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How do we interpret and understand what God is calling us to, both in our vocation and in other life choices? Join Stacey Sumereau on coffee dates with Catholic friends for insight and inspiring guidance. From touring with Broadway hit shows to discerning religious life on Lifetime’s reality TV show ”The Sisterhood: Becoming Nuns,” Stacey hasn’t stopped searching for God’s will! Original music by JF Church.
Episodes
Tuesday May 25, 2021
Tuesday May 25, 2021
“The Holy Spirit is moving now- he doesn’t want to wait five years until you’ve got your life together.”
It was my honor to share a beverage with the incredibly down-to-earth and inspiring gal pal Ali Hoffman. From discussing grieving your dreams to awkward parties and how to host them, Ali and I are your cheerleaders in living out today well, whatever God's calling you to right now.
Show Notes
- Finding your personal charism
- How to get started prayer doodling, especially if you judge your own art abilities
- Praying in a time of desolation
- Letting go of perfectionism
- Grieving lost dreams well and accepting difficulties
- Your questions for Ali answered!
Resources
- See Honora's homecoming here!
- Find Ali on social @theoodlesofdoodles
- Ali's website and shop
- Be Not Afraid Conference talks featuring Stacey, Ali and 40+ other Catholic speakers and musicians- FREE!
- Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Fr. Jacques Philipe
Tuesday May 11, 2021
Tuesday May 11, 2021
Life is mushy. It’s exhausting living in the gray. That’s why tuning into our inner compass- conscience- and learning what the voice of the Holy Spirit sounds like, are vital in discerning everyday decisions. God doesn’t care what color shoes we choose. But many small decisions are important because they add up to the big moments. The more we’re attuned to the ‘quickening’ of the Holy Spirit, the better we can make each little decision (and the quicker we'll know!)
The nerd in me loved learning Greek words associated with discernment from my guest in this episode, author Tim Ferrara. Discernment is both a gift and a muscle that you build and exercise, and today’s episode provides everything you need to form your discernment training plan.
I recorded this episode back in November. At that point I was a week into an unplanned but necessary two-month social media hiatus. If you sometimes wonder why you keep scrolling, I think this one will be great for you.
Topics Discussed
- Diakrisis- the Greek origin and meanings of discernment
- How studying a dollar bill teaches us to identify counterfeit truth
- “Living your best life:” New age or authentically Christian?
- The Holy Spirit as ‘family lawyer’
- Kronos vs. Kairos: How these Greek descriptions of 2 different kinds of time help us discern
- 3 questions to discern whether you’re called to be on social media
- Why the Israelites had to kill a sheep to leave Egypt, and what it means for us
- Learn to tune into how events, things and people affect your spirit
Resources
- Everyday Discernment Book and podcast
- Find Tim on Social @discerningdadd
- St. Ignatius of Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises
- Come on pilgrimage with me to the Holy Land! January 2022.
Wednesday Apr 14, 2021
Wednesday Apr 14, 2021
It's been the wildest ride of our lives. At publishing time we're on day 93 in the NICU. John and I took listener questions and I think this episode will speak to anyone going through a hard time.
Topics Discussed
- How have John and I supported each other?
- How have we reconciled the human negative emotions with being a faithful Christian?
- How do we deal with the vulnerability of the situation around strangers and sharing this experience?
- Will this experience prevent us from having more kids?
- How can people support parents of babies in the NICU?
- How has the experience been for Raffy and Zelie?
- Where have we seen God?
Resources
- Come on pilgrimage with us! Jan 2022 we are taking flight to the Holy Land and we'd love to have you along for the adventure!
- Stacey's blog on our family's journey
- Fr. James Brent's video- Offer It Up
- Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
“People will listen to whoever steps in front of the mic. Why aren’t we proclaiming the Gospel? There’s people who are hungry and thirsty, who want to be spoken words of truth. It takes boldness, courage, and a certain humility to step in front of the crowd and share what’s on your heart.”
This episode is several seemingly opposite things- half my super vulnerable struggles with my premature daughter's NICU journey (which is 2 1/2 months long and counting!) and half Fr. Mark Goring's wonderful YouTube ministry.
Topics Discussed
- The charism and community life of Fr. Mark’s order, the Companions of the Cross
- Stacey’s struggle with her daughter’s NICU journey
- Why do bad things happen to innocent people?
- Iron sharpens iron: Why your vocation should not be comfortable
- Why do bad things have to happen to us?
- Building a bonfire to enkindle each other: The importance of community
- Having confidence in God through difficulties
- How do you trust God after you’ve been hurt?
- How to discern whether or not to speak up about particular issues
- Mark’s method for making a YouTube video every day
Resources
- Come on Pilgrimage with Stacey to the Holy Land, January 2021!
- Fr. Mark’s YouTube channel
- The Companions of the Cross
- Blessed Carlo Acutis’s website on Eucharistic miracles
- A Call to a Deeper Love by Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin
- Book- Eucharistic Miracles of the World
This episode is sponsored by Catholic Match. To start your FREE profile click here!
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
“We have nothing to prove and everything to share.”
Anyone else feel simultaneously like the weird Catholic in their artist’s circle, and also the weird artist in their Catholic circle? I firmly believe people of faith are called to creativity. One of my most commonly asked questions is, “How did you keep your faith during your Broadway career?” I knew immediately I wanted to record an episode on this with the Mitchell sisters. Melissa and Madison are NYC actor friends who not only survived, but thrived in their faith while performing in Les Miserables and Cats on Broadway.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to perform on Broadway, feel called to a creative life, or want to crush an unhealthy competitive mindset, this one’s for you! Please be a friend and share with anyone who needs to hear this episode.
Topics Discussed
- Melissa’s story of surrendering her career/passion for theater before she found success on Broadway
- How to keep motherhood and creativity compatible
- Why creative women shouldn’t be afraid of motherhood
- Letting go of the need to prove yourself
- Replacing competition with teamwork
- How to grow and nurture your faith in a secular city/profession
- Handling conversations/comments you don’t want to partake in
Resources
- Join the God's Adventure Awaits Holy Land Pilgrimage, Jan 17-25 2022!
- Be Not Afraid Conference: “Take Courage” by Melissa and Stephen Davies
- Catholic NYC- great resources for Young Adult Catholics in NYC!
- Catholic Artist Connection NYC
- Follow Stacey @staceysumereau, Melissa @treelilymusic, and Madison @madison.mitchell
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
“You might have talents that are weird, like maybe you could work in the Yankee Candle lab to find what scents best induce Christmas cheer. And if you have the best nose, then I say get after it! Get after the candles!”
When I was a kid, I got sculpey clay one Christmas. Sculpting became one of my fun little childhood hobbies. In high school, my mom found a book at the library on making clay caricatures of people. For a 10th grade school project, I made a doll of my teacher and left it on his desk. Mr. Westhoff was so excited he carried it around the school interrupting other teacher's classes to show them his "mini me!" Years later, my weird hobby turned into a nice side business sculpting keepsake replicas of my castmates on the Beauty and the Beast National tour in costume.
When my little sculpting hobby turned into a business, many of my friends and family weren't surprised at all. The standard reaction was, "Oh yeah, I can totally see you doing that." I wondered, what took me so long to see it? So often in my life, it seems everyone else can see me better than I see myself.
God wants us to use all our odd, specific, unique talents. Sometimes learning to recognize them and giving them air is the hardest part. It's easy to write off those individual talents because they don't fit into a neat little box. My guest today, Fr. Gregory Pine (of Godsplaining and Pints with Aquinas fame,) will help instill confidence into following your unique path. Fr. Gregory is one of the smartest, funniest people I've ever met, and he brings incredible wisdom from a contemplative soul.
Topics Discussed
- The art of savoring life through the senses: Good food, company, alcohol, etc.
- Discernment is living in what is real
- Gregory’s vocational discernment story
- Finding God’s will through your desires
- How to stop “analysis paralysis”
- Your vocation is “testimony” and what that means
- God breaking you down, and how it’s actually necessary
- Do you get all virtues when you acquire one?
- How to know which virtues you’re called to manifest specifically
Resources
- Gregory’s Godsplaining podcast on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @Godsplaining
- Come on the God’s Adventure Awaits Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in Jan 2022!
Tuesday Dec 29, 2020
Tuesday Dec 29, 2020
This year I’ve been shadowbanned for being pro-life. I've received dozens of the nastiest comments attempting to shame and insult me for being a conservative and a Catholic. It got me thinking of my visit to Rome a few years ago when I visited the Church of Santo Stephano Rotondo. 34 gory, stomach-turning murals line the walls depicting the most unpleasant torture and death of early Christians. After getting over my initial “ouch ouch ouch” reaction, I began to notice that the martyr’s faces looked serene and even joyful. I'll never forget deeply realizing that, if pain and even death can’t overpower Christ and his followers, literally nothing can.
As censorship on social media ramps up and mainstream media outlets persistently ignore or twist truth, I think of the Apostles. One moment they cowered in the Upper Room; the next they boldly preached to the whole world. God’s opinion of them and his Kingdom were all that mattered. Maybe it won't mean literal martyrdom, but like them, I believe we’re being called to extraordinary heroism in 2021.
I firmly believe that God is waiting to strengthen us in supernatural ways to meet the demands of these dark times, if we ask him to.
New Year’s Resolutions…most years I could take ‘em or leave ‘em. But in these unusual times I believe it’s essential to survey the battleground, size up what we’re facing, and form an action plan. In my first ever solo podcast I’m sharing 5 goals that’ve been percolating in my mind and heart to prepare for 2021.
Topics Discussed
- Setting your expectations: the battle has begun
- Identifying the people, places and things that nourish and strengthen you
- Forming an actionable plan
- Which virtues to specifically pray for
- Identifying your unique call
Resources
Monday Dec 07, 2020
Monday Dec 07, 2020
“God doesn’t just give you one call…he insists on changing your life and your heart.” As a native of the little town of Bethlehem, growing up just a five-minute walk from where Jesus was born, Khaled Jacoub was imbued with a sense of mission from his earliest days. He's the founder of Nativity Pilgrimage, the company I'm proud to partner with for the God's Adventure Awaits Pilgrimage in 2022. Jacoub hosts more than 200 groups from the USA to visit his beloved native Holy Land.
Since I began this podcast it's been on my heart to do an episode on pilgrimages. They're not just a vacation; they're a time-honored tradition recommended by the Church since the Middle Ages as a way to discern your personal mission and purpose. I'm delighted to speak with Jacoub about what it was like growing up in the Holy Land, and how to make an effective pilgrimage.
Topics Discussed
- What is a pilgrimage and how it’s different from a vacation
- How people in Bethlehem feel their mission is to make everyone feel at home
- The FOOD in Israel (very important to pregnant Stacey lol)
- Why Christians are leaving the Holy Land in droves, and the role Nativity Pilgrimage is playing to help keep them there
- How to approach a pilgrimage to get the most spiritual benefit
- The best sites in the Holy Land to visit (there are many!)
Monday Nov 16, 2020
Monday Nov 16, 2020
I was super nervous before my wedding night about sex. I didn’t know how to go about finding the right NFP method, and approaching married people with personal questions was embarrassing. The whole deal felt kinda… gross. John and I were promised a “honeymoon every month” in our marriage prep class, but living the reality was extremely hard. We felt disillusioned and bitter. Anyone else out there?
This is THE exact convo I wish I’d heard in those times. I loved chatting with Bridget Busacker, the founder of Managing Your Fertility, in this share-all, no topics barred, totally honest episode. She details the three different types of NFP and how to know which one will work best for you. We don’t sugar-coat it: NFP is hard requires sacrifice. The conversation needs way more nuance than can fit in an Instagram post or pre-Cana retreat talk. But we also don’t skimp on sharing the depth of love, communication, joy, and intimacy that’s made possible.
I have a favor to ask: Can you please pass this on to a single friend who’d benefit from it? And would you mind taking 1 min to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts? Thank you!!
Topics Discussed
- The three different types of NFP
- How to know which method is best for you
- Choosing an NFP instructor
- Can you switch methods?
- Getting past the weirdness of cervical mucus, cycles, sex, etc.
- Ditching the “honeymoon every month” lie for an authentic, nuanced inside scoop on using NFP
- Prioritizing and choosing your spouse on a daily basis
- Achieving simultaneous orgasm- yup, we go there!
Resources
Wednesday Nov 04, 2020
Wednesday Nov 04, 2020
One million children experience their parents’ divorce each year. Two-thirds of them who were regularly attending a Church or synagogue at the time report that no one reached out to them at that time. Parents’ divorce increases their children’s chance of divorce by 40%. And barely any Catholic dioceses have an outreach for it.
My friend Sarah Hart travels to speak at healing retreats and blogs with the ministry Life-Giving Wounds, one of the few Catholic ministry outreaches to adult children of divorced parents. As a graduate of the JPII Institute for Marriage and Family, and herself a child of divorced parents, Sarah has helped many people give voice to their pain and find healing. If you or someone you love has lived through the trauma of parental divorce, this discussion is for you.
Topics Discussed
- Why divorce is a “primal wound,” and the healing power of discovering your deeper God-given identity
- Healing boundaries and learning to form new intimate relationships
- How wounds can become life-giving resources and help heal others in turn
- Forgiveness that sticks: going beyond the initial retreat weekend to live forgiveness
Resources
- Life-Giving Wounds website:
- Pontifical Institute of John Paul II for Studies on Marriage and Family
- Upcoming Diocese of Arlington Healing Retreat
- Books: Between Two Worlds: The Inner Lives of Children of Divorce by Elizabeth Marquardt
- Primal Loss: The Now Adult Children of Divorce Speak by Leila Miller
- The Children of Divorce, The Loss of Family as a Loss of Being by Andrew Root
- Torn Asunder: The Myth of the Good Divorce, and the Recovery of Origins by Margaret McCarthy
- Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Cloud and Townsend
- Sarah Hart’s email: sarah.dan.hart@gmail.com