Abiding Together

In this episode we begin our 3 part study of "Gaudete Et Exsultate (Rejoice and Be Glad)" by Pope Francis. We start with a discussion of Chapter 1, "The Call to Holiness", and that this call is not for the elite, but for everyone to live out in their own unique way. We talk about the misconceptions of what holiness looks like, share some personal stories of how God brought freedom to areas we felt pressure to live a certain way, and how God wants us to come alive.

One Thing We Love This Week:

• Sr. Miriam's One Thing - The Prayer of Release
• Michelle's One Thing - "One Beautiful Dream: The Rollicking Tale of Family Chaos, Personal Passions, and Saying Yes to Them Both" by Jennifer Fulwiler
• Michelle's Other One Thing - "My Reading Life" by Pat Conroy
• Heather's One Thing - Bishop Robert Barron's talk to Google staff
• Heather's other One Thing - Corn and bean salsa Recipe

One can of sweet corn whole kernel drained One can black beans drained Juice of one fresh lime A handful or two of chopped cilantro (to your taste) Half a jar of salsa (your choice) 1 cup (ish) grated medium or sharp cheddar cheese A little shake of salt Stir together and serve with corn tortilla chips If it needs more flavor add more salsa and/or lime juice

Discussion Questions:

1. Discuss the quote, "Holiness is the most attractive face of the Church"?
2. Holiness is lived out in the little things and flows out to the big things. What are some ways that you choose to live out holiness in little ways?
3. How have you possibly misunderstood what holiness is "supposed to look like" in your life, vocation, and work and how have you felt pressured by this?
4. Where is God trying to make you come more alive this week?

Journal Questions:

1. Am I more interested in having more followers on social media than making disciples of Jesus?
2. What areas do you feel pressure in your life to be and live a certain way? How might God want to bring freedom?
3. How do you think that you are called to live out your holiness in a personal way, that is specific to your unique gifts and personality?

Quote to Ponder: "Holiness is the most attractive face of the Church" - Pope Francis

In this episode we begin our 3 part study of “Gaudete Et Exsultate (Rejoice and Be Glad)” by Pope Francis. We start with a discussion of Chapter 1, “The Call to Holiness”, and that this call is not for the elite, but for everyone to live out in their own unique way. We talk about the misconceptions of what holiness looks like, share some personal stories of how God brought freedom to areas we felt pressure to live a certain way, and how God wants us to come alive.

If you'd like to join us for our next study, it starts May 28th - "Gaudete Et Exsultate - On the Call to Holiness in Today's World" by Pope Francis. If you'd like to read it, you can find it at your local Catholic book store or order it on Amazon

In this episode we talk about how to thrive during the summer, when we aren't in our normal schedules. We chat about some strategies to continue growing in our relationship with God and flourish in whatever situation we are in. We focus on the categories of rest, play, prayer, connection, beauty, self care, and community. We hope you enjoy this conversation.

If you'd like to host a coffee time, lunch, or dinner with a few women, here are some questions to put on the table to spark some good conversation.

One Thing We Love This Week:

• Sr. Miriam's One Thing - "Awakening Love: An Ignatian Retreat with the Song of Songs"
• Michelle's One Thing - The Royal Wedding sermon
• Michelle's Other One Thing - Steph Curry's momma correcting him for using bad language at a game :)
• Heather's One Thing - "Where You Are" by Bethel and "Pieces" by Bethel

Discussion Questions:

1. How can I more deeply connect with the people God has entrusted to me and with the Lord this summer?
2. What is most important to me to have as foundations that will rightly order the rest of my day?
3. How does God want you to play this summer in ways that feed your heart and allow you to receive His joy?
4. How can you cultivate the discipline of pausing for beauty and holy wonder?

Journal Questions:

1. What is my spiritual plan this summer?
2. Where am i growing with the Lord?
3. What does it look like for me to have ongoing fellowship with the Holy Spirit?
4. What do I need to do for self care this summer?

Quote to Ponder:

"Vacation time offers the unique opportunity to pause before the thought-provoking spectacles of nature, a wonderful 'book' within reach of everyone, adults and children. In contact with nature, a person rediscovers his correct dimension, rediscovers himself as a creature, small but at the same time unique with a 'capacity for God' because interiorly he is open to the infinite"- Pope Benedict XVI

In this episode we talk about how to thrive during the summer, when we aren’t in our normal schedules. We chat about some strategies to continue growing in our relationship with God and flourish in whatever situation we are in. We focus on the categories of rest, play, prayer, connection, beauty, self care, and community. We hope you enjoy this conversation.

In this month of May, dedicated to mothers, we wanted to talk about our Lady, our Mother Mary. In this episode we chat about the calling of all women to spiritual motherhood and how we relate to Mary as our mother. We also discuss how Mary can be a powerful model for us of openness to the will of God and filling of the Holy Spirit and how she can assist us in our journey closer to Jesus.

One Thing We Love This Week:

• Sr. Miriam's One Thing - Art "Mary and Eve by Sr. Grace Remington, 2013"
• Michelle's One Thing - Love Good Culture
• Heather's One Thing - Fish Taco's (defrost frozen Mahi Mahi from Costco, sprinkle with Montreal Chicken spice (or whatever you have) and grill for a few minutes each side until it flakes. Serve with a buffet of chopped cilantro, black beans, tortilla chips, salsa, grated cheese, sliced lime, jasmine rice, and soft tortillas) YUM!

Discussion Questions:

1. Who is Mary in your life?
2. Mary has various titles such as Refuge of Sinners, Star of the Sea, Blessed Mother. What is your favorite title for Mary? Why?
3. Have you had anyone in your life that you've experienced as a spiritual mother or who you have been a spiritual mother to?

Journal Questions:

1. How could you grow in your relationship with Mary this month?
2. How can you follow the model of Mary in openness to the Holy Spirit?
3. What can Mary show you about what it means to be a woman?

Quote to Ponder:

"Mary, she existed in the divine mind as an eternal thought before there were any mothers. She is the mother of mothers she is the world's first love" -Fulton Sheen

In this month of May, dedicated to mothers, we wanted to talk about our Lady, our Mother Mary. In this episode we chat about the calling of all women to spiritual motherhood and how we relate to Mary as our mother. We also discuss how Mary can be a powerful model for us of openness to the will of God and filling of the Holy Spirit and how she can assist us in our journey closer to Jesus.

As we approach Pentecost this week, we thought it would be awesome to have a conversation about the Holy Spirit with Fr. Dave Pivonka TOR. Fr. Dave created the "Wild Goose" project with 4PM Media and has a deep devotion to the Holy Spirit. We had the pleasure of hearing Fr. Dave's story and chatted with him about how to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit and practical ways to open our hearts to a new Pentecost in our own hearts. We were moved and inspired by this conversation and hope that you will be too. You can check out the free Wild Goose Series

One Thing We Love This Week:

• Sr. Miriam's One Thing - "Til We Have Faces" Audiobook
• Michelle's One Thing - Personal Retreat with a cool priest - Father Nathan Halloran,SJ and LSU students.
• Heather's One Thing - New podcast for ministry leaders My Life In Ministry
• Heather's Other One Thing - "Closer" by Lifepoint Worship
• Fr. Dave's One Thing - The scripture this week
• Fr. Dave's Other One Thing - The guy who climbed El Capitan

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever pondered the idea that the Holy Spirit never leaves us? Discuss how this truth could change the experience of how you go through daily life?
2. Scripture says, "where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom". What area do you need the Holy Spirit to bring freedom to in your life right now?
3. How are you going to prepare for a deeper encounter with the Holy Spirit as we approach Pentecost this Sunday?

Journal Questions:

1. How could you open your heart to the Holy Spirit in a deeper way this Pentecost?
2. Fire illuminates what we cannot see. Take some time to pray for the Holy Spirit to come and illuminate those areas in your heart?
3. Fr. Dave said that free people make the world nervous. How would your life look differently if you truly lived in freedom?

Quote to Ponder: "The Holy Spirit brings people into divine life as children of God where they can live, as true children, in a relationship of intimacy, freedom, and faith in the love and mercy of God." - Pope Francis

As we approach Pentecost this week, we thought it would be awesome to have a conversation about the Holy Spirit with Fr. Dave Pivonka TOR. Fr. Dave created the “Wild Goose” project with 4PM Media and has a deep devotion to the Holy Spirit. We had the pleasure of hearing Fr. Dave’s story and chatted with him about how to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit and practical ways to open our hearts to a new Pentecost in our own hearts.

In this week's episode we wanted you to hear the final talk from our Royal Women's retreat. Mary Bielski talks about our inheritance as children of God, who is the King of Kings. She passionately shares about what it means to operate in authority, how to become more aware and strengthened by the cloud of witnesses, and how to live out our calling and purpose and receive provision from God.

Here is the video Mary shows during the talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEiSF8HpyDg

Discussion Questions:

1. You have a royal inheritance as a child of God, the King of Kings. What does this mean to you?
2. We have authority as daughters of the King. How can you begin to walk in this authority in the way you act and pray?
3. The orphan spirit can keep us from experiencing the inheritance that God has for us because we aren't ready for it. In what areas does God desire you to grow in maturity so that you can receive His inheritance?

Journal Questions:

1. How can you pray with more authority?
2. How do you need to grow in self care so that you are filled up and can offer more to those God has entrusted to you?
3. Where do you need to give God your fiat?

Quote to Ponder:

"The message of the gospel isn't about just getting into heaven, its about heaven getting into us" - Mary Bielski

In this week's episode we wanted you to hear the final talk from our Royal Women’s retreat. Mary Bielski talks about our inheritance as children of God, who is the King of Kings. She passionately shares about what it means to operate in authority, how to become more aware and strengthened by the cloud of witnesses, and how to live out our calling and purpose and receive provision from God.