kathy has faced these trials, she speaks to the wonderful life she has lived due to her faith in God and love of others. 

Kathy trusts that when it is her time God will bring her home. Kathy is not afraid of dying; it is most difficult to leave her family. 

There is no promise for any of us that we will have tomorrow. Kathy encourages listeners to treat each day as precious and live intentionally with those they love. 

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Reaching for Relationships with Erin McCole Cupp of Filled with Good

Erin McCole Cupp shares her journey with food addiction--she began using food as her primary coping mechanism in dealing with childhood trauma.

Erin experienced profound healing through Catholics in Recovery and JP II’s Theology of the Body. It was then that Erin began to reach for relationships rather than food. 

In addition to her own food addiction, Erin explores the many things we reach for compulsively that lead to isolation. Erin encourages us to reach to God and safe relationships to satiate the deepest needs of connection that God designed us for.

Erin’s great personal healing has also had a positive impact on her relationships with her family—Erin focuses on engaging in quality time and communication with those she loves. 

You can reach Erin at erinmccolecupp.com and learn all about her program, Filled with Good. 

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How My Kids in Addiction Brought me to Our Lady with Carol Berry of Celebrating the Saints

As Carol Berry of Celebrating the Saints sat in the silence of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, she felt drawn to an image of a woman she affectionately named "My Girl." 

Soon before being initiated into the Catholic Church, Carol learned "Her Girl" was Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Carol discovered a peace that could only be of God as she faced what seemed to be an insurmountable trial: two children suffering from addiction. Tragically, she lost her daughter to addiction last year and experienced God's profound mercy. 

Carol created Restoring Women’s Outreach, a 12-step based residential sober living program for women who are in search of recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. 

Carol works at St. Bernard’s Abbey in Cullman, Alabama and loves being on “monk time.”

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Speak Up! with Kate Bryan of 1 Girl Revolution

Kate Bryan of 1 Girl Revolution felt her voice wasn't represented when she read an article in the Washington Post about feminism. Kate wrote a response to the article entitled, "I'm a 32-year-old virgin, and I'm living the feminist dream." Unexpectedly, it went viral.

Kate had Job's Syndrome as a child, a rare syndrome that causes skin infections. She was bullied in grade school and wanted to be "invisible."

Yet, "the girl inside" Kate is spunky and vibrant. Kate learned to be who God created her to be and how to use her voice to stand up and tell her story. Kate also discovered her call to help others to use their voices too.

Kate created 1 Girl Revolution, a multimedia platform and podcast that highlights the stories of everyday women who are changing the world.

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The Interior of our Souls

Claire Dwyer encourages listeners to engage in a rich life of prayer and speaks of the deep relationship with God that we have been designed for.

Claire talks about our lifetimes being an invitation for an “ever-increasing encounter” with God. Just like those in religious life, our intimacy and forever with God starts now and is fully realized in Heaven.

Claire also shares about Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity and the spiritual wisdom Saint Elizabeth has left us.

Claire is the author of “This Present Paradise: A Spiritual Journey with Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity.”

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God is Always Working in Our Pain with Ann Koshute of Springs in the Desert

Ann Koshute of Springs in the Desert shares her personal testimony of waiting to meet her husband until she was forty-two years old and then facing infertility together.

Looking back at her life Ann sees how God was always at work preparing her heart for the suffering she would face.

Ann shares tender and vulnerable moments she and her husband experienced as they navigated infertility together.

Ann encourages listeners to be completely honest with God and open to what He is doing in and through painful experiences--God is always forming and preparing us.

"Springs in the Desert accompanies those struggling with infertility by offering a place of respite and solidarity where they can know God’s love for them and discover His unique call to fruitfulness."

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God Wants True Happiness for Us

Annette Bergeon, Executive Director of Endow (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women) shares about her search for true happiness.

As a child Annette noted how many of her family members were holding on to disappointments and traumas of life and, therefore, their unhappiness. After personally looking for happiness in degrees and career success, Annette found herself facing an interpersonal crisis: she wasn't truly happy.

Annette gave birth to twins and left her career. While she recognizes many women are called to both work and motherhood, she discovered through prayer that God was calling her to be a stay-at-home mom. Annette discovered true happiness was not found in titles, but in the intimacy of relationships and care of other souls.

Annette eventually joined a small group with Endow--Endow made such an impact on her life that she later began working with Endow and is now the Executive Director.

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His Guardian Angel Woke Me in The Middle of the Night

Heidi Hess Saxton was in a life-changing accident when she was eighteen that resulted in infertility. Heidi and her husband later fostered and adopted two children. Heidi shares how her son's guardian angel woke her in the middle of the night to pray for him during a difficult time.

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The Joy of Uganda

Maureen Nunn talks about her time in Uganda and the profound faith she has witnessed in the face of overwhelming poverty. Maureen shares how the Ugandan people seem to have nothing, yet they are filled with the joy of the Lord.

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Hidden Victims

Sister Suzanne Jabro, founder of Center for Restorative Justice Works (CRJW) and Get on the Bus shares how children are the hidden victims of the criminal justice system. Sister Suzanne explores how we are called to be the hands and feet of Christ to the most vulnerable to help heal and restore them and their families.

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I'll Bank My Life on Him

Jenna McAndrew shares the moment she knew Christ is real. This encounter converted Jenna's heart so completely that even during times of spiritual dryness, she will bank her life on Him. Jenna is the host of "A Shower of Roses" podcast.

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Just a Handmaiden

Lizzy shares how God revealed her profound dignity as a daughter of God and healed her of addictions, including pornography. Lizzy has a popular Catholic blog “Just a Handmaiden."

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The Accident That Changed Everything

The moment Jackie's husband was severely injured by their boat's spinning propeller changed their lives forever. Hear how Jackie's husband's miraculous survival led to the adoption of their son and renewed understanding of the preciousness of life.

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Our Mother's Radical Love

In this 2021 Lenten podcast, Father Richard Sunwoo explores Mother Mary’s radically open heart and ongoing “yes” to God throughout her life, even in the midst of sorrow and suffering. Mary’s love for God, the Father and Christ wasn’t contingent on her circumstances—the only promise she was ever given was to be the Mother of God.

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The Gift of Manhood

James Day talks about the passing of his beloved father and how the weeks of hospice allowed James to open his heart to his personal conversion in the Holy Spirit. Themes explored are Saint Michael the Archangel, Holy Fathers, Saint Joseph, boyhood, manhood, adoption, foster care and fatherhood.

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How to Pray Like a Saint

Featured guest Amy D'Ambra shares tools to learn how to pray like a saint and her personal, daily practice of prayer. Themes explored are saints, angels, Saint Michael the Archangel, sainthood, prayer, morning prayer, rosary, chaplet of divine mercy and spiritual sisterhood.

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God Needs Us Now

Featured guest Gina Foster was told she would only have five years to live when her children were very small. This changed Gina's perspective of time and taught her that God needs us now--there is no guarantee of how much time we will have on Earth. Gina leads a soup kitchen to feed the hungry in San Pedro, CA.

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Leaning In To God

Do you try to control things, earn love or guard your heart from being vulnerable? Learn how to lean in to God when you are inclined to pull away and receive God's love as a free gift with featured guest Samantha Stephenson of Spirituality of the Ordinary. Themes explored are postpartum, babies, children, marriage, husbands, bodies, body image, control, letting go, trust and vulnerability.

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Finding Forgiveness

Featured guest Lupe Rivera from the Center for Restorative Justice Works (CRJW) shares how she has found forgiveness and healing from losing her childhood best friend to murder through helping those "on the inside." CRJW houses a number of programs helping those affected by crime and the criminal justice system, such as Get on the Bus, Camp Suzanne and Family Express.

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Trusting God Amidst the Coronavirus

Explore how to trust God in the most isolating, painful and uncertain times of our lives with featured guest Neena Gaynor, author of the newly released novel "Bird and the Bees" and "Words Like Honey" blog.  

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