Catholic Momcast

Our Fall 2025 Book Club selection is dear to our hearts! In Real Moms of Real Saints, Colleen Pressprich gets real about every mom's need for a tribe: a community of other women whose bonds of trust run deeper than simple friendship. We need that tribe here on earth, but sometimes we forget about our heavenly tribe! We can draw on the loving motherly examples of women who were moms of saints (and saints-to-be) as diverse as Saint John Bosco, Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, and Blessed Stanley Rother, among others.

Our Fall 2025 Book Club selection is dear to our hearts! In Real Moms of Real Saints, Colleen Pressprich gets real about every mom's need for a tribe: a community of other women whose bonds of trust run deeper than simple friendship. We need that tribe here on earth, but sometimes we forget about our heavenly tribe! We can draw on the loving motherly examples of women who were moms of saints (and saints-to-be) as diverse as Saint John Bosco, Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, and Blessed Stanley Rother, among others.

Maria Morera Johnson and Catholicmom.com contributor Alex Resch discuss family-friendly celebrations of Hallowtide.

Maria and Alex have a fun conversation about celebrating Hallowtide by honoring Halloween, All Saints, and All Souls with faith, fun, and meaningful traditions that bring the season's true spirit to life.

Alex Resch is a wife and homeschooling mother to her children and a former middle- and high-school science teacher. Alex loves evangelizing and sharing our beautiful Catholic faith with everyone she meets – especially the children of her parish's Faith Formation program. She is the managing editor of AmazingCatechists.com, and you can visit her at her site, Ora Et Schola, for homeschool tips.

Links for this Episode:

• Read all articles by Alex Resch
• AmazingCatechists.com
• Ora Et Schola

Our Fall 2025 Book Club selection is dear to our hearts! In Real Moms of Real Saints, Colleen Pressprich gets real about every mom's need for a tribe: a community of other women whose bonds of trust run deeper than simple friendship. We need that tribe here on earth, but sometimes we forget about our heavenly tribe! We can draw on the loving motherly examples of women who were moms of saints (and saints-to-be) as diverse as Saint John Bosco, Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, and Blessed Stanley Rother, among others.

Maria and Allison have a spirited and fun conversation about achieving real work-life balance, where they explore practical tips, faith-filled insights, and personal stories to help you find peace in the juggle.

Links for this Episode:

• Saint Zellie Martin on Work Live Balance

Maria Morera Johnson interviews Father Pinto Paul, C.S.C., the International Director of Holy Cross Family Ministries, about the upcoming Global Rosary for Peace.

On Sunday, September 7, Holy Cross Family Ministries, in partnership with the University of Notre Dame and the Congregation of Holy Cross, hosted the 75th Anniversary of Father Peyton's Rosary Rally on Bond Quad on the campus of Notre Dame. Families from all over the country gathered to pray together, commemorating this great event!

Harnessing this momentum, Holy Cross Family Ministries and the Congregation of Holy Cross are launching a Global Rosary for Peace at 10:00 AM Eastern Time (4:00 PM Rome Time) on October 22, 2025, the Memorial of Saint John Paul II. Saint John Paul II was famously devoted to the Blessed Mother. In his apostolic letter "On the Most Holy Rosary," released in 2003, the Mysteries of the Light were revealed, and devotion to the Rosary was reawakened.

Father Pinto Paul, C.S.C., serves as the International Director of Holy Cross Family Ministries. In his role, Father Pinto will be representing Family Rosary leadership in the 16 countries outside of the United States that have active ministries serving the spiritual and prayer needs of families.

Links for this Episode:

• Join the Global Rosary for Peace
• Read More About the Global Rosary for Peace

Maria Morera Johnson interviews Melanie Rigney, author of 12 Unforgettable Men of the Gospels (Twenty-Third Publications).

from Melanie's webiste:

Melanie Rigney loves almost nothing better than talking and writing about faith and grace. Her latest book, Unforgettable Women of the Gospels (Twenty-third Publications, January 2024), focuses on eight unnamed women who encountered Jesus in the Gospels and what we can learn from them. A Twenty-third sister company, Creative Communications, recently published a booklet by Melanie, Praying with St. Bernadette of Lourdes: 15 Reflections on Living a Life of Virtue.

Melanie's other books include Radical Saints: 21 Women for the 21st Century; Woman of Worth: Prayers and Reflections for Women Inspired by the Book of Proverbs; and Menopause Moments: A Journal for Nourishing Your Mind, Body, and Spirit in Midlife. She is best known for her page-a-day devotionals, Sisterhood of Saints and Brotherhood of Saints, and as a regular contributor to Living Faith, Women in the New Evangelization (WINE). She lives in Arlington, Virginia.

• 12 Unforgettable Men of the Gospels
• Unforgettable Women of the Gospels
• Melanie Rigney website
• The Remorse of Judas -- Almeida Júnior

Maria Morera Johnson interviews Emmy-nominated puppeteer Donna Kimball about the new children's series, Guillermo & Will.

Minno, the global leader in Christian kids' media, is proud to announce its newest original series, Guillermo & Will which debuts on the streaming platform October 10. Guillermo & Will is a groundbreaking, dual-language puppet show designed to help children engage with God's world in both English and Spanish.

Created by Emmy-nominated puppeteer Donna Kimball and co-writer Dan Garza, and co-produced with the award-winning Family Theater Productions, Guillermo & Will introduces two lovable puppet friends whose adventures reflect the joy and beauty of cross-cultural friendship. The series combines creative storytelling, a biblical world view, and developmental expertise to help kids see themselves reflected on screen—while learning about God in a personal and relatable way.

Links for this Episode:

• www.gominno.com

Maria Morera Johnson interviews Katie and Tommy McGrady, co-authors of First Reconciliation and Beyond and hosts of Family Mass Prep on the Hallow app.

Katie and Tommy McGrady are a husband-and-wife team passionate about helping families grow in faith. They are the co-authors of First Reconciliation and Beyond, a practical guide that helps children and their parents enter more deeply into the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Katie is a Catholic author, speaker, and radio host whose work inspires Catholics to live joyfully and authentically. Tommy is a high school biology teacher, writer, and speaker who brings humor, clarity, and a love for the Church to his teaching. Together, they host Family Mass Prep on the Hallow app, offering encouragement and insights to help parents and kids dive into the Sunday readings. Drawing on their own experiences as parents, the McGradys bring warmth, wisdom, and relatable stories to their ministry and writing.

Links for this Episode:

• First Reconciliation and Beyond
• Family Mass Prep on Hallow app

Maria Morera Johnson and Allison Gingras welcome podcaster Lindy Wynne of Mamas in Spirit for a lively conversation about faith, joy, and the beauty of our sisterhood.

Lindy Wynne is the founder of Mamas in Spirit, a Catholic women's ministry, and the host of Mamas in Spirit Podcast, a weekly "mini-retreat in a podcast" where she interviews guests about how God has converted their hearts and transformed their lives.

She holds a Master's degree in Pastoral Care and Counseling and has served in professional ministry for over sixteen years. Lindy leads retreats and speaks nationally, addressing topics like faith, suffering, adoption, infertility, loss, mental health, and the journey of being rooted in God's love.

Links for this Episode:

• Mamas in Spirit website