Beyond the Habit

Happy June! You know what that means? We're celebrating Pride Month. As Sisters of St. Joseph. We believe that all are one. And so, to celebrate with the LGBTQ+ community this month, we're featuring special guests to celebrate Pride. Tune in for both of our episodes this month, where we'll talk to Sister Jeannine Gramick, a Sister of Loretto and co-founder of New Ways Ministry, a Catholic outreach and advocacy ministry with the LGBTQ+ community, as well as Bob Shine, Associate Director of New Ways, and co-author of the book A Home for All. So join us in June, and Happy Pride!

In this episode, Sisters Erin and Colleen interview Sister Nathalie Becquart, a Xavières Missionary Sister originally from France, who currently serves as the undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops in Rome. Sister Nathalie is playing a pivotal role in the current Synod on Synodality, and is the first woman to ever hold her position. They discuss women and youth in the church, sailing, and what it's like when you get a call from the Pope! Listen today!

Resources:

• Learn more about the Synod on Synodality here.

 In this episode, Sisters Erin and Colleen interview Father Michael Rossmann, SJ, a Jesuit priest, digital minister, and the author of the book The Freedom of Missing Out: Letting Go of Fear and Saying Yes to Life. They discuss the importance of proving opportunities for dialogue, mushroom hunting, and if Jesus would have a Twitter account. Listen today! 

Resources:

• Find Father Michael Rossman on Instagram.
• Learn more about Father Michael's book, The Freedom of Missing Out
• Check out One-Minute Jesuit on YouTube

In this episode, Sisters Erin and Colleen invite Sister Sarah Simmons of the Congregation of St. Joseph and Sister Thuy Tran of the Sister of St. Joseph of Orange to have a conversation about saints. The sisters discuss the people who are saints in their lives, their favorite canonized Saints, and everyday holiness. Listen today!

In this episode, Sisters Erin and Colleen interview  Beth Knobbe, author of Finding My Voice: A Young Woman’s Perspective  and Party of One: Living Single with Faith, Purpose, and Passion. They discuss vocation, especially Beth's passion about her vocation to the single life, the many kinds of important relationships we have in our lives, and considering your own path. Listen today! 

Resources:

• Learn more about Beth, her books, and joy in the single life.

In this episode, Sisters Erin and Colleen interview Sister Tracey Horan, a Sister of Providence of Saint Mary of the Woods who currently serves as the Associate Director of Education and Advocacy for the Kino Border Initiative. They discuss the issue of immigration in our world today, including the many individuals and families that Sister Tracey has met at the border, and talk about ways to overcome the paralysis of feeling overwhelmed about what we can each do about issues of justice. Listen today!

Resources:

• Information on the Kino Border Initiative 
• Advocacy information and action alerts from the Ignatian Solidarity Network.
• Act Now Cards opposing the asylum ban from the Congregation of St. Joseph's Ministry of the Arts

In this episode, Sisters Colleen and Erin have a conversation about Lent with Sister Marcella Clancy, CSJ. The sisters discuss their Lenten practices, share stories of how Lent can be transformative, and discuss social sin. Listen today!

Resources:

• Read Return to Me with Your Whole Heart, a reflection by Sister Marcella referenced in this episode. 

In our first episode of season 2, Sisters Erin and Colleen interview Maka Black Elk, Executive Director for Truth and Healing at Red Cloud Indian School,  a former Indian boarding school, about the difficult history of these boarding schools, the work he is doing in truth and healing, and his Catholic Faith. Erin and Colleen also talk about social media, Tik Tok, and building community online. Listen today!

Resources:

• Learn more about Maka and the Truth and Healing Project.
• Read Guilt, Responsibility, and Purgatory by Brett Salkeld, which Maka references in this interview.

Who are Sister Erin McDonald and Sister Colleen Gibson? And who are the Sisters of St. Joseph? In this mini episode, we learn more about our hosts and the sisters they are a part of, and answer some common questions our hosts are asked. Find out more about the sisters of St. Joseph at the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph. You can also find out about Sister Erin’s congregation here and Sister Colleen’s congregation here.

In the last full episode of our first season, we interview author and Ignatian-trained spiritual director, Becky Eldredge. Becky talks with us about finding ways to pray, shares her experiences with spiritual direction, and offers a look at her long history with the Sisters of St. Joseph.