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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
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
Wednesday Oct 21, 2020
Wednesday Oct 21, 2020
I admit; I envied other girls in high school terribly. (Hello, insecurity!) Unless I could have that girl’s hair, or that other girl’s confidence or whatever other quality I saw that I wanted, I wasn’t good enough. Ladies, been there? It didn’t occur to my immature teenage brain that I wasn’t supposed to be like anyone else. That there was something unique I had to do in the world. That appreciating other women’s qualities and building them up was much, much better than comparing myself to them. I had so much learning to do about how to be a woman. I never knew that my Catholic Faith had so much truth to offer about womanhood.
If you’re like me, you’ve heard the term “feminine genius” for years but never found out exactly what that means. I knew Liv Harrison, founder of the Genius Women’s Conference, would be the perfect person to talk about this beautiful concept coined by Pope St. John Paul II. Liv showed me the feminine genius in action back in March when I desperately needed help coordinating the massive Be Not Afraid Conference in just five days. She stepped in to volunteer and cheerlead me. So when I thought of who I’d like to have on the show to talk about the feminine genius, I knew there’d be no one better than Liv! She’s hilarious and wise- enjoy and be inspired! (p.s. Gentlemen, I think you'll get a lot out of this episode too!
Topics Discussed
- What is the feminine genius?
- How can women be both strong and classically feminine?
- What women bring to the world
- How the feminine genius meshes (and where it doesn’t mesh) with feminism
- Replacing competition and comparison with community
- Universal and specific aspects of the feminine genius
Resources
- Strength Finders Book
- Find Liv online: https://www.thelivharrison.com/
- Social @thelivharrison
- Find Liv's Talk to Me Podcast everywhere you find fine podcasts!
Thursday Oct 08, 2020
Thursday Oct 08, 2020
“If the bullets are going away from you, you’re going the wrong way!”
I'm fascinated by the life of Sr. Dede Byrne, today's guest. I first encountered her speaking at the Republican National Convention where she literally held up her rosary and called it her 'weapon of love.' Sr. Dede served as a Colonel in the Army for years before entering the community of the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. As a physician, she's given medical care to both Mother Teresa and members of the Taliban, and she served in the immediate aftermath of the Sep 11th attacks. Not only that, but she helps women who regret their decision to abort reverse the abortion pill and serves poor immigrants with free healthcare.
Enjoy this rich discussion. (Plus, I'll be sharing how quoting her got me Insta-banned...apparently being pro-life is hate speech...) Sr. Dede says, “the ultimate call is to be all for Jesus," and in these tumultuous days you'll love the inspiration she offers.
Topics Discussed
- Speaking truth in love: How Sr. Dede lovingly encourages her patients to change sinful habits and accompanies them to change
- Aftermath and reactions to her speech at the Republican National Convention
- Spiritual warfare: What the devil wants
- The war on speech: Stacey’s Instagram ban for quoting Sr. Dede in a pro-life post
- What people on all sides of the abortion debate can learn from Sr. Dede’s work helping women who regret taking an abortion pill
Resources
Friday Sep 25, 2020
Friday Sep 25, 2020
Gulp. Politics. Not gonna lie, folks; I’ve been terrified to podcast about voting. Many issues are highly incendiary and in our cancel culture it’s daunting. I know I'm not alone as I wrestle with answers to the hard questions. But as I read Clear Conscience, A Catholic Guide to Voting by Matthew Pinto, CEO and founder of Ascension Press, I gained hope knowing that in this confusing world there can be clarity. The Church and Matthew’s book won’t tell you for whom to vote, but it will empower you to think with the mind of 2,000 years of the Catholic Church's wisdom.
I think you’ll think, as I often did through the interview, "Wow, that just makes so much sense!" You don't often get clarity with politics, amen?? We didn’t get to cover every issue so you’ll just have to buy the book, but our convo is a great starting point!
Topics Discussed
- Prudential judgement and absolute moral imperatives: Which are which? (Hint: we generally have staggering freedom to form our own opinions!)
- Patriotism: how-to, warts and all
- Overwhelming emotion: the enemy to clear, reasoned thinking
- Black lives matter, but should we sign on for the Black Lives Matter movement?
- What to do if you agree with a candidate on everything except abortion issues
- Seeking truth free from emotion
- Compassion: do we care more about looking caring than actually being caring?
- Why it’s not usually the government’s job to care for the poor
- Who you CAN’T vote for in November based on the Church’s few absolute moral imperatives
Resources
Wanna see that Insta-banned post? Come on over to @staceysumereau on IG (and follow if you like what you see!)
Buy Clear Conscience: A Catholic Guide to Voting by Matthew Pinto and Ascension Press editors
Friday Sep 11, 2020
Friday Sep 11, 2020
“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” -
- The five levels of awareness and how to live at the highest, the level of purpose
- The permanence principle: How to discover your purpose
- Pier Giorgio Frassati's life teaches us why living backwards can make us happy
- Allow yourself to become dissatisfied- it's the first step to true happiness!
- The question that'll immediately make you understand what needs to change in your lifestyle
- The fundamental truth "We define everything by what it does, except ourselves," and why it matters
Resources
Wednesday Jul 15, 2020
Wednesday Jul 15, 2020
FREE Virtual Summit July 31-Aug 2 2020! A dream event about discerning ALL vocations featuring 40+ of your favorite speakers: Sr. Bethany Madonna, Jackie and Bobby Angel, Jason Evert, Sr. Helena Burns, Fr. Mark Goring, Joe Melendrez, Mary Lenaburg, Fr. Timothy Gallagher, Cameron Fradd, Meg Hunter-Kilmer, Matt and Erin Ingold, Katie Prejean McGrady, and MANY more! Also featuring the world's first virtual Meet and Greet for mission organizations and religious communities!
Sign up here: Staceysumereau.com/adventure
True North Course: Staceysumereau.com/true-north
PLEASE be a friend and help spread the word to anyone you know who could use this smorgasboard of wisdom. Nowhere else will you find an event or a course like this, designed especially for discerning life choices :) Thank you so much!
Thursday Jul 02, 2020
Thursday Jul 02, 2020
“Maybe you should start putting your life into two categories: a no or a hell yes.”
Many times I've wondered, "When do things stop changing? When do I get to stop re-adjusting and just be?" The answer is, never. Kathryn Whitaker, mom of six and author of Live Big, Love Bigger, has incredible perspective on coping when plans change. As a mom of six children, one of whom has dealt with ongoing health issues, and in dealing with health issues herself, Kathryn is a bastion of resilience and hope.
We also dive into her conversion and how she learned to hear God's calls as a Protestant youngster. I feel like Catholics can learn so much from the way many of our Protestant brothers and sisters listen for God's voice as though he wants to speak to them personally....because he does!
Topics Discussed
- “Attitude readjustment hour:” How-to
- How to course-correct faster every time plans change
- Building resilience
- Prioritizing in busy family life
Resources
- Live Big, Love Bigger by Kathryn Whitaker
- FREE God's Adventure Awaits Summit July 31-Aug 2- Register here!
This episode is sponsored by Guadalupe Roastery, a family-owned Catholic coffee company whose mission is to produce exceptional coffee and support fair wages for South American coffee farmers (most only make $5-7 per day!) You can score 10% off the most delicious coffee using code CAFFEINATED10. Visit www.guadaluperoastery.com and be an agent for positive change!
Wednesday Jun 17, 2020
Wednesday Jun 17, 2020
“All around us we see an impersonal lifestyle trying to invade the family and take away its richness, its culture, its ability to reflect the Trinity in its communion of persons. You’re not alone: you CAN find heaven in your home. It’s not just home base, a place to put your stuff, an entertainment center, or bricks and mortar. It’s a domestic church- a Trinity house!”
Catholicism and coffee are among my favorite things (in case you can't guess from the title of my podcast,) so when I found Trinity House Cafe, a Catholic coffee shop in Leesburg VA, I told my husband, "it's essentially what Heaven will be like for me!" Nothing could be more apt, because "Heaven in Your Home" is the tagline of Trinity House Founders Soren and Ever Johnson. Their masters degrees in theology inform the menu, atmosphere, ethos, and decor of their cafe to cultivate culture... starting with great sandwiches and coffee. Whatever your walk of life, you'll love our discussion about making your home a "trinity house."
We're not all called to be online entrepreneurs, start awareness movements, or be thought leaders. But all of us are called to love our neighbor, starting at home. Soren and Ever witnessed a poverty of family love and this is their initiative to make a difference, starting in their community. I think you'll be empowered by their "think globally, act locally" mindset, and you'll love the richness of the discussion. We get pretty theological in discussing Trinitarian relationships, so pour a good strong cup of coffee and enjoy!
Topics Discussed
- Moving from a cerebral faith into a familial, communal, cultural, “lived” faith.
- What does “heaven in your home” look like?
- The five levels of interpersonal communion
- Finding our identity in our relationship with each person of the Trinity
Resources
- Trinity House Café’s Website- If you live near Leesburg VA, go! (They are now reopened after coronavirus quarantine!)
- Trinity House Community
- Heaven in Your Home Workshops (I highly recommend signing up for a free workshop with Soren and Ever!)
- Arlington Catholic Herald Article about Soren and Ever's endeavor
- Christus Vivit by Pope Francis
- Stacey’s viral Facebook post on foot washing