The Springs in the Desert Podcast: Catholic Accompaniment Through Infertility

In the second of a three part Lenten miniseries, Jillian and Ann discuss the second pillar of Lent, fasting.  Besides fasting from food, there are additional things you may want to try fasting from.  Some examples include fasting from negative thoughts, television, or social media.  Again, let's first come to the Lord and hear what His beautiful Lenten plan is for us! Resources: Lin...

It's Ash Wednesday and Lent has begun!  Do you every ask yourself why we do what we do during Lent?  Father Paul speaks with Ann and Jillian and explains where some of our Lenten penitential practices come from and the reason behind why we partake of them during this season.  This episode will surely give you a great start to these next 40 days! Resources: Invitation to Encounter (L...

In the first of a three part Lenten miniseries, Jillian and Ann sit down and discuss their prayer preparations for this penitential season. Sometimes the most fruitful prayer plans aren't complicated, rather simple, heartfelt and deeply sincere. But the first and most important step is to ask God what He desires of our prayer life this Lent.  Let us know what your prayer plans are! Resou...

This week's episode deals with pregnancy after a long period of infertility, and we know how sensitive this topic may be for some of you. Please listen with care, and know that we're here to walk with and support you. Team member, Stacey, talks with Ann and Cassandra about the range of emotions she faced when finding out she was pregnant after years of trying to conceive.  With great vulnerab...

Moving into a new home or apartment can be very exciting. Team members Jillian and Cassandra recently moved into new homes, and they discuss the blessings and challenges that come with the territory. Deliberating about what color to paint the walls or what couch to buy, at its worst can leave us frustrated with our new home or in an argument with our spouse, but at its best, shows our careful inte...

Dr. Marie Meaney is back again this week with Ann and Cassandra to focus the conversation around the sensitive topic of artificial reproductive technologies (ART) and what the Church teaches in this area. They dig into the reasoning behind these teachings, recognizing that God's law is not always easy to follow but that it's there for our ultimate good as well as our health and happ...

In this Desert Reflection, Ann and Cassandra have a little fun talking about two words that came out of the Word of the Year generator, the words "witness" and "ask," and how those words can be applied in their personal lives and in this ministry. For example, are our words and actions a good "witness" to our faith in Him? Are we humble enough to "ask" people to pray for us?  Try th...

It seems like everyone has made a New Year's resolution at some point.  Some people succeed at keeping them through the year, but for the majority of us, they tend to fizzle out.  In this week's episode, Jillian, Ann and Cassandra discuss reasons humans are wired to make resolutions and the emotions that come when we don't meet our own expectations.  They dr...

Our very special guest this week is Dr. Marie Meaney, a philosopher, academic -  and a wife who knows well the isolation and suffering of infertility.  She joins Ann and Cassandra to discuss her book, " When Expecting Doesn't Happen: Turning Infertility into a Journey of Hope."  Dr. Meaney speaks with the eloquent and thoughtful words of a highly experienced and respected academic b...

Allie and Cassandra chat with special guest Sydnee Blackburn about different ways spouses can prepare during Advent and celebrate during Christmas the joys and blessings of the season, even when this time of year may look different than anticipated. During this podcast, we hear about practical tips and traditions we can start with our own families no matter how big or small the size. Journeying th...

Infertility comes up often in movies and TV shows.  For this week's podcast, Allie and Cassandra chat with Sydnee Blackburn about some of these specific movies and shows.  They discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of how infertility and loss are portrayed and dealt with.  If there's anything you've watched that you think does a great job in portraying infertility or mayb...

In this episode, Allie and Cassandra welcome back Natalie Blackford to discuss Safe Families, a beautiful Christian program where you can volunteer to open your home to children in need of a temporary place to stay ranging anywhere from one day to three months. Natalie shares her family's joyous experience welcoming vulnerable children into their home and the impact it's had on herself, her husban...

We invite you to listen this week to a very powerful interview between Ann, Jillian and Kelly Breaux, cofounder of Red Bird Ministries. Kelly shares a moving personal story of child and pregnancy loss, infertility, and the grief, anger and depression that followed in their wake. She opens up about how this experience deeply affected and challenged her relationships with God and her husband; b...

Our podcast this week features a conversation between Ann, Cassandra and NaPRO trained nurse practitioner, Caroline Gindhart. Caroline addresses common experiences and emotions that patients most often live through as they are seeking help. She offers advice on how to have a relationship with your medical care provider in which you feel heard and treated with dignity.  Caroline also offers so...

This week, Stacey talks with longtime friend and mentor Father Jacob Meyer regarding pastoral care for those struggling with infertility.  What should priests do and say when a parishioner comes to them with this struggle?  Father Jacob speaks candidly about what he has learned  journeying with these couples and can offer practical advice for any priest unsure how to respond. ...

This month, we welcome back Kim Colby to chat with Cassandra and Allie about her recent pilgrimage to Lourdes with the Archdiocese for the Military Services. We talk about prayer and healing in Lourdes, the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, and the blessings of making a pilgrimage while experiencing infertility, regardless of whether you travel locally, regionally, or abroad. Listen in and be up...

In this episode, we welcome Springs in the Desert contributor Kim Colby to the podcast along with returning guest Natalie Blackford. Each of these women has experienced  infertility while being a member of the military community - Kim and her husband both served on active duty and Natalie's husband currently serves. We talk about the culture of family life in the armed forces as well as the c...

In this episode, we welcome Christina Valenzuela from Pearl and Thistle back to the podcast to chat with Kimberly and Allie about her work as an NFP instructor using the Boston Cross Check method. We address many of the difficulties that couples with infertility experience while using NFP (how to include your spouse in the process, giving yourself permission to take a break, being honest with your...

In this episode, we welcome Christina Valenzuela from Pearl and Thistle to the podcast to chat with Kimberly and Allie about how our cycles/bodies as women are good, regardless of their "fertility status"! We talk about some of the lies that can crop up around this topic, and how to deal with them. Listen in and be reminded of the truth that your creation is a gift from God, even when li...

In this episode, Stacey, Allie, and Abby discuss the temptation many of us feel to achieve fertility "at all costs" - from the pressure to take every last pill and undergo every procedure to believing the lie that God will withhold a baby if we choose to take a break from treatment. We share honestly about these temptations to make fertility an idol and speak the truth about our relationship...

In this month’s episode of A Man’s Take, James welcomes Deacon Amarante, a good friend of Springs in the Desert. They discuss the experience of secondary infertility, seeking healing beyond just the physical means, the importance of turning toward your spouse through difficulties in marriage, and the call to greater love that exists within every marital vocation. Come along with us to have your sp...

In this month’s episode of A Man’s Take, James welcomes his good friend Fr. Paolo Puccini, CSP to the podcast to talk about vocation and the call to live for others. They discuss discernment, living out their respective vocations without biological children, and how both the sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders point us to Heaven. Come along with us to have your spirit lifted in your walk as a...

In today’s episode, Cassandra, Allie and Ann talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to social media use as Catholic women experiencing infertility. They chat about everything from receiving support from others online to struggling with pregnancy announcements and gender reveal photos, and share practical ways they are learning to use social media intentionally. Listen in and know...

Made For Greatness ( www.madeforgreatness.co ) Blog Post: The Heart of a Mother is Built into Me ( https://springsinthedesert.org/the-heart-of-a-mother-is-built-into-me/ ) Blog Post: The Vocation Idol ( https://springsinthedesert.org/the-vocation-idol/ ) Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode! Join our community by following us on Facebook and Instag...

In today’s episode Ann welcomes Jillian and Alissa, who both work in ministry, to talk about how pastors and fellow parishioners can offer encouragement and understanding to those in a season of infertility. They discuss how priests and parish staff can support women and couples and help them to feel welcome and part of the parish family. And, they give some practical tips on how to approach pasto...