Ellen Gable's Blog, page 6
October 4, 2023
Open Book October #anopenbook
Today, I’m joining Carolyn Astfalk and Catholic Mom for An Open Book. Here’s what I’ve been reading or working on for the past month.
Fallen Graces by Jim Sano (Fr. Tom #5)
Synopsis: Now available from FQP on Kindle.
When a dead man’s body is found in the upper basin of a historic fountain in Boston Common with a cryptic message in his pocket, Detective Brooks reluctantly calls in Father Tom and Angelo to help solve the clues in the hunt for a killer set on justice and revenge. Fallen Graces, the fifth book of the award-winning Father Tom series, delves into the psychological and religious complexities of a killer who becomes as equally unpredictable as dangerous to the parish neighborhood of St. Francis, and Father Tom has no choice but to become more involved, risking his own life to find the answer.
Royal and Ancient by Amanda Lauer
Synopsis: Bronwyn Campbell’s end-of-summer plans were simple: wrap up her job at Saint Andrews Country Club, meet her friends one last time at the virtual reality arcade, and move across the country—again—with her father. But when lightning strikes while she’s working the club’s Saint Andrews Heritage Day, she’s transported from an American fairway to the home of golf, The Links at St. Andrews, in Scotland—and in the year 1691, no less.
When Iain MacDonald discovers Bronwyn knocked out cold on the seventeenth green, little does he know their meeting will change not only the course of their lives but the course of history. The son of the chieftain of Clan MacDonald, Iain bears the weight of responsibility for his family and his clan’s survival on his shoulders. Family drama and the growing discord over religion in Scotland add to the heavy load he carries daily while stepping further into his role as future chieftain.
As political events between England and Scotland heighten the conflict surrounding the MacDonald lands, Bronwyn and Iain rely upon their shared faith and growing feelings toward each other for survival. Amid the questions that plague both of them, though, one stands out: How can you be with the one you love if your choice ultimately influences history?
My review: If you like time-travel novels, you’ll love this historical romantic adventure, Royal & Ancient, by Amanda Lauer. Crisp imagery, well-developed characters, and Lauer’s incredible worldbuilding make for an entertaining read. Recommend.
The Way of Light (The Story Behind the Resurrection) by Denise Mercado
Synopsis: Do you know the 14 stations of the Resurrection of Jesus?
The Way of the Light – is both an educational and uplifting reminder to walk in the steps that Jesus took from the Resurrection to the first day of Pentecost. It is in His last words and the places along His journey that we learn more about the importance of each of these steps.
And this is not just a historical book – this is an engaging book of light and truth where Denise Mercado encourages the reader to reflect on each of these moments in the steps of Christ and how they would identify with each of the characters in the story.
As a follow-up to her first book, Mary’s Life Journey & Her Amazing Yes!, Mercado takes the reader deeper into the spiritual truths of why these 14 stations are so important to all of us. Each one is unpacked with a wealth of information, scripture quotations, and personal experiences.
It’s important to know the greater story behind what we believe. And now, you can discover the meaning behind the significance of what Christ did from the grave to the day of Pentecost.
My review: I had never heard of the Stations of the Resurrection before, so this was a very educational book. The Way of Light is a beautiful devotion that focuses on the time of the Resurrection to Pentecost with similar prayers to the Station of the Cross. Highly recommend.
Synopsis: All About Me! charts Mel Brooks’s meteoric rise from a Depression-era kid in Brooklyn to the recipient of the National Medal of Arts. Whether serving in the United States Army in World War II, or during his burgeoning career as a teenage comedian in the Catskills, Mel was always mining his experiences for material, always looking for the perfect joke. His iconic career began with Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows, where he was part of the greatest writers’ room in history, which included Carl Reiner, Neil Simon, and Larry Gelbart. After co-creating both the mega-hit 2000 Year Old Man comedy albums and the classic television series Get Smart, Brooks’s stellar film career took off. He would go on to write, direct, and star in The Producers, The Twelve Chairs, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, High Anxiety, and Spaceballs, as well as produce groundbreaking and eclectic films, including The Elephant Man, The Fly, and My Favorite Year. Brooks then went on to conquer Broadway with his record-breaking, Tony-winning musical, The Producers.
All About Me! offers fans insight into the inspiration behind the ideas for his outstanding collection of boundary-breaking work and offers details about the many close friendships and collaborations Brooks had, including those with Sid Caesar, Carl Reiner, Gene Wilder, Madeleine Kahn, Alfred Hitchcock, and the great love of his life, Anne Bancroft.
Filled with tales of struggle, achievement, and camaraderie (and dozens of photographs), readers will gain a more personal and deeper understanding of the incredible body of work behind one of the most accomplished and beloved entertainers in history.
My review: This was an entertaining read about one of the most prolific writers and producers (and one of the few entertainers who’ve won an Emmy, Oscar, Tony, and Grammy) in Hollywood. Recommend.
Synopsis: It is well-known that St. John Paul II was a student of St. John of the Cross. The Pope, as a young man, decided to learn Spanish to study the writings of St. John of the Cross in the original language. As a young priest of only twenty-eight years of age, this future Pope wrote his dissertation on St. John’s philosophy of faith in the mystical contexts, Faith According to St. John of The Cross. The writings and spirituality of St. John influenced the Pope’s entire way of looking at spirituality and philosophy. St. John, as many other mystics and saints, looked at the Song of Songs as an example of God’s love for us, the souls He created. A very deep, passionate love for the soul is called agape, portrayed in eros, which is the love between man and woman. This love is mentioned by John Paul in his works The Theology of The Body as well as Love and Responsibility. The love that God has between Himself and the human soul is also the same kind of love that man and woman should exchange between themselves.
Second Edition coming soon from FQP!
The New Fire: Living the New Covenant by Robert Margetts
Synopsis: “I came to cast fire upon the earth; where that it were already kindled.” Luke 12:49
Would Christendom be reunited if we began to dialogue together over our belief differences in the Holy Spirit? What is really needed is a common conversion experience to the Holy Spirit. Catholics and non-Catholics and Orthodox need a common conversion experience. We need a shared conversion experience. We need a common Pentecost. A new Pentecost! A New Fire! An embracing of the New Covenant together. A great revival. This all seems impossible. However, it is possible if the Lord brings us to a remnant.
My review: Powerful new book on the New Pentecost! Highly recommend!
September 6, 2023
An Open Book #openbook September
I’m joining Carolyn Astfalk and Catholic Mom for An Open Book. Here’s what I’ve been reading or working on for the past month.
Catholic and Curious: Your Questions Answered by Monsignor Charles Pope
Synopsis: Do you ever feel confused, befuddled, or just plain lost when it comes to the Catholic Faith? Do the teachings and practices of the Church leave you scratching your head? Then this is the book for you.
In Catholic and Curious: Your Questions Answered, Monsignor Charles Pope tackles 500 tough questions on just about every subject imaginable. In easily digestible question-and-answer format, this book covers everything from God and the Bible to the liturgy, the sacraments, Catholic moral teaching, Mary, the saints, and life after death, all organized by topic for quick reference. In this book, you’ll find not just straightforward answers but a deeper understanding and appreciation of the truth of the Catholic Faith.
My review: I bought this book after watching a YouTube video of the author giving a talk. I haven’t read the entire book yet, but what I have read is excellent. Highly recommend.
Brave Water by Sarah Robsdottir
Synopsis: Girls are disappearing on their way to the spring…
Will fear stop Talitha, the sole water gatherer for her hut, from searching for her friend—even if it means scaling the walls of the mine owners’ compound, where locals are shot on sight?
And will terror block Moses’ path—or can this teenage hunter battle an underground human trafficking ring with ties to the cities on the other side of Great Mountain?
Join Talitha and Moses on their journey, one marked with violent drug lords, crippling jealousy, blinding anger, but also…tremendous beauty. And, the flutters of first love.
Meet other villagers and colorful characters along the way, all of whom are grappling with dire loss after a recent mine explosion. Become acquainted with multiple generations of a missionary family who sacrificed all, moving out to the African bush to fulfill a driving passion—one that most would call a crazy dream. Listen, as ageless questions are carried in on the hot winds of the Great Red Valley: Do you know what it means to truly be brave? And, what if you had to risk your life for a simple cup of water?
Dive into Brave Water and decide!
My review: On my to-read list!
Godhead Here in Hiding Whom I Do Adore
Lay Dominicans Reflect on Eucharistic Adoration
Synopsis: To be published soon!
“We sometimes encounter the Lord only in hiddenness. It can seem impossible to believe that Jesus Christ is present in difficult people, especially with some personalities we may have to work with or live with. The more quality time we spend before the substantial presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the more apt we become to find Him even in dislikeable persons.”
Fr. Basil Cole, OP, Retreat Leader and Professor at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC
“Godhead Here in Hiding—Whom I Do Adore: Lay Dominicans Reflect on Eucharistic Adoration is a unique collection of meditations and reflections on the gift of Eucharistic Adoration from the experiences of the members of the lay fraternities of the Order of Preachers. As Dominican nuns with the special charism of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, we encourage everyone to use this book to foster and deepen their own prayer of adoration.”
Sr. Mary Catharine of Jesus Perry, OP, Prioress of Corpus Christi Monastery in the Bronx, NY
“Hidden within these pages, the reader discovers the God who has chosen to dwell within the Tabernacle of the human heart. Each reflection is its own monstrance, bearing the shape of its unique human author, while manifesting our heavenly Father’s Spirit of Truth. Here you will find thoughts and events that are ordinary and surprising, instructive and lyrical, worthy of both cross and crown. The common life of the early Dominicans was called ‘the holy preaching.’ The sons and daughters of St. Dominic who have contributed to this volume continue in that apostolic witness to the divine mercy of our Eucharistic faith.”
Fr. Bruno M. Shah, OP, Assistant Professor at Providence College, and Religious Assistant to Our Lady of Divine Providence/St. Thomas Aquinas Fraternity in Providence, RI
My review: I had the honor of helping to format and proofread this wonderful book and highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to further deepen their appreciation and love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
Synopsis: Coming soon from FQP! When a dead man’s body is found in the upper basin of a historic fountain in Boston Common with a cryptic message in his pocket, Detective Brooks reluctantly calls in Father Tom and Angelo to help solve the clues in the hunt for a killer set on justice and revenge. Fallen Graces, the fifth book of the award-winning Father Tom series, delves into the psychological and religious complexities of a killer who becomes as equally unpredictable as dangerous to the parish neighborhood of St. Francis, and Father Tom has no choice but to become more involved, risking his own life to find the answer.
August 2, 2023
An Open Book #openbook August
Today I’m joining Carolyn Astfalk and Catholic Mom for An Open Book. Here’s what I’ve been reading and/or working on for the past month.
Nazareth Family Spirituality: Celebrating Your Faith at Home with Catherine Doherty
Synopsis: Bring your home and family life to Christ! Catherine Doherty, foundress of Madonna House and best-selling author of the award-winning spiritual classic Poustinia, talks straight to families in this compilation by one of her spiritual sons, MH priest Fr. Blair Bernard. Catherine first talks about Christ’s hidden “Nazareth years”, which made up most of his earthly life, and which prepared him for the three years and three days which would change the world. She elaborates on the profound spiritual significance of these years, not only for the Lord but for each of us and our families. With the Nazareth years as her point of departure, Catherine discusses the ways families can connect their ordinary lives with God. For her, Nazareth is “that hidden little village [where we] become whole again.” As the title of this book indicates, “Nazareth” is a whole way of life, especially in its hiddenness. For “hidden” is the life that most of us live. In simple, chatty chapters, Catherine demonstrates the spiritual depth of the hidden vocation of marriage and family: to form a community of love. The book also presents practical ways of passing on the faith, to celebrate it particularly for and with children. The unique and beautiful cycle of the church year customs celebrated in Madonna House is here adapted for use in your home. Over the years the MH community has drawn these customs from the East and the West, and from various countries; they have stood the test of time in their communication of the joys as well as the truths of our faith. Catherine discusses of various issues in family life: teen dating, the loneliness of living a faith life in a secular world, parents as co-creators with God, various difficulties of wedded life. Catherine introduced to her community of Madonna House a Russian idea of unity called “sobornost”; here she presents this idea of sobornost as a goal for family life as well. And fearlessly she addresses the end of life in the section “’Til Death Do Us Part”, completing the cycle of a life lived in the Lord. Nazareth Family Spirituality provides much food for families to digest, families whose sanctity and integrity is so questioned in our day and age. It also gives much encouragement to live a life of faith in our modern world.
My review: Catherine Doherty’s book, Dear Parents, has been out of print for many years. Madonna House republished it as Nazareth Family Spirituality. I’ve used Catherine’s quotes on “The duty of the moment,” and “I am Third” in my articles. This book is, in fact, three or four books in one. It includes much of Dear Parents, but also includes parts of Donkey Bells (Christmas and Advent) and Season of Mercy (Lent and Easter), which makes it a much more inclusive book for families. Every Catholic family should own a copy of this book. Highly recommend.
The Priests We Need to Save the Church by Kevin Wells
Synopsis: While dissolute bishops and priests around the world grab headlines for their untoward words and deeds, too many other unfruitful priests minister as little more than glad-handing bachelors doing social service work.
Top and bottom, is this the Church that Christ intended? Are these the priests we need?
No! cries author Kevin Wells in these compelling pages that showcase how heroic priests can faithfully tread the narrow path of holy self-sacrifice first blazed by the apostles themselves. From scores of insightful interviews with modern priests, exorcists, seminary formators, and even disillusioned laity, Wells here draws forth a blueprint for priestly holiness that can once again fill our Church with priests abounding with sincere, supernatural faith, on fire with God s love, and moved by the irresistible impulse to save souls, no matter the cost to themselves.
Reading this book will deepen your own faith and help you understand what all priests, by their vocation, are consecrated and called to be. Giving a copy to your parish priest will help him and encourage him as he strives to become a member of the small but growing contingent of holy priests we need.
Review: This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. It’s engaging and yet drives the point home: without a holy priest and holy bishops, the flock is heading to perdition. One of my favorite lines: “Our society is fast achieving the diabolical flip — virtue is now sin; sin is virtue — and hordes of Catholic children and teens are wandering. Our youth have lowered their heads not in sorrow and pain but to genuflect to Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook in order to turn away from their unspoken confusion, torment, and hidden sin. But truth doesn’t live in social media, so their immortal souls further petrify in Satan’s relentless spiritual war for them. And because it seems as if many Catholic dads and moms have decided to canonize comfort — helicoptering every aspect of their children’s lives except their souls — their children are left unequipped to combat spiritual enemies. I highly recommend this wonderful book!
Vassals of the Valley by Robin Sebolino
Synopsis: Kalag suffers from the traumas of his life and deeds as a pirate in the seas of 16th-century Southeast Asia. Together with his warrior peons, he embarks on a journey to find a peaceful home and live a quiet life on his native island of Luzon.
A promising place he finds is the newly founded pueblo of Nueva Avila, where he discovers his sister and her family well adapted to its laws patterned after the Spanish legal system and Catholic morality. He thrives in Nueva Avila, adopts its customs and religion, and even releases his peons from servitude. But he soon realizes that even this town is far from the ideal place he hopes to live in. Nueva Avila’s governor, Don Fernando, has struck a deal with Ichijuo Kenki, an up-and-coming Japanese pirate lord. Kalag abandons Nueva Avila to live in the prosperous port city of Manila, where he establishes himself through trade and the support of the city’s clerics.
He returns to Nueva Avila after hearing that Ichijuo has begun enslaving its people. With warrior companions (his former peons), a Dominican priest, and strong, creative resolve, Kalag rushes to liberate the pirate-controlled pueblo in the least bloody way possible.
My review: One of the things I love about the 21st century is that I get to meet and work with authors from all over the world. Robin Sebolino is an author who lives in the Philippines, and he has written a beautiful historical novel that takes place in Southeast Asia. I helped Robin edit his book. This is a compelling and well-written book that takes the reader on a sweeping adventure. Highly recommend.
Second Edition Coming Soon from FQP!
Synopsis: It is well-known that St. John Paul II was a student of St. John of the Cross. The Pope, as a young man, decided to learn Spanish to study the writings of St. John of the Cross in the original language. As a young priest of only twenty-eight years of age, this future Pope wrote his dissertation on St. John’s philosophy of faith in the mystical contexts, Faith According to St. John of The Cross. The writings and spirituality of St. John influenced the Pope’s entire way of looking at spirituality and philosophy. St. John, as many other mystics and saints, looked at the Song of Songs as an example of God’s love for us, the souls He created. A very deep, passionate love for the soul is called agape, portrayed in eros, which is the love between man and woman. This love is mentioned by John Paul in his works The Theology of The Body as well as Love and Responsibility. The love that God has between Himself and the human soul is also the same kind of love that man and woman should exchange between themselves.
David P. Hahn explores the connections between St. John Paul II and St. John of the Cross, and their associated theologies, in Love’s Mystery. Follow along in the exploration of the concepts that both Saints use in guiding humanity into the love, union, and happiness that was meant for man and woman since the beginning.
My review: While we usually don’t publish non-fiction, we jumped at the chance to publish the second edition of this book (one that I edited many years ago). Highly recommend.
Synopsis: Father Paul is assigned to heal a parish scandalized by the former pastor’s involvement in underage sex trafficking. A gifted yet new priest, Father Paul gains the survivors’ trust and hears their stories, bringing healing and fatherly love. As he listens, he inadvertently puts together the clues to bring down the trafficking ring, one so lucrative that even the police are afraid to touch it. Or are some of the police in on the take?
Like every church, this one is full of suspicious characters, and someone nearby is clearly trying to harm Father Paul. The pastor endures all the usual church politics and ministry mayhem, while he races to bring down the crime ring. Can he stop the traffickers before they collar their next round of victims? Or will the traffickers be the ones to stop him?
Review: I enjoyed this thriller and read it in one sitting. Recommend. 4/5.
Synopsis: Patricia Sandoval’s life story is an unusually gripping, hard-to-put-down ride along a journey that leads to an extraordinary triumph of God’s mercy—the mercy that waits patiently for all of us. Patricia came from a broken home, good and bad boyfriends, three abortions, a job at Planned Parenthood (where she was told never to reveal what she saw), followed by methamphetamine addiction and homelessness. The way that Jesus came to her in the streets will leave you breathless, as will the heights to which God has since carried her.
If you know of someone who believes they cannot be forgiven or return to Church, this is the book to give them. (Watch the video of reader comments below.) Read Transfigured. Be Transfigured.
Patricia now travels the world as a pro-life speaker, sharing her story with millions in packed stadiums and on radio and television shows, such as EWTN’s Bookmark, Life on the Rock, Women of Grace, At Home with Jim and Joy; and in Spanish, on EWTN’s Cara a Cara, Nuestro Fe en Vivo, Ellas lo Dicen, De Dos en Dos—and now on her own show with Astrid Bennett Gutiérrez: Informe Provida.
My review: This is a powerful story, although a bit choppy with regard to the storytelling. However, Patricia’s story remains as powerful as her in-person testimony. Recommend.
July 23, 2023
NFP Awareness Week #nfpawarenessweek
It’s NFP Awareness Week! Natural Family Planning…supporting God’s gifts of love and life in marriage.
For more information on NFP:
The Couple to Couple League (Sympto-thermal method)
July 5, 2023
An Open Book July #openbook
Today I am joining Carolyn Astfalk and Catholic Mom for An Open Book. Here’s what I’ve been reading or working on this past month.
Now available from FQP! Enkindle in Me by Erin Lewis (Chalice Series #2).
Synopsis: The world wants him. But God wants him more.
Dropped back into the real world with a newfound faith following a lengthy prison sentence, 23-year-old Dallas Malone is bombarded by the tantalizations of secular society and all the changes that seem to have occurred overnight. His Catholic faith burns deep inside him, but now he must live it out amidst morally bankrupt co-workers and without the support of his best friend. Struggling to get back on his feet and prove himself, Dallas’s wounds are becoming scars, and he knows he’s not the same person he used to be. When he meets Samantha, enchanting and headed for trouble, his natural protective instinct is inflamed while past demons of failure chip away at what he thought he knew was a true calling from God enkindled in his heart. Can Dallas forgive himself and heal from his past mistakes to discern the life path God has laid out for him as a man?
Five for Sorrow Ten for Joy by Rumer Godden
Synopsis: The Sisters of Béthanie, a French order of Dominican nuns, dedicate themselves to caring for the outcasts of society – criminals, prostitutes and drug addicts. Lise, an English girl who, after the liberation of Paris, was employed in one of the city’s smartest brothels and rose to become a successful madame, finds herself joining the Sisters. Master storyteller Rumer Godden weaves a deeply moving tale of Lise’s prison sentence, her conversion, and the agonizing work among women whose traumatic experiences often outstrip even her own.
My review: This is an outstanding story. However, I didn’t really care for the author’s navigation of flashbacks. It was confusing at times and brought me out of the story. The religious sisters are not one- dimensionally good or bad: they are portrayed as human beings. Overall, though, a great story with believable characters. Recommend.
In this House of Brede by Rumer Godden
Synopsis: ‘The motto was Pax but the word was set in a circle of thorns. Peace, but what a strange peace, made of unremitting toil and effort . . .’
Bruised by tragedy, Philippa Talbot leaves behind a successful career with the civil service for a new calling: to join an enclosed order of Benedictine nuns. In this small community of fewer than one hundred women, she soon discovers all the human frailties: jealousy, love, despair. But each crisis of heart and conscience is guided by the compassion and intelligence of the Abbess and by the Sisters’ shared bond of faith and ritual. Away from the world, and yet at one with it, Philippa must learn to forgive and forget her past . . .
My review: On my To-Read Shelf.
The Darkest Night: Two Sisters, a Brutal Murder and the Loss of Innocence in a Small Town
by Ron Franscell
Synopsis: Casper, Wyoming:1973. Eleven-year-old Amy Burridge rides with her eighteen-year-old sister, Becky, to the grocery store. When they finish their shopping, Becky’s car gets a flat tire. Two men politely offer them a ride home. But they were anything but Good Samaritans. The girls would suffer unspeakable crimes at the hands of these men before being thrown from a bridge into the North Platte River. One miraculously survived. The other did not.ppYears later, author and journalist Ron Franscell―who lived in Casper at the time of the crime, and was a friend to Amy and Becky―can’t forget Wyoming’s most shocking story of abduction, rape, and murder. Neither could Becky, the surviving sister. The two men who violated her and Amy were sentenced to life in prison, but the demons of her past kept haunting Becky…until she met her fate years later at the same bridge where she’d lost her sister.
My review: This was a compelling story of how two girls were in the wrong place at the wrong time. The author, a neighbor of the girls, also spent a lot of time on the history of the area, which took me out of the story. Recommend.
The Pope’s Cabinet: Pius XII’s Secret War for Saving the Jews by Johan Ickx
Synopsis: For the first time since World War II, the newly opened archives of the Vatican’s Secretariat of State reveal the crucial role Pius XII and the Holy See played in efforts to save Jews from capture and death during the war. Drawing from never-before-seen documents―letters, photographs, drawings, and newspaper articles―Johan Ickx answers questions that have swirled for decades, and through key topics and short stories, he discloses what really occurred, which is quite contrary to the dominant narrative.
Although numerous accounts exist on the subject, here you will find the authoritative untold history of the Church’s efforts, inspired by Pope Pius XII, to save the innocent. You will see records of the tireless efforts of cabinet members in heated back-room meetings to resist Nazi expansion and evidence of Pius XII’s diplomatic attempts to curb the Third Reich policies without filters or embellishments.
You will learn about Pius XII’s:
Condemnations of totalitarianism and interventions for victimsMethods for saving thousands of Jews from discovery and deportationSecret friendship with President Roosevelt to quell the rise of barbaric dictatorshipSupport for the Roman Escape Line to help the most persecutedRejection of Marshal Pétain’s racial lawsOrganization of emergency baptisms to shield thousands of Jews from deportationThe origin of Pope Pius XII’s doctrine on the JewsYou will read the shocking details of Nazi persecution of Christians and attacks on the Cross, along with how the Nazis misconstrued the Holy Father’s writings. You will find out about the appalling actions of Slovakia’s Nazi government and how Pius XII repeatedly denounced them. Moreover, you will see Pius XII’s anguished restraint in remaining outwardly impartial to avoid detection and retaliation against the Jews―while working tirelessly to arrange hiding places and visas for Jews in Poland, Italy, Romania, Hungary, and the Holy Land.
Pope Pius XII shines as an example of “soft diplomacy at its hardest” in the darkest times of Nazi-occupied Europe. You will be captivated by the network of heroic individuals, including secret informants of the pope, who risked or gave their lives to rescue others. It is through their firsthand accounts, as unveiled in these documents, that we know today the true story of what happened.
My review: Overall, this is a captivating read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical books, but most importantly, I recommend this book to anyone who seeks to learn the truth about Pope Pius XII and the Jews. It’s a long read (402 pages, small print), but overall it’s compelling testimony to Holy Father’s intervention for Jews. The Pope’s Cabinet and his network of underground collaborators shone a bright light during the darkest times in Nazi-occupied Europe.
June 7, 2023
An Open Book – June #openbook
Today I’m joining Carolyn Astfalk and Catholic Mom for An Open Book. Here’s what I’ve been working on for the past month.
Enkindle in Me (Chalice 2) by Erin Lewis
Coming from FQP on June 29!
The world wants him. But God wants him more.
Dropped back into the real world with a newfound faith following a lengthy prison sentence, 23-year-old Dallas Malone is bombarded by the tantalizations of secular society and all the changes that seem to have occurred overnight. His Catholic faith burns deep inside him, but now he must live it out amidst morally bankrupt co-workers and without the support of his best friend. Struggling to get back on his feet and prove himself, Dallas’s wounds are becoming scars, and he knows he’s not the same person he used to be. When he meets Samantha, enchanting and headed for trouble, his natural protective instinct is inflamed while past demons of failure chip away at what he thought he knew was a true calling from God enkindled in his heart. Can Dallas forgive himself and heal from his past mistakes to discern the life path God has laid out for him as a man?
Synopsis: A former United Church minister massacres his family. What led to this act of femicide, and why were his victims forgotten?
On May 2, 1963, Robert Killins, a former United Church minister, slaughtered every woman in his family but one. She (and her brother) lived to tell the story of what motivated a talented man who had been widely admired, a scholar and graduate from Queen’s University, to stalk and terrorize the women in his family for almost twenty years and then murder them.
Through extensive oral histories, Cook and Carson painstakingly trace the causes of a femicide in which four women and two unborn babies were murdered over the course of one bloody evening. While they situate this murderous rampage in the literature on domestic abuse and mass murders, they also explore how the two traumatized child survivors found their way back to health and happiness. Told through vivid first-person accounts, this family memoir explores how a murderer was created.
My review: This was an interesting read from the survivors of a horrific act of violence. Well-written and well-researched. Recommend.
Through Esther’s Eyes by Jacqueline St. Clare (Advance Reader’s Copy)
Coming in September from Marian Press.
Synopsis: Through Esther’s Eyes is a story about the life of Jesus of Nazareth through the eyes of His fictional cousin, Esther. Esther thinks that her role as a woman will be complete when she marries the rich Lazarus of Bethany, but when she discovers she is barren, her whole world comes crashing down. Yet, her friend Jesus has come to reveal the role of “woman” for all eternity.
My review: “Imagine growing up alongside your cousin, JESUS.” Through Esther’s Eyes is the debut novel about Jesus’s fictional cousin, Esther. It’s a beautiful story that brings the Gospels alive with well-developed and believable characters. I especially appreciate the author’s research, which helped to transport me back to the first century. Kudos to this talented author. I recommend this book to everyone!
A Father Who Keeps His Promises: God’s Covenant Love in Scripture by Scott Hahn
Synopsis: Hahn explores the “covenant love” God reveals to us through the Scriptures and explains how God patiently reaches out to us—despite our faults and shortcomings—to restore us into relationship with his divine family. Join Hahn as he follows the high adventure of God’s plan for the ages, beginning with Adam and Eve and continuing down through the generations to the coming of Christ and the birth of the Church. You’ll discover how the patient love of the Father revealed in the Bible is the same persistent love he has for you. A Servant Book.
My review: This beautiful book uses Scripture to illustrate that God keeps his promises. Highly recommend.
Murder of Innocence by James Patterson
Synopsis: Dive into two dark stories of crime and murder from a New York Times bestselling author, inspired by true crime horrors where murder isn’t always the worst thing that can happen to you . . .
Murder of Innocence: It’s impossible to resist Andrew Luster. He’s rich, charming, and good-looking, and dozens of women have fallen under his spell. But Andrew is no mere womanizer. He’s a predator, and it’ll take a global effort to put him behind bars. (with Max DiLallo)
A Murderous Affair: Mark Putnam is a rookie FBI agent given his first assignment in a remote part of Kentucky, a land of coal miners and meth dealers. Within his first months on the job, a young female informant named Susan Smith helps him make a big break in an important case. Rumors begin circulating that the agent and his informant are having an affair. After Susan starts telling people that she is pregnant with the FBI agent’s baby, she suddenly disappears. (with Andrew Bourelle)
My review: Two novellas by James Patterson that kept me reading until the wee hours of the morning. Recommend.
May 26, 2023
Rosary Reflections for Pregnant Mothers
I recently contributed to Rosary Reflections for Pregnant Mothers for Catholic Mom. It’s now available free via ebook at this link.
My reflection was for the First Glorious Mystery, the Resurrection.
The Resurrection of Jesus is the necessary truth and foundation of our Catholic faith. Jesus has died but has risen from the dead. Jesus comes out of the darkness and into the light of life. The Cross comes before the Resurrection. Without the Cross, there would be no Resurrection.
Your unborn child is the living reflection of spousal love. For nine months, your precious baby has been developing and growing as you nurture him/her. At birth, this tiny human will emerge from the darkness of the womb and into the light of life outside the womb.
For women, carrying a baby for nine months is a sacrifice: morning sickness, fatigue, headaches, sleepless nights, and labor itself can weigh you down physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. If you have other children, this sacrifice can be more overwhelming. Nine months can seem like a lifetime. It can feel like you’ll be pregnant forever. Pregnancy helps us to grow in patience. The sacrifices you endure for this beautiful child are necessary and must come before the birth of your child.
In his book Life of Christ, Archbishop Sheen writes, “Deferred joys purchased by sacrifices are always the sweetest and most enduring.”
When you finally gaze into the face of your newborn baby, it’s easy to forget the pain and embrace the sweet joy. Your child, the living reflection of your and your husband’s spousal love, is an eternal, unrepeatable, and irreplaceable gift from God.
As you look forward to the birth of your unborn baby, remember that the sacrifices of this life will someday lead to the immeasurable joy of eternal life and the Resurrection.
Let us pray for patience and grace to endure the sacrifices of pregnancy so we can embrace the sweet joy of our baby’s birth.
May 3, 2023
An Open Book – May #openbook
Today I’m joining Carolyn Astfalk and Catholic Mom for An Open Book. Here’s what I’ve been reading for the past month!
St John Paul the Great, His Five Loves by Jason Evert
Synopsis:
A French novelist once wrote, “Tell me what you love, and I will tell you who you are.” Although there are countless ways to study Saint John Paul the Great, the most direct route is by entering the man’s heart.
Discover the five greatest loves of Saint John Paul II, through remarkable unpublished stories about him from bishops, priests who organized his papal pilgrimages, his students in Poland, Swiss Guards, and others. Mining through a mountain of papal resources, Jason Evert has uncovered the gems and now presents the Church a treasure chest brimming with the jewels of the saint’s life.
Rekindle your own faith by learning what (and who) captivated the heart of this great saint.
My review: I’m in the middle of reading this wonderful book that showcased JP II’s “Five Loves.” So far, I’m thoroughly enjoying it!
Synopsis:
“What I am looking for―what I desperately need, Mrs. Weiss―is a spy.”
Adolf Hitler is still a distant rumble on the horizon, but a Jewish spymaster and his courageous spies uncover a storm of Nazi terror in their own backyard.
In the summer of 1933, a man named Adolf Hitler is the new and powerful anti-Semitic chancellor of Germany. But in Los Angeles, no-nonsense secretary Liesl Weiss has concerns much closer to home. The Great Depression is tightening its grip and Liesl is the sole supporter of two children, an opinionated mother and a troubled brother.
Leon Lewis is a Jewish lawyer who has watched Adolf Hitler’s rise to power―and the increase in anti-Semitism in America―with growing alarm. He believes Nazi agents are working to seize control of Hollywood, the greatest propaganda machine the world has ever known. The trouble is, authorities scoff at his dire warnings.
When Liesl loses her job at MGM, her only choice is to work with Leon Lewis and the mysterious Agent Thirteen to spy on her friends and neighbors in her German American community. What Leon Lewis and his spies find is more chilling―and more dangerous―than any of them suspected.
Code Name Edelweiss is based on a true story, unknown until recent years: How a lone Jewish lawyer and a handful of amateur spies discovered and foiled Adolf Hitler’s plan to take over Hollywood.
My review: This was an absolutely riveting novel, and I enjoyed it immensely. If you like Film Noir, you’ll love this book. I laughed out loud at the line, “The speakeasy was dark and smelled of late nights and bad decisions. Cigarette smoke hung in a thick fog along the low ceiling, and a sorry-looking three-piece band plucked out an off-key rendition of “Rhapsody in Blue.” I could almost hear Edward G. Robinson in the background. Highly recommend.
Dial M: The Murder of Carol Thompson
Synopsis:
At 9:00 on the morning of March 6, 1963, in the quiet St. Paul neighborhood of Highland Park, Mrs. Fritz Pearson glanced out her window and saw something almost unimaginable: slumped on the front steps of the home across the street was a woman, partially clothed in a blue bathrobe and bloodied beyond recognition. The woman, Mrs. Pearson would come to learn, was her beloved neighbor Carol Thompson, wife and mother of four.
Earlier that morning, T. Eugene Thompson, known to friends as “Cotton,” dropped his son off at school and headed to the office, where he worked as a criminal attorney. At 8:25 am, he phoned home, later telling police that he did so to confirm evening plans with Carol. Mr. Thompson lied.
Through police records, court transcripts, family papers, and extensive interviews, William Swanson has re-created Middle America’s “crime of the century,” the deadly plot by a husband that made headlines around the world. But Dial M: The Murder of Carol Thompson also tracks the lives of the Thompsons’ children. Their journey from disbelief to acceptance culminates in a private family trial where they decide whether their father truly was responsible for the violent act that crushed their childhood and forever altered their views of the world.
My review: This was a riveting true-crime thriller that I would highly recommend. Four children lost their mother on the day of the murder in 1963, and not long after, their father was arrested for the crime. He served nearly 20 years and then was released on parole. What makes this book so unique is that the author shares what it was like for the children as they grew up without their mother and coming to grips with the fact that their father killed their mother. This is one I’ll likely read again.
Hidden Book 2: Secrets: The Truth Will Out by Verity Lucia
Synopsis:
Perfect looks. Perfect boyfriend. Perfect image. High schooler, Elise Thames, has it all under control until one late night and two little pink lines change everything.
After fleeing to Chicago to erase the life growing inside her, Elise begins hearing voices and seeing visions that thrust her into the minds of others. Her newfound telepathy draws out grim insecurities buried within, and Elise’s identity as one of the most popular girls at Jefferson High shatters. When news of her pregnancy spreads, Elise must face the truth about who she is—and make a choice.
SECRETS: The Truth Will Out
A desperate girl.A supernatural bracelet.And a choice that will change everythingMy review: Although this book is geared to teens, I found it a compelling read. It’s unapologetically pro-life, but it also illustrates well the rationalization from the pro-abortion camp as the pregnant girl in question keeps hearing she should just have an abortion and “things will be back to the way they were.” Highly recommend for teens and adults.
Synopsis: Holy Smokes – Saint Jerk is Amazing!
Funny. Edgy. Uplifting. Catholic.
Jack knew what was coming, but that didn’t make it any easier to face. As the new school year started at St. Mary’s, his eighth-grade class was assigned to complete twenty hours of community service by the end of the semester. Bungling his way from one adventure to the next, Jack hilariously tells the tales of his deeds gone heroically right and horrifically wrong. Along the way, he learns unexpected lessons about his faith and its meaning in his life. Most importantly, he’ll realize that the person he becomes is determined by the choices he makes. And boy, does he make some bad ones…
As provocative as it is hysterical, Saint Jerk is a powerful response to a broken culture, a story that both entertains and arms young Christians with confidence in the truth of their faith in the face of a secular society. It’s an invitation to readers of all ages to consider the most important questions that have ever been posed by mankind, to recognize that the answers have already been provided, and to reflect on the consequences of that truth in their lives.
My review: I really enjoyed this teen book and would recommend it to any teen or adult. I’m not sure I’d call it provocative or hysterical, but it was a great story with some humor, and I felt I knew the main character. He’s not unlike many teen boys facing temptations, peer pressure, and trying to fit in. Recommend.
Forever Thirteen: A Family Tragedy and a Young Man’s Struggle to Recover by Doug Shumard
Synopsis:
Have you ever wondered who you are? Or how you became who you are? Or what is it that defines you as a person and, more specifically, what were some of those defining moments in your life?
Forever Thirteen documents a Sunday morning newspaper headline that read, “Boy Scout Camper, 13, Drowns as Raft Sinks.” This is the true story of a family tragedy as recounted by the nearly twelve-year-old brother who writes this story some years later. It is a story of a mother’s nervous breakdown and a father’s inability to provide comfort to his children at this critical period. It is a firsthand account of unintentional abandonment, suffering, sadness, detachment, guilt, and recovery.
As a youth, the author struggled through this experience, maintaining his faith in God and continuing to hope and pray for the rebuilding of his family, while maintaining love for those who were letting him down.
This is a story that can help others in their personal journeys through those tragedies that we all eventually face.
My review: This is a tragic story of a boy who loses his older brother in a drowning accident and his struggle to recover. It’s a compelling tale that I’d highly recommend. It’s written by Douglas Shumard (we helped him publish this book). He recently passed away and has been reunited with his beloved brother.
Pete the Cat Big Easter Adventure by Kimberly and James Dean
Synopsis:
Author and artist James Dean brings us along for a hippity-hoppity Easter adventure with the coolest cat around: Pete!
When Pete wakes up Easter morning, ready to check out his basket of goodies, he discovers the Easter Bunny needs a little extra help. Our favorite groovy blue cat puts on his bunny ears and finds a way to collect, paint, and hide the eggs all in time for Easter.
Pete the Cat: Big Easter Adventure will be a welcome gift in an Easter basket or anytime!
My review: We bought this book for our grandson for Easter. Pete the Cat has a very wry sense of humor, and I can understand why my grandson enjoys his books. Even the adults will chuckle. Recommend.
April 5, 2023
An Open Book – April #openbook
I’m joining Carolyn Astfalk and Catholic Mom for An Open Book. Here’s what I’ve been reading or working on this past month.
Season Of Mercy: Lent and Easter by Catherine Doherty
Synopsis: A guide to entering into the mystery and celebration of Lent and Easter. Catherine Doherty leads us into the riches of God s boundless mercy as she teaches us the spirit, the liturgy, and the customs of the Lent and Easter season, including: Practical guidance on preparing for the internal spiritual pilgrimage that is Lent. Meditations on the meanings of the many holy days preceding and following Easter. Traditions and customs will help your family live the holiness of the Easter season. After-dinner talks by Catherine Doherty, spiritual readings around the dining room table on the spirit, liturgy and customs of Lent, Holy Week, the Easter Triduum and Paschaltide. Catherine speaks on such topics as how to Prepare for Lent; Why Fasting; The Motive is Love; Sin, Repentance, Conversion. Also on Palm (Passion) Sunday; Holy Week; Holy Thursday: Priesthood and Eucharist; Good Friday; Holy Saturday: Christ s Descent into Hades; and Christ is Risen! Then Paschaltime and Christ’s Ascension, Pentecost. A rich tapestry of scriptural reflections and Customs and Traditions to bring it all to life! Excellent for personal and group study. A wonderful resource for preachers and teachers! Volume one of this series is Donkey Bells: Advent and Christmas Meditations and Traditions by Catherine Doherty also available.
My review: This is another favorite of mine that’s perfect for Lent and Easter. Highly recommend. 5/5.
Synopsis: From Fr. Michael E. Gaitley, MIC, author of the bestselling book Consoling the Heart of Jesus, comes an extraordinary 33-day journey to Marian consecration with four giants of Marian spirituality:
St. Louis de Montfort, St. Maximilian Kolbe, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, and Blessed John Paul II. Fr. Michael masterfully summarizes their teaching, making it easy to grasp and simple enough to put into practice. More specifically, he weaves their thought into a user-friendly, do-it-yourself retreat that will bless even the busiest of people. So, if you’ve been thinking about entrusting yourself to Mary for the first time or if you’re simply looking to deepen and renew your devotion to her, 33 Days to Morning Glory is the right book to read and the perfect retreat to make.
My review: Last month, I re-consecrated myself to Our Lady on the Feast of the Annunciation and used this book for preparation. It’s easy to read and follow, and Fr. Mike gives excellent quotes and information from St. Louis de Montfort, St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Mother Teresa, and St. John Paul II. Highly recommend. 5/5.
The Demon of Brownsville Road by Bob Cranmer and Erica Manfred
Synopsis: October 1988: Bob Cranmer buys a house in the Pittsburgh suburb he grew up in. He has no idea that his dream home is about to become his worst nightmare…
The Cranmers seemed fated to own the house at 3406 Brownsville Road. As a young boy, Bob had been drawn to the property, and, just when the family decided to move back to Brentwood, it went up for sale. Without a second thought, they purchased the house that Bob had always dreamed of owning.
But soon, the family began experiencing strange phenomena—objects moving on their own, ghostly footsteps, unsettling moaning sounds—that gradually increased in violence, escalating to physical assaults and, most disturbingly, bleeding walls. Bob, Lesa, and their four children were under attack from a malicious demon that was conjuring up terrifying manifestations to destroy their tight-knit household. They had two choices: leave or draw on their unwavering faith to exorcise the malicious fiend who haunted their home.
Now, Bob Cranmer recounts the harrowing true story of the evil presence that tormented his family and the epic spiritual war he fought to save everything he held dear…
My review: I heard of this book while watching a documentary on a Catholic website. It’s a chilling and horrifying account of a demon who inhabited the house that, among other things, was used for illegal abortions in the 1920s. It’s not a book you want to read right before bed, but it is an excellent illustration that demons do, in fact, exist, and they thrive on man’s choice to sin. Recommend. 4/5.
The Cases that Haunt Us by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker
Synopsis: America’s foremost expert on criminal profiling provides his uniquely gripping analysis of seven of the most notorious murder cases in the history of crime — from the Whitechapel murders to JonBenet Ramsey — often contradicting conventional wisdom and legal decisions.
Jack the Ripper. Lizzie Borden. The Zodiac Killer. Certain homicide cases maintain an undeniable, almost mystical hold on the public imagination. They touch a nerve deep within us because of the personalities involved, their senseless depravity, the nagging doubts about whether justice was done, or because, in some instances, no suspect has ever been identified or caught.
In The Cases That Haunt Us, twenty-five-year-FBI-veteran John Douglas, profiling pioneer and master of modern criminal investigative analysis, and author and filmmaker Mark Olshaker, the team behind the bestselling Mindhunter series, explore the tantalizing mysteries that both their legions of fans and law enforcement professionals ask about most. Among the questions they tackle:
Was Jack the Ripper actually the Duke of Clarence, eldest grandson of Queen Victoria, or perhaps a practicing medical doctor? And did highly placed individuals within Scotland Yard have a good idea of the Ripper’s identity, which they never revealed? Douglas and Olshaker create a detailed profile of the killer, and reveal their chief suspect.
Was Lizzie Borden truly innocent of the murder of her father and stepmother as the Fall River, Massachusetts, jury decided, or was she the one who took the ax and delivered those infamous “whacks”? Through a minute-by-minute behavioral analysis of the crime, the authors come to a convincing conclusion.
Did Bruno Richard Hauptmann single-handedly kidnap the baby son of Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh, the most famous couple in the world, or was he an innocent man caught up and ultimately executed in a relentless rush to judgment in the “crime of the century”?
What kind of person could kill six-year-old JonBenet Ramsey on Christmas night in her own home? Douglas was called in on the case shortly after the horrifying murder, and his conclusions are hard-hitting and controversial. Why, in the face of the majority of public, media, and law enforcement opinion, including former FBI colleagues, does Douglas believe that John and Patricia Ramsey did not murder their daughter? And what is the forensic and behavioral evidence he brings to bear to make his claim?
Taking a fresh and penetrating look at each case, the authors reexamine and reinterpret accepted facts and victimology using modern profiling and the techniques of criminal analysis developed by Douglas within the FBI. This book deconstructs the evidence and widely held beliefs surrounding each case and rebuilds them — with fascinating and haunting results.
My review: Because reading is part of my job, when I read for pleasure, it’s usually one of my guilty pleasures: true crime. This is one of the best books I’ve read on these unsolved cases (perhaps the best), especially regarding the Lizzie Borden case. The author, whose expertise in criminal profiling led to the Behavioral Analysis Unit at the FBI (on which the show Criminal Minds is based), analyzes all the evidence and gives us a profile of the killer. Fascinating step-by-step of how a profiler would take the evidence in each case and offer an accurate description of the Unknown Subject (UNSUB). Highly recommend. 5/5.
And Round Me Slays the Dark (Shadows of the Sun #6) by Mina Ambrose
Synopsis: New from Full Quiver Publishing! The sixth and final book of the Shadows of the Sun series. Jude is on the run again, this time not only from the mad doctor and his henchmen; there is also an over-zealous and determined police officer on his track.
Robert Anderson, Oregon State Trooper of heretofore exemplary reputation, is out to defend his honor and that of his squad from those who would doubt their sanity and would relegate him, as the officer in charge, to the bottom rung of the career ladder—or evict him from the force.
All because of an apparently unassuming young vagrant, who, he is convinced, somehow erased crucial minutes from their memories. True to his local fame as Master of Puzzles, Anderson puts his logical mind and his detective skills to work to track down this enigma and call him to account.
Jude manages to keep one jump ahead of his enemies’ mad pursuit, leading them in a wild chase across the country and back again, until they all converge on Mara’s hometown, and the Group is called into play.
He finds himself, against all odds, facing the mad doctor once more, to save Phaedra—and himself.
You Don’t Own Me by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke
Amazon Synopsis: Television producer Laurie Moran recently became engaged to her investigative television show’s former host, Alex Buckley, and since then, the two have been happily planning a summer wedding, preparing for Alex’s confirmation to a federal judicial appointment, and searching for the perfect New York City home for their new life together.
But then Laurie is approached by Robert and Cynthia Bell, parents of Dr. Martin Bell, a physician who was shot dead as he pulled into the driveway of his Greenwich Village carriage house five years ago. The Bells are sure that Martin’s disgraced and erratic wife, Kendra, carried out the murder. Determined to prove Kendra’s guilt and win custody over their grandchildren, they plead with Laurie to feature their son’s case on Under Suspicion, ensuring her that Kendra is willing to cooperate.
As Laurie dives into the case, she learns that Martin wasn’t the picture-perfect husband, father, and doctor he appeared to be and was carrying secrets of his own. And what does the web of lies ensnaring the Bell family have to do with a dangerous stranger, who gazes at Laurie from afar and thinks, She is actually quite a lovely girl, I’m sure she’s going to be missed…?
My review: I’m a long-time fan of the late Mary Higgins Clark (God, rest her soul), and in the past ten years or so, I haven’t found her books to be as good as her earlier works of the 80s and 90s. However, she began working with another author a few years back. This one is supposed to be Book 4 in a series, but I picked this up at a local bookshop because I had a gift card. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the characters were well-developed, and the plot kept me guessing until the end. 4/5. Recommend.
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
Synopsis: For more than ten years, a mysterious and violent predator committed fifty sexual assaults in Northern California before moving south, where he perpetrated ten sadistic murders. Then he disappeared, eluding capture by multiple police forces and some of the best detectives in the area.
Three decades later, Michelle McNamara, a true crime journalist who created the popular website TrueCrimeDiary.com, was determined to find the violent psychopath she called “the Golden State Killer.” Michelle pored over police reports, interviewed victims, and embedded herself in the online communities that were as obsessed with the case as she was.
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark—the masterpiece McNamara was writing at the time of her sudden death—offers an atmospheric snapshot of a moment in American history and a chilling account of a criminal mastermind and the wreckage he left behind. It is also a portrait of a woman’s obsession and her unflagging pursuit of the truth. Utterly original and compelling, it has been hailed as a modern true crime classic—one which fulfilled Michelle’s dream: helping unmask the Golden State Killer.
My review: This is another excellent true crime book, but it’s written with richer language than the usual non-fiction book. I would call this more of a true crime memoir. The author didn’t live to see the Golden State Killer’s eventual capture by genealogical DNA, but her book is a comprehensive retelling of the history of the crimes and her own search and obsession to bring him to justice. Recommend. 4/5.
March 3, 2023
Is the Holy Spirit Calling You to Attend this Dynamic Conference?
Sr. Dede Bryne will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming in-person Dynamic Women of Faith Conference to be held on the Solemnity of the Annunciation, Saturday, March 25, 2023, at Old Mill Toronto Event Venue, 21 Old Mill Road, Toronto. Old Mill Toronto is a beautiful venue that is rustic and ideal for a conference like this.
If you’re a mom struggling to decide whether or not to go to this dynamic conference, there are so many excellent reasons to attend. As a previous DWOF attendee myself, I can tell you that you will not be disappointed. It is a life-changing event, and you will come home feeling more energized in your faith and as a Catholic woman because:
There will be dynamic and inspiring speakers and an excellent keynote speaker that will help you to nourish your Catholic faith.Sr. Dede is an incredibly gifted speaker and an inspiring example of serving others. In a previous televised convention, she stated: “As a physician, I can say without hesitation: Life begins at conception. While what I have to say may be difficult for some to hear, I am saying it because I am not just pro-life, I am pro-eternal life. I want all of us to end up in heaven together someday.”
She may not be as well-known as some of the previous keynote speakers of the Dynamic Women of Faith Conferences, she is nonetheless one of the most interesting and inspiring. Sister Deirdre “Dede” Mary Byrne has spent her life serving others in many different capacities. She served as a colonel (retired) in the U.S. Army Medical Corps; a missionary surgeon in the operating rooms of underdeveloped countries, and has been a professed sister of the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary for over twenty years. Sister Dede lives each role with skill, humility, and compassion.
Her presentation for this conference is entitled, “The Heroes of My Life Lead Me to Our Lady.” Our Lady is the model and example for all physical and spiritual mothers.
Other inspiring speakers for this year’s conference include the Most Reverend Robert Kasun, CSB, who will be presiding over the Mass, (his homily is on the “Solemnity of the Annunciation,”) Dr. Josephine Lombardi, who will be speaking on “Healing and Forgiveness,” Diana Filipiak, Kasia Ryba, Sandra Wojcik will be presenting a talk entitled, “Journeying with Mother Mary,” and Dorothy Pilarski will be speaking on “Why Minister to Moms: How to Start a Catholic Moms Group.”
Dynamic speakers are only one aspect of this conference that will strengthen your faith. Since it takes place during Lent, attending this conference will help to invigorate your Lenten journey. There will be a Mass, and Confession will be available.You’ll meet other Catholic Christian women and mothers who will enrich your lives and can develop into long-lasting friendships. These intimate conversations with our fellow sisters in Christ can also be life-changing.
Since the conference takes place during Lent, it’s the ideal way to invigorate your Lenten journey and take it up a notch by attending Mass and Confession.
Catholic vendors will be available for you to gather information and shop for religious items.If you’re anything like me, you love shopping at authentically Catholic bookstores and shops. At this conference, it’s like having a mall of Catholic stores, ministries, and information.
It’s such a dynamic conference that many of the women who come to this conference have attended previous conferences and will attend future ones.As I said, you will not be disappointed! Attendee Susan says this conference, “has been pivotal for giving me the courage to live an authentic Catholic faith. It taught me basic foundations and helped me make good choices as a woman and mother. This conference is a life-changer and has been an absolute must in my life for almost a decade. It has strengthened me to forgive and love others better and has helped me grow to be happier with inner joy and peace. Thank you to all the amazing organizers/speakers and contributors.”
Another frequent attendee, Judith, says, “What an inspiring, fun, uplifting day – food for the soul. It speaks directly to a woman’s heart. From year-to-year, you continue to surprise and delight! Thank you so much to so many!”
So…is the Holy Spirit calling you to attend this conference? If so, what are you waiting for? Click below to register. You still have a few days to get the early bird price.
Register on EventbriteFor more information on this “Dynamic” Conference, click on this link: https://dynamicwomenfaith.com/
