Say Yes to Holiness

In this episode, Christina Semmens reflects on the period between Ascension and Pentecost, emphasizing the importance of being open to the Holy Spirit. She discusses the need for perseverance in prayer, the significance of treating others with good faith, and the power of love and sacrifice in our spiritual journey. Christina encourages listeners to lift their spirits and love God, preparing for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit during Pentecost.TakeawaysWe have the freedom to choose to be open to the Holy Spirit.Excuses can hinder our response to God's call.God provides us with everything we need to fulfill His will.Perseverance in prayer is essential for faith.We must treat others with good faith, presuming the best in them.Lifting up our spirit and loving God is crucial during waiting periods.Prayer combined with sacrifice brings comfort and joy.The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome anxiety and worry.We should prepare our hearts for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.Rejoicing in the Holy Spirit is a celebration of faith.Sound Bites"We have the freedom to choose to be open.""God will give us all that we need.""We must keep knocking, keep persevering.""We need to presume the best in others.""Lift up your spirit and love God."Chapters00:00 Introduction and Reflection on Ascension to Pentecost01:53 The Importance of Being Open to the Holy Spirit09:32 Perseverance in Prayer and Faith16:32 Treating Others with Good Faith20:59 Lifting Up Our Spirit and Loving God

In this episode of the Say Yes to Holiness podcast, Christina Semmens speaks with Jason Shanks, the president of the National Eucharistic Congress. They discuss the ongoing Eucharistic revival in the Catholic Church, Jason's personal journey to Catholicism, the importance of community engagement, and the future plans for the movement. Jason shares insights on the role of synodality, the challenges faced during the revival, and the significance of priest renewal. The conversation emphasizes the call for individuals to become Eucharistic missionaries and the need for a deeper understanding of the Eucharist in everyday life.TakeawaysJason Shanks is the president of the National Eucharistic Congress.He became Catholic due to his understanding of the Eucharist.The Eucharistic revival is seen as a generational work.Community engagement is crucial for the revival's success.Synodality played a significant role in planning the revival.The movement aims to bring Jesus to the margins of society.Eucharistic missionaries will be commissioned to spread the message.Challenges faced during the Congress included resource allocation and collaboration.Personal spiritual practices, like holy hours, are essential for grounding.The revival seeks to empower individuals to become revivalists in their communities.Sound Bites"I became Catholic because of the Eucharist.""Jesus waits for us to come visit him.""This is a generational work.""The church is best when it's on mission.""We want to bring Jesus to the margins.""It's about spiritual multiplication.""Let's everybody become a revivalist."Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Eucharistic Revival02:46 Personal Journey and Spiritual Awakening06:09 The Role of Synodality in the Revival09:08 Plans for the Future of the Eucharistic Movement12:05 Eucharistic Missionaries and Community Engagement14:56 Challenges and Lessons Learned17:55 Grounding Practices and Spiritual Habits20:48 The Importance of Priest Renewal24:06 Conclusion and Call to ActionFor more information, go to https://www.eucharisticrevival.org/

In this conversation, Christina Semmens discusses the significance of faith, leadership, and personal responsibility in the context of Catholic teachings. She reflects on the recent election of Pope Leo XIV, the teachings of St. Augustine, and the importance of embracing life and death with a focus on relationships and prayer. The discussion emphasizes the power of personal choice in character development and the role of Mary as an intercessor through prayer, particularly the Rosary.TakeawaysPope Leo XIV emphasizes that we are beloved children of God.St. Augustine's teachings remind us to shine brightly in the world.We must embrace the reality of death to prepare for eternal life.Personal responsibility is key to character development.We have a choice in how we respond to life's challenges.Prayer, especially the Rosary, can solve any problem.Living in the present moment is essential for spiritual growth.Relationships with God, family, and friends should take priority.The joy of Easter is rooted in the victory over sin and death.Mary serves as a powerful intercessor for our prayers. Sound Bites"We are beloved children of God.""We need to focus on relationships.""The Rosary can solve any problem.""Mary is our great intercessor.""Rejoice! He is risen!"Chapters00:00 Introduction and New Beginnings02:22 The Call to Leadership and Faith07:10 Embracing Life and Death13:32 Personal Responsibility and Character Development21:07 The Power of Prayer and Intercession

In this episode of Say Yes to Holiness, host Christina Semmens speaks with Brooke Joiner, co-founder and CEO of Catholic Owned, a platform dedicated to connecting Catholic consumers with businesses that align with their faith. Brooke shares her journey of conversion to Catholicism, the inspiration behind launching Catholic Owned, and the importance of supporting fellow Catholics through intentional spending. The conversation explores the challenges and rewards of building a faith-based business, the significance of spiritual practices, and the future initiatives of Catholic Owned, including the Eastertide shopping guide.TakeawaysBrooke Joyner is a convert to Catholicism and co-founder of Catholic Owned.The mission of Catholic Owned is to connect Catholic consumers with businesses that share their values.Brooke's journey involved a significant pilgrimage that inspired the launch of Catholic Owned.The platform started as a digital magazine to test the market for Catholic businesses.Vetting businesses involves adherence to the Magisterium and personal faith practices of owners.Spending money wisely can support Catholic families and communities.Users can nominate businesses to be included in the Catholic Owned network.The Eastertide shopping guide offers curated gifts for various occasions.Catholic Owned aims to build a new Catholic economy by fostering community support.Brooke emphasizes the importance of spiritual practices in her work.Sound Bites"We need to do something better.""If we can't even help our own people, what are we doing?""Our dollars have power.""You can nominate businesses that you know of in your area.""The Eastertide shopping guide is a curated collection.""We are seeing that Catholics really care about this.""It's a very long game.""We are building the new Catholic economy."Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Catholic Owned and Its Mission 03:11 Brooke Joyner's Journey to Catholic Owned 05:52 The Birth of Catholic Owned 09:14 Pilgrimage and Inspiration 12:08 Launching the Digital Magazine 14:59 Vetting Catholic Businesses 18:08 The Importance of Spending Wisely 21:05 Nominate and Expand the Network 24:00 Eastertide Shopping Guide Overview 26:47 Future Initiatives and Growth Plans 29:59 Challenges and Rewards of the Journey 33:11 Spiritual Practices and Their Impact 35:58 Final Thoughts and Call to Action For more information about Brooke and Catholic Owned, go to: https://catholicowned.com/introduction

Day 49--The Road of Hope--What's Next?

Day 48--The Road of Hope--A Life of Hope, Part 2

Day 47--The Road of Hope--Ch 37--A Life of Hope, Part 1

Day 46--The Road of Hope--Ch 36--Hope

Day 45--The Road of Hope--Ch 35--Our Mother Mary, Part 2

Day 44--The Road of Hope--Ch 35--Our Mother Mary, Part 1

Day 43--The Road of Hope--Ch 34--Examination of Conscience

Day 42--The Road of Hope--Ch 33--Leadership, Part 2

Day 41--The Road of Hope--Ch 33--Leadership, Part 1

Day 40--The Road of Hope--Ch 32--Ordinary Work

Day 39--The Road of Hope--Ch 31--Charity, Part 2

Day 38--The Road of Hope--Ch 31--Charity, Part 1

Day 37--The Road of Hope--Ch 30--The Happy Child

Day 36--The Road of Hope--Ch 29--Suffering

Day 35--The Road of Hope--Ch 28--New Life

Day 34--The Road of Hope--Ch 27--Renewal

Day 33--The Road of Hope--Ch 26--Dedication

Day 32--The Road of Hope--Ch 25--Development

Day 31--The Road of Hope--Ch 24--Studies

Day 30--The Road of Hope--Ch 23--Wisdom

Day 29--The Road of Hope--Ch 22--Joy

Day 28--The Road of Hope--Ch 21--Restraint of Speech

Day 27--Road of Hope--Ch 20--Humility

Day 26--The Road of Hope--Ch 19--The Family Part 2

Day 25--The Road of Hope--Ch 19--The Family

Day 24--The Road of Hope--Ch 18--Chastity

Day 23--The Road of Hope--Ch 17--Poverty

In this episode of the Say Yes to Holiness podcast, Christina Semmens sits down with Edmund Mitchell, Founder of Zealous Parish Ministries and have a conversation about Edmund's journey from being a cradle Catholic to becoming a passionate parish minister. They discuss the importance of evangelization within the parish, the mission of the parish to save souls, and the transition from maintenance to mission-oriented churches. This conversation was especially near and dear to my heart due to my work at The Catholic Leadership Puzzle, so was excited to give Edmund a chance to introduce his new initiative, Zealous Parish Ministers, aimed at supporting parish ministers in their roles. Edmund also emphasized the need for continuous formation and skill development in ministry. The conversation highlights the significance of vision casting and various roles a parish minister must embody to effectively lead their community. TakeawaysEdmund's journey reflects a deep love for Jesus and evangelization.Parishes are crucial for local evangelization efforts.The mission of the parish is to invite all souls into God's family.Transitioning from maintenance to mission is essential for parish vitality.Zealous Parish Ministers aims to support parish staff in their roles.Continuous formation is vital for parish ministers' effectiveness.Understanding the three roles of a parish minister enhances ministry impact.Vision casting is a key discipline for effective leadership.The parish boundary includes all souls, not just registered members.Resources like 'The Advantage' can help parish ministers develop essential skills.Sound Bites"Parishes can't be just maintenance.""We need to help parish ministers thrive.""Zeal for my house will consume me."Chapters00:00 Introduction to Evangelization and Parish Ministry 03:01 Edmund's Journey: From Cradle Catholic to Parish Minister 06:00 The Role of the Parish in Evangelization 09:02 Defining the Mission of the Parish 11:57 Transitioning from Maintenance to Mission 15:00 Launching Zealous Parish Ministers 17:56 The Importance of Continuous Formation 20:48 Skills for Effective Parish Ministry 24:11 The Three Roles of a Parish Minister 26:52 Vision Casting and Its Importance 30:02 Conclusion and Resources for Parish MinistersFor more information about Edmund and Zealous Parish Ministers, go to: https://edmundmitchell.com/ and https://www.zealousparishministers.co/

Day 22--The Road of Hope--Ch 16--Obedience

Day 21--The Road of Hope--Ch 15--The Eucharist, Part 2

Day 20--The Road of Hope--Ch 15--The Eucharist, Part 1

Day 19--The Road of Hope--Ch 14--The Apostle, Part 2

Day 18--The Road of Hope--Ch 14--The Apostle Part 1

Day 17--The Road of Hope--Ch 13--Faith

Day 16--The Road of Hope--Ch 12--The Church

Day 15--The Road of Hope--Ch 11--The Presence of God

Day 14--The Road of Hope--Ch 10--Fortitude, Part 2

Day 13--The Road of Hope--Ch 10--Fortitude Part 1

Day 19--The Road of Hope--Ch 14--The Apostle, Part 2

Day 18--The Road of Hope--Ch 14--The Apostle Part 1

Day 12--The Road of Hope--Ch 9--The Heart

Day 11--The Road of Hope--Ch 8--Sacrifice

Day 10--The Road of Hope--Ch 7: Prayer

Day 9--The Road to Hope--The Supernatural Life

Day 8--The Road to Hope--Ch 5: The Interior Life

Day 7--The Road to Hope--Ch 4--The Call: Vocation

Day 6--The Road to Hope--Ch 3--Perseverance