Search Insights

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

Whatever your plans to celebrate this weekend, we hope you have a peaceful Christmas that fills your heart with joy.

Here are our top picks for the week...

READ: Celebrating Mary’s Birthing Body This Christmas
Each year, we celebrate Jesus entering the world, which was entirely reliant on the blood, sweat, and tears of his mother’s laboring body.

LISTEN: The Best Religious Christmas Song of All Time
We asked, you answered! Brought to you by our Instagram community, here is the definitive FemCatholic ranking of best religious Christmas songs of all time.

WATCH: The Best (and Healthiest) Holiday Romance Movies
Looking for a healthy, relatable holiday romance to capture that seasonal magic while also demonstrating what it really means to love another person?

We're leaning into the season

It’s a season that can be stressful with a lot on our to-do lists (from work to Christmas shopping) — plus the added stress of navigating covid. But we don’t want to let that hold us back from savoring this special time of year.

Sharing joy
We hear a lot about joy in the Mass readings during Advent as we prepare our hearts for Christmas.

Joy is meant to be shared, so we ask our team (co-founder and section editors) what is bringing them joy right now. Here are some of the answers:

“The way downtown is decorated with lights for the season.” —Emily

“Taking our kids to pick out our Christmas tree! Also love this video as a fan of both Ed Sheeran and Elton John.” —Victoria

“Christmas music and lighting holiday candles.” —Sophie

“Do cookies with Christmas M&Ms count?” —Kelly

“Reading and drinking tea by the Christmas tree!” —Danielle

“Blending together versions of my and my husband’s families’ Advent/Christmas traditions and starting our own!” —Mary Grace

What’s bringing YOU joy? Let us know.

Here are a few other top picks for the week...

READ: Doctor urges women to listen to their bodies after spotting her own tumor
Back pain, bloating, caused urogynecologist Dr. Jocelyn Fitzgerald to ask for an ultrasound. Her tumor was benign but she hopes women stop ignoring pain.

LISTEN: Advent Songs by The Porter's Gate
We have a full week of Advent to go before Christmas. This album is perfect for finding quiet moments to prepare your heart amidst the hustle leading up to the big celebration.

WATCH: Navigating Tricky Conversations, Family, and Boundaries over the Holidays
Licensed therapist Regina Boyd helps you prepare to have conversations with family and set boundaries.

We never thought grocery shopping would be the highlight of our social lives.

"It's like I got my fix on Thanksgiving and now I'm back to lonely life locked in my apartment" - a FemCatholic team member

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?
We say the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year. Is is because of the beautiful weather? Nope.
Is it because Christmas lights are pretty? They are but I mean… come on.

No, the reason the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year is because it is a season of connection! Christmas gatherings, giving to loved ones - this time of year is truly special because it brings people together in the “most wonderful” way.

Women in particular need female friendships to thrive. Both extroverts and introverts.

How are you handling the pandemic? Reply and let us know what's been keeping you sane or bringing you some holiday joy. We'll share in an upcoming newsletter.

Here are a few other top picks for the week...

READ: Myanmar nun among BBC’s 100 Women of 2021
Half of BBC’s "100 Women" of the year are of Afghan origin who have been the targets of the Taliban. Among the others is Catholic nun Sister Ann Rose Nu Tawng of Myanmar.

FOLLOW: Jen Fulwiler on Instagram
The standup comic, bestselling author, and mom of six is one of our favorite follows on social media. She keeps us laughing with relatable Reels, memes, and just being herself!

WATCH: Authentic Connection and Emotional Intimacy
If the holiday chaos is taking a toll on your relationship, learn from Catholic marriage counselor Regina Boyd on how to revive the spark of intimacy and connection this winter.

The end of Roe v. Wade?

Your feed has probably been blowing up with the abortion debate again. Here’s what you need to know.

What's going on
This week the Supreme Court heard oral arguments for a case known as Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health — and it’s being called “the most significant challenge to Roe v. Wade” in decades.

While SCOTUS likely won’t have a ruling until June 2022, the potential outcome has advocates and protestors from both sides taking to the streets (and to social media).

What might change
If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the Mississippi law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks, it would undermine 50 years of rulings set by the Roe v. Wade precedent. IF Roe were to be overturned, abortion rights would fall to individual states to determine, and many conservative states have laws ready to go that would significantly restrict the access to abortion that has grown throughout our lifetime.

What's not going to change
That life begins at conception. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the drama of the legal battles that determine access to abortion. But a ban at 6 weeks (heartbeat) or 15 weeks or 24 weeks doesn’t change the truth that all life is precious and begins at the moment of conception.

It also doesn’t change that women facing difficult or unplanned pregnancies need support. Many women are in dire circumstances and feel they have no choice but to seek an abortion. Other women are intimidated by the career setbacks of pregnancy and motherhood.

So what do we do?
Whatever the legal status of abortion, we need to do more to support the women who will consider it. That’s what building a culture of life really looks like.

For advice on how to talk about these issues with family, friends, and colleagues check out this past edition of The Insight.

Here are a few other top picks for the week...

READ: What Does the Church Teach About Abortion When it Comes to Maternal Health?
How can we claim to respect the life and dignity of all when it appears to place the burden of carrying even life-threatening pregnancies to term on the shoulders of women?

LISTEN: Dr. Brené Brown: On Holding Boundaries & Facing Our Fear
A validating conversation about how women’s professional work is often segmented or belittled if you’ve ever felt like your expertise has been overlooked or undermined in your field!

WATCH: Learning to Love the F-Word - Embracing Pro-Life Feminism
Whole-life advocate and founder of Rehumanize International, Aimee Murphy explores why true feminism is a pro-life feminism.

We are grateful for you!

After some good food and football yesterday on Thanksgiving, we wanted to take a minute to express our gratitude for you, FemCatholic community.

Although we haven’t been able to gather together in person since the 2019 FemCatholic Conference, our online connections are stronger than ever.

You’ve supported our growth by helping make connections for expert interviews, participating in book clubs, and even submitting articles of your own.

We echo Saint Pope John Paul II in saying, “Thank you, every woman, for the simple fact of being a woman! [yet] simply saying thank you is not enough. Unfortunately, we are heirs to a history which has conditioned us to a remarkable extent. In every time and place, this conditioning has been an obstacle to the progress of women.”

FemCatholic believes women are the greatest untapped resource in the world and the Church. We’re grateful for you and your gifts, and we want to amplify them.

Reply and tell us what you’d be so grateful to see from FemCatholic next year. What’s the biggest problem we could help you solve?

As a gift of gratitude, through Cyber Monday, sign up for a 30-day free trial of the FemCatholic Reader’s Pass and All-Access Pass - no code needed.

Here are a few other top picks for the week...

SHOP: The 2021 FemCatholic Gift Guide
Here are a few of our gift recommendations for any woman in your life — from the professional to the health & wellness enthusiast to the woman who's passionate about her faith.

WATCH: Navigating Tricky Conversations, Family, and Boundaries over the Holidays
If you missed our webinar with Regina Boyd, LHMC, this week, you can still watch it before your next family gathering in the FemCatholic video library!

LISTEN: Healing Through Gratitude
From 'The Science of Happiness' podcast, check out this episode about expressing gratitude and the power of true connection. It's only 17 minutes long and is a great way to continue thinking about gratitude after Thanksgiving.

I was feeling stuck until I remembered this three-step process.

Hi, it’s Sam, Founder of FemCatholic. This week I decided to write you a quick note because I remembered something that has helped me SO MUCH in the past, and I wanted to tell you about it.

In two short weeks, I’m finishing maternity leave and going back to my 9-5 in Corporate America. Work pays the bills, but sometimes it just feels like a grind. Especially during the pandemic-that-never-ends.

But on Tuesday I had a call with a colleague that really sparked joy in me at the thought of going back to work. Here’s why: two years ago, I met another mom at work and realized that while I’ve always used my gift for organizing group events at Church, I had never tapped into this gift at my day job. So I decided to take one small step and create a Parents Coffee Chat.

Fast Forward two years (and one pandemic) later, and our Parents' Group at my company has grown enterprise-wide and gained support from all across the organization. But most importantly, it’s an outlet for me that brings me so much joy and energy.

I posted about this on Instagram and it sounds like a lot of you would like to learn more about how to discern the one small thing that will bring you joy. So if you want to join, this weekend I’m going to host a mini-series on “Finding your FIAT” — a.k.a. the one thing that will bring you joy right now.

Starting Friday, I’ll make one video a day and share more about my process for discerning these “Little Yeses” in my life, and by Sunday you can commit to a “Little Yes” of your own leading up to the Holidays. You will also get to be part of a community of other women just like you. It’ll be a blast!

Not sure if or when we will do this again, but if you’re in for this weekend, join here.

Here are a few other top picks for the week...

READ: I Suffered For Years From Untreated ADHD – And It Didn't Look Like What You'd Expect
How often do you hear about ADHD from a woman's perspective? "I would lie in bed desperate to do the things I cared about, but I was immobilized."

WATCH: Trusting God with the Real You
Vulnerability opens the door to intimacy. When we trust God with who we really are, what we truly think. and what we actually need (no matter how scary or ugly it might feel at first), it can totally transform your spiritual life.

FOLLOW: @Lillian_Fallon
Lillian is one of our favorites follows on Instagram. Not only is she all about uniting the interior and exterior of the human person through personal style, she also keeps it real when talking about dating, expectations, and more.

Climate change is top-of-mind for world leaders right now. Here's why.

For the past two weeks, world leaders have gathered in Glasgow at a UN climate change conference called COP26. Faith leaders have been especially engaged in the conversation this year, including one of our heroes, Molly Burhans.

As a quick reminder
Catholics understand care for creation through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching — a.k.a. building a just society and living lives following Jesus' example, even amidst the challenges of modern society.

It has become an increasingly important issue in the past few years. JPII, Pope Benedict XVI (the "Green Pope), and Pope Francis have all addressed climate change during their papacies. In his 2016 message for World Day of Care for Creation, Pope Francis even called "care for our common home" a new corporal and spiritual work of mercy (i.e. actions that all Catholics should do!).

That means Catholics are called to pray and act
Here are three action steps you can take:

(1) Use your voice and rights to communicate to people in leadership – from your workplace to national politicians – and let them know how crucial it is to implement policies that care for creation.
(2) Take time to think about what lifestyle changes you can make to better care for creation.
(3) Join people around the world in prayer for the conversion of hearts and the courage we need to take action.

Not everyone can be vegan or go plastic-free or buy an electric car, but everyone can do something.

Do it for the girls
And in case you needed a little extra motivation, you should know that climate change will impact women disproportionately. Pope Francis's document, Laudato Si', calls for environmental justice because of this reality that the most vulnerable populations in the world will be impacted sooner and more severely.

Taking a hopeful approach
If we don't have hope, how could we ever expect change?

"This is a moment to dream big, to rethink our priorities – what we value, what we want, what we seek – and re-plan our future, committing to act in our daily life on what we have dreamed of. The time to act, and to act together, is now!" —Pope Francis

Here are a few other top picks for the week...

SAVE THE DATE: Webinar to Prep for the Holidays
Register for the next FemCatholic webinar: 'Navigating Tricky Conversations, Family, and Boundaries over the Holidays: A Conversation with Regina Boyd, LMHC' to prep yourself for the holidays.

‍READ: How To Financially Prepare For Maternity Leave
There’s no promise of paid leave for parents in the US. Translation: If you're adding a member to the fam, it's on you to make a plan to afford the necessary time off. The Skimm put together this guide to help you.

WATCH: Pope Francis's 3-Word Prayer Tip
We're big fans of simple, honest prayer. In his General Audience this week, Pope Francis dropped some wisdom on a simple prayer (just three words) that can transform your day (and your life).

How are you, really?

“How are you this week?”
“I just finished crying about stress and life lol. How are you?”
“I’m getting my butt kicked. 12-15 hour work days.”
“Yup. Same.”

Can't shake the burnout
If you’re feeling stressed, you’re not alone. The collective trauma of the past 20 months is weighing on all of us. And while we don’t have the isolation of a total shutdown as our present reality, there are new stressors like navigating a return to the office or balancing risk versus a return to “normal.” Not to mention that the responsibility of caring for others tends to fall to women.

*and breathe*

Why are we feeling like this?
There are a lot of factors, but this week author and psychologist Adam Grant reminded us that they aren’t all bad. “Burnout isn't due to a lack of motivation. It's caused by a shortage of capacity. There are more interesting people and projects than hours in the day,” he tweeted.

It’s a good reminder to take a step back, think about what things are pushing the limits of our capacity, and see if there are adjustments that can be made.

If nothing else, you can accept the truth that time is finite. You’re only human: you need sleep, exercise, water, and nourishing food — just like the rest of us. There’s no shame in closing your laptop or turning off email notifications for the weekend so you can take care of yourself.

The Church is recognizing the issue
Did you know that every month Pope Francis has a special prayer intentional for the global Church? This month was for people struggling with depression and burnout, but many people picked up on the language in his prayer that focused on stress and overworking, especially.

If you’re like us and struggling, remember the pope (and the whole Church) is praying especially for you this month. And don’t forget that you can pray to ask God for help when you’re feeling overwhelmed, too.

Here are a few other top picks for the week...

‍READ: We Remember Saints Because They’re a Lot Like Us
This New York Times Op-Ed is about how All Saints’ Day reminds us that faith is shaped by our relationships with other people.

WATCH: 'Rest and Resilience' Summit
10 amazing talks that offer resources for the mind, body, heart, and soul of women that they can take forward with a renewed sense of hope as we come out of a traumatic year.

FOLLOW: It's Not That Late with Liv Harrison
Liv's infectious positivity partnered with her love of story, laughter and bringing people together makes this show a must-watch for us.

It's so normal but it doesn't feel normal

From an early age we’re taught that as women, we can get pregnant. Magazines, doctors, and even our parents talk a lot about how to not get pregnant before we’re ready. But still not enough people talk about how common it is for women to get pregnant - and then actually miscarry.

It’s a big secret club that no woman wants to join
As many as 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage (even more for black women) - so women and couples are not alone in this experience. But miscarriage can be an isolating experience, with many women feeling ashamed of or betrayed by their bodies.

So let's change that...
October is National Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month. Up to 46% of women feel alone when they miscarry, and it helps to talk about it. Whether you have had a miscarriage yourself, or just want to be a supportive friend, acknowledging the loss can go a long way.

It's a big conversation that many couples are unprepared for, too.

Big picture
Very little is known about why women miscarry, but some women are passionately searching for answers. And progesterone seems to offer moms and babies a better chance.

Some women are using their political influence to push for paid leave for pregnancy loss. Others are using their gifts to host retreats and write books. We’re grateful to see more people talking about this experience that is so common for women.

Here are a few other top picks for the week...

‍READ: How to Support a Friend Going Through Pregnancy Loss
A bereavement doula shares three do's and don'ts when it comes to supporting a friend through this difficult time.

WATCH: The Cool Girl Trope, Explained
She's not like other girls. She's a COOL girl. But does this fun, junk food-loving "hottie" actually exist? This video explores what's behind the myth.

LISTEN: 'Día de Muertos' Spotify Playlist
Para honrar a los muertos con el más sublime placer terrenal.

What women's equality is supposed to look like in the Church and in the world

October 22 is the feast day of St. Pope John Paul II, who was pope from 1978-2005. While he was one of the most powerful men in the world, JPII took action to advocate for women — in the workplace, in the legislature, and in the Church. Women today continue to fight for their dignity and rights, and need men by their side in this work.

Here's what he said about women's rights
“The growing presence of women in social, economic and political life at the local, national and international levels is thus a very positive development. Women have a full right to become actively involved in all areas of public life, and this right must be affirmed and guaranteed, also, where necessary, through appropriate legislation.”
—Letter to the Fourth World Conference on Women of the United Nations, 1995

And especially about women who work
“Thank you, women who work! You are present and active in every area of life-social, economic, cultural, artistic and political. In this way you make an indispensable contribution.”
—Letter to Women, 1995

Not to mention equal pay
“There is an urgent need to achieve real equality in every area: equal pay for equal work, protection for working mothers, fairness in career advancements, equality of spouses with regard to family rights and the recognition of everything that is part of the rights and duties of citizens in a democratic State. This is a matter of justice but also of necessity.”
—Letter to Women, 1995

Things are changing for women at the Vatican right now
Since most positions are held by bishops, the Roman Curia is overwhelmingly (and unsurprisingly) male. But throughout his papacy — especially the past couple of years — Pope Francis has named women to unprecedented levels of leadership. In his 2020 book Let Us Dream,  the pope highlighted the particular gifts on women in the workplace, even saying women leaders "on the whole reacted better and more quickly than others, making decisions swiftly and communicating them with empathy."

It's 2021 and we're still advocating for women's equality, especially in the Church. But while we are working to change the reality of the situation, we are glad that the highest-ranking men in Church are setting the vision for where we need to go.

Here are a few other top picks for the week...

‍READ: Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle
This groundbreaking book explains why women experience burnout differently than men—and provides a simple, science-based plan to help women minimize stress, manage emotions, and live a more joyful life.

‍WATCH: Sara Blakely Tells Employees about the Sale and Partnership of SPANX
The female founder is an inspiration to us in so many ways. In this celebratory video, she shares how SPANX was built with "feminine principles" in a masculine business world.

DRINK: Out of a FemCatholic Tumbler
Sip your pumpkin coffee from our exclusive FemCatholic tumbler and be reminded every day that your presence is unique and decisive! Available to the first 100 subscribers of our new All-Access pass.

Back-handed compliment of the week

"You look amazing! Have you lost weight?" isn't as nice of a compliment as it sounds.

Even if people mean well
Jonah Hill's Instagram post went viral this week as he asked that people not comment on his body. Acknowledging fans mean well, he wrote, "good or bad I want to politely let you know it's not helpful and doesn't feel good."

As much as those compliments might feel good in the moment, they have an underbelly to them. For some, it might imply they looked bad or worse before. In some ways, they reinforce a thin ideal. And they focus more on a person's physical appearance than their inherent dignity and worth.

Fitness is about so much more than weight loss
As a woman in the spotlight, Adele's weight has always been a topic of conversation at every step of the way in her musical career. But last May when her 100-lb weight loss was revealed, the internet exploded. So much so that her trainer spoke out against the "fat-phobic" comments, even from people praising her transformation. One headline even described her as "unrecognizable," as if her physical appearance wasn't reflective of Adele, the person.

Recently, the singer told British Vogue, "It was never about losing weight." And she's not alone. So many people work out to help manage stress and anxiety — which is exactly what Adele said her workouts were intended for.

Body love 🤟🏽, not shame
God gave us bodies for this earthly life and they are a gift! So, of course, we are called to treat them well. The classic, "your body is a temple" line is actually straight from the Bible. BUT our bodies are a "temple" for the person God made us to be, not our actual selves.

So let's leave weight loss comments in the past, and do more to affirm the inherent dignity and worth of our friends who are struggling to take care of themselves or trying hard to do so. And if you're struggling with "diet culture," here are a few books that can help.

Here are a few other top picks for the week...

READ: A Profession Is Not a Personality
We loved this read from The Atlantic this week about how reducing yourself to any single characteristic, whether it be your title or your job performance, is a deeply damaging act.

WATCH: The Rights of Women: A Conversation with Erika Bachiochi, J.D.
The conversation on women’s rights has not ended, it has evolved. Where do we go from here? Join us for a webinar with legal scholar Erika Bachiochi on Thursday, October 21.

LISTEN: 'Easy On Me'
Adele dropped a new single this week, ahead of her first album release in six years. “I feel like I’ve finally found my feeling again,” she said. The long-awaited album, titled '30,' comes out November 19.

It's a digital world and we're just living in it

Have you ever given up social media for Lent? We've heard it's one of the most common things for people to fast from each year.

Lent came early this year
On Monday, you probably noticed Instagram and Facebook were OOO.

We couldn’t help but cringe every time we opened the app throughout the day, only to realize our favorite little dopamine hit wasn’t available. It was a good exercise in self-awareness, though! And a reminder of why people use Lent to curb their social media habits and focus more on real life.

Even though it’s “just an app” there was still a sense of something missing and with Facebook and Instagram, many users flocked to Twitter and TikTok to fill their social media cup instead.

Maybe we would be better off without Facebook
Frances Haugen, a former data scientist at Facebook, was described as the company's "worst nightmare" as she brought some of the company's controversies to light on Capitol Hill this week.

She confirmed what a lot of us feared about the tech giant: that they are aware of the harmful side of social media — especially for young women on Instagram — and they still go after young users to get them hooked on the platform.

But it's not all bad
It's important to remember that social media is a tool that serves us. We’re called to be a force for good in the world — and that includes the digital world, too.

Pope Benedict XVI wrote how the popularity of social media is a response to the "fundamental desire of people to communicate and to relate to each other. This desire for communication and friendship is rooted in our very nature as human beings and cannot be adequately understood as a response to technical innovations." And he expressed that the "digital continent" brings both new gifts and new responsibilities.

We definitely feel that, as we've been so lucky to use FemCatholic’s digital channels to build a community of thousands of incredible Catholic women!

Here are a few other top picks for the week...

READ: Teen surfer rescues 3 men caught in a rip current at Jersey Shore
We were super inspired by the story of Kayla Smith,16-year-old heroine of the week!

‍WATCH: Cultivating Leisure During Quarantine
In this talk, Simone Rizkallah discusses the difference between leisure and relaxation, and practical tips for creating more space for leisure in your life.

FOLLOW: @Real_Plus_True
Speaking of using digital media for good, this project is on a mission to share the Catechism in the modern world with captivating and relevant video content.