"Wrapped Up" with Teresa Tomeo and Cheryl Dickow

I recently had the honor and pleasure of speaking with syndicated radio host, speaker and Catholic author, Teresa Tomeo (www.teresatomeo.com) and author and President of Bezalel Books (www.BezalelBooks.com), Cheryl Dickow. These two talented Catholic authors put their hearts and minds together to co-author the new Wrapped Up: God’s Ten Gifts for Women with Servant Books.

First, a description of the book and then our interview. "Wrapped Up: God's Ten Gifts for Women offers a healthy alternative to the false messages women hear today. Each chapter focuses on a different gift a woman is meant to discover and unwrap, ultimately leading to peace and fulfillment. Cheryl draws from her extensive knowledge of Old Testament women to unveil life lessons found in the rich history of our faith, and Teresa uses her media expertise to reveal how to counter the cultural messages that inundate women today. Together, the authors provide a timeless and timely look at God's life-giving gifts."

DONNA-MARIE: Teresa and Cheryl, your book appears to be the perfect gift (no pun intended) for women today! Would you mind sharing with us about your inspiration to write this lovely book?

Teresa Tomeo

TERESA: I noticed that many women who had purchased some of the books in the All Things Girl series were telling me they were getting a great deal of comfort and help from learning how women are truly daughters of the King.  This idea of being totally loved or wrapped in the arms of Christ kept coming up and that's how the book idea came into being.

CHERYL: In retrospect I see this as a very Holy Spirit guided book. I am not sure I can identify at what point Teresa and I knew it was “meant to be” but feel that it evolved from our own experiences with women, our personal journeys, and our desire to serve God. Once the discussions about it began, the whole book truly unfolded in a very inspirational way.

 I was recently asked if it was difficult to determine just ten gifts (Wrapped Up: God’s Ten Gifts for Women) but have to say that it wasn’t really that difficult at all. We began with love which is certainly what is at the basis of every good thing that comes from God and each gift after that just made sense. From accepting God’s love we knew women needed to accept His forgiveness; from there we knew how imperative it is for women to allow God to be God, then accepting the gift of a joyful attitude and so on to the tenth gift which we knew had to be to each reader “the gift of you!”

Cheryl Dickow

DONNA-MARIE: Are you hearing from the readers? What have they been saying about the book? 

CHERYL: We’ve been hearing many blessed comments about the book—which has blessed us as well. In particular women have said that reading the book feels as if they are having a conversation with each of us. I’ve also heard many times that the content has revealed things that women hadn’t previously considered or discovered. As an author, that is incredibly rewarding to hear.

TERESA: What's really encouraging are the comments from Protestant sisters.  Of course the book stresses the doctrines of the Church with an emphasis on the Sacraments and the Church teachings on women but the message of being again "wrapped" in God's love is resonating very strongly across denominational lines.  So to me that is really a testimony to the message of the book.

DONNA-MARIE: Would you care to share any of your writing process with us?

TERESA: The chapters were written separately and sent to the amazing Claudia Volkman who served as the editor.  Everything flowed together and each section was based on a different gift for women.  My interests are always toward giving women and other believers a deeper understanding of the truth of Jesus and the Church as born out or shown through the natural law.  I love drawing upon secular research to back up what the Church says.  And that combined with personal experience helps to make the points about the reality and beauty of faith.

CHERYL: Writing this book was a very anointed experience. Once the outline was in place, each gift we tackled (and we each approached the gifts from very different perspectives with Teresa focusing on current or “timely” ways the gift is given whereas I focused on Scripture or “timeless” ways in which the gift is known) seemed to play out in our lives. For instance, I would have some sort of experience and say to myself, “Oh, that is for me to share in the chapter on the gift of letting go.” Then I would instinctively know which Old or New Testament woman best embodied that gift and share something of her life as well. The Holy Spirit was very much active in the process and that seems to be evident in the responses we are getting. We are finding that women are experiencing wonderful connections to the book when they read it and see how it flows between my “Timeless Truths” and Teresa’s “Timely Truths.”

DONNA-MARIE: Is there anything else would you like to share with our readers?

CHERYL:I want the readers to know that I prayed for each one as I wrote and that I invited the Holy Spirit to guide the book so that it would be a blessing to each reader in whatever way she may be needing or seeking . Without a doubt it has been my privilege to be part of this and to serve God by serving my sisters in Christ.

TERESA: I just hope this gets into as many hands as possible.  Women need to know they are a gift to themselves and to the world and are so loved by Jesus.

DONNA-MARIE: Finally, where can we get this beautiful book?

TERESA: The book can be ordered through the publisher, Servant/Franciscan Media as well as Amazon and can be found on my home page at www.teresatomeo.com 

CHERYL:We’d love to direct the readers to the book’s landing page: http://franciscanmedia.org/WrappedUp/ 

DONNA-MARIE: I love that there is also a Wrapped Up Companion Journal available. The publisher, Servant Books describes it: "The perfect companion to Wrapped Up by Teresa Tomeo and Cheryl Dickow, this journal is designed for individuals and groups to use. Each chapter of the journal will correspond to a chapter in the book. Full of Scripture and Catechism references, excerpts from Wrapped Up, additional commentary from the authors, discussion questions, and room for personal takeaways this is a valuable resource for those wanting to go deeper into the gifts God longs to give."

Thank you very much for your time for this interview and for all you do for the Church, Teresa and Cheryl. I hope and pray that your book moves hearts far and wide! May God bless you both and all who read your book.

Teresa Tomeo's weekly "NOISE" feature on EWTN TV

WEEKLY FEATURE FROM EWTN!
All Next Week: Don’t Miss ‘Noise’: An EWTN Original Production

"Are you sick of much of the secular media and its biased agenda, but feeling helpless about how you and your family can respond? Then tune into our new series, “Noise” with EWTN Favorite Teresa Tomeo.

Each weekday evening next week at 6:30 p.m. ET, watch Media Expert Teresa Tomeo as she presents a highly entertaining series on Catholicism and the media.

Monday, she looks at the problems created by the negative media saturation of our culture; Tuesday, she considers the cultural problems created by the saturation of violent imagery in the media; Wednesday, she looks at what the Church teaches about the proper use of the media; Thursday, she looks at how the media can be used as a tool for evangelization; and Friday, she sums it all up by giving us ways we can combat negative media saturation and make a positive difference! Each 30-minute episode will also air at 3 a.m.

Help spread Goodness and Truth in the world by taping this program and showing it to your friends or in your parish.

The series is based on Teresa Tomeo’s book by the same name. To purchase a copy, go to: http://bit.ly/Lqsyp And tune into EWTN Radio Network every weekday morning at 9 a.m. ET to hear Teresa Tomeo on 'Catholic Connection.'"
(Taken from EWTN release)

My recent chat with Teresa Tomeo on Catholic Connection

In case you didn't get a chance to tune in to my recent segment with my dear friend, Teresa Tomeo on our "Mom's Corner" segment, you can listen right now. Just grab a drink, pull up a chair and click here! Teresa and I chat about my friendship with Blessed Mother Teresa and my new book about her.

Enjoy!

Donna-Marie

"Mom's Corner" coming up...

Stay tuned. Teresa Tomeo and I will be chatting on Monday, January 19th at 9:15 AM Eastern time on Ave Maria Radio to kick off a pro-life week. I hope that you can join us.

Tune in at 9:15 AM Eastern Standard Time by clicking here at avemariaradio.net and then click "listen live." Talk to you soon. :)

God bless your day!

Donna-Marie

Mom's Corner this morning! Book contest too!

Here's the link you'll want to have to listen to my chat this morning with my dear friend and radio host, Teresa Tomeo on our Mom's Corner segment at "Catholic Connection." I hope that you'll join us!

God bless!

Donna-Marie

Jesus at the Post Office...What?!?

Go on over to my Embracing Motherhood blog to find about Jesus at the Post Office and my radio segment coming up this Monday morning with Teresa Tomeo on "Catholic Connection." I hope you'll be able to join us for our Advent theme and lots of fun stuff!

God bless your Advent!

Donna-Marie

Free Books and Inspiring Fun Monday Morning!

I think you'd better get a steaming cup of coffee or tea ready and give yourself a treat to listen in to some good Catholic stuff to get your Monday morning going!

Tune in on Monday morning TWICE! I will be interviewed by the inspiring Dina Marie at 8:00 Central time and for me it's 11:00 Eastern time.

I will also be doing my "Mom's Corner" radio segment with Teresa Tomeo on her show on "Catholic Connection" Ave Maria Radio at 9:15 AM Eastern time. It should be informational, inspiring, and lots of fun! It always is! Teresa and I are really like Lucy and Ethel and recount the story every once in a while about our trip to the Vatican congress earlier this year and all of the bloopers and blunders we experienced together - all good stuff! It was at that point that we nicknamed ourselves Lucy and Ethel. She's Lucy and I am Ethel.

As a matter of fact, one time Teresa surprised me when I was about to come on her show with the theme song to the "I Love Lucy" show. She's a riot! You can hear the segment by checking the archives I have posted on my blogs and website.

I hope that you will tune in to both shows! Did I mention that we are giving away books?? I will be giving away a lot of my saints' books, Catholic Saints Prayer Book on Dina Marie's show since November is a great month for the saints. We may be giving out some of my other titles as well. You'll have to tune in to find out. I hope you may be one of the fortunate callers who wins! :)

Who knows, I may give out some more books on Teresa's show, our "Mom's Corner" too! Tune in to find out!

So here are the details for the shows:

November 10, 2008, 8:00 AM (Pacific Time)
Catholic Radio
click here at “KBVM Live” (88.3 FM)
with Dina Marie Hale
http://www.kbvm.fm/
Portland, Oregon


Also November 10, 2008 9:15 AM Eastern time
"Mom's Corner" on "Catholic Connection"
with Teresa Tomeo
click here at avemariaradio.net


You can tune in LIVE to each of these shows by clicking on the links and then hit the "listen live" button on the websites.

Talk to you soon!

God bless!

Donna-Marie

Teresa Tomeo's series about NOISE on EWTN

Teresa Tomeo recently asked, "Have you ever wondered why the secular press tilts so heavily to the left of center? Are you concerned about the continued attacks on the Catholic Church? Would you like to know just how much impact the culture is having on children, families, and the country? With the help of moral theologians, law enforcement experts, media specialists, and pro-life leaders, I will attempt to answer these questions. And if you're looking for some practical ways to make a difference in the media in your home as well as ways to engage the culture, you may also be interested in watching this special series. You'll also learn just how much wisdom and common sense advise the Church has when it comes to how to using the media wisely.


Join me and my guests including Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life, Doug Keck of EWTN TV, Moral Theologian Dr. Janet Smith, and others as we try to help you make some sense out of all of the "Noise" in our lives. That's Monday through Friday at 6:30pm ET, October 20th through the 24th on EWTN Global Catholic TV. For more information go to www.ewtn.com or www.teresatomeo,com and please pray that this series helps encourage more Catholics to take a stand for decency on the air waves."


Program Dates & Times

Find your local EWTN station to see "NOISE"!

Episodes 1- 5 air Oct 20 - Oct 24
ET: 3:00 AM & 6:30 PM
PT: 12 AM & 3:30 PM

Recent "Mom's Corner" Segment on Ave Maria Radio

To hear a recent segment of "Mom's Corner" with Teresa Tomeo and I discussing my new books and other topics brought up by the callers who called in to the show and won copies of my books, just click here.

Join me on Monday morning!

Join me on Monday to sit down with your cup of coffee or tea and sit in on my "Mom's Corner" segment with Teresa Tomeo "Catholic Connection." You'll have an opportunity to call in too. I hope you will join us for a lively discussion about the Catholic faith, my new books coming out in a little over a week and some fun too!

Tune in at 9:15 AM Eastern Standard Time by clicking here at avemariaradio.net and then click "listen live." Talk to you soon. :)

God bless your day!

Donna-Marie

Tune in to "Mom's Corner" on the feast of the Assumption!

Teresa Tomeo and I will be on the air on Friday, August 15th, on the wonderful feast day of The Assumption. We'll be discussing the twentieth anniversary of Mulieris Dignitatem and the beautiful feast day along with other good Catholic stuff! Tune in at 9:00 AM Eastern Standard Time on Friday by clicking here at avemariaradio.net and then click "listen live." Sit back, relax, and enjoy a cup of steaming tea or coffee or a nice tall iced tea. Talk to you soon!

God bless!
Donna-Marie

Summer prayer segment on my "Mom's Corner" with Teresa Tomeo

In case you didn't get a chance to tune in to my "Mom's Corner" segment yesterday morning with Teresa Tomeo about summertime prayer and proper summer attire for Mass, among other things, you can listen here.

Mom's Corner with Teresa Tomeo Monday morning!

We're on the air on Monday morning! I hope you can tune in! You can actually tune in from your computer by clicking here and then click "listen live." Teresa Tomeo and I will be doing our "Mom's Corner" segment at 9:15 AM Eastern Standard Time.

What are your thoughts right now about a mothering issue? What would you like to hear us discuss on Monday morning? Don't be shy! Send me a comment to this post or if you'd rather in an email, send it to DMCooperOBoyle(at) aol(dot)com.

Talk to you soon!

God bless and Hugs,
Donna-Marie

My recent trip to the EWTN studios in Alabama

Last week I left for Chicago as I have posted earlier, to attend the RBTE (Religious Booksellers Trade Exhibit). Over 300 book store buyers come from all over the world to get copies of the displayed books at the HUGE event. It was a very nice experience and then I was whisked off to the next hotel to be closer to the airport since I had to catch a very early flight to Birmingham, Alabama to be taped on some EWTN television shows.

As many of you already are aware, I was one of 260 delegates from around the world to participate in an international women's congress in Rome earlier this year. I felt very honored and humbled to be able to be part of a group of women (and a few good men) to "go up to the mountain" to listen, study, reflect, and pray together on the Apostolic Letter, Mulieris Dignitatem/On The Dignity and Vocation of Women penned by our dear Pope John Paul II twenty years ago. The Pontifical Council for the Laity invited the delegates to come together from five continents and about 46 countries to listen to presenters, Biblical scholars, theologians and women from various parts of the world presenting the issues that they face as women in their countries. We heard some incredible stories and shared an amazing and intense three days together--a history-making event that I am sure will be etched in my memory. The profundity of the experience is still sinking in with me.


(In this photo, I am presenting my books to Cardinal Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity as "Catholic Connection" radio host and author, Teresa Tomeo looks on)

Because of this Vatican experience, EWTN arranged with TV host, Colleen Carroll Campbell to conduct a four part series of round table discussions about women and the culture on Colleen's show "Faith & Culture." I was honored to be among these women who comprised the series: Author, and host--the lovely and very accommodating Colleen Carroll Campbell, author, Genevieve Kineke, author, Dale O'Leary, Notre Dame University's Elizabeth Kirk, and "Catholic Connection" radio host and author, Teresa Tomeo. We hope that the shows will be enlightening, informative and may spark an interest in viewers to read and reflect upon the Apostolic Letter, Mulieris Dignitatem, the first letter written exclusively for women. It has been my experience that women have been brought to tears during my talks about women's God-given gifts and dignity while speaking about it and quoting from Pope John Paul II's beautiful affirming words.


(On the set of "Faith & Culture" with the American delegates who are in the four part series)

For more information about Colleen Carroll Campbell's show, "Faith & Culture" you may go to Colleen's website.



"Faith & Culture" is scheduled to air throughout August!(Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time and Wednesdays at 11 p.m. Eastern Time). If you don't have EWTN, you can also watch the shows on the Internet at those times. They will also eventually re-air on radio.

Here are the dates you can expect to see the shows on TV:

August 3 and 6: Women's Round table on Mulieris Dignitatem; episode one (Dale, Genevieve, Elizabeth)

August 10 and 13: Women's Round table on Mulieris Dignitatem; episode two (Dale, Genevieve, Teresa)

August 17 and 20: Women's Round table on Mulieris Dignitatem; episode three (Genevieve, Elizabeth, Donna)

August 24 and 27: Women's Round table on Mulieris Dignitatem; episode four (Teresa, Donna, Elizabeth)

After finishing up a full day of taping for the series, I had the treat of being in the studio audience of the "Life on the Rock" show in which Teresa Tomeo and Colleen Carroll Campbell were the guests. Fr. Mark and Doug Barry of RADIX (new to the show and a GREAT addition) did a wonderful job moderating and discussing our cultural climate today. I have to say that Teresa and Colleen did a brilliant job in expressing their concerns about the culture today; pointing out several areas to watch out for as well as some things we can do to help.



Some of us were able to spend some time together after the show and had a bite to eat. Teresa, Colleen, and I stayed up much too late that night because we embraced the time we had together, staying at the Madonna House at EWTN in Birmingham; catching up and discussing many issues. All the while knowing that morning would come quickly and both Teresa and Colleen had early flights out and I had a show to tape. I felt like the "Mother Hen" who every so often would say, "We'd better get to bed." But we didn't get to bed until it was the wee hours of the morning! So much to talk about and so little time!

The following morning, I had to be up bright eyed for my show with the very gracious, Doug Keck for an EWTN "Book Mark" series in which we discussed all of my books: Prayerfully Expecting: A Nine Month Novena for Mothers-To-Be, Catholic Prayer Book For Mothers, The Heart of Motherhood: Finding Holiness in the Catholic Home, and Catholic Saints Prayer Book, my newest book. This show will be aired sometime in the near future and when I know for sure, I will let you know.



God bless you!

Catholic Saints Prayer Book interview with Teresa Tomeo

Check here for my interview with Teresa Tomeo about my Catholic Saints Prayer Book . You can listen right from your computer!

Okay, running to Chicago now and then down to EWTN!!

Thank you for your prayers!

God bless and hugs,

Donna-Marie

"Mom's Corner" Monday morning on Ave Maria Radio!

Hi, Everyone,

Tomorrow morning (Monday) as we begin Holy Week, please take a few moments to tune in to my "Mom's Corner" segment with Teresa Tomeo. At about 9:10 AM Eastern Standard Time, Teresa Tomeo, host of "Catholic Connection" and I will be discussing Holy Week, Lent, as well as our recent Vatican trip to the International Women's Congress in celebration of twenty years after Pope John Paul II penned Mulieris Dignitatem.

I hope you can tune in at Ave Maria Radio. Just go here and then click the "listen live" button and be ready about 9:00 AM. Of course, you may also tune in earlier at 8:00 to hear Teresa during other segments. Our segment will be hopefully informative and sprinkled with some good humor! :) Feel free to call in to the show if you have an opportunity. The phone number will be announced on the show.

I hope you'll join Teresa Tomeo and me tomorrow morning to learn more about this celebration and perhaps how you may fit in to it all by tuning in to "Catholic Connection" at Ave Maria Radio and perhaps call in to the show or comment here to this post with any questions or comments.

"Talk" to you tomorrow morning!

Have a BLESSED Palm Sunday!

Interview on Catholic Exchange with Teresa Tomeo

Check out this article at Catholic Exchange today. Cheryl Dickow interviews Teresa Tomeo about the International women's congress that we recently attended in Rome. Here's the article.

My interview with Teresa Tomeo regarding our trip to the Vatican Congress

Here is the link to listen to Teresa Tomeo of "Catholic Connection" on Ave Maria Radio and I discussing our Vatican trip as delegates of North America on the air yesterday morning. Just click here to listen from your computer.

Discussing the International Women's Congress at the Vatican

Tomorrow morning, Tuesday, January 15th at 9:15 to 9:30 AM Eastern Standard Time on "Catholic Connection" Ave Maria Radio, Teresa Tomeo and I will be discussing our upcoming trip to the Vatican! We will let you in on our roles in the International Women's congress to be held in Rome very soon.

Here's an article that I wrote about the twentieth year celebration of Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Letter, Mulieris Dignitatem, On the Dignity and Vocation of Women.

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The Twentieth Anniversary Celebration of Mulieris Dignitatem
By Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle

This is an exciting time for women in our world. Twenty years ago, our late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, wrote the extraordinary letter, Mulieris Dignitatem, “On the Dignity and Vocation of Women.” The Pontifical Council for the Laity is now encouraging the lay faithful worldwide to observe a celebration of this Apostolic Letter in the coming year of the twentieth anniversary by reflecting on the meaning of the document. Each continent has its own specific theme regarding the Apostolic Letter.

Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter (given on August 15, 1988) was written to encourage women in their vocations, to highlight the essential feminine genius that they provide to their families and the world, and to restore spiritual and physical motherhood to a culture that was quickly losing sight of the dignity of women and mothers.

Living in an era where the unborn baby may not be safe within his own mother’s womb, with debates raging over the nature of marriage, and confusing messages directed at women about where she should find her place in society - all point to the timeliness of this observance.

The Pontifical Council of the Laity has asked the Catholics of North America to consider the document specifically in light of one overarching theme: The Dignity of Women in a Technological and Consumeristic Society.
Interestingly, Pope Benedict spoke recently about “the materialist ideologies that say: It is absurd to think about God. It is absurd to observe God’s Commandments. It is something from a bygone era…. Only consumerism, selfishness, and fun are worth something. That’s life.” He said, “Again it seems absurd, impossible to oppose this dominant mentality with all its media and propaganda power. It seems impossible to think about a God who created man, who became a child, the real would-be ruler of the world.”

The poignant words to women at the closing of the Second Vatican Council should compel us to do something to help better our understanding of a woman’s role and dignity. “The hour is coming, in fact has come, when the vocation of women is being acknowledged in its fullness, the hour in which women acquire in the world an influence, an effect, and a power never hitherto achieved. That is why, at this moment when the human race is undergoing so deep a transformation, women imbued with a spirit of the Gospel can do so much to aid humanity in not falling.”

We know that all of salvation history depended on the faithfulness of one young woman in Nazareth and her courageous “yes” to the Lord. Our Church has held women throughout history with the deepest respect, despite what our world might have us believe. Women of the third millennium have an amazing opportunity to reap the benefit of the graces poured out on them now for a clearer understanding of their dignity and vocation as they reflect upon Pope John Paul II’s affirming and beautiful words for them. Women of our time “can do so much to aid humanity in not falling.” It’s time to open our hearts to God’s message to women and act upon it imbued with the spirit of the Gospel, spreading love, understanding, and peace with our own “yes” to a world in desperate need.

A website has been created in order to provide a comprehensive resource for those interested in ways to reflect on this timely anniversary.
Dignityofwomen.com will point to the Apostolic Letter, Mulieris Dignitatem, relevant books, speakers, study guides, and other initiatives that will bring the beauty of this document to as many people as possible, while continually integrating suggestions, additions, as well as a bulletin board of events to access over the coming year. The website suggests ways in which to get involved with this Vatican initiative including: procuring a study guide and taking time to discuss the document, compiling book lists related to the document and discuss different aspects or topics relating to the reflection of these authors, planning a day of reflection in the parish or larger community whereby talks and prayers can bring to light the beauty of the Pope John Paul II’s understanding of authentic femininity, and a larger project might be the creation of a congress or conference, in which the ordinary is invited to participate. This would reflect the collaborative nature of the Church: joining the hierarchy, or Petrine dimension, with the women, who image Marian dimension, and bear spiritual fruit by means of the spousal reality.

“Through prayer and discussion, women everywhere will reveal their feminine genius in the way they celebrate this anniversary - ultimately giving glory to God, Who delighted in creating women in His image” (from the Dignity of Women website).
You may send your suggestions or submissions of resources to the link provided at the website or to Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle at DMCooperOBoyle@aol.com. Please join with us in prayer so that this will be a very fruitful observance. May our Blessed Mother watch over this worldwide celebration for the dignity and vocation of women and bless us with her graces in all of our efforts to understand the richness of the feminine vocation.


***

I hope you'll join Teresa Tomeo and me tomorrow morning to learn more about this celebration. Feel free to tune into "Catholic Connection" at Ave Maria Radio and perhaps call in to the show or comment here to this post with any questions or comments.

God bless you!

My latest segment on "Catholic Connection"

Well, here's the link to my latest segment with Teresa Tomeo. I was on the air with her yesterday morning on my "Mom's Corner" segment discussing Christmas traditions. I also shared a couple of experiences I just had recently. One of them, I call, "Jesus in the Post Office." The other little story is about a woman I met in the grocery store a couple of years ago around Christmas. You can hear the whole segment by clicking here.