In this conversation best-selling author and Catholic speaker Maria Morera Johnson shares about her new book ⁠”A Beautiful Second Act: Saints and Soul Sisters Who Taught me to Age With Grace.”⁠ Maria explores the adventure of life’s second half, drawing inspiration from twenty saints and “soul sisters” who faced challenges with courage. As advancements in health and medicine extend our lifespan, women of the “sandwich generation” — those balancing the needs of both children and parents — are experiencing a multitude of challenges as they transition out of the workforce and into the promise of retirement. This book contains encouragement and wisdom from saints and contemporary soul sisters who experienced similar challenges during their transition to midlife and beyond and offers insight into the aging process.

In this episode Elizabeth Tomlin and Maggie Phillips discuss Maggie’s recent article in America Magazine, Lay volunteers are often the backbone of Catholic parishes. But they need support, too. | America Magazine. We ponder how we can “work smarter not harder” in our parishes and honor the service of a volunteer cadre of largely women volunteers and church employees. Maggie Phillips authors the series “Religious Literacy in America” for Tablet Magazine through a grant from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations. Her work has also appeared at America Magazine, Word on Fire, and RealClear Investigations. You can find Maggie online @maggies_words and www.mrsmaggiephillips.com

Elizabeth Tomlin and Lynda MacFarland draw on their experiences as military wives to explore the virtue of hope and Lynda’s new book, ⁠The Anchor For Our Souls – Certain Hope In An Uncertain World ⁠. The book is a devotional full of encouragement for anyone struggling in today’s tumultuous times. As Lynda writes, “this devotional book is intended to be savored slowly, in stolen moments of quiet, away from the noise and endless activities of the world today. It is for reading in small increments, a few pages at a time. And then ponder, contemplate the ideas and consolation conveyed.” Divided into three sections, the first includes Lynda’s own essays on hope; section two contains the quoted words of others with reflections by the author; the last section is composed of the essays of seven thoughtful, faith filled people, each one well-known in his or her own sphere of influence. You can find Lynda @lyndawithawhy on Instagram and on Substack.

As the new religious education year kicks off, José Amaya, the AMS Director of Faith Formation, shares resources for catechists and parents. We begin our conversation by considering the theme published by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops for Catechetical Sunday, Sept 15, “Lord, when did we see you hungry?” Jose also shares archdiocesan resources for catechists, considers what would make some a “good” catechist, and how catechists can take practical steps to prepare themselves for this year. Good catechesis is grounded in the Eucharist and becomes a fruit of prayer. You don’t need a degree in theology to be a catechists – you must have a love of Christ and his Church and a willingness to step into this divine vocation.