The Springs in the Desert Podcast: Catholic Accompaniment Through Infertility

Happy feast day of Pope St. John Paul II!

To celebrate, we have two very special guests on the podcast today: Peter and Theresa Martin of the Wojtyła Community & Institute, authors of The Rule: St. John Paul II's Rule for a Joy-filled Marriage of Divine Love.

In this episode, we'll chat about:

• How infertility has informed the Wojtyła Community's married couple groups from the very beginning
• How Theresa and Peter "found" JPII's rule for married couples and how their groups are living it out
• How your marriage is complete, no matter the size of your family

Links:

Wojtyła Community & Institute

Starting a Married Couple Group

The Rule: St. John Paul II's Rule for a Joy-filled Marriage of Divine Love

Jocelyn and Pat, the mom & daughter team behind We Carry You Still, join us on the podcast today to talk about:

• The experience of miscarriage grief
• Why it can be helpful to share stories of loss
• How to accompany your daughter (or daughter-in-law) and her husband when suffering through a miscarriage
• Their miscarriage and infant loss ministry, We Carry You Still

It is our honor to walk with you this Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

Links:

We Carry You Still

Heaven's Gain Ministries

It is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and so today we're having a tough but important conversation with Chaney from Heaven's Gain Ministries.

We'll be talking about:

• The disenfranchised grief of infant loss during pregnancy
• Collection options at home and at the hospital for burial
• Memorializing babies who have passed away
• How parishes can help couples experiencing a miscarriage
• Encouragement for couples who were not able to bury their baby

If you have suffered the traumatic loss of your baby during pregnancy: "Your grief is valid, your story is valid, and we want to be here for you."

God loves you, and so do we.

Links:

Heaven's Gain Ministries

Heaven's Gain Hotline: 513-888-4200

Ministries, Counseling, and Spiritual Direction Links

Happy feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux! This episode is a "rose" to take with you today as we reflect on this great saint and her "little way" of growing closer to Jesus.

St. Thérèse received particular graces from God in her life that helped her reach an incredible level of holiness. Even though she lived within the walls of a Carmelite convent, she is the patron saint of missionaries and is even a Doctor of the Church. Her sanctity, sweetness, simplicity, virginity, and vocation to the religious life may make it hard to relate to St. Thérèse at first – especially when we're feeling the weight of the cross of infertility and its effect on our marriages. But there is so much we can learn from this saint even though our lives may look very different from hers.

Will you let St. Thérèse send you a "rose" today?

Links:

"The Hidden Gift of Hidden Suffering" blog post

I Believe in Love (personal retreat book)

Aleteia article on married saints

Just for TodayCompiled and translated from the writings of Saint Thérèse with selections from the Imitation of Christ

Have you ever felt called to be a homemaker, but feel like you can't because of your family size, financial situation, or concern about judgment from others? This episode is for you!

Two old and dear friends of the ministry, Andrea and Allie, join Cassandra on the podcast today to talk about:

• What homemaking looks like for a family of two
• How to discern the decision to stay home
• How Andrea and Allie have found healing of infertility grief through homemaking, and
• How to bring a little more homemaking into the home—even if you are not currently in a place to leave your job!

Links:

Visitation of Hearts Spiritual Direction (with Andrea)

Embracing Homemaking in Infertility (by Allie)

SpiritualMaternity.org

Participating (Sharing) in Mary’s Spiritual Motherhood and Spiritual Children

Have you ever wished that there was a Catholic small group for infertility accompaniment in your area? Well, this podcast episode is for you!

Our Small Groups Coordinator, Cadie Krivoniak, joins Cassandra on the pod to talk about her experience participating in Springs' very first pilot small group.

Cadie talks about how you can start a small group in your area, and what to do if you would love to participate in a small group but don't feel up to facilitating yourself.

It is our honor to walk with our small groups facilitators and participants!

Links:

Springs in the Desert Small Groups

Happy Birthday Springs! Our founders Ann and Kimberly join Cassandra on the podcast today to tell the story of how Springs came to be and how much it has grown.

God has blessed this ministry so abundantly! By His grace, here are the resources we are able to offer today:

• Weekly podcast episodes (on two separate podcasts!)
• Blog posts
• In-person retreats
• In-person and virtual small groups
• Weekly Well prayer email
• Monthly encouraging email newsletter
• Resources for couples, pastoral ministers, and healthcare providers
• Women at the Well virtual prayer meetings
• ... and more!

If you would like to support our work with a Founding Day gift, please visit our website!

Kenn Cramer, Director of Family and Respect Life for the Diocese of Manchester, NH, joins Cassandra on the pod this week.

Kenn shares about the experience of planning a clergy workshop focused on the sensitive topics of infertility and loss.

He also gives an impactful overview of the importance of ministering to men, and what priests – and wives – should know about how husbands experience infertility grief.

If you are a diocesan family life director, Springs in the Desert is here for you! Contact us about scheduling a workshop for priests, deacons, and/or seminarians today.

Links:

Eileen Tully | Sursum Corda

Ministries, Counseling, & Spiritual Direction

"What do we do if we don't have children?"

If this is a question you've wondered about in a season of infertility, this episode is for you! Springs contributors Ellie and Trey Weaver join Cassandra for another great episode on our theme, "Your Marriage Has a Mission."

The Weavers used to feel like they weren't sure about the mission of their marriage – but today they have come to embrace the abundant opportunities that God has put in their path!

This episode is filled with encouragement on embracing God's invitation to give life in a season of infertility. Infertility is not the mission of your marriage, and it does not define you! Your gifts are necessary for the Church. How will you use them to give life today?

Links:

Broken Arrow OK retreat registration

Richmond VA retreat registration

This week Ann welcomes very special guest Keith, her bestfriend and husband of 14 years. Ann and Keith talk about their experience of infertility early in marriage, how things have changed since then, and the ways God is calling them to be fruitful in surprising and fulfilling ways.

Keith is the “behind-the-scenes” support for Ann in ministry, but this isn’t his first appearance on the podcast! Dive into the archives and go way back to 2020 to hear how Keith, Ann, and the Springs Team shared about navigating infertility in all of our relationships.

Links:

• Infertility is Martyrdom blog post
• Infertility is Martyrdom Blogcast episode
• Holding Gabriel blog post
• Holding Gabriel Blogcast episode
• Communicating with our Spouses, Family, and Friends through Infertility