Thursday, October 13, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Teresa Tomeo's "Extreme Make Over"
| EXTREME MAKEOVER RELEASE OCTOBER 7TH! |
 A former television news reporter, Tomeo pulls together the latest research on social behavior and trends to demonstrate that women are harming themselves and their chances for true happiness by adopting the thoroughly modern, sexually liberated lifestyle portrayed in magazines and movies. Packed with not only persuasive statistics but also powerful personal testimonies, Extreme Makeover shows that it is not the slogans of the sexual revolution and the women’s liberation movement that free and dignify women, but the beautiful teachings of the Catholic Church.Teresa’s book discusses many of the issues that are so controversial to women today:
So what are women steeped in the Hollywood and Cosmo girl version of reality to do? Undergo Tomeo’s Extreme Makeover! With the help of this book, they can shed the toxic messages that objectify and enslave them and embrace the truth about being a beloved daughter of God. Order here: Order Today! Visit Teresa on www.facebook.com/ExtremeMakeoverBook // To order, go to www.teresatomeo.com ISBN: 978-1586-1-7-561-0, AVAILABLE OCTOBER 7, 2011 |
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Interview with author of AMAZING Booklets for Catechists!
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing author, Lisa Mladinich about her inspiring and very attractive and AMAZING catechist booklets.
Here's our interview:
DONNA-MARIE: Lisa, I'm looking
at your latest booklet, "Be an Amazing Catechist: Sacramental
Preparation." It's very attractive and filled with so many valuable
concepts, teaching tips and tools for lesson planning, and even help with
classroom discipline. I think it's great!
Lisa, what compelled you to
write it?
LISA: My publisher! I had written the first booklet, “Be an
Amazing Catechist: Inspire the Faith of Children” directly from my own
experiences in the classroom, which developed over a long period of teaching children
both in and out of the Church. So when my publisher asked me to write a booklet
on Sacramental Preparation, I was a little nonplussed. I had taught sacramental preparation,
but I didn’t feel I was expert enough to create something as densely packed and
useful as the first one. However, the team at OSV is largely made up of
experienced catechists and DREs, so I knew that my work would be in the best of
hands. I set about researching and interviewing passionate, experienced
catechists and DREs whose specialties related to the subject and ended up with
more than enough high-quality material. I learned a lot in the process and
discovered that my own experiences were echoed in those of others. It was a lot
of fun and I’m looking forward to the next one.
DONNA-MARIE: Would you please
tell me about your booklet that preceded this one and a bit about this one?
LISA: The first booklet, “Inspire the Faith of Children,” is a ton
of fun. It’s packed with powerful, easy-to-use teaching methods adaptable to
absolutely any curriculum. It encourages the catechist to do something
personal, but well-informed. It offers a clear-cut system for everything from
lesson-planning to classroom discipline, from teaching children to pray to
drawing them closer to God through creative, unforgettable lessons. Using the
Bible, movement, music, and even puppets are explained.
Everything is founded on three ideals: 1) teaching
authentic, orthodox Catholicism, which God richly blesses and supplements
abundantly with His grace; 2) the catechist’s own intimate walk with Jesus
Christ; 3) the catechist’s individual teaching style, informed by a brief
inquiry into learning styles, personality, and native talent.
Building on these same ideals, the “Sacramental Preparation”
booklet addresses such topics as: inspiring heroism in children, teaching them
reverence, reducing fear of the confessional, exciting activities and insights
for imparting abstract concepts, help with logistics for First Penance and Holy
Communion, Confirmation prep, getting teens to open up, inspiring them, helping
them develop a positive and powerful Catholic identity, the value of rote
learning, assessments, and much more. I was very privileged to interview
catechists of great commitment, orthodoxy, and creativity for this booklet.
They inspired me so much I wanted to get back into teaching the sacraments
myself.
DONNA-MARIE: I understand
there's a Spanish version of one or both? Is that right?
LISA: Yes, OSV has a strong commitment to providing resources for
Spanish-speaking Catholics. I’m very proud of the translated booklets and pray
that they continue to be of help to the Hispanic members of our Catholic
family.
DONNA-MARIE: How long have you
been involved in Faith Formation? Have you taught as a catechist?
LISA: I have taught as a catechist in various environments over
the years, primarily with children, beginning when I was in high school. But
there were long breaks in-between as I went through college, struggled to build
a career, settled down and became a mother. I was an actress for many years and
taught improvisation to adult actors and then later to teens. For a few years I
taught secular workshops for children in nursery schools, libraries, scout
troops and summer camps. My work with young children was primarily about
character development and encouraging literacy. I used songs, puppetry,
improvisation and storybook theater games to help young children connect
dynamically with abstract concepts. It was great, great fun and quite
successful. Particularly moving were the responses of special needs children to
my work with puppets, which have a strange power to hold the attention of even
the most challenged students. By the time my daughter entered our parish’s RE
program and I went back to work as a catechist, I had developed a powerful
methodology that transferred easily to teaching the Faith, but then exploded in
terms of efficacy because of the addition of prayer and an awareness of God’s
presence throughout. I still occasionally do special programs for children, but
most of my teaching involves instructing catechists, these days.
DONNA-MARIE: As catechists
begin their new school year, what do you think are one or two of the most
important things he or she should keep in mind?
LISA: Most importantly, that they are never alone – in or out of
the classroom. That teaching and learning the Faith can and should be a
supernatural experience. Our Biblical heroes aren’t memorable because of their
great brilliance or talent, they are heroes because of their trust in God. When
we pray, make small sacrifices for our students and their families, do our best
and leave the rest to God, He moves powerfully. And don’t let discouragement
set in. You won’t see the fruits of much of what you do in this life. But God
is faithful to water the seeds you plant, and if you are faithful to the
Church’s teachings and cling to Jesus Christ through sacramental life and
prayer, you will one day see that blessed fruit revealed in heaven.
DONNA-MARIE: Lisa, how do you
see this pamphlet and your previous one helping catechists? Have you received
feedback?
LISA: Because of technology, I do have the joy of receiving
wonderful feedback. I love hearing that someone was afraid to take on the task
of teaching the Faith, but that my booklet swept away their feelings of
intimidation and they’ve signed up for the year. One catechist told me that my
booklet got her started, and then saved her several times when she would hit
the wall again and get frustrated when things weren’t going well. She just kept
going back and re-reading it. By the end of the first year, she’d become so
confident and successful that she was appointed grade-level coordinator for the
following year. I also dearly love to hear that veteran catechists who were
experiencing burn-out are now refreshed and excited again about teaching, that
they’re full of ideas and trusting in God to provide more, because they’ve read
this little booklet. Catechists are “my people.” I dearly love them and learn a
great deal from them, so it doesn’t just help them. It helps me.
DONNA-MARIE: What are your
hopes for this booklet?
LISA: That God uses it as a small part of a greater effort, made
up of tons of catechists, writers, speakers and religious education leaders; a
genuine revolution in the teaching of the Catholic faith that will smash
through decades of watered-down or heretical programs that have, unfortunately,
dominated the American Church for decades. Generations have been lost from
active participation in the Church, and the damage multiplies with each
successive generation. This, however, is just another Goliath, and we needn’t
fear. The battle is the Lord’s and there are great signs of hope, especially
among young people. There are wonderful people entering this gentle, loving
“fight.” My little booklets are like small troops of soldiers out there
hollering, “Charge!”
DONNA-MARIE: How can we get a
copy?
LISA: Our Sunday Visitor sells them for $2.95 each, or $17.95 for
packs of ten. They’re magazine sized, about 30 pages, very colorful and easy to
roll up and stick in a purse, briefcase, or book-bag. Right now they’re being
featured at the Parish Resources home page at OSV.com, which is very exciting
for me. Here are the links!
Sacramental
Preparation - https://catalog.osv.com/Catalog.aspx?SimpleDisplay=true&ProductCode=X1206
Preparación
Sacramental
Inspiren la Fe de los
Niños - https://catalog.osv.com/Catalog.aspx?SimpleDisplay=true&ProductCode=X1211
Inspire the Faith of
Children - http://www.osv.com/ParishNav/ParishProducts/BeAnAmazingCatechist/tabid/8235/Default.aspx
DONNA-MARIE: Is there
something else you'd like us to know about your booklets for catechists?
LISA: Yes, something very important and central to their intent.
Both booklets emphasize what the Church refers to as “a call
within a call”; that all those who teach the Faith must recognize God’s
intimate, personal call to them as individuals to draw near to Him. Yes, He
wants us to teach, but even more, He wants us to cling to Him through study,
prayer, and sacramental life. It’s all about conversion. To teach powerful,
effective lessons with staying power, we have to learn the Faith, love it, and
live it. We don’t have to be perfect, just willing to learn in baby steps as we
go along, and to have the integrity to submit to the Church’s proper authority.
God blesses that willingness. It is in humility that He raises us up and makes
us radiate His light to a dark world.
Donna-Marie, thank you so much! I am very honored to address
your readers in this way. Thank you for having me.
God bless you and yours!
Donna-Marie
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Interview with the author of "It Doesn't End Here"
I recently interviewed Dawn Marie Roeder about her book, "It Doesn't End Here."
DAWN MARIE: Thank you for your kind words Donna Marie. I wrote my book in the hopes that it would be helpful to others who have had to deal with extremely painful experiences, both those involving the death of a child and those fighting against the injustices that can be brought about by corporations whose primary concern often seems to be to place profits ahead of the public good.
In addition, I have a strong desire to educate people about the particular danger I had to confront in the adverse reaction I experienced to a prescribed ADHD medication that lead to a car accident and the death of my son, Nathaniel, Joseph. I hope that in the telling of my story doctors, teachers, parents, children and others who may know of a person who are taking this class of medications, are prescribing them or taking them themselves, realize, they need to be extremely cautious and conscientious while taking them and that just because they are legal it doesn't mean they are safe.
DAWN MARIE: I lived the book for eight years, and wrote it in about a year and a half. Five and a half of those years were spent in a law suit where I was trying to pressure the drug company to beef up warnings on their medication.
DONNA-MARIE: What was the most challenging part of your writing process?
DAWN MARIE: One of the most difficult parts of the writing process was having to ask family members to recall certain details and facts about the time shortly proceeding, the day of, and the terrible days that followed Nathaniel and my car accident. A lot of the information I include in the book I had collected from police reports, hospital records and witness testimony and putting that together was not nearly as difficult to do than it was to ask family and friends close to me and Nathaniel to recall. It would bring everything right back up from the past into the present and it's not a day you want to really even think about.
Yet I believe that in my writing our story it has helped not only my family but myself come to a deeper level of healing, forgiving and letting go. Another difficult part in the writing process was the transparency in which I tell my story. I hold no punches, heck, my entire life from birth to that present day of the civil trial was invaded and paraded in front of a 14 person jury trial. I think I may have felt what Jesus might have felt when he was stripped of all of his clothes before he was nailed to the cross. There was nothing really left to hide in the telling of my story and though I share with discretion, I tell some very difficult moments of my life quite openly.
And, so, the hardest part was not perhaps so much the writing and retelling as it was thinking what in the world would other people think about all this. I think I would have to be a pretty callous person not to have healthy shame about my some things in my life. But, as well, as there were difficult moments, there were some incredibly blessed and amazing ones too, which I purposely share throughout the work so as to not overload the reader with the intensity of the story.
DONNA-MARIE: I'm sorry for all the pain you endured, Dawn Marie. What do you hope your book may be able to accomplish?
DAWN MARIE: I have big dreams for my book. I believe with all my heart that all things are possible with God and that as it is stated in Romans 8:28 God works everything for good to those who love him and are called according to his purposes. One of my dreams is to get the message of my book out to a wider audience so that more tragedies are prevented. I also hope that my book will get into the hands of those in higher positions in both corporations and in our government to shake them up in a sense to realize that change is necessary and that the client base that are dying off as a result of irresponsible and negligent decision making are called human beings. I truly love my country and I hope to be an instrument of positive change in this great nation of ours.
DONNA-MARIE: Because of the nature of your story and all of the suffering endured, I thought it would be advantageous to let our readers know how you found strength and courage to tell the story about the loss of your son. How were you able to find that strength and courage amid the suffering, Dawn Marie?
DAWN MARIE: Through the Lord, Jesus and His Mother Mary. Thankfully, I had been a person of prayer and had been very involved in Church prior to my accident. I leaned on my faith more heavily than I'd ever had before in my life, and I surrounded myself with positive people, read positive life affirming books, and learned as much as I could about the Church and the saints, -the Holy Scripture and the Sacraments were a life line. And the Blessed Virgin Mary and of her example at the foot of the Cross, her strength truly gave me strength during my most difficult hour and continues to do so to this very day.
DONNA-MARIE: Is there anything else you'd like to tell us about your journey?
DAWN MARIE: Well, most importantly, that it has really only just begun. I look forward to taking it one day at a time and embracing the gifts this incredible journey unfolds.
DONNA-MARIE: What a great attitude--that it has only just begun--God bless you! Do you have plans to do any speaking events or book signings?
DAWN MARIE: I have a book signing at Barnes and Nobles on September 6th with two other authors from one of my writer's groups and I am currently working with April Rovero of the National Coaliton Against Prescription Drug Abuse organization to coordinate an event for the month of October which is Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness month. What we are finding is that there are a lot of high school and college aged students, and believe it or not, middle school students who are misusing the stimulant and depressant class of medications and they have no idea what they are messing with. Details of these and other events can be found on the books website at http://www.itdoesntendhere.com/
DONNA-MARIE: Finally, Dawn Marie, where can we find your book for purchase?
DAWN MARIE: You can purchase the book at the book's website at http://www.itdoesntendhere.com/ , also FROM Amazon.com and Barnes and Nobles Bookstores. It's soon to be available on multiple e-book formats and I invite anyone interested in carrying my book to please contact me for a discount.
DONNA-MARIE: Thanks a lot for the interview, Dawn Marie. I pray that your book may help to open some eyes so that the loss of life will be prevented, as well as other harm that certain prescription drugs may cause to unsuspecting people.
May God bless you in great abundance!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Church needs Catholic bloggers
Church needs blogs, bloggers need church, say meeting participants
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Catholic Church needs active members who blog, but Catholic bloggers also need the church, especially to remind them of the virtue of charity needed in their writing, said participants at a Vatican meeting.
The meeting May 2 was sponsored by the pontifical councils for culture and for social communications.
The councils accepted requests to attend, then drew the names of the 150 participants once the requests were divided according to geography, language and whether the blog was personal or institutional...
Continued here: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1101744.htm
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Catholic Church needs active members who blog, but Catholic bloggers also need the church, especially to remind them of the virtue of charity needed in their writing, said participants at a Vatican meeting.
The meeting May 2 was sponsored by the pontifical councils for culture and for social communications.
The councils accepted requests to attend, then drew the names of the 150 participants once the requests were divided according to geography, language and whether the blog was personal or institutional...
Continued here: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1101744.htm
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Saint Patrick
Lorica of Saint Patrick
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.
I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.
I arise today
Lorica of Saint Patrick I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.
I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation
St. Patrick (ca. 377)
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