Mary's Touch

This week we welcome back a special guest on the Mary's Touch program: Abby Johnson has always had a fierce determination to help women in need. It was this desire that both led Abby to a career with Planned Parenthood and caused her to flee the organization and become an outspoken advocate for the pro-life movement. During her eight years with Planned Parenthood, Abby quickly rose in the organization's ranks and became a clinic director. She was increasingly disturbed by what she witnessed. Abortion was a product Planned Parenthood was selling, not an unfortunate necessity that they fought to decrease. Still, Abby loved the women that entered her clinic and her fellow workers. Despite a growing unrest within her, she stayed on and strove to serve women in crisis. She soon was saved by Side Walk Angels who hel  ped Abby get out of where she was working. Today, Abby travels across the globe sharing her story, educating the public on pro-life issues, advocating for the unborn, and reaching out to abortion clinic staff who still work in the industry. She is the founder of And Then There Were None, a ministry designed to assist abortion clinic workers out of the industry. To date, this ministry has helped over 150 workers leave the abortion industry. Abby lives in Texas with her husband and five precious children. Author of UnPlanned is the story of Abby Johnson's journey from director of a local Planned Parenthood center to advocate for "the other side of the fence." It's harrowing and heart-rending, an up-close-and-personal encounter with the inside workings of an organization made up of many people who truly do want to help women. The journey Johnson makes involves a change of heart that spoke to the path I took from pro-choice to pro-life. I found, within these pages, an experience common to many, one that travels from both one spectrum of belief to another, but also one that finds maturity and hope instead of despair. AND now her book is turned into a movie and in theaters in the Spring https://www.unplannedfilm.com/ 

This weekend we are re-airing a wonderful story on Mary's Touch Radio Program.       Rebecca Frech is a devout Catholic wife, mom of nine children...two saints...seven in training. She is an avid political junkie, able debater, aspiring home-maker, amazing friend, homeschooling guru, a writing addict, public-speaker, a CrossFit coach, managing editor for The Catholic Conspiracy, regular contributor for the National Catholic Register, and an advocate for staying true to the person God created you to be. She shares her Catholic journey growing up, feeling left out, angry with God, and the miracles of novenas - Our Lady Undoer of Knots. Rebecca is the author of "Teaching In Your Tiara - A Homeschooling Book for the Rest of Us". Teaching in Your Tiara is a soup-to-nuts homeschooling book that walks you through the first years - deciding that home education is right for your family, choosing the right curriculum, understanding learning styles, not raising socially awkward kids, maintaining your own identity, and more.  She has another book soon to be released "Can We Be Friends"; tackles the issue head on, taking a fun and honest look at friendship: why we need friends, where we find friends, and even when to let friends go.

This week we will rerun a special military story on the Mary's Touch Radio Program that listeners have requested: Colleen Saffron shares her story about her walk of faith, how she stays positive,  how she chooses joy over depression, and how her husband Terry was given a second chance and what it means to them. Colleen has been married to Terry for over 27 years and a military wife/caregiver for 15 years. Terry was wounded in 2004 in Iraq within 6 weeks of deployment, he was injured and developed PTSD.

This weekend we have TWO special guest on this week's Mary's Touch Radio Program.   PART II.    *We have two back to back riveting shows with Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman, the best friend power American screen writer and director duo team behind #GodsNotDead and the recently released #UnplannedMovie... men of faith, character, conviction, boldness and under Mary's grace- you will not want to miss these TWO shows with men who know the power of God and His hand in their lives. *In 2008 they dedicated their efforts exclusively to faith-based movies.   *Both Catholic Knights of Columbus who share their life stories. 

This weekend we have TWO special guest on this week's Mary's Touch Radio Program.   PART I.    *We have two back to back riveting shows with Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman, the best friend power American screen writer and director duo team behind #GodsNotDead and the recently released #UnplannedMovie... men of faith, character, conviction, boldness and under Mary's grace- you will not want to miss these TWO shows with men who know the power of God and His hand in their lives. *In 2008 they dedicated their efforts exclusively to faith-based movies.   *Both Catholic Knights of Columbus who share their life stories. 

This weekend we have a special guest on this week's Mary's Touch Radio Program.      * Bonnie Engstrom is a cradle Catholic and stay-at-home mom. She married her dashing husband in 2006 and they now have seven children: one in Heaven and six more wandering around their house, probably eating pretzels found under the couch. Bonnie lives in central Illinois, loves the Blessed Trinity and gets excited about baking, music, film adaptations of Jane Austen books, and the Chicago Bears. She blogs at  A Knotted Life.  * Bonnie shares her devotion to the church and Our Blessed Mother Mary.* She is a devotion writer for Blessed Is She; co-host of the now retired Visitation Project radio show; and host of the Sheenazing Blogger Awards. 

This weekend we are sharing again on this week's Mary's Touch Radio Program.    Bill Donaghy has worked in the fields of mission and evangelization since 1999. In October of 2000, he was chosen to represent his country in a special tribute for the Jubilee of Missionaries in Rome. With 11 other missionaries from around the world, he was given a simple cross by St. John Paul II and called by the Holy Father to "bring Jesus back to your country."   He is filled with a passion for his faith and dedicated to spreading the joy of the New Evangelization. Through his work with the Pontifical Mission Societies, Bill has given hundreds of talks on the Catholic Faith to young people throughout the greater Philadelphia area and beyond.   Bill worked for nearly a decade teaching theology at Malvern Preparatory School as well as Immaculata University, while giving talks, retreats, and conferences for the Theology of the Body Institute. He has recently entered full time work for the Institute as an instructor for the Certification Program, an international speaker, and curriculum specialist. www.tobinstitute.org   He has given talks and retreats to bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, and the lay faithful throughout the United States, as well as Canada, Mexico, Chile, Australia and Papua New Guinea.   He and his wife, Rebecca, live just outside of Philadelphia, PA with their four children.

This week we welcome back a special guest on the Mary's Touch program: Abby Johnson has always had a fierce determination to help women in need. It was this desire that both led Abby to a career with Planned Parenthood and caused her to flee the organization and become an outspoken advocate for the pro-life movement. During her eight years with Planned Parenthood, Abby quickly rose in the organization's ranks and became a clinic director. She was increasingly disturbed by what she witnessed. Abortion was a product Planned Parenthood was selling, not an unfortunate necessity that they fought to decrease. Still, Abby loved the women that entered her clinic and her fellow workers. Despite a growing unrest within her, she stayed on and strove to serve women in crisis. She soon was saved by Side Walk Angels who hel  ped Abby get out of where she was working. Today, Abby travels across the globe sharing her story, educating the public on pro-life issues, advocating for the unborn, and reaching out to abortion clinic staff who still work in the industry. She is the founder of And Then There Were None, a ministry designed to assist abortion clinic workers out of the industry. To date, this ministry has helped over 150 workers leave the abortion industry. Abby lives in Texas with her husband and five precious children. Author of UnPlanned is the story of Abby Johnson's journey from director of a local Planned Parenthood center to advocate for "the other side of the fence." It's harrowing and heart-rending, an up-close-and-personal encounter with the inside workings of an organization made up of many people who truly do want to help women. The journey Johnson makes involves a change of heart that spoke to the path I took from pro-choice to pro-life. I found, within these pages, an experience common to many, one that travels from both one spectrum of belief to another, but also one that finds maturity and hope instead of despair. AND now her book is turned into a movie and in theaters in the Spring https://www.unplannedfilm.com/ 

Mary's Touch Affiliates:  This weekend we have a very special and amazing story on this week's Mary's Touch Radio Program.    Rosario Rodriguez shares her powerful story of miraculously surviving two violent crimes and her journey of discovering healing and peace in forgiving her assailants, finding worth in her brokenness, and joy in suffering. She grew up in Michigan. Starting in her high school years, she has spent most of her life working in many capacities with different Catholic ministries from inner-city youth, campus ministry, pro-life, CCD/RCIA, and the poor and the homeless in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom.  When she first moved to Los Angeles she worked in Hollywood at Act One, an organization training Christian writers and producers to work in the mainstream entertainment industry.  Now, she travels everywhere, sharing her amazing story with thousands of people including gang members with the LAPD for Operation Cease Fire and a victim awareness program at a high maximum security prison. Rosario resides in Los Angeles with her husband and is passionate about her faith, family, football, and Latin dancing. Her love language is chocolate. And She enjoys watching Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. She is still a dedicated Detroit Lions fan who believes that despite all of their challenges they will someday rise up and win the Superbowl!

During this week on the Mary's Touch Radio Show lets do some "Throw Back Stories" and share the "Christmas Special Edition". During this wonderful time of the year, the Christmas Season, we are featuring four beautiful stories. Christmas Stories: * Paula reminds us it is not always easy to see answers to prayers even if they appear at our window.* Jean and her family enjoyed Christmas in Italy until they are at the airport and cannot all get back home.  Then a miracle happens!* Stacy's daughter passed away several years before. It is now Christmas Eve and God gives her an answer to her prayers.* Janet almost missed Christmas until Mary asked her if she would like to see the baby.

This weekend we will replay Sister Nancy Usselman on this week's Mary's Touch Radio Program.    Sister Nancy Usselman, FSP, grew up in St Louis, the third of four siblings. She was a passionate soccer player, playing year round. She met the Sisters through her older cousin who always wanted to be a nun since the third grade. Her cousin visited a Pauline Books & Media Center and, while she was gawking at them from behind a bookshelf, one of the sisters invited her to a day of recollection. She answered, "Can I bring all my cousins?" So, young Nancy went along with her four cousins to keep them company, since she was not interested in being a Sister. But after she met the Daughters and saw that they preached Jesus through movies, music, and books, she realized, "That's the kind of nun I would want to be." After finishing high school, Sr. Nancy and her cousin entered together. Nancy was 17 years old, and her family didn't expect her to stay. Surprisingly, her cousin left after three months, got married, and now has 8 children...and Sr. Nancy stayed!

This weekend we have a special Veteran's story on this week's Mary's Touch Radio Program.    Manny Montanez is the President and CEO of EG Montanez Construction, Inc., an Irvine, CA based General Contractor.  He was raised Catholic. He has an amazing story to tell about his career and faith journey and is looking forward to sharing with all of you. Manny was honored as Legatus' Officer of the Year in 2011 for his service to the Orange Coast Chapter and his passion for the Legatus mission. Manny's leadership skills were evident in his service in the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War for which he was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor and the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat as a member of the 25th Infantry Division's 3rd Squadron, 4th Armored Cavalry Regiment in South Vietnam. He now serves as Regional Director of the West Region for Legatus.

At this weekends Mary's Touch Radio Show with our host Alexis Walkenstein and guest Fr. Thomas Gibbons.  Fr. Tom serves at Paulist Productions in Los Angeles. He is the creator of a new film documentary on the life of Servant of God Isaac Hecker, founder of the Paulist Fathers. He discusses the re release of their classic l989 film “Romero“, about the final years of Archbishop Oscar Romero who was murdered while saying Mass in San Salvador in l980. And The Dating Project movie which is another amazing documentary about dating in today's culture. Pope Francis has cleared the way for the canonizations of Blesseds Paul VI and Oscar Romero on October 14th. www.paulist.org/who-we-are/bio/fr-tom-gibbons/

At this weekends Mary's Touch Radio Show with our host Alexis Walkenstein, we bring back Cheri Lomonte, the founder and creator of Mary's Touch.  Cheri talks to us about Divine Impressions and the importance of having a Marian image in every Catholic home, a domestic church. Download the Marian image - www.divineimpressions.com/downloadpage/

At this weekends Mary's Touch Radio Show with our host Alexis Walkenstein, we bring back Jaymie Stuart Wolfe as out guest to discuss the sex scandal of our Church.  Jaymie is a Catholic convert and lay evangelist reaching out in word and song through Loaves & Fishes Ministry. This is her second visit and time she talks to us about the sex scandal in our Church, her perspective and how healing needs to take place. Drawing from the riches of Scripture and Tradition, her purpose is to echo God's call to holiness and help you answer it in authentic discipleship.   She's a wife, and mother of eight. Inspired by the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales, she is an author, speaker, and musician, and serves as a senior editor at Ave Maria Press. 

At this weekends Mary's Touch Radio Show with our host Alexis Walkenstein and guest Fr. Thomas Gibbons. Fr. Tom serves at Paulist Productions in Los Angeles. He is the creator of a new film documentary on the life of Servant of God Isaac Hecker, founder of the Paulist Fathers. He discusses the re release of their classic l989 film “Romero“, about the final years of Archbishop Oscar Romero who was murdered while saying Mass in San Salvador in l980. And The Dating Project movie which is another amazing documentary about dating in today's culture. Pope Francis has cleared the way for the canonizations of Blesseds Paul VI and Oscar Romero on October 14th. www.paulist.org/who-we-are/bio/fr-tom-gibbons/

At this weekends Mary's Touch Radio Program with our host Alexis Walkenstein and special guest Christin Jezak. Christin is a Hollywood actress, Ladies Keepin' It Real webseries creator, Person-to-Person: A Mother Teresa Project One-Woman Show extraordinaire! She is also a Pauline Cooperator, and a lover of Our Blessed Mother and Jesus.

This weekend we have an amazing story on this week's Mary's Touch Radio Program. Eric LeMarque is an international best-selling author of two books and inspirational speaker sharing his message of hope throughout the world. This former professional, Olympic, world-champion ice hockey player is additionally, one of the most famous, unrelenting and compelling survivors in history. On February 6th, 2004, Eric, an expert snowboarder, set off for the top of 12,000-foot Mammoth Mountain in California's vast Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Wearing only a long sleeve shirt, a thin wool hat, the shells of his snowboarding pants and a light-weight jacket-with only four pieces of gum for food-he soon found himself chest-high in snow, plunging into the wilderness. By nightfall he knew he was in a fight for his life. Surviving eight-days in sub-freezing temperatures, he would earn the name, 'The Miracle Man' by stunned National Guard Black Hawk Chopper rescuers. His survival is that of adversity, change, hope, ingenuity, perseverance, spiritual restoration and ultimate triumph. He goes around the country speaking about faith and awareness for the dangers of drugs and addiction. Eric resides with his wife, Hope and their two children Nicholas and Zachariah in Southern California. www.ericlemarque.com

This weekend we have an amazing story on this week's Mary's Touch Radio Program. Rosemarie Holliger Costello, catholic wife, mother and relative of Ven. Fulton J. Sheen - the Emmy Award Winning New York Bishop on track for Sainthood. She earned her BA in Piano Performance of the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown New Jersey, where her late mom and sisters attended. She went to graduate study at Teachers College, Colombia University. She and her husband were married at St. Patrick's Cathedral in 1983, where her sisters and her parents were also married there. Her husband Brian was a pilot in the Navy, they moved all over with their 6 children and she taught piano everywhere. She's currently the music director at Lutheran Pre-School at Edmond, Oklahoma. Rosemarie shares how her parents met and personal stories about her cousin Ven. Sheen.