Posts in Religion and Spirituality
Honestly Healing with Brya Hanan of Hanan Hope and Healing

Honesty leads us to deeper healing—and ultimately to a greater ability to love and be loved.

In this Lenten Podcast with Brya Hanan, LMFT, discover how Lent is the perfect time to experience the healing touch of God.

Brya experienced trauma as a child that left her feeling that there was something wrong with her--she just wasn't enough.

When Brya's mom and stepfather started exploring Catholicism, God’s grace simultaneously began pouring in.

A single moment in Adoration changed Brya's life. Jesus invited Brya into a personal relationship.

Hear how Brya continued to experience the healing touch of the Divine Physician through therapy and her Catholic faith.

Like Brya, sit in Christ's presence and know you are His beloved daughter.

Brya is the author of Befriending your Inner Child: A Catholic Approach to Healing and Wholeness.

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When Your Suffering Seems Too Much with Chaplain Fr. John Meyer

What do you do when you are suffering and want nothing more than to avoid it?

The holy mystery of “Jesus is the Garden” is the sacred blueprint to follow when what we are facing seems too much to bear.

Learn how to go to God, even in the times you want to run away.

This Lent, allow the Divine Physician to hold and propel you forward to new life.

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Wrestle Close to Christ with Roxie Beckles of That Black Catholic Chick

"Quitting the Christian Life. It's Too Hard...."

This is the title of a YouTube video Roxie Beckles, "That Black Catholic Chick" filmed a year ago. Roxie awakened in the very early morning hours and was having a "dark night of the soul."

Roxie's depth of vulnerability about her personal struggle with the demands of an authentic Christian life was untouched before Roxie pushed "publish." The video has over 30K views. 

There is no mistaking that Roxie knows suffering.

In this Lenten podcast, Roxie revisits where she was at a year ago when she filmed this video. She then takes a deep dive into what she has learned from God ever since.

We can't be lukewarm in our Catholic faith--we must make a complete surrender and be "all in." This includes sharing barrenly about our struggles with our faith and wrestling close to Christ.

Roxie encourages listeners with this: If you aren’t wrestling in some way with your faith, you need to go deeper this Lent.

You can find Roxie on YouTube @thatblackcatholicchick or @TheologyOfFitness, as well as at https://www.roxiebeckles.com.

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God Stopped Me from Leaving with Nicole Berlucchi of "Magnify Love"

“You’re going to stay in this marriage.” This was the message Nicole Berlucchi heard from God.

Before this, Nicole was convinced she was doing most of the work at home and in her marriage. Her friends told her she was a “saint” for putting up with her husband. To top it off, Nicole’s husband was unwilling to go to therapy.

Nicole was sure God was on her side.

Nicole left her husband for four days to discern if she was going to leave him. While Nicole entered this time of discernment relatively certain she was headed for divorce, God made it clear that Nicole needed to change and give her marriage a chance.

Nicole engaged in a very difficult season of healing that resulted in the transformation of her heart and marriage.

Listen to this mini-retreat in a podcast in Mamas in Spirit’s Lenten Series: HEAL. Allow God to help you remove barriers to love and be loved.

Nicole Berlucchi is the author of “Magnify Love: Unlocking the Heart of Jesus in Your Marriage and Your Life.”

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HEAL with Dr. Bob Schuchts of the John Paul II Healing Center

“Healing happens organically as love is being expressed,” says Dr. Bob Schuchts of the John Paul II Healing Center 

In this mini-retreat in a podcast, Dr. Bob shares how important it is to listen and be attentive to what spiritual practices the Holy Spirit is drawing you to this Lent--so the Divine Physician can bless you with healing.

As we look at our patterns of sin and chronic wounds we have carried with us for a long time, we must remember God sees us in our wholeness. And remember that we cannot fix our own brokenness; however, we can name it and bring it to Jesus for healing.  

Dr. Bob shares stories, including when he had a panic attack and realized his own need for healing. As Dr. Bob engaged in the healing process, he learned that beneath his anxiety was abandonment from his parents’ divorce. The pain in his heart began to heal through the love of God and he forgave his parents. Healing is a life-long journey that we all need to engage in.  

Pope Benedict XVI said, “Whoever truly wishes to heal man must see him in his wholeness and must know that his ultimate healing can only be God’s love.” 

May we bring all of ourselves to God this Lent, to discover the healing touch of The One who loves us completely. 

Learn more about Dr. Bob Schuchts, the John Paul II Healing Center and additional opportunities for healing at https://jpiihealingcenter.org.

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Merry Christmas to YOU! with Host Lindy Wynne and Her Youngest Daughter

Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas!

Mamas in Spirit will return on March 6th, 2025 for Season 7.

Subscribe now! 

May God bless you and yours, always. 

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Navigating Friendships with Dr. Mary Ruth Hackett

Has a friend hurt you or left you out? 

Dr. Mary Ruth Hackett was just about to leave for a party hosted by a dear friend when she received a text—Mary Ruth’s friend asked her to come a little later, because she was running behind.

Mary Ruth pulled up social media to pass time and was surprised to see a live photo posted by her friend. The image showed the host and many of Mary Ruth’s friends gathered around her friend’s table eating dinner. It turned out that the party was already in full swing.

In reality, Mary Ruth realized she was on the B List and was the only one of all her friends to be invited to the “after party.”

Mary Ruth was crushed.

Yet, while incredibly difficult, Mary Ruth chose to dig deep into this experience to better understand herself, her friendships and God’s hopes for her. 

In this Advent Podcast Mary Ruth shares the wisdom she learned about sisterhood in Christ and the healing grace of God.

Learn how God blessed Mary Ruth with a new heart to love and friendships deeply rooted in Christ.

Discover how you can receive the beautiful gift of sisterhood in Christ, too!

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Beauty Begins Within with O'Maria Akpati of Beauty Unbound

What is beauty?

This is the question O’Maria Akpati answers in this week’s Advent Podcast.

As a former celebrity makeup artist, O’Maria discovered that beauty had nothing to do with the exterior. She found that when celebrities used makeup to become more beautiful, their self-esteem decreased. 

O'Maria left her job and discerned becoming a Discalced Carmelite for two years. During this time, God revealed to O'Maria her personal mission: to help women become “Godfident” in their God-given beauty.

Listen to O’Maria’s personal story of conversion--and discover how God is calling you to embrace your God-given beauty, too!

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Cradled by Christ with Dr. Mildred Chen

Do people see me? Do people hear me? Do they love me?

These are the questions that ten-year-old Mildred Chen, feeling lost in the middle of five daughters, asked herself.

When the sixth child was born into her family, Mildred was asked to clean his dirty diapers--a chore she felt terrible about. One day while she was completing this task, she heard a dark voice telling her to jump into the nearby water well.

And Mildred did.

As she fell into the well, Mildred found herself in a deep sleep and sensed herself being cradled.

Instead of drowning, she awoke standing in a small amount of water, a miracle because it was typhoon season with heavy rains.

Mildred survived to tell this miraculous story, as well as her discovery of the spiritual world and her spiritual charism.

Mildred's professions are also healing ministries: she is both a pediatrician and spiritual director.

Listen to this Advent mini-retreat in a podcast and ponder your spiritual charism, too! 

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Gratitude: A Path to God with Megan Lynch

Megan Lynch couldn’t believe it when she felt a lump in her breast. With four young children and no risk factors, Megan was sure it wasn’t cancer.

Yet it was.

Then the doctor told Megan the cancer may have spread into her bones. If it did, she would have a year to live.

Megan waited three weeks for test results to see if she would survive the year. During that time, Megan prayed:

Lord, if this is the last year of my life please keep me open to you. Please keep the door of my heart open so your love shines through me.

In this Thanksgiving podcast, hear how Megan surrendered to God’s will and practiced gratitude while facing the unknown.

Listen and learn how to live in gratitude and God’s will, too!

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When the Cry Becomes the Call with Chaplain Fr. Jon Meyer

Fr. Jon, Chaplain of Mamas in Spirit, invites you to bring the longings of your heart to prayer this Advent season.

Fr. Jon and Host Lindy Wynne discuss times of their lives they cried out to the Lord—and God miraculously turned their cries into calls.

Learn how all of Lindy’s children came to her through the gift of adoption during this time of year. Hear about Fr. Jon’s call into priesthood and continued surrender to God in his Vocation.

Open your heart to the miraculous work of the Lord.

May the cry of your heart—by the grace of God—be transformed into a call, too!

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From Abuse to Restoration with Lisa Martinez of Little with Great Love

Lisa Martinez was incredibly anxious and fearful as a child, but neither Lisa nor her parents understood why.

When Lisa attended her freshman year of college at Franciscan University—a place Lisa and many others refer to as a "field hospital” for souls—Lisa discovered why she had been consumed by such angst and fear.

Lisa experienced flashbacks of sexual abuse as a young child. She finally knew what she had been carrying.

Listen as Lisa takes us on a sensitive journey of the soul, culminating in Christ’s miraculous healing through prayer, contemplation, EMDR therapy, Catholic retreats and more.

If you or someone you love is the victim of abuse, know that healing is possible! Learn more about Lisa at www.littlewithgreatlove.com (http://www.littlewithgreatlove.com). Reach out to get connected to resources at mamasinspirit@gmail.com.

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Let it Be for Christ with Abby Davis

Abby Davis received a call. Within thirty minutes of hanging up the phone, there was a social worker on her front porch holding a baby girl.

Abby and her husband would care for this little girl for many months to follow, not knowing if they would adopt her or just care for her for a little while.

Abby’s heart was filled with love for this precious child, yet was also breaking at the possibility of being separated from her.

Abby would rock the baby and pray:

“Whether you stay or whether you go, let it be for Christ.“

This little girl, as well as two boys, are now the adopted children of Abby and her husband Cameron.

Listen to this mini-retreat in a podcast and imagine how your life can be more fully for Christ, too.

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Surrendering My Perfectionism with Colleen Carroll Campbell

Still reverberating in Colleen Carroll Campbell’s heart are an older mom’s words of wisdom from 15 years ago: “I don’t know if there is room for perfectionism in any other part of life, but I know this: there is no room for it in motherhood.”

Colleen had done her best to achieve flawlessness during her ambitious career, including a job as the American president’s speech writer.  But it wasn’t until hearing the wise mom’s words about motherhood that Colleen realized her own struggle with perfectionism.

God began changing Colleen that morning and continues to transform her to this day. While she strives to do her best for the greater glory of God, Colleen has learned to let go and trust she is in God’s hands.

And she has discovered that there is no better place to be. 

Listen to this inspiring “mini-retreat in a podcast” and allow yourself to surrender into the arms of Merciful Jesus, too. 

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Love in Action with Caroline Graham

After raising four boys, Caroline Graham’s husband shared that he felt called to adopt a daughter.

Soon thereafter, Caroline received a call from a dear friend about a toddler girl needing a home.

Caroline figured that she and her husband knew how to love children and said “yes.”

Caroline realized that the call to love her precious daughter would demand more of her than she ever could have imagined. Loving her daughter would require her entire self and more—it would require daily and full dependency on Christ.

Caroline’s daughter suffers from Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD).

Hear Caroline share about how she has learned that while we come to the end of our own ability to love, God’s love is endless. Be inspired by how Caroline has opened herself to the supernatural love of God to care for her daughter and family—just as she is called.

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Lord, Teach Us How to Think with Fr. Jon Meyer, Mamas in Spirit Chaplain

Chaplain Father Jon Meyer was in his early twenties when his mother passed away.

In his grief, Father Jon faced the dark thought of needing to earn love, as well as the fear of being unloveable. 

Father Jon was in the seminary at the time and chose to be honest about the thoughts he struggled with. He shared with his Spiritual Director and Formation Advisor, as well as some family and close friends. Over time, Father Jon was blessed with the transformation of his mind by God. 

This podcast will help you explore your own thoughts and how they may be separating you from self, God and others. Learn tools of transparency and vulnerability to open yourself to the glorious “renewal of your mind" (Romans 12:2). 

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My Heart was Broken and Put Back Together with Stacey Sumereau

Stacey Sumereau is on a healing journey.

Stacey was pregnant with her third child when she had a placental abruption--Baby Honora (Nora) was born early by emergency C-section. 

Stacey's heart broke into pieces as she watched her baby go through what seemed like endless life-saving procedures. The final breaking point was when Stacey and her husband were told they needed to say goodbye. 

Miraculously, Nora survived.  

Over time, Stacey moved beyond her trauma and into prayerful silence. God created a much stronger heart in Stacey as He put the pieces of her heart back together. 

Listen to this inspiring story of surrender and let God heal any broken pieces of your heart, too. 

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My Mission of Love with Becca Bumm

Becca Bumm’s family members were struggling and her very own heart was, too. She felt alone and close to despair.

Until a wise friend encouraged Becca to attend a women’s retreat called “Cursillo.”

God healed Becca’s heart and poured in His holy love throughout the weekend.

And then God sent Becca on a mission of love.

Hear how Becca re-entered her life after the retreat with only one thing having changed: her very self.

Be inspired by how this holy change in Becca helped transform those around her in God’s love. Learn how God wants to do this for you, too!

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Holy Balm on My Injured Heart with Jennifer Calabretta

Jennifer Calabretta’s childhood and early marriage were perfect in so many ways. But Jennifer never could have imagined what was to come.

Jennifer lost her second baby weeks after delivery to a rare muscle disorder. Doctors told her this would never happen again.

However, during one of Jennifer’s subsequent pregnancies, she learned that her daughter wouldn’t survive the very same disease.

Jennifer carried her baby throughout the remaining months of her pregnancy—and she and her husband were blessed with ten minutes with their daughter.

Jennifer experienced God deep within her throughout it all. God’s love was like holy balm to her injured heart.

In this vulnerable and joy-filled podcast, learn that God’s grace is sufficient. You will be blessed with God’s holy balm of the heart, too!

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God Grabbed my Hand with Lisa DiPietro

Lisa was in a hole she never thought she'd get out of.

Lisa struggled with insecurity since her childhood. As an adopted child, Lisa felt like she was given up. Even though her adoptive parents lavished her in love, Lisa worried that if she wasn't good enough that they might give her up, too. 

Lisa turned to drinking. When Lisa hit the depths of the hole she was in, God reached in and helped Lisa climb out. Lisa learned a life-changing lesson through this.

“You have to bring God into your life to heal that hole in your soul.”

Listen to this vulnerable story of how a beautiful woman grew to greater confidence and love as she was touched by the mercy of God. 

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