This post contains affiliate or associate links with several businesses (which means if you shop through the links, I earn a small commission). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Two Speakers in the Philadelphia Archdiocese are not just bringing refreshing, incredible talks to events, but also holy experiences.

You can find speakers all over the globe by going to Catholicinfluencers.com!

Kate Capato: Sacred Presentations that bring Truth Through Beauty

Book a presentation with Kate Capato, owner of Visual Grace, here!

Taking to heart the concept of leading with beauty, Kate Capato brings a unique event with original paintings and collaborates with husband with live music to share the truths of our faith. It is powerful to see the Holy Spirit working through beauty! 

These are not your typical talks!

Kate’s talks include an immersive experience, an in depth explanation of the language of beauty, instruction about how God communicates with us and a total new way to pray using Visio Divna (a way of listening to God through art).

*** Book an event with Kate Capato here****

Each event is rooted in Church teaching and includes:

• time of Eucharistic focused prayer
• Live music
• original Sacred Art

Amy Brooks: Prayer Journaling Workshops, Confirmation Retreats and the Prayer Wine Chocolate Experience

“Amy’s contributions to the planning and execution of our Confirmation Candidate Retreat resulted in a spiritually enriching and very enjoyable Retreat Day for our seventh through ninth grade youth. Amy is gifted with creative genius and an energetic, joyful personality, which is captivating to both youth and adults.
I strongly recommend Amy as I am certain she will plan an excellent, unforgettable Retreat experience for you!“

–Sr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, IHM 

The Power of Prayer and Prayer Journaling: a talk and experience for Catholic Adults

When I hit rock bottom, prayer journaling saved me.

Well, it was one of the things that saved me. I felt so alone. So sad. I wondered if God heard me. Reaching out to Him on paper made His love, His “realness” more real to me.

When there is no one around – Our Lord is still there. Writing Jesus letters in a notebook made my relationship more tangible.

I share the power of prayer with others now. Years later I witnessed an absolute miracle. God showed me that He does indeed hear our prayers.

Starting with this Spiritual Adoption Miracle, I assure others that God does hear what we say to Him in the silence of our hearts, in our persistent prayers and in our daily lives.

When I was in my mid-twenties, I often felt like I had nothing to look forward too

Then, a few friends and I would get together on Thursday nights – and during our small gathering, we would pray a Rosary.

I now had something to look forward to. I not only had friends coming over to give my loneliness a retrieve, but our prayer intentions and group Rosary gave me HOPE!

Hope is an incredible gift. Praying with others is so powerful. It’s also incredibly comforting.

These gatherings were the origin of Prayer Wine Chocolate. I share that with anyone and everyone who will listen.

After I share stories of hope and faith – and even some laughs, I help people start their own prayer journals.

Book a call with me here!

We can discuss a Live event, a virtual one or I can help you plan your own event!

Confirmation Retreats with Amy Brooks

Whether you need a DIY Guide or your are looking for a Keynote Speaker, I can help!

Today, more than ever, our children are searching for their identity.

Each of us are made in the image of God. God made every person unique and unrepeatable.

His plans for every single soul are incredible, meaningful and spectacular.

My books, Be Yourself: a Journal for Catholic Girls and Be Yourself: a Journal for Catholic Boys are made for the age where your children are growing into adulthood. It’s a confusing time – it has always been a confusing stage of life. Our children are witnessing more confusion and mixed messages than we could have imagined.

Our Lord has a clear message to them and I am here simply to be His mic – maybe His bullhorn.

I would love to visit your parish and speak to both the students and their parents!

If you would like help planning a retreat – take a look at my digital guides:

From God’s Plan to Your Plan: a Bible Study for Boys

and the Be Yourself: Journal Club Guide

These guides give you the freedom and flexibility to plan more than one event – or the inspiration to choose activities and reflections for a one day retreat.

Where can I find more Catholic Speakers?

There are incredible Catholics sharing inspirational stories all over the U.S. and beyond.

Find Catholic Speakers and more over at catholicinfluencers.com

The post Catholic Speakers Bring Experiences as well as Inspiration to Your Parish appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

This post contains affiliate or associate links with several businesses (which means if you shop through the links, I earn a small commission). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

A Group of Loving, Passionate, Talented Women Want to Give You the gift of HOPE, HEALTH AND HEALING!

We are all created by God and called to something.

He has blessed each of us with our own feminine genius, and it is our job to share it.

Join the Ladies from “Ladies Love Life” to hear about their “Yes” and begin to reaffirm your own.

Each speaker will provide you with a small, impactful story and 3 points that they wish you to take on your journey to hope, health, and healing.

Awesome, I want to attend, what do I do!!???

Go to: zoom — https://bit.ly/3cL2Oek
Password: 465254

See more details on this Event Page: YES! May Your Yes Bring Hope, Health and Healing

Conference Begins Friday, May 1st at 4:00 pm!

Speakers include:

Abby Johnson

Dr. Monique Ruberu

Amy Brooks (yes, me!!!)

Each day starts at 4pm to 7pm on zoom — https://bit.ly/3cL2Oek
Password: 465254

The idea of this FREE ONLINE Conference came from Dr. Monique Ruberu (Author of Rising With Roses)

I asked Dr. Ruberu a few questions about the Conference and she was happy to discuss the event and share it’s mission, goals and hope for all who attend!

The first question I asked Dr. Ruberu was:

Why did you decide to organize it?

Dr. Ruberu: I felt called to ask amazing women to allow God to speak through them and help other women..

The intention of this conference is to provide an opportunity to give a “Yes” to Him… even if we are insecure about how this YES would impact others.

Which talk is your favorite so far?

They are all such amazing, authentic, soul surrendering shares… I honestly can’t say that one is better than another. Every story is so important!!!

Who are some of the speakers?

Abby Johnson, Paula Peyton, Toni McFadden, Amy Brooks, Cecilia Escobedo, Rachel Guy, Suzanne Guy, Hyacinth Hermida, Karen Rinehart, Karen Cruess, Cherilynn Holloway, Jenna Mary, Emily Colmenar, Sara Bible, Jeannine Peters, Miranda Smith, Monique Ruberu

What do you think women will walk away with once they attend?

I hope that the women will be filled with hope, good health and healing.

The first talk will be around 4 pm EST.

The topic is Hope is Essential: 3 Ways to Cultivate Hope in Your Life

Somehow, I ended up being scheduled for the first talk of the Conference!

I’m so excited!  Pour yourself a glass of wine and let’s start happy hour together!

We’ll chat about:

*tricks we can use when we feel ourselves falling into despair

*what to do when we feel overwhelmed

and

*discuss all the strategies we can utilize to cope with life when it’s not going well at all.

My wish is that you will smile, laugh and know that you are not alone.

You will walk away with something useful – I promise!!

Here are more details about the Conference!

Awesome, I want to attend, what do I do!!???

Go to: zoom — https://bit.ly/3cL2Oek
Password: 465254

Friday at 4:00 pm EST

I am so excited and can’t wait to see you there!!!

The post Say Yes to Hope, Health and Healing: A Free Virtual Conference appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

This post contains affiliate or associate links with several businesses (which means if you shop through the links, I earn a small commission). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Whether you are totally focused this Lent or Lent began and you weren’t really ready or feeling it;
I have a few ideas to help you jump in or recharge!

Let’s talk about how we can Pray – Fast – Give today.

A Long Lost Prayer

Pray from your heart

I came across this prayer written by Saint Anselm and I LOVE IT!

Written by Saint Anselm of Canterbury

You can purchase this print from Pink Salt Riot!

I love this prayer for a journal entry!  Want to learn how to prayer journal in less than 10 minutes?  Check out this video: Prayer Journaling
Why do it and how to start!

Almsgiving Ideas that Anyone Can Afford

Fast and Give

Lent calls us to pray, fast and give.

Sometimes we do one better than the other two. Often, we forget about that last one: give.

According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

The foundational call of Christians to charity is a frequent theme of the Gospels.  During Lent, we are asked to focus more intently on “almsgiving,” which means donating money or goods to the poor and performing other acts of charity.

If we are truly fasting, we should have some extra resources to give.

I just went food shopping and saw almost 10 chocolate treats that I wanted to buy but didn’t.  If I did not give up chocolate for Lent, I would have spent at least 5 more dollars.

What am I doing with that 5 dollars?  I should probably give it to a good cause or ministry.

If you are concentrating on doing more good deeds, giving is doing a good deed.  And giving doesn’t always involve money.

You can give of your time.  You can give away some of your possessions.  You can give of your talent.

I wrote this article for Catholics Online and had so much fun finding unique ways to give!  One includes baby blankets, another Legos and another a kickstarter for a Catholic Comic Book!

7 Unique Ways to Give Alms This Lent

Donate a Be Yourself Journal!  You can donate one that I will give to a girl in need, OR you could purchase some and donate them to your parish or local Catholic School!!!

Need a Jolt to Your Lent?

Go to Confession. Especially if there is a voice in your head telling you not to. Haven’t been to Confession in quite some time?

I have this for you: Dear Catholic Who Hasn’t Been to Confession In . . .

Okay, let us know in the comments – which of these suggestions will you do TODAY!!?

We can help each other by sharing!

Don’t forget to pre-order your copy of my new book!

The post A Long Lost Prayer; Almsgiving Ideas that Anyone Can Afford and an Overall Jolt to Your Lent appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

This post contains affiliate or associate links with several businesses (which means if you shop through the links, I earn a small commission). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

***SPOILER ALERT*****SPOILER ALERT***

***If you have not yet seen THE RISE OF SKYWALKER and you don’t want me to spoil any parts of it before you see it . . . read this later.***

Years ago when my husband and I started the adoption process a co-worker and friend approached me and said something like,

“I have to tell you what you are doing is beautiful.  In the Jewish faith, adoption is one of the greatest things you can do.”

As a Catholic school teacher, this friend and co-worker was a rare find.  She practiced her Jewish faith but taught math in a Catholic school. I always remembered that moment she shared with me.

Those kind words were not only a compliment and blessing from a friend, but a glimpse into the faith of modern Judaism . . . and roots that remain from ancient tradition.

In the recent film of the Star Wars franchise, the infamous Luke Skywalker states:

“Some things are stronger than blood”.

Once again, my heart strings felt a tug.

Adoption in Sacred Scripture

For some, adoption is not a thought that runs across the mind on a regular basis, if at all.

For the Christian, it may be a topic glazed over or pondered upon when Scripture readings like

Romans 8:15 

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

Ephesians 1:4-5 

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.  In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…

Maybe we thought a little about adoption when we hear the story of Saint Joseph and the birth of Jesus.

For me, I have scratched my head when I noticed that when Jesus’ roots are traced back to David, they are traced through Saint Joseph – we know and are clearly told that Joseph is not the biological or natural father of Jesus.  We often hear the term “foster father”.

But the answer lies in the beauty of adoption my Jewish friend Lisa was referring too.

As stated in a homily written by Father Joe:

But the Gospel also makes it clear that Joseph was not the natural or birth father of the Lord.  Mary was a Virgin.  The child was conceived through the Holy Spirit.  So, why is Jesus seen as part of the line of David through Joseph?  This is because Joseph names the child.  For the ancients this meant he had made the child his own.  We can even say that he adopted the child.  Now we view adoption as a legal procedure.  The ancients viewed adoption as both a legal act and a spiritual act.  When a man adopted a child, all that made that man who he is, his background, his ancestry, all of this poured out upon the child.  When Joseph named the child, adopted the child, King David, King Solomon, and all that was part of Joseph’s ancestry became part of Jesus’ ancestry.  The prophets predicted that the Messiah would come through the line of David.  This takes place through Joseph.

Look at what adoption encompasses both in the Jewish tradition . . .

When a man adopted a child,

all that made that man who he is,

his background, his ancestry,

all of this poured out upon the child. 

When Joseph named the child, adopted the child,

Kind David, King Solomon, and all that was part of Joseph’s ancestry became part of Jesus’ ancestry. 

Joseph became so much more than a foster father.  In adopting Jesus, he not only gave Our Lord himself as a parent, but his father and mother became Jesus’ grandparents, and their parents became great-grandparents and all the way back to David became Jesus’ family.

The Significance of a Name

Now back to Luke Skywalker.

Luke was speaking to Rey when he said,

“Some things are stronger than blood”.

Rey was not the biological daughter of Luke.  She’s not the daughter of Leah. But both Luke and Leah, in a sense, adopted her.

Rey eventually takes on the name, Skywalker.

When Luke assures Rey that she has all she needs to defeat the Dark Side, he gives her the lightsaber of Leah to use in addition to his own.

Luke assures Rey all of the Jedi will be with her.

In her final battle with the Emperor, you hear the voices of former Jedi.

Yoda, Obi Wan and all who were a part of Jedi history become part of Rey’s history.

The Spiritual Realm of adoption is made visible to the viewer. The reality of that history helped her to defeat the Dark Side and become a Jedi herself.

Spiritual Traditions and Adoption

We witness:

The beauty of adoption.

The bond greater than blood.

The fact that family transcends time.

The power of those who have come before us.

The Parallels in the Jewish and Jedi Traditions seem undeniable. (And parallels have been written about by others in general – just google Judaism and Jedi and you’ll see what I mean)

Now think about this . . .

In observing the beauty of adoption, we do not downplay the importance of the natural/biological family.

Rey’s parents sacrificed for their daughter to have life.

Rey’s life wasn’t full of wealth or absent of hardship.  But her life was of great value.

Mary is not dismissed or made less important because Jesus’ lineage is traced through Joseph.

God does not deny His Son.

Valuing adoption.  Recognizing it’s beauty, does not threaten anyone.

Don’t let those who don’t want to hear about it make you believe that.

So what do both Saint Joseph and Luke Skywalker teach us about adoption?

1. Adoption is so much more than a legal process.
2. That in this day and age where testing our DNA and finding out our ancestral  roots and biological connections seem to become increasingly popular, “some things are greater than blood.”
3. Life is so much more than what is physical.  The values we hold dear to us are very much a part of what is real.
4. Don’t listen to the Dark Side.
5. We are not alone.We are the adopted sons and daughters of Our God.  The Creator of Heaven and Earth.The bond that love has is real.His love transcends time.

   The Communion of Saints cheer for us as we strive to fight the darkness.

Considering Adoption? Dear Couple Considering Adoption,

Want to read more about adoption?Adoption: 5 Myths Every Pro-Lifer Needs to Stop Believing

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The post What Luke Skywalker and Saint Joseph Can Teach Us About Adoption appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

**This post contains affiliate or associate links with several businesses (which means if you shop through the links, I earn a small commission). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.**

Many people who think abortion should be legal, or feel that abortion should be a “woman’s right” do not feel or want to believe adoption should enter the conversation.

Some pro-lifers or people in general feel strongly that a woman should NEVER place her child with an adoptive family.

And others feel as though everyone considering abortion should just start making an adoption plan.

Let me interrupt this extremely divided world to throw down some real talk.

Life is a miracle.

Not every situation we find ourselves in is easy.

Love is not easy.  Saint Gianna’s words about love hold a lot of truth:

“One cannot love without suffering or suffer without loving.”

We live in a culture that thinks we should avoid and eliminate all suffering.  But that is not how we are designed.

Abortion causes suffering to the unborn and to the mother.  It often causes suffering to the father, the grandparent (even if they are the ones who strongly suggested it in the first place). Some people embrace healing.  Others do not. A large number of abortions are done today with the idea that the child is suffering so this will end his or her suffering.

Adoption causes suffering.  It is often a choice made with a very heavy heart.  It is not easy.  It has been chosen in some cases under coercion (like some abortions).

Neither is ideal, but:

If we want to make abortion unthinkable, we need to be open to learn more about adoption.

We, as pro-lifers, need to be more educated about adoption.

Some pro-life volunteers still look down upon the idea that a woman is considering placing a baby with an adoptive family. Other pro-life advocates think they know who SHOULD place a child with an adoptive family.

We need to provide more support to women who are considering an adoption plan and to the women who have already chosen one.

We need to seek out birthmothers or first moms to volunteer at pregnancy resource centers.  We need to ask them to share their stories and listen to what they think women facing unplanned pregnancies need.

We need to remember that adoption should always be an option. We also need to learn a lot more about that option.

Adoption: 5 Myths Every Pro-Lifer Needs to Stop Believing

Myth #1: Adoption Is Not a Solution for Abortion

First of all, we all know it is not a “universal alternative to abortion” like one article suggests – but we do KNOW it is an alternative.

Let me re-assure you that adoption does save lives.  Callie Jet, Founder of Talk About Adoption, shares her story:

I walked away from my scheduled abortion procedure that day because I heard the truth about ADOPTION.”

Not only did Callie walk away from her abortion appointment because she heard about adoption, she started an entire organization because she believes whole heartedly that:

“parenting and adoption are the only rewarding options for an unplanned pregnancy”.

See more about Talk About Adoption on their website

Many people will tell you to stop talking about adoption.  If Callie’s testimony isn’t enough, Mother Teresa has some things to say about the topic too:

I will tell you something beautiful. We are fighting abortion by adoption – by care of the mother and adoption for her baby. We have saved thousands of lives

See Mother Teresa: A Saint for Adoptive Families

Now, let’s talk about foster care since I feel lots of people want to talk about that when we as pro-lifers bring up adoption.

Here’s a quote from an article titled: “Adoption Is Not a Universal Alternative to Abortion, No Matter What Anti-Choicers Say”

Currently, there are close to 400,000 children in state custody; only half have permanent plans for placement. Meanwhile, employees in protective services are underpaid and overworked, treading water to try to ensure that all of the children in their care are happy and healthy. Anyone who believes that adoption or foster care is a natural solution to growing restrictions on reproductive rights is kidding themselves.

Here’s the truth I don’t ever hear:  domestic infant adoption often prevents that 400,000 number from going up.

There are many women who had abortion appointments, canceled them and placed for adoption.

Some of those women were not going to legally be permitted to parent.  Some of these women were leaving the hospital without their babies – even though they would have been legally allowed to parent.  Those babies would have entered “the system” – but, the choice of adoption prevented that.

How come we don’t ever talk about that?  Do you doubt that happens?  Don’t.  It happens.  Trust me.

Myth 2: There is nothing you can do to lower the average cost of adoption

Pro-life groups, organizations and pregnancy centers have the capacity and the ability to lower the average cost of domestic infant adoption. How you ask?  Great question, let me explain.

The average cost of adoption using an agency is around $35,000.  The average cost of a private or independent adoption is around $12,000.

These are average costs. Some adoption agencies charge around 50 grand to match an adoptive couple with an expectant mother that chooses to place.  Some states allow potential adoptive parents to pay birthmother expenses and these numbers go up further.  Most adoption agencies do not include the cost of an adoption attorney in their cost.

Yes, adoption is expensive – but it doesn’t have to be.

Now, some states do not allow adoptions to occur without the help of an agency.  However, agencies do not need to charge over $35,000 to help a couple adopt (especially if the couple and the expectant mother found one another without the help of an agency).

Some states allow private or independent adoptions to occur without involving adoption agencies at all.

Most adoption costs with agencies go toward employee salaries and marketing and networking that goes into finding women who are considering adoption.

A crisis pregnancy center often runs on volunteers and women who desire to choose life are going there for help and guidance.  Many pregnancy centers are a part a larger pro-life group that is working hard to show abortion minded women that they can choose life. Many of them will enable women to see that not only can they choose life, but they desire to choose parenting.

But, there are some cases where a woman will ultimately decide not to parent.  Those women could be connected to couples within the pro-life community who feel called to adopt.

This connection saves couples tens of thousands of dollars.  And on top of that, the pregnancy resource center truly offered help to those who choose life and are discerning parenting and adoption.

I could write a whole post on this, but for now . . .

if you want more about adopting without an agency? Read  Pursuing an Adoption Without An Agency: What We Did Right

Dear Couple Considering Adoption

Let me talk more about that in the next myth.

Myth #3: Pro-Life leaders are properly educated about Adoption

The truth is, there is a lot the general population does not know or understand about adoption.

Mothers who chose to place their children with adoptive families are slowly emerging and speaking out.  Some felt very coerced into the choice.  Most feel judged and shamed.

Couples who choose to take the adoption route learn a lot when preparing for their home study.  Adults who grew up in multi-racial families have just recently started sharing their stories that address challenges no one thought to address a generation ago.

Almost no one truly understands that”open adoption” is a very broad term and that two “open-adoptions” can be very, very different.

If your pro-life agency, group or center has a conference this year – they should have an adoption related speaker.  They should have adoption speakers every year and at many training events.  The truth is, adoption is extremely complicated.  There are many viewpoints.  There is plenty to learn.

If you would like me to come speak, let’s connect!  See how on my About page!

Does your pro-life group know the adoption laws in your state?  Does your crisis pregnancy center have a volunteer or advocate that once placed a baby with an adoptive family?  Are volunteers still saying “give up” instead of “place?

Here is my concern: when abortion becomes more and more unthinkable, are we as active members of the pro-life community ready to support adoption?

I want us to be.

Myth #4: People only want to adopt healthy babies

Let me introduce you to Special Angels Adoption Advocates. 

Myth #5:  Coercion and other ethical issues surrounding adoption are things of the past.

It is true that a long time ago many women who placed their babies with adoptive families did so unwillingly. I would say it happens less often now – however, there are still many ethical concerns that we need to be very aware of when it comes to adoption.

Personally, I have learned a lot in the past 8 years about how the line of ethics is skirted and crossed within adoption agencies.  I am not anti-adoption agency, but I have found that independent social workers and adoption attorneys label some agencies as ethical – which means some they view as unethical.  I’ve learned that even ones considered ethical do things like advertise counseling to potential birth mothers but in reality “have them sign a paper” which stated counseling was offered.  In my opinion, and I hope in yours, that should NEVER be the extent of counseling someone discerning an adoption plan should receive from an agency.  And again – that was an ethical agency!

This reason alone makes me want to invite and encourage crisis pregnancy centers to reach out more to women who want to seriously consider adoption.  Women choosing life need the counseling, guidance and support from centers that work to empower women to parent if that is their desire. Pro-life advocates can and will help them to truly see what help they can receive and what help they will need to seek elsewhere.  The adoption world needs these centers to get on board and be educated.

As for ethical issues, you don’t have to take my word for it.  The organization Arrow and Root recently published this blog post 3 Things to Ask an Adoption Professional.

This article is not for potential adoptive parents but for women considering an adoption plan for her unborn child. The goal of this post is to help the expectant mother find and work with an ethical professional.

I also suggest following adoptwell on Instagram.  I have more resources for you . . . again, another post or course session!

Would you like me to come speak at your pro-life conference?  I’d love to help your group start prepping for a nation and world that shouts their adoption plan rather than something else! Let’s talk! More details here: About Amy Brooks

Stay tuned.  I could write a blog post on each of the myths. I’m thinking and praying over creating a series on the blog, a course or a resource guide for crisis pregnancy centers and pro-life advocates.Let me know what you want and need . . . and sign up here to stay connected!

The post Adoption: 5 Myths Every Pro-Lifer Needs to Stop Believing appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

Dear Beautiful Woman Longing to Be a Mother

I feel compelled to write to you . . . because boy, I remember being there.

I recall thinking about how I “played house” as a child. I wanted more children than my playmates. They wanted a “boy and a girl” . . .I wanted at least five.

I remembered that one year Santa brought me a cradle and a doll and lots of clothes and the baby bottle. It was probably my favorite gift.

Motherhood was something I longed for my whole life.

And there I was . . . finally married and month after month,

devastated and disappointed.

I dedicated my adult life to helping young people. I worked as a summer camp counselor, a coach and I was a teacher.

I prayed that God would make me a mother and asked other people to pray for me too.

Why was He not answering that prayer?  Why was it even a struggle . . . I mean every month I’m reminded that I do “have the parts!!!”

I remember one Sister of Saint Joseph advised me to “shake my fists” at God and let Him know I’m angry!  So, if a nun told me to do it – I’m going to share that advice with you.

It must be okay to “shake your fists” at God if a nun said to do it, right???

Do you have the people who say “just stop trying and it will happen”?

Forgive them, they just have no idea.  Forgive them, but by all means, also walk away from them . . . because ain’t nothing good coming out of that conversation if you stay.

Do you have the people telling you to relax and signing you up for yoga classes with them and gifting you massages and wine to “help you relax”?

I had that . . .  I took the gifts and the classes and enjoyed the time with the friend (actually that was my mom) and didn’t bring up that I knew she had an alterior motive.

And p.s. I can’t relax, it’s not in my DNA.  So yes, we should do things like take time to go to Adoration, pray the Rosary and stop working once in a while – but not only because we want to be moms – but because it’s good for our overall health.  Do we tell sick people to relax though?  No, because it’s rediculous.  Someone needs to tell the person who said “just relax” that you don’t say that to someone with a medical condition – like diabetes or infertility!

To the person who is bold enough to say to you “just relax”.  Kindly say goodbye to them for awhile, because there is no way you can “relax” around someone who says that to you when your pouring your heart out and that is the response you get.

Do you have that pain in your chest that not only hurts but feels like this incredibly heavy burden?

I had that. When all the students left for the day, I closed the classroom door and cried at my desk.  You have got to let it out.  I let it out by crying.  I let it out by writing God a letter.  I told Him all the reasons why I wanted to be a mom.  Whenever I am dealing with something heavy that lingers, I write to God.  It really helps.  I even once wrote about my children I dreamed of having … I wrote about 3 children . . . I now have 3 children (twilight zone music?).

5 Benefits of Prayer Journaling

WHEN DO REAL WOMEN FIND TIME TO PRAYER JOURNAL?

Do you have the friends showing up that truly understand infertility and show you they understand?

Hug these people.  They are amazing.  Women that I lost touch with over the years or who were only just acquaintances flocked to me with love and compassion.  I remember one telling me she was so glad she got a dog when she was going through it.  I had friends from high school who I really had not talked to in years reach out to me with such kindness.  Some said they stopped going to baby showers and told me that was ok.  Personally, I never minded going to baby showers . . .I thought, they’ll all be at mine someday.  But – these women had empathy and with that empathy came some comfort.  Welcome them if you don’t already.  If you already do – spend time with them when you can.

Do you have a husband that is also bummed, sad or even depressed?

Hugs help.  Taking a weekend trip to do something that interests you both are good to do – even if you wish you were going to a pumpkin patch or Sesame Place with a child instead.  Spend time together and write seperate bucket lists.  Write a list of all the things you will do once you are blessed with your child or children.  That list will have the pumpkin patch, the family walks, the Christmas mornings, etc.  But write a “couples only” bucket list.  Not everything is kid friendly!  Write the movie dates, the wine tasting trips, hiking on the coast of Maine or rock climbing.  Things you’d love to do together, but totally not child appropriate!  And honestly, your husband and yourself have different interests too.  Write a list of what you really want to do, but he has no desire to do it.  Perhaps start crossing off some things on the two bucket lists that don’t involve children while you wait.

(want more ideas of what to do while you wait, check out my list here: Waiting Without Worrying )

Do you often find yourself looking up and asking God, “WHY????????”

I remember talking to God and saying –

ya know, I’m asking for a job not a million dollars!!!  I know it will be work! AND You know I will teach them to love you!  Help me out will ya???

I remember going to Mass and seeing all the families, then having to endure a homily that compared faith to parenting.

Really God??? Thanks

Then we started the adoption process and we would be matched, be happy and then the mom would choose parenting, so then we felt sad again.  Then we might see other people adopt . . . and then we wondered, why not us.

I remember thinking Lord, I will LOVE ANY CHILD YOU GIVE ME!

Do you sometimes hear the voice that says, “maybe your not meant to be a mom”?

Please don’t listen to that voice.  If infertility has exhausted you, and your heart feels like their is a piece missing.  Please consider adoption.  I realize that can be annoying when some people bring up adoption – but we now have children.  I am now a mom.  God gave me infertility so that I would be blessed with three amazing souls.  Before we adopted, I talked to a woman in our parish who adopted.  She told me, “I thank God for infertility everyday!”  She said that because the love she has for her adopted children really can not be put into words.

I didn’t “get it” when she said that the way I “get it” now.

My children needed me to be their mommy.  I’m so grateful my husband was open to it and he agrees, they are an incredible gift.  We truly believe we are the luckiest parents in the world.

Be open to the thought and ask God to “open all the right doors and close all the wrong ones”.  I actually heard Joel Olsteen say that once and made it a personal prayer.  It really helped me.

Infertility: Carrying the Cross with Hope

Do you want to stop reading these letters and just be a mommy?

I understand.  I remember. Please don’t stop praying and consider starting a Rosary group.  Before praying the Rosary, voice this intention.  You know the promises of the Rosary . .

Mary keeps her promises.

Praying for you and sending you a hug,

Amy
Five Reasons to Start a Rosary Group

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This post contains affiliate links.  Please see my disclosure policy on the About Me page.

1. Be open minded.

Pro-life does not mean anti-choice.

Not everyone with an abortion appointment is a person with no faith in God.

Some people walking into the clinic were told it was best to terminate the pregnancy by a doctor and do not know about organizations like Be Not Afraid or Lily’s Gift.

The people standing outside the clinic are not pro-birth. They offer real help for after the child is born as well as during the pregnancy.

Don’t be afraid to listen to the other side and truly act and think – lovingly.

2. Give of yourself. Donate your time.

Go on the March for Life.  Before you say, “I can’t” . . .think about it, pray about it and consider it.  People have marched in Washington for extremely meaningful causes and made history.  This is definitely a meaningful cause and you could help make history.

Go on a “mission trip” . . . . for an hour . . . in your own community. Stand in front of a clinic and pray.  Pray the Rosary.  Pray, “Jesus, help them to hear Your voice”.  Pray for the moms, the dads and the grandmothers.  Pray for the employees that work there. Hold a sign. Don’t hold a sign.  Pray with others. Pray alone.  But GO.  It matters.  It helps.  Women have been helped and feel eternally grateful for witnesses standing outside the clinics.  Lives have been saved.

3. Buy Hot Chocolate.

Yes, you read that right.

An amazing thing happened last winter . . .

It was an extremely cold day.  I had a million things to do and an hour and a half to do them in.

Still, it was Friday, and I knew full well what happens on Friday at the Planned Parenthood just 10 minutes from me.

I knew some people would be standing outside praying.  I thought, I’d like to go . . . but I just can’t.  I don’t have the time.

But, I really felt compelled to do something.  It was so cold . . . I thought the least I could do is buy a big thing of hot chocolate.  I thought, I’ll give it to those who are praying, and suggest they offer it to the women walking in for an appointment.

So that’s what I did.

I bought hot chocolate and gave it to my friend who regularly stands outside the PP.

I bought a huge container and a stack of cups and gave it to the men who were praying there, and I got a large personal one for my friend Mary.

I suggested they offer it to the women they were hoping to speak with before they entered the clinic. I thought, maybe that will be an ice breaker, and maybe it will lift the spirits of my friend freezing her butt off in the hopes of helping a young woman choose life.

Well guess what . . . it did.

Mary, my friend who was outside the clinic, called to a woman entering after I left.

She shouted, “My friend who just brought me hot chocolate will adopt your baby – you only have to take care of the baby for 7 more months”.

That woman came down to Mary on the sidewalk and spoke to her.

She ended up choosing life.

She ended up choosing to parent.

I couldn’t stand with Mary that day, but I brought the hot chocolate.

I suggest you bring the hot chocolate too . . .

or the lemonade, or just stop and say keep up the prayers, or ask them how you can help and deliver.

Your actions, no matter how small, matter.

4. Give time and resources to crisis pregnancy centers and other pro-life organizations.

The Pregnancy Center I work the most with, A Baby’s Breath, operates solely through volunteers and donations.  Find a “crisis pregnancy center” or “pro-life union” in your area. Offer to give your time.  If time is not possible, ask the centers what they need!  They might need diapers, or they might need help with marketing.  They may need a new website – donate the money or if you are a website designer, offer your services.

They may need to know who’s hiring for the families they support looking for work.

They may need gift cards to give to clients going through a rough time.

These centers and organizations are vital.  I was so unaware of all the help and love that is provided by these organizations.

Women and children need support and connection. So many of these places truly empower the women and families they serve.

They need volunteers.  They need you.  They need your friends.  It could be an hour a week.  It can be more than that.  It could be one box of diapers, or it could be a few thousand dollars.  You know what you have and what you can offer . . . bring what you are able.

5. Spiritually Adopt an Unborn Baby . . . or Two.

This prayer, authored by Fulton Sheen I believe, takes about 20 seconds to say.  It is SO POWERFUL!  The miracles my family has witnessed (God Hears Us: A Spiritual Adoption Miracle) have compelled me to share this prayer with anyone and everyone.  We pray it as a family every night after Grace Before Meals.  We now do so every 9 months.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you very much.  I beg of you to spare the life of (name your child), the unborn baby I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion. Amen

That’s it.  That prayer saves lives.

6. Stop being silent.

A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

“In some causes silence is dangerous.”
–Saint Ambrose

Speak up in loving, but couragous ways.

Speaking up doesn’t mean pointing fingers or getting political.

Speaking up can mean sharing a post about Project Rachel, running a diaper drive for a crisis pregnancy center, inviting a friend to pray in front of a clinic with you or posting a picture of you at the March for Life.

Stress mercy.  Offer solutions that empower women and cultivate love.

7. Support change.

No matter what political party you belong to – tell your representative that you are pro-life and what that means to you.  Can’t go to the March for Life?  Take an hour that day to write and send a letter to your local, state and federal representatives.

Share articles about non-profit organizations like And Then There Were None,  

which helps people working in abortion clinics get different employment.

Let the world know about people who are very active in the pro-life community and adopt special needs children or from foster care.  Make a donation to Reese’s Rainbow or Special Angels Adoption.

Stress hope and love.

More Pro-life from prayerwinechocolate:

Dear Beautiful Woman Considering an Abortion

Dear Brave Soul Standing Outside of Planned Parenthood/

Pursuing Adoption Without an Agency: What We Did Right

The Rose Garden: A Baby’s Breath Adoption Group

Terminate, Interrupt or Choose Life?

Find more inspiration on Pinterest . . . follow CSMI on Pinterest

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“I don’t know what is going on, but Our Lady of Guadalupe is stalking me.”

I said this to my husband sometime in early 2017.  I was sitting on the couch, scrolling through Instagram and her image was there . . . AGAIN.

It had been something I started noticing months before.  At first I’m sure I didn’t think anything of it.  But then I started seeing her image, hearing her title and it seemed like almost every day, in some way, Our Lady of Guadalupe crossed my path.

I probably started taking note of it in the Fall of 2016.  For years I would hear about this parish retreat our church ran annually.  I always wanted to go, but felt funny because my husband and I – in my mind- were only a couple.  I thought, “you gotta have kids to go on that”.  Well, last Fall, my husband, son and I went.  It was that weekend that the Retreat House was having a Shrine dedication – to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

It was a huge deal, the Archbishop of Philadelphia Charles Chaput came to give the blessing.

The event plan also included a reenactment of the Our Lady of Guadalupe story, a Mariachi band, folk dancing and light fare inside the Family Life Center.

I remember thinking there, that’s so weird, I keep coming across Our Lady of Guadalupe so often lately.

During the Retreat I attended a talk . . . about Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The woman who gave the talk said, “It’s funny how God works, I had planned to talk about this topic before I even knew about the Shrine dedication this weekend!”

Insert twilight zone music.

Weird.

Other ways I noticed Our Lady showing an increased presence were:

Seeing images of her weekly.  One time my husband, son and I went out to lunch.  We went to a Mexican Restaurant that had the largest tapestry of Our Lady I have ever seen.  At that point I was convinced she was really trying to tell me something, so I made my husband and son pose for a picture with me in front of it!  I wish I could find that picture now!

Holy cards with her image surfacing everywhere.

Being invited to give a talk at a local parish . . .name of the parish . . . Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Seeing shrines of her at churches not named after her.

Seeing her medal on bracelets and other jewelry.

By the time I made that comment to my husband, I had been scratching my head about it for months.  So I said to Matt, right after my “Our Lady is stalking me” comment, that I was going to look up what she is a patron of . . . honestly, I already knew.

OLG is patron of the unborn and of the Americas (two topics I prayed most for this past year – the unborn and our country).

Still . . . I wondered . . . why is she constantly showing up?  What is she trying to tell me?

I really was seeing her that frequently.

 It was bizarre.

Then, on April 5th, we got THE CALL.

A woman was in labor – at SAINT MARY’S MEDICAL CENTER – and she was having twins.  She told the doctor delivering the babies, she wanted to place them with an adoptive family.

A nurse working heard her, told the doctor about Matt and I and before I knew it, I was on the phone with the doctor giving him my attorney’s information.

We never met the birthmother.  I was told she looked Hispanic.

I thought, she must have been asking the Blessed Mother to help her throughout her pregnancy, and she must have entrusted Our Lady of Guadalupe with the hope that they would go to a safe and loving family.

She must have asked Our Lady to take care of her babies.

The day we were driving to court for the adoption finalization gave another incredible sign.  Perhaps, a true “signal grace”?

We drove to the court and found ourselves looking for a parking lot.  I was driving so Matt sent a text to our social worker:

“Is there a parking lot?”

She answered, “no, park on the street”.

I knew there was often parking spaces the block before the court, because our attorney’s office was there and I had found parking in front of his office each time I visited.  So, I drove around the corner and purposely drove an extra block so that when I turned I would be parking on the same side of the street as the court.

Right before our turn we were stopped at a red light.  I looked up, and saw . . . this:

I must have said, “Oh you have got to be kidding me”.

I had never seen this store before (I had never been on that corner before).  But I have NEVER seen a store named after Our Lady – any title of Our Blessed Mother – before.

Ever.

And then I laughed and said, “nicely done Mother”.  I see you.

And thank you.

I still see her more than ever. . . and as I wrote this I think I realized why.

I am convinced the twins first mom prayed for them before, and still prays for them now.  She has entrusted Our Lady with their care.

I don’t know if that brave, faithful woman will ever read this – or if I or the twins will ever be able to share this story to her . . . but if you are reading this . . .

Thank you for praying for your babies.  Thank you for choosing life.  Thank you for allowing us to be their parents.

I am certain that is wasn’t until this year that I had read what Our Blessed Mother had said to Saint Juan Diego.  These words were not just meant for him, they were meant for us too.

So if you are the woman who gave life to these precious babies, or considering adoption over abortion, or a person praying to be blessed with children, or none of the above – these words are for all of us.  Read them slowly and know . . . she is our Mother.

“Let not your heart be disturbed.
Do not fear sickness, nor any other anguish. Am I not here, who am your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health?  Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything.”

Side note: There is a whole other spiritual, miraculous layer to this whole story.

In September, 7 months before the twins were born, our family of 3 began praying the Spiritual Adoption Prayer for a little girl.  A few weeks later, we decided to add a boys name too.  It was the first time we had spiritually adopted twins.  Ironically, we adopted boy/girl twins.

I wonder if it was in September that our twins’ mother discovered she was pregnant.  I wonder if those few weeks later is when she found out she was carrying twins . . .

I want to thank Our Lady of Guadalupe for walking with me every day, and leading me and my children, and their birthmother, to Jesus <3

Here are some of my colleagues products honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe!  Add them to your Christmas shopping list and assure your loved ones that Our Blessed Mother is our protection and that we are “happily within” her fold!

Pink Salt Riot’s Our Lady of Guadalupe Necklace Stack

 Relics by Rose

SaongJai Custom Rosary

My Little Felt Friends

Happy Nest Home Goods Necklace

Trendzilly Our Lady Doll

 Shining Light Dolls

The post Our Lady of Guadalupe: Her Image Still Appears appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

This post contains affiliate links

When my husband and I met with a young woman considering adoption last summer, we asked her if she had thought about a name for her unborn daughter.

She said, “Siena”.

I had never considered that name for a child, but boy – was I impressed.  What a beautiful name and an awesome patron saint a child with that name would have.

That young woman decided to parent, and ended up naming her daughter Chloe.  But that name stuck with me, so on September 2nd, 2016, when our family began another spiritual adoption journey, we chose the name Siena Kathleen for our “spiritual daughter”.  A short time later, we decided to add a brother: George Patrick.

7 months later we brought home twins . . . a boy and a girl.  Our five year old son said, “their names are Siena Kathleen and George Patrick”!

Well, their names are actually Jaina Kathleen and George Kieran – but George was definitely a name that I had never considered before all of this happened!

Little did I know, that it was around this time that an Adoption Service was being formed, and being named after the brave and faithful, Saint Catherine of Siena.

Mary Kate Sparrow and Annie Surine and are the founders of Siena Adoption Services

Siena Adoption Services Founders

Siena Adoption Services was founded as a ministry. Founders Mary Kate Sparrow and Annie felt strongly that, for many,

the adoption process has become too expensive, too impersonal and too complicated.

Adoption is such an expensive process.

That thought had crossed my mind many times as well.  That truth led my husband and I to pursue our second and third adoptions without signing on with an adoption agency.  That fact led to the creation of The Rose Garden (an adoption support group sponsored by A Baby’s Breath Crisis Pregnancy Centers).

Adoption is beautiful and is a calling – for both some expectant mothers and hopeful families.  When an expectant mother or couple are considering an adoption plan for their child, most know that a good, safe, loving family does not necessarily mean a wealthy family.  However, the cost of the adoption process almost make it impossible for average couples to pursue parenthood through adoption.

Sparrow found that by volunteering time, Siena adoptions are able to cut down expenses significantly.  She continued, saying:

We also feel that, being rooted in faith, we will be able to approach both the adoptive families and birth parents with a greater sense of compassion and support. Through the Church we are all family in the broader sense and by acknowledging our role as a member of the Church family we can make the connections needed to ensure these children have loving homes. After all, we are all adopted sons and daughters ourselves in this family. Ephesians 1:5 says “he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will.”

 

Our ministry is named after St. Catherine of Siena.

She was brave during a dark time.

Her acts of courage and faith are able to inspire us all these years later. They prompt us to put our faith into action.

I first read about Siena Adoptions on the Catholic Herald website.  Shortly after that (and I mean – minutes) a mutual friend of Mary Kate and I – Mary Beth (Camila’s Candles)sent me a message. She said:

I know it has been so long since we talked, but was thinking… next month is Adoption awareness month and wasn’t sure what you had in mind in terms of your blog. A friend of mine started an adoption agency/ministry here in Washington and I just think their mission is so amazing . . .

I totally agree with Mary Beth, their mission is amazing!

Siena Adoption Services exists to make adoption easy and affordable. Siena Adoption Services provide adoptions at a greatly reduced rate.  The mission of Siena Adoptions is to make adoption possible for anyone who feels called.

I never thought Saint Catherine of Siena would be an intercessor for expectant parents considering adoption – or hopeful adoptive families.

But as I research her life, I find (with much help from Catholic.org):

St. Catherine of Siena was a single woman – living in the 1300’s – who made such an impression on people she gained followers and was instrumental in restoring the Papacy to Rome and in brokering peace deals during a time of factional conflict and war between the Italian city states.

Although some married women do choose to make an adoption plan for their unborn babies, many are single women.  Their acts provide a living example that one can choose life over termination – even in time when there is much political conflict.

St. Catherine developed a habit of giving things away and she continually gave away her family’s food and clothing to people in need. She never asked permission to give these things away, and she quietly put up with their criticisms.

How often is a woman who makes an adoption plan criticized in our culture? The woman’s choice to give her baby to an adoptive couple is anything but easy, and most often family does not approve.  It is quite a challenge to put up with the critics, and St. Catherine provides an example of doing just that.

St. Catherine was drawn further into the world as she worked, and eventually she began to travel, calling for reform of the Church and for people to confess and to love God totally.

Despite the fact that she was a woman long before “women’s rights” despite the fact that she had critics, she travels and changed people’s hearts away from worldliness and towards loving God whole heartedly.  Her bravery is an inspiration.

Siena Adoptions needs you to help them!

How?

Share this article – you never know who it may help!

Pin this article – yes, you can do that!  Don’t know where to pin it?  Create a new board and title it “Adoption”!

Make a donation to Siena Adoptions!  You can do this directly on their website (Siena Adoption Services)

or you can purchase a candle this month through Camila’s Candles!

As a thank you for spreading awareness about Siena Adoption Services, I’ve teamed up with them and PioPrints for a giveaway! Enter the giveaway by the options below, and you may be the lucky winner!  One person will win a Siena Adoption Services mug and an awesome Saint Catherine of Siena T-shirt from Pio Prints!

Enter to win!

Click here to see the mug: Amy on Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Saint Catherine of Siena: Inspiring an Adoption Movement that is Brave, Compassionate and Supportive appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

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Prayer Wine Chocolate is . . .

Catholic Fellowship

At Prayer Wine Chocolate, we embrace and encourage events that combine faith and friendship!

Retreat Days occur once a year –  The 2017 Prayer Wine Chocolate Retreat

****THIS YEAR’S RETREAT IS SOLD OUT*****

For those of you who can not attend, we offer help in “do-it-yourself” gatherings!

For example, How to Host a Prayer and Pair Party and How to host a “Sip and Script” party

*Prayer Journaling workshops being booked locally and hopefully nationally soon! Get your friends together for a “Sip and Script” with a brief intro by Amy! Email for details: prayerwinechocolate@gmail.com

Prayer Wine Chocolate is . . .

a reassurance to readers that faith in God is awesome, that prayers are truly heard, and that miracles really do happen.

Articles are written from the heart, and give witness and testimony to amazing miracles of faith and prayer; including personal reflections of how God works in our lives!

God Hears Us!

My Stupid Talent Was a Great Blessing

Prayer Wine Chocolate is . . .

all about prayer journaling!

Wondering how to start a prayer journal?  I can help! Here is an easy “how to” guide!! How to Start a Prayer Journal (in 3 easy steps)

Staying connected to and with God through a physical, tangible, letter, prayer, picture, coloring page or collage helps me, personally.  It has helped me get through depression.  It’s help me hear what God wants me to think and focus on.  It helps me express myself and stay focused in prayer! 

There are some many secular benefits to journaling – add prayer and  . . . wow!  And for those of us that lack the “Pinterest Craftiness”, it really allows a creative outlet!

5 Benefits of Prayer Journaling

I believe in prayer journaling so much, I wrote a guided prayer journal for young Catholic girls!

The Be Yourself Journal combines fun games (like “would you rather” and “truth or dare”) with wisdom from Scripture and the Saints.  The Be Yourself Journal gives girls the option to color on every page, and promotes meditation with powerful quote coloring pages.  There is so much fun – and reassurance of God’s love for the individual girl – on each and every page.  Every young girl should have this book – and every mom would love the nostalgia of filling out her own too!

Prayer journaling is something we can truly do with all Christians – it’s a great way to bond with and remember we do have a lot in common!

Best Journals for Busy Women

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Prayer Wine Chocolate is . . .

Pro-love, Pro-life and Pro-adoption

And yes, all of those are connected!  Part of the reason why the blog started was to share our families journey of Pursuing an Adoption Without an Agency: Part 1

While we on that journey, we started praying the Spiritual Adoption prayer – and witnessed more than one miracle through it.  I now speak about this miracle at churches, pro-life events, on radio shows and anywhere people will listen!

Our family has been so blessed by the gift of adoption!  I love promoting adoption and crisis pregnancy centers.  I believe so many women do not realize how much help is available for women who choose life – whether or not they are ready to parent.  I believe so many women do not know how many groups would help them parent.  I believe sometimes God calls a woman to choose adoption, after really looking at parenting first.

Prayer Wine Chocolate is . . .

a platform that celebrates other Catholic Christian writers, businesses, and social media influencers.

Before I started blogging, I knew I wanted to do two things: share our adoption journey with others who feel called to adopt; and promote other bloggers (like Annie from Catholic Wife, Catholic Life).  That desire to promote others and birthed a whole new website and dream.  Together with Sara from To Jesus, Sincerely, 

Catholic Social Media Influencers

has been founded!  We are bringing promotion of Catholics to a whole new level!  If you are interested in being in our directory, contact us and let’s start chatting!

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