Miriam y José Manuel Tejeda son una pareja católica de la Ciudad de México cuya misión de vida nació bajo circunstancias desafiantes (pero también milagrosas), tras una enfermedad y 47 días en terapia intensiva en un hospital de los Estados Unidos. En este podcast, comparten su vida y cómo su misión se extiende no solo a los bebés por nacer, sino también a las mujeres que crían a esos niños.

Mater Filius (latín para Madre e Hijo/a), su ministerio, comenzó con una casa de acogida y refugio en la Ciudad de México y desde entonces se ha extendido a diez ciudades en México, con tres más en camino. El ministerio cuenta con tres casas en los Estados Unidos y cuatro más en América Latina.

Conoce más sobre su ministerio en www.materfilius.org.

From Death to a Mission for Life: Miriam and José Manuel Tejeda

Miriam and José Manuel Tejeda are a Catholic couple from Mexico City whose life's mission was born under challenging (but also miraculous) circumstances following an illness and 47 days in intensive care at a hospital in the United States. In this episode, they share about their lives and how their mission extends not only to the lives of babies but also to the women who raise those children. 

Mater Filius (Latin for "Mother and Child"), their ministry, began with one house of welcome and refuge in Mexico City and has since expanded across Mexico to ten cities, with three more in development. The ministry has three houses in the United States and four across Latin America. 

Learn more about their ministry at www.materfilius.org.

Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Alexander Walton. Alissa invites Alexander in to discuss his time in a Laudato Si' Fellowship Program through the National Religious Partnership for the Environment and the USCCB. The two talk of the program as well as a host of other topics including: 

• Christ as the Morning Star.
• Grappling with our tradition as gift to the Church.
• Alexander's background in philosophy.
• The interconnectedness of all things.
• Pope Francis as conversation starter.
• Being a good neighbor as an extension of our citizenship.
• Learning and leaning into more than one thing.
• Hope.

Alexander Walton is an alumnus of Morehouse College, where he graduated with Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude honors while earning a Bachelor of Arts in political philosophy and early modern English literature. Walton has completed fellowships, attended seminars, and conducted research on political philosophy, theology, constitutional law, Shakespeare, and Milton at the University of Dallas, Yale Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics, the Hertog Foundation, the Thomistic Institute, and the Dominican House of Studies. In Walton’s free time, he enjoys weight training, singing, and creative writing. 

Nacido en el seno de una familia católica en Monterrey, México, Diego Estrada comparte sobre un profundo encuentro con Dios cuando era adolescente. Después, la constante interacción con sacerdotes y seminaristas lo condujo al seminario. Actualmente es seminarista de la Diócesis de Austin en el estado de Texas en los Estados Unidos. Habla de los pasos graduales del discernimiento y de cómo busca seguir la voz de Dios en libertad y tomando como ejemplo a los santos. Sus santas favoritas son Santa Teresa del Niño Jesús y Santa Teresa de Ávila.

En Instagram lo puedes seguir en @tuvidaesincreible

The Gradual path of faith

Diego Estrada

Show notes (English) 

Born into a Catholic family in Monterrey, Mexico, Diego Estrada shares a profound encounter with God that occurred during his teenage years. Later, his constant interaction with priests and seminarians led him to the seminary. He is currently a seminarian in the Diocese of Austin, in the state of Texas. He speaks about the gradual steps of discernment and how he seeks to follow God's voice in freedom, drawing on the example of the saints.  His favorite saints are St. Thérèse of Lisieux and St. Teresa of Ávila.

You can follow him on Instagram at @tuvidaesincreible

Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Deanna Johnston. Alissa and Deanna jump into a wide range of topics related to faith, marriage and family life including:

• Finding joy and peace in our own gifts and the gifts of others.
• Being rooted in our worth.
• NFP as gift and also as purifying cross.
• The Church as a place of joy.
• Honoring each family's story within our Church.
• The gift and value that every family brings to the Church.
• The School of Love.
• Accompanying families and encouraging them in their gifts.

Deanna Johnston is the Director of Family Life for the Diocese of Tyler. She has been married to her husband Michael for 11 years and they have 5 children between the ages of 2 and 10. Before coming to East Texas, Deanna worked in Pastoral Ministry at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Dodge City, Kansas. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Spanish from the University of Memphis and a Master of Arts in Theology from Newman University in Wichita. Deanna has been featured on EWTN News In Depth, Embodied Magazine, and was part of the U.S. Delegation to the World Meeting of Families in Rome in 2022. 

Mía Schroeder de Guadalajara, Jalisco México comparte sobre su las raíces de su fe y el sacrifico de su familia por la misma y como este ejemplo ha influido en su vida, carrera, y vocación. También habla su esperanza para las personas que busquen seguir sus pasos. Mía trabaja en los medios El Sembrador, Apostolicus 1370 AM y Fiat María (su proyecto), entre otros. La pueden seguir en Instagram: @mia_medios_28. Te invitamos a apoyar From Here Media haciendo un donativo en este enlace: fromheremedia.org/donate

Mía Schroeder: From Catholic Roots to a Mission in the Media

Mía Schroeder from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, shares the roots of her faith, the sacrifice her family made for their faith, and how this example has influenced her life, career, and vocation. She also speaks about her hopes for those who want to follow in her footsteps. Mía works in Catholic media, including El Sembrador, Apostolicus 1370 AM, and her project, Fiat María. You can follow her on Instagram: @mia_medios_28. We invite you to support From Here Media by donating at this link: fromheremedia.org/donate

Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Lisa Scata. Lisa shares about her heart for finding place within a parish community. Alissa and Lisa dive into:

• Creating connections with people.
• The unity available to us in the Eucharist.
• Feelings around transitions.
• The sense of constancy parish life can provide.
• Being refined by community.
• How longing can be invitation.
• How what makes us come alive can lead to deeper community.

Lisa Scata is a mom, wife, Elementary teacher, and former Director of Children’s Ministry who lives in Columbia, Maryland. Originally from Rochester, New York, Lisa cherishes strong bonds with family and friends and considers many places to be home. Lisa has a passion for improving parish life and helping people connect with Jesus. She loves houseplants, puzzles, music, chocolate, Saints, and Sacraments, and is energized through inclusive spaces that help people feel known and seen.

Nancy Rivera vive en la Florida con su esposo e hijos. Le apasiona crear un mundo más justo y pacífico. Le encanta viajar, explorar grandes ciudades, así como pueblos pequeños, también hacer amigos mientras descubre nuevos lugares. Más allá de sus actividades profesionales y personales, Nancy está dedicada a promover el cuidado de la creación y ayudar a los demás a alcanzar su máximo potencial. Ella confía en el llamado del Evangelio a santificar nuestra vida a través del amor y el servicio a los demás dentro de las situaciones más comunes.

Nancy comparte sobre: 

• Su infancia en el campo de Puerto Rico
• La vida sencilla y formación de los hijos
• Cómo llego a la organización sin fines de lucro, CRS o Catholic Relief Services por su sigla en inglés. 
• La santidad en la vida cotidiana

Haz clic aqui para conocer más sobre CRS. 

A Heart for Holiness in Ordinary Life 

Nancy Rivera lives in Florida with her husband and children. She is passionate about creating a more just and peaceful world. She loves to travel and explore big cities and small towns while also making friends and discovering new places. Beyond her professional and personal pursuits, Nancy is dedicated to promoting creation care and helping others reach their full potential. She trusts the call of the Gospel to sanctify our lives through love and service to others in the most ordinary situations.

Nancy shares about: 

• Her childhood in the countryside of Puerto Rico
• The simple life and formation of children
• How she came to work for the non-profit organization, Catholic Relief Services or CRS. 
• Sanctity in daily life 

Click here to learn more about CRS. 

Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Katie Prejean McGrady. Katie shares about her heart for the religious vocations of the Church and the joy found in loving and being loved by folks within the different callings. Katie and Alissa also chat about: 

• The sacred middle, and the normal everyday Catholic
• Being invitational in how we live our faith
• The beauty of living an integrated faith
• The golden thread of connectivity within the Church
• Catholicism as who we are and what we do
• "Uncle" Tim Dolan
• How the different vocations within the Church need and compliment one another

Katie Prejean McGrady is a speaker, award-winning author, and host of The Katie McGrady Show on The Catholic Channel on Sirius XM. She hosts three podcasts: Ave Explores from Ave. Maria Press, Like a Mother with Our Sunday Visitor, and Family Mass Prep on Hallow, which she co-hosts with her husband Tommy. Katie serves as a member of the working group on youth. and young adult ministry for the USCCB. Katie has hosted the National Catholic Youth Conference and spoken at Steubenville Youth and Adult Conferences and around the country for over a decade. She lives in Lake Charles, Louisiana, with her husband and daughters, Rose and Clare.he Steubenville Youth and Adult Conferences. She lives in Lake Charles, Louisiana, with her husband and daughters, Rose and Clare.

Find our more about Katie's work on Facebook, Instagram, or her website.

Socorro sirve como la presidenta en la mesa directiva de la Asociación Católica de Vida Familiar (CFLA por su sigla en inglés). Trabaja para la Diócesis de Kalamazoo desde noviembre de 2013, como Directora Asociada para la Vida Parroquial y Liderazgo Laico – Iglesia Doméstica. 

Durante este tiempo ha trabajado diligentemente, tendiendo la mano y acompañando a individuos y familias en todo tipo de situaciones y niveles sociales. Ha buscado formar discípulos afectivos en el ministerio parroquial familiar para promover un sano ministerio familiar como Ecclesia domestica, tomando en serio y fielmente la familia, el matrimonio y la crianza de los hijos. Tiene estudios de posgrado en el Ministerio Pastoral con énfasis en la Nueva Evangelización del Seminario Mayor del Sagrado Corazón en Detroit, y trabajo de posgrado en educación bilingüe / bicultural. También recibió una licenciatura en Administración de la Universidad de Purdue. 

Socorro comparte sobre: 

• Su vida de joven, y el ejemplo de sus padres
• Su vida en varios lugares del mundo 
• Su trabajo con jóvenes y familias
• Algunas experiencias de sanación que ha visto en su ministerio 

Para conocer más sobre Socorro y su trabajo, búscala aquí: Federación para la Pastoral Familiar Hispana

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Socorro serves as the president of the Catholic Family Life Association’s (CFLA/NACFLM) board of directors. She has worked for the Diocese of Kalamazoo since November 2013 as the Associate Director for Parish Life and Lay Leadership—Domestic Church. 

She has worked diligently during this time, reaching out and accompanying individuals and families in all situations and social levels. She works to form caring disciples in parish family ministry to promote a healthy family ministry as Ecclesia domestica to take family, marriage, and parenting seriously within the faith. She has graduate studies in Pastoral Ministry with an emphasis on the New Evangelization from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. She has done graduate work in bilingual/bicultural education. She holds a B.A. in Management from Purdue University. 

Socorro shares about: 

• Her life as a young woman and the example of her parents.
• Her life in various parts of the world 
• Her work with youth and families
• Some of the healing experiences she has seen in her ministry. 

To learn more about Socorro and her work, click Catholic Family Life Association.

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If you enjoyed this episode and would like to help us keep telling stories of Catholics living out their light in the world, consider making a one-time or reoccurring donation to From Here Media here. 

Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Beth Lee and Jen Podichetty to chat about From Here's Field Trip to the National Eucharistic Congress in July. The three dive into:

• What each person was thinking/feeling headed into the Congress.
• What the experience of the Congress was like for each of them.
• Hope!
• Peace!
• Joy!
• Being a Eucharist-centered Church.
• The Syro-Malabar Rite they experienced.
• Sister Josephine, Gloria Purvis, and Cardinal Tagle.
• The power of belonging.
• Jesus as gift.
• Diversity and welcome.
• The power of a Church who doesn't shy away from the need for repentance.  

Beth Lee is from Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She loves spending time outside with her family and working as a Physical Therapist. Jen Podichetty is from Portland, Oregon. She's a wife, mother, sister, daughter, and kindergarten teacher who loves growing and preserving food, hiking in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, and traveling to new places near and far.

This episode was brought to you through the generosity of From Here Media's incredible group of donors. You can help us continue sharing the wisdom, faith, and goodness found in the folks of the Universal Catholic Church by becoming one of our supporters. Head to fromheremedia.org/donate for more information.