Advertise on podcast: The Springs in the Desert Podcast: Catholic Accompaniment Through Infertility

Earlier this year, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) was renamed to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). Caroline Gindhart, CRNP joins Jillian on the podcast to discuss what this change means for our community. They'll talk about: What PCOS is, and how often it affects infertility patientsWhy PCOS was renamed to PMOSWhat impacts Caroline has seen from this change with her patients It is our honor to walk with you! Links: Caroline's Provider PageEntering into Treatment with Surrender w/ Caroline GindhartPursuing Treatment Options w/ Caroline Gindhart and Clare KaneWhen is it Time to Take a Break from Treatment? w/ Caroline Gindhart and Clare KaneA Medical Provider's Experience Treating those Suffering from Infertility w/ Caroline Gindhart, NP

St. Gianna Molla is a great saint to turn to on the path of infertility! As a laywoman and a wife, she can seem especially relatable. In this episode, Jillian welcomes Jennifer Nelson of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Relics to the podcast. They'll talk about: The story of St. Gianna and why we should ask for her intercession in a season of infertility/lossHow the marriage of Pietro and Gianna Molla can inspire us on this pathThe importance of praying together and the Novena that Jennifer wrote for married couples It is our honor to walk with you! Links: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Relics of St. Gianna Water Into Wine: A Novena For Married Couples Book: The Journey of Our Love: The Letters of Saint Gianna Beretta and Pietro Molla

On Instagram back in February, Steffani Aquila of His Girl Sunday proposed a question to her followers: "What if difficulty helps me to blossom?" A season of infertility doesn't always feel like a grace-filled time – but it can still be a season of personal growth! Jillian welcomes Steffani back to the podcast to reflect on increasing in faith, grace, and virtue during (or even because of) a difficult season. They'll talk about: The ways that the experience of infertility can help us to "blossom"How our perspective on infertility and growth can change over timeSteffani's encouragement to women and couples to find ways to "blossom" in the thick of trying to conceive It is our honor to walk with you! Links: His Girl Sunday Website: Festive Faith BookHis Girl Sunday InstagramWhat is Liturgical Living? w/ Steffani AquilaHospitality and Maintaining Friendships in a Season of Infertility w/ Steffani Aquila

Your marriage – yes, yours! – can bear witness to the beauty of this sacrament, even on the path of infertility. Lisa Martinez is back on the podcast to talk with Jillian about witness, discernment, and fruitfulness. In this episode, they'll discuss: Lisa and Mike's recent major discernment processHow the service we give to others is fruitfulnessWhy the marriages of couples going through infertility bear witness to the beauty of this sacrament, even though they may not have children It is our honor to walk with you! Links: Little With Great Love

What does beloved book Anne of Green Gables have to teach us in a season of infertility? Today we're welcoming children's book author, Veronica Simon, and longtime friend of the ministry, Allie Kleineck, to the podcast to dig into this wonderful novel. Cassandra speaks to Veronica and Allie about: The importance of female friendship and mentorship in Anne of Green Gables How part of spiritual motherhood is inspiring others to lead virtuous lives What Anne of Green Gables teaches us in a season of infertility It is our honor to walk with you! Links: Pennyworth PublishingBlog Post: A Sense of Wonder

Steffani Aquila of His Girl Sunday is back on the podcast to talk about her favorite topic, liturgical living, and how fun traditions are for all Catholics. By embracing food, decorations, and music associated with Catholic saints and feast days, our spiritual lives and domestic churches can be rejuvenated! Jillian and Steffani talk about: Why married Catholics can and should embrace traditional meals, decorations, and songs for the sake of their own spiritual lives, whether or not they have children in the homeHow couples struggling with infertility can make room for prayer in their "domestic church"Steffani's favorite Catholic tradition to embrace with her husband It is our honor to walk with you! Links: His Girl Sunday WebsiteFestive Faith BookHis Girl Sunday InstagramPodcast: What is Liturgical Living? w/ Steffani AquilaPodcast: Hospitality and Maintaining Friendships in a Season of Infertility w/ Steffani Aquila

How can we embrace the role of aunt in a season of infertility? Today Jillian welcomes Ann and Ann's niece Maria to the podcast to talk about this special bond between women and their nieces and nephews. They'll discuss: How aunts can live out their spiritual motherhood in practical ways What we learn from our aunts that we can pass on when we become aunts ourselves Finding fruitfulness in embracing the feminine genius as an aunt Links: Blog Post: Feminine Fruitfulness During A Season of InfertilityBlog Post: Learning Receptivity in Infertility

It isn't always easy to lean into – or even discover! – our creative sides on the path of infertility. But creativity can be an important a source of consolation and fruitfulness for us in a season of waiting and loss. Today, Jana from January Jane Shop talks with Jillian about art and fruitfulness. They'll discuss: The story behind January Jane Shop How Jana's "Land of the Living" collection was borne out of an experience of lossJana's encouragement to keep creating through a difficult seasonIt is our honor to walk with you! Links: January Jane ShopLand of the Living Collection

Marriage and Holy Orders are called "sacraments of service." Husbands and wives vow their lives to each other, and priests vow their lives to Christ in these important moments of grace and surrender. Fr. Paul joins Jillian on the podcast to talk about the meaningful similarities we can draw between these sacraments. They'll discuss: Similarities between the liturgical celebrations of Marriage and Holy Orders, and the symbolism that can help us deepen in understandingThe importance of the domestic churchHow the Holy Mystery of matrimony invites us to give our own Fiat on the path of infertilityIt is our honor to walk with you! Links: Baptism EpisodeReconciliation & Anointing of the Sick EpisodeEucharist EpisodeConfirmation Episode

If you're confirmed, do you ever stop to think about how you've received the Holy Spirit?! God has given us a wonderful gift in the Sacrament of Confirmation! This grace can strengthen us and our marriages as we carry the cross of infertility. In this episode, Jillian and Fr. Paul talk about: How Confirmation/Chrismation is like a "personal Pentecost"What it means to have received the gift of the Holy SpiritWhy it's important to nurture our friendships with the Saints It is our honor to walk with you! Links: Baptism PodcastReconciliation & Anointing of the Sick PodcastEucharist Podcast

At Mass, Catholics hear the words of consecration spoken over the bread and wine. How can the Eucharistic mystery and Christ's giving of His Body and Blood strengthen our faith on the path of infertility and loss? In this episode, Jillian and Ann speak with Fr. Paul about the Holy Eucharist. They'll talk about: Seeing the Paschal Mystery as one event, from the Last Supper through Christ's death and resurrectionReceiving Our Lord in our own "broken" bodiesHow we can open our hearts to Jesus and become more like Him through the Eucharist It is our honor to walk with you! Links: Podcast Episode on BaptismPodcast Episode on Reconciliation & Anointing of the Sick

Do you feel desperately in need of healing – spiritually and physically – on the path of infertility and loss? This episode is for you! Jillian and Fr. Paul talk about the "Sacraments of Healing," Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. They'll discuss: Why healing is a necessary part of our path to holinessHow regular Confession can strengthen us in our lives and marriagesIf Catholics on the path of infertility should ask for the Anointing of the Sick It is our honor to walk with you! Links: Springs ExamenPurchase the Examen HerePodcast Episode on Hope Examen podcast series: Relationship with God Relationship with spouseRelationship with othersRelationship with self

This month, we'll be talking with Fr. Paul about the seven sacraments. In each episode, we'll explore one or two of the sacraments and how we can understand them in a new light on the path of infertility. Jillian and Fr. Paul begin with the sacrament of Baptism. They'll discuss: What happens to our soul at Baptism, and why the sacrament should still comfort us even years and decades laterWhy Romans 6:4 shines light on how we are called to live through difficult seasonsHow all Christians are called to bear witness to their Baptismal grace in the world through nourishing the spiritual lives of othersIt is our honor to walk with you!

Are you ready to learn more about the theology of the body? Where to even begin? Who is the theology of the body actually for? What terms do we need to know in order to understand it? Today's episode is part IV of a series on the theology of the body with guests Chris O'Neill, Director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and Trey Weaver, Coordinator of Youth & Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. With Jillian, they'll suggest some resources, texts, and videos to start with or use on your journey of diving deeper into the theology of the body! And don't forget to email your questions to [email protected]! Links: Part I: Getting Started With Theology of the BodyPart II: What does "Theology of the Body" even mean?Part III: What Jesus' Body Teaches Us About Our SufferingJohn Paul II, Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body Theology of the Body ExplainedPaul VI, Humanae VitaeKarol Wojtyła, Love and Responsibility John Paul II, Familiaris ConsortioJohn Paul II, Mulieris DignitatemJohn Paul II, Dives in MisericordiaPaul VI, Gaudium et SpesPaul VI, Lumen GentiumEdward Sri, Men, Women, & The Mystery of LovePatricia Polacco, Luba and The WrenMichael O'Brien, Island of the WorldSigrid Undset, Kristin LavransdatterSheldon Vanauken, A Severe MercyOther resources: The Passion of Christ in the GospelsMoana (2016)Lion KingLife is Beautiful (1997)Babette's Feast (1987)

Father's Day is coming up, so we're having Kenn Cramer back on the podcast to talk about ministering to men and our personal relationships with God the Father. Jillian and Kenn will reflect on: The importance of ministering specifically to men in a season of infertility/lossHow parishes can observe Father's Day and Mother's Day in a way that honors the varied experiences of people in the pewsGrowing in relationship with God the Father Links: How Can We Educate Our Priests About Infertility? w/ Kenn Cramer Infertility Awareness Mother's Day resource for pastors