Say Yes to Holiness

Christina Semmens
Say Yes to Holiness

A podcast designed to inspire, encourage, and accompany you to finding purpose, peace and abundance in your daily life in the pursuit of holiness

  1. 2 JANV.

    Episode #232--"Starting Anew in 2025"

    In this heartfelt conversation, Christina Semmens reflects on the new year following the loss of her husband. She emphasizes the importance of hope, change, and personal growth, encouraging listeners to embrace new beginnings and make resolutions that align with God's will. Christina shares insights on the power of small, daily steps towards transformation and the significance of faith in navigating life's challenges. She concludes with a call to abandon oneself to God and strive for an extraordinary life, filled with purpose and love. Takeaways Christina reflects on her personal journey after her husband's passing. The new year symbolizes hope and new beginnings. Pope Francis has declared 2025 a year of hope. Change is essential for personal growth and transformation. We must invite God into our lives to facilitate change. Daily resolutions should focus on serving others, not just ourselves. Small, incremental changes can lead to significant transformation. Patience with ourselves is crucial in the journey of change. Abandoning ourselves to God can lead to extraordinary lives. We are all called to be extraordinary ambassadors of God's love. Sound Bites "Hope does not disappoint." "We are created to be extraordinary." "Have patience with all things." Chapters 00:00 New Beginnings and Personal Reflection 09:55 The Power of Change and Hope 20:03 Daily Resolutions and Small Steps 23:08 Abandoning to God and Living an Extraordinary Life

    24 min
  2. 15/12/2024

    Episode #231--Symbolon: Renewed & Refreshed--1:1 Taylor Kemp, VP Content, Augustine Institute

    In this episode of the Say Yes to Holiness podcast, host Christina Semmens interviews Taylor Kemp, vice president of content at the Augustine Institute. Taylor shares his journey from a successful soccer career to a profound conversion to the Catholic faith. The conversation delves into the revitalization of the Symbolon series, a program designed to educate and deepen the understanding of the Catholic faith. Taylor discusses the importance of storytelling, the integration of prayer, and the goal of inspiring holiness in viewers. The episode concludes with reflections on personal faith, the significance of patience in the spiritual journey, and the call to conversion. Takeaways Taylor Kemp transitioned from a professional soccer career to theology. Symbolon serves as a vital resource for faith formation. The series emphasizes the call to holiness for all individuals. Revamping Symbolon focuses on American Catholic history and local stories. Each episode integrates salvation history, pilgrimage, theology, and prayer. The goal is to deepen devotion to the Eucharist and the Catholic faith. Patience is essential in the journey of faith and holiness. The series aims to inspire viewers to live out their faith heroically. Personal experiences shape the way faith is taught and shared. The Augustine Institute supports parish leaders in their ministry efforts. Sound Bites "I had a pretty radical and powerful conversion." "Symbolon is a beautiful entry point." "Every single one of us is called to sainthood." "I felt so privileged to be a part of it." "Patience is the fundamental virtue for you." "The work of holiness is an act done by God." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Taylor Kemp and His Journey 05:47 The Symbolon Series: A New Initiative 12:42 Revamping Symbolon: Focus on American Catholic History 17:51 Structure of Symbolon: Integrating Faith and Prayer 22:05 Goals of the Revamped Symbolon Series 25:24 Personal Reflections on Faith and Holiness 32:52 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

    37 min
  3. 10/11/2024

    Episode #229--"The Value of Metrics for Living an Integrated Life"--1:1 with Dave Pilsky, DeSales Media

    In this episode of the Say Yes to Holiness podcast, Christina Semmens and Dave Plisky discuss the ongoing impact of a study on intentional discipleship, the importance of spiritual direction, and the launch of the Religion to Reality webinar series. They explore the findings of the study, including the barriers to evangelization and the need for community and ongoing formation. The conversation highlights the significance of integrating faith into daily life and the generational differences in discipleship, emphasizing the need for in-person community engagement. Takeaways Spiritual direction plays a crucial role in personal growth. The study revealed that many Catholics are comfortable sharing their faith but do not do so. There is a strong interest in deeper faith formation among Catholics. The Religion to Reality webinar series aims to unpack the study's findings. Community and ongoing formation are essential for discipleship. Generational differences impact how faith is experienced and shared. Retreats and dedicated time for contemplation are vital for spiritual growth. The youngest generations crave in-person community despite being digital natives.Integration of faith into daily life is necessary for true discipleship. The webinar series will evolve into a podcast for further exploration. Sound Bites "You need a spiritual director." "We want to have an integrated life." "Spiritual direction is a relatively new thing." "Prayer has to precede action." "We must continue to accompany." "Make retreats more of a thing." "We want to journey together." "The youngest generations are the most hungry for community." "Check out the webinar series." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Personal Growth 04:14 Understanding the Study and Its Findings 09:52 Religion to Reality Webinar Series 17:49 Insights on Spiritual Direction 23:57 The Importance of Community and Ongoing Formation 31:59 Generational Differences in Discipleship 39:53 Conclusion and Call to Action

    50 min
  4. 02/11/2024

    Episode #228--"Journey Through Suffering and Faith"

    In this episode of the Say Yes to Holiness podcast, Christina Semmens shares her personal journey of faith and grief as her husband battles lung cancer. She reflects on the significance of the liturgical feasts of All Saints Day, All Souls Day, and the Communion of Saints, emphasizing the importance of striving for holiness, deepening one's love for God, and the power of prayer and intercession for the departed. Christina discusses the necessity of real effort in faith, the role of sacrifice, and the impact of indulgences, encouraging listeners to live in the present and act with intention to fulfill their spiritual mission. Takeaways Christina shares her personal journey of grief and faith. The Communion of Saints consists of the Church Militant, Triumphant, and Suffering. Real effort is required to strive for holiness and win the crown. Deepening love for God is essential for a meaningful spiritual life. Prayer is crucial for strengthening faith and hope. Intercession for the living and the dead is a vital practice. Sacrifice and mortification can aid in saving souls. Indulgences can be obtained through acts of mercy and prayer. Living in the present is key to fulfilling our spiritual mission. We are created to become saints and fulfill God's will. Sound Bites "The future is not in our hands." "We need to seize today." "We are created to become holy." Chapters 00:00 Journey Through Grief and Faith 06:06 The Importance of Real Effort in Faith 11:51 Intercession and Sacrifice for Souls 22:11 Living in the Present and Seizing the Day

    26 min
  5. 20/10/2024

    Episode #227--"Flipping the Script to Transform Catholic Schools"--1:1 with Tom Carroll, Founder, Catholic Talent Project

    In this episode of the Say Yes to Holiness podcast, Christina Semmens speaks with Thomas W. Carroll, founder of the Catholic Talent Project, about the alarming trend of young people leaving the Catholic faith. They discuss the importance of strong leadership in Catholic education, the need for faithful educators, and the mission of Catholic schools to draw children closer to God. Carroll shares insights from his own faith journey and the initiatives he is implementing to recruit and train passionate teachers who can serve as witnesses of faith in the classroom. The conversation emphasizes the critical role of Catholic identity in education and the urgent need for a renewed commitment to evangelization within the Church. Takeaways The Catholic Talent Project aims to address the crisis of faith among youth. By age 13, almost half of Catholic children lose their faith. Leadership in Catholic schools is crucial for maintaining faith. Catholic schools should focus on drawing children closer to God. Recruiting faithful educators is essential for Catholic identity. Witnesses in the classroom are more effective than traditional teachers. The Church risks going the way of Europe if youth faith is not preserved. Faithful young people are needed to refresh the Church. The curriculum must integrate God at the center of education. Creating a faith community among educators enhances spiritual growth. Sound Bites "We need to put a witness in every single classroom." "The primary purpose of a Catholic school is to draw children closer to God." "We have to have constantly the church refreshed with faithful young people." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Catholic Talent Project 06:29 Thomas Carroll's Faith Journey and Background 11:19 Strengthening Catholic Identity in Education 16:09 Recruiting and Cultivating Talent in Catholic Schools 21:56 The Importance of Witness in Catholic Education 28:08 Challenges Facing Catholic Education Today 33:46 The Future of Catholic Education and Leadership 41:31 Inspiration from the Next Generation of Catholics 46:43 Getting Involved with the Catholic Talent Project 51:36 Leaving Suggestions for Upcoming Podcasts To learn more about The Catholic Talent Project, go to: https://catholictalentproject.org/

    52 min
  6. 06/10/2024

    Episode #225 "Sharing the Gospel One Song at a Time" 1:1 with Laura Huval, Catholic Musician, Author, & Speaker

    In this conversation, Christina Semmens interviews Laura Huval about her music ministry and her latest project, 'Sing the Rosary.' Laura shares her faith journey, the inspiration behind her music, and how she aims to bring people closer to Jesus through the Rosary. The discussion highlights the power of music in prayer and the importance of spiritual growth, as well as the hopes for the impact of her project on the community. Takeaways Laura Huval's music is a tool for evangelization. The Rosary can be experienced in new ways through music. Personal faith journeys often intertwine with musical experiences. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in creative inspiration. Music can help overcome barriers to prayer. The project aims to foster peace and conversion of souls. Daily practices like the Rosary can lead to spiritual growth. Community support is vital for ministry work. Being open to new modalities of prayer can enhance faith. Identity as a child of God is foundational for spiritual life. Sound Bites "Go and check out Sing the Rosary." "Sharing the gospel one song at a time." "Bring people closer to Jesus through Mary." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 04:03 Faith Journey and Musical Influence 07:26 The Call to Music Ministry 10:21 Creating the Rosary in Song 13:11 Experiencing the Rosary Through Music 16:03 Challenges in Musical Composition 19:25 The Impact of the Rosary 22:00 Personal Growth Through Music 25:08 Conclusion and Resources 29:58 Introduction to Sing the Rosary 30:29 The Mission of Conversion and Peace To learn more about Laura Huval and his music, go to: https://laurahuval.com/rosary

    31 min

Notes et avis

5
sur 5
3 notes

À propos

A podcast designed to inspire, encourage, and accompany you to finding purpose, peace and abundance in your daily life in the pursuit of holiness

Vous aimeriez peut‑être aussi

Pour écouter des épisodes au contenu explicite, connectez‑vous.

Recevez les dernières actualités sur cette émission

Connectez‑vous ou inscrivez‑vous pour suivre des émissions, enregistrer des épisodes et recevoir les dernières actualités.

Choisissez un pays ou une région

Afrique, Moyen‑Orient et Inde

Asie‑Pacifique

Europe

Amérique latine et Caraïbes

États‑Unis et Canada