Lisa Hendey & Friends Lisa Hendey

On this week's show,  creator Mario Costabile joins us to discuss how dynamic virtual retreats and events like  can draw the Church closer to God and one another.   About Mario Costabile:   Mario Costabile is the Executive Director of Array of Hope. A devout Catholic and family man, Mario has been a successful producer for music, film, and television for over 35 years, having worked for such organizations as MTV, VH1, Discovery Channel, Sony Music, and Def Jam Records. Mario is committed to utilizing his talents to do God's will in the development of Array of Hope and its vision to unite families and help them grow closer to God.   About Array of Hope:   Array of Hope has created , a one-of-a-kind digital event personalized for parishes, schools, and other Catholic organizations seeking to catechize and evangelize in a COVID-19 reality. Rise Up provides a remote experience that is dynamic, inspirational, and interactive, making the attendee truly part of the event. It enables parishes or dioceses to plan with more stability in the midst of the uncertainties of what reopening will look like.   Check out  and find all of our book and movie suggestions at  For Lisa's speaking schedule visit . Send your feedback to  or connect with Lisa on social media @LisaHendey.

On this week's show, Becky Eldridge is here to discuss her new Loyola Press book  as she offers insights and prayer practices to help us grow ever closer to God.   About Becky Eldridge:   Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and writer, with nearly twenty years of ministry experience within the Catholic Church. She is the author of the Busy Lives and Restless Souls (2017) and The Inner Chapel (2020). Her greatest joy is sharing life with her husband, Chris, and her children, Brady, Abby, and Mary. Visit her at .   About The Inner Chapel:   In her recent book,  Becky Eldredge offers down-to-earth stories, prayer reflections, and encouragement for spiritual growth and a deeper walk with Christ. While offering practices on how to enter the inner chapel, the place within where God meets us, each chapter provides an opportunity to reflect on a certain promise of God.    Check out  and find all of our book and movie suggestions at  For Lisa's speaking schedule visit . Send your feedback to  or connect with Lisa on social media @LisaHendey.

On this week's show, Jessica Ptomey, author of the book , invites listeners to consider their own faith perspectives by sharing her personal journey into the Catholic Church.   About Jessica Ptomey:   Jessica Ptomey is a Catholic convert, wife, mom, writer, Communications scholar and professor, and homeschooler. She blogs at . She is the author of , and her research in inter-faith dialogue has been published in the Journal of Communication and Religion (JCR). She is also the co-host with her husband Mike of The Catholic Reading Challenge podcast.   About Home in the Church:   Home in the Church calls Catholics living in the modern world back to a distinctly Catholic way of living and vision of Mother Church as the home on earth that is leading them to their heavenly home. Catholic Convert, Jessica Ptomey, describes her journey to a more embodied Christian faith in the Catholic Church, and she invites readers to the same experience. She discusses the embodied nature of faith in the home, in the celebrations of the liturgical calendar, in the liturgy of the Mass, in personal prayer, in the intercession of the saints, in the sacraments, and in a redemptive view of suffering.   Check out  and find all of our book and movie suggestions at  For Lisa's speaking schedule visit . Send your feedback to  or connect with Lisa on social media @LisaHendey.

On this week's show, Fr. Sebastian Walshe, author of the new book , offers pastoral thoughts on contemporary marriage and family life.   About Fr. Sebastian Walshe:   Originally from Pasadena, Fr. Sebastian Walshe is a Norbertine Canon of the Abbey of St. Michael in the Diocese of Orange, California, where he is the dean of studies for the seminary program. After completing his studies at Thomas Aquinas College in California, he continued studies at The Catholic University of America in Washington D.C., receiving a license in Philosophy. Later, he attended the Pontifical University of St. Thomas at Rome (the Angelicum) where he received a Masters in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Philosophy.   About Understanding Marriage & Family: A Catholic Perspective:   In this book Fr. Sebastian explains and defends the traditional understandings of marriage and family so that the goodness and beauty of marriage and family can once again shine forth. In the first part of the book, he clarifies and defends the definitions of marriage and family and contrasts them with the alternative proposals of modern society. Marriage and family are natural and necessary consequences of human nature: thus marriage is not merely a social construct, but something which fulfills the deepest inclinations of human nature. In the second part of the book, he shows how marriage and the relationships within the family are intrinsically and sacramentally related to the principal mysteries of the Catholic faith. In the third part of the book, he shows how family life at both the natural and supernatural levels can be fostered, preserved, and healed.   Check out  and find all of our book and movie suggestions at  For Lisa's speaking schedule visit . Send your feedback to  or connect with Lisa on social media @LisaHendey.

On this week's show, Cathy Gilmore, creator of , helps us understand how even small creatures can teach us to be virtuous superheroes!   About Cathy Gilmore:   “Mrs. Virtue Lady” Cathy Gilmore is an award-winning children's author, educator, and virtue advocate. Her passion is to help families grow virtue-strong in simple, creative, and JOYFUL ways.   About Tiny Virtue Heroes:    are pretend friends who turn children’s IMAGINATION into a sacred training space, in which everyday habits are powered by God’s grace to become real-life super-powers! These animal and insect characters are friendly “sidekick” storytellers, who introduce kids to Virtue Heroes from the Bible and from the Virtue Mission Regions of the world. Pretending with the Virtue Heroes can make children virtue-STRONG! One by one, a series of storybooks are emerging to bring these characters to life in an especially vivid way. The first story, A Mouse and a Miracle, is available now!   Check out  and find all of our book and movie suggestions at  For Lisa's speaking schedule visit . Send your feedback to  or connect with Lisa on social media @LisaHendey.

On this week's show, Dr. Joseph White offers encouragement and support for our spiritual journey as we discuss his new  book .   About Dr. Joseph White:   Dr. Joseph White is a child and family psychologist and Director of Catechetical Resources for OSV Publishing. He is the author of 11 books, including the newly-released Listening for God in Everyday Life.   About Listening for God in Everyday Life:   God is speaking to us all the time, but we have to learn to hear his voice. Drawing on his personal experience, Joseph reveals the means God uses to speak directly to our hearts. Some of these may even surprise you! They include Silence, Gifts and Talents, Scripture, Creation, Humor, Tradition, Art, Liturgy, Saints, Struggle, Children, Relationship, and People in Need. When we learn to hear it, God's voice opens our hearts to his love, deepening our relationship with the one who knows us better than we know ourselves. How is God speaking to you? Learn more at    Check out  and find all of our book and movie suggestions at  For Lisa's speaking schedule visit . Send your feedback to  or connect with Lisa on social media @LisaHendey.