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Ave Maria Press and CatholicMom.com Team Up to Provide Spiritual Support for Pregnant Women

CatholicMom.com and Ave Maria Press are partnering in A CatholicMom.com Project, a Lenten effort to provide spiritual support to expectant mothers. The goal of the project is to send 50 copies of A Catholic Mother's Companion to Pregnancy—a week-by-week spiritual companion for pregnant women—to 20 pregnancy centers around the United States. For each $10 donation made, one book will be sent to a pregnancy center (see list here online) and donations will be used solely toward the cost of the book and shipping. Sarah Reinhard, author of A Catholic Mother’s Companion to Pregnancy, explains her vision: “I used to volunteer in a pregnancy center. It broke my heart. After I had my own kids, women who seek help from pregnancy centers became an even more intimate part of my prayers. To share my book with them is the least I can do.” The driving force of this campaign is the knowledge that there are many women who can benefit from the guidance and companionship of the book, but can’t afford it or wouldn’t otherwise know it is available. There are many ways to show support for women in unplanned pregnancies who make courageous decision to carry their pregnancies to term. Encouraging these young and often scared women to walk with Mary is one important way. Pregnancy centers will benefit by receiving a free resource for the women they serve. Those interested in contributing or sharing the campaign with others can visit the project’s IndieGoGo page. Contributors simply make donations in $10 increments and Ave Maria Press handles the rest. For more information and for a full list of the participating pregnancy centers, please visit the CatholicMom.com Project's IndieGoGo Page.

Loyola Maryland Alumni Celebrate Parish's Renewal in Forthcoming AMP Book

Excerpted from the website of Loyola magazine: "As visitors enter the Church of the Nativity in Timonium, MD, for the first time, they notice the café tables where parishioners can sip coffee after Mass. Flatscreen TVs are everywhere. If they walk farther in, they come across the preschoolers’ room and classrooms where the older children participate in Sunday morning activities. Through glass windows, they can also see the pews in the church itself and more TV screens. If it’s Sunday, they rub shoulders with the people gathered in the church, members of a parish that is growing in population, volunteerism, giving, and—the pastor has reason to believe—in spirituality." Read the whole article here

Cooper O’Boyle to Begin Tour of Catholic Women’s Blogs December 1, 2012

Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle is an award-winning author and speaker and the EWTN television host of Everyday Blessings for Catholic Moms, which she created. Rev. Leo Patalinghug praises her newly released book, Rooted in Love: Our Calling as Catholic Women, saying: “Donna-Marie's practical wisdom helps women to see their lofty vocation, but in a down-to-earth way.” On December 1st, Donna-Marie begins a tour of well-known Catholic blogs as part of her book’s launch. Her fans and friends are invited to follow along as excerpts, reviews, and musings on Rooted in Love are featured by prominent Catholic bloggers. Stops on the Rooted in Love blog tour schedule currently include: December 1st: Excerpt on Karen Edmisten by Karen Edmisten December 2nd: Author Q&A on CatholicMom.com by Lisa Hendey December 3rd: Post on Blessed by God by Amy Ekblad December 4th: Author Q&A on Not Strictly Spiritual by Mary DeTurris Poust December 5th: Podcast interview on Among Women by Pat Gohn December 6th: Excerpt on Kate Wicker by Kate Wicker December 7th: Author Q&A on Peace Garden Mama by Roxane Salonen December 8th: Post on Seasons of Grace by Kathy Schiffer December 9th: Post on Amazing Catechists by Lisa Mladinich December 10th: Review on A Catholic Mom in Hawaii by Esther Gefroh December 11th: Review on Snoring Scholar by Sarah Reinhard December 12th: Post on Marge Mix by Marge Fenelon December 13th: Review on A Catholic Mom Climbing the Pillars by Ebeth Weidner December 14th: Post on Catholic Fire by Jean Heimann

Free Mobile App Combining Advent and the Rosary

Family Rosary offers free mobile app for Advent and Christmas to help people stay focused on the true meaning of the season. EASTON, Mass. With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can be difficult keeping Christ in Christmas. This year, though, it will be a lot easier, thanks to a free mobile app for Advent from Family Rosary. Featuring meditative music with scripture and reflections, this new app for iPhone, iPads, and Smartphones is the perfect spiritual aid while standing in line to buy presents or trekking to stores in the wee hours for that midnight madness sale. When Advent begins on Sunday, Dec. 2, the mobile app will feature a new prayer each day to help keep the focus right where it needs to be. Best of all, the Advent mobile app from Family Rosary is free! It can be downloaded on iTunes or by going to m.FamilyRosary.org/Xmas. It’s a great way to start each day during Advent with a moment of reflection on the spiritual significance of the season. This is the second mobile app offered by Family Rosary. The first–Pray the Rosary–has already topped 20,000 in downloads at iTunes. Family Rosary, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, is a member ministry Holy Cross Family Ministries, which was founded by Servant of God Father Patrick Peyton, CSC, in 1942. A candidate for sainthood, Father Peyton was one of the most influential American Catholic priests of the 20th century. Known as the “Rosary Priest,” he encouraged millions of people to pray the Rosary daily. In the spirit of its founder, Servant of God Father Patrick Peyton, CSC, Holy Cross Family Ministries encourages family prayer, especially the Rosary, to support the spiritual well-being of the family. For more information, call 800-299-7729 or visit www.FamilyRosary.org.

Chris Haw Begins Tour of Spirituality Blogs

Chris Haw is the bestselling coauthor of Jesus for President and his newly released book, From Willow Creek to Sacred Heart, has been hailed by Publishers Weekly as "A refreshing dose of respect, objectivity, and love." In From Willow Creek to Sacred Heart, Haw recounts his spiritual journey through evangelical Christianity and his return to Catholicism. Today he begins a tour of well-known spirituality blogs as part of the launch. Haw's fans and friends are invited to follow along as excerpts, reviews, and musings on From Willow Creek to Sacred Heart are featured on prominent spirituality blogs. Stops on the From Willow Creek to Sacred Heart blog tour schedule currently include: October 25th: The Everyday Awakening by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove October 26th: Dating God by Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M. October 29th: The Pangea Blog by Kurt Willems October 31st: Times Union by Fran Rossi Szpylczyn November 1st: Experimental Theology by Richard Beck

Lisa Hendey Welcomed as New Patheos Blogger

Lisa Hendey, Ave Maria Press author and founder of CatholicMom.com, has been added to the ranks of Patheos bloggers. According to Elizabeth Scalia, managing editor of the Catholic portal at Patheos and forthcoming Ave Maria Press author: "During this Year of Faith, our Catholic Channel at Patheos continues to be blessed with an influx of talented, creative and interesting writers. About ten days ago we welcomed Sam Rocha and Margaret Rose Realy—two writers who could not be more disparate in their approaches to faith and yet worship in commonality—and today we are thrilled to add the astonishingly busy founder, editor, writer, speaker, and Catholic publishing entrepreneur Lisa Hendey to the mix with her new blog, which she calls 'A Good Measure'." Read the complete announcement here.

Pray, Win: Rosary Blog Tour and Nook Giveaway to Start October 6, 2012

Sarah A. Reinhard, popular Catholic blogger and speaker, will begin her blog tour on Saturday, October 6th, as part of the launch of her newest book, A Catholic Mother’s Companion to Pregnancy. Reinhard’s fans and friends are invited to follow her virtual travels as she offers guest posts on each of the twenty mysteries of the Rosary. There will be a link in each post guiding readers to a page where they can enter to win a FREE Nook HD Tablet e-reader. Reinhard's tour schedule currently includes: October 6th: The Annunciation on The Anchoress by Elizabeth Scalia October 7th: The Visitation on Of Sound Mind and Spirit by Shelly Kelly October 8th: The Nativity on Riparians at the Gate by Jen Fitz October 9th: The Presentation on Happy Catholic by Julie Davis October 10th: The Finding of Jesus in the Temple on Random Acts of Momness by Ginny Moyer October 11th: The Baptism of Our Lord on Mommy Marginalia by Victoria Watkins October 12th: The Wedding at Cana on The Practicing Catholic by Lisa Schmidt October 13th: The Proclamation of the Kingdom on Shoved to Them by Rebecca Frech October 14th: The Transfiguration on Plot Line and Sinker by Ellen Gable Hrkach October 15th: The Institution of the Eucharist on Rosetta Stone by Michelle Reitemeyer October 16th: The Agony in the Garden on The Kennedy Adventures by Dianna Kennedy October 17th: The Scourging at the Pillar on Franciscan Mom by Barb Szyszkiewicz October 18th: The Crowning of Thorns on Happy Little Homemaker by Jen Steed October 19th: The Carrying of the the Cross on Spiritual Woman Thoughts by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur October 20th: The Crucifixion on This Little Light by Michelle Colasante October 21st: The Resurrection on Columbus Catholic Women by Michele Faehnle October 22nd: The Ascension on Catholic Drinkie by Sarah Vabulas October 23rd: The Descent of the Holy Spirit on Karen Edmisten by Karen Edmisten October 24th: The Assumption on Scrutinies by Dorian Speed October 25th: The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on The Wine Dark Sea by Melanie Betanelli

Ave Maria Press Launches CatholicMom.com Books

Building on the popularity of Lisa M. Hendey’s The Handbook for Catholic Moms and A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms  and her award-winning website CatholicMom.com, Ave Maria Press is pleased to announce the launch of CatholicMom.com Books, which will take place at this week’s Catholic Marketing Network tradeshow in Arlington, Texas. In the spirit of the New Evangelization, and at the forefront of Catholic new media, Hendey and her fellow moms and bloggers celebrate all things faith, family, and fun from a thoroughly Catholic perspective. Through the triumphs and tedium of the everyday, CatholicMom.com Books will encourage and support moms in their vocations, showing how their Catholic faith can be the vital center of their experience. Ave Maria Press’s CatholicMom.com Books will include 1-2 books per year, starting in September 2012 with A Catholic Mother’s Companion to Pregnancy by popular blogger and author Sarah Reinhard. Reinhard’s book accompanies expectant mothers from conception to baptism with weekly reflections and prayers rooted in the mysteries of the Rosary. Due out in 2013 will be a book of Catholic baby names by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur and one by Marge Fenelon on eight Marian virtues for motherhood. Hendey will play an active role in selecting new authors and books for this exciting new series, contributing a foreword for each title and promoting the books on her site and through the thousands who follow her on social media networks. Hendey’s website has seen exponential growth since its inception in 2000 and now welcomes over half a million unique visitors per year: she is the original Catholic mommy blogger. This vibrant online community provides a friendly forum and digital meeting place for Catholic women to exchange stories, experiences, and prayers, and CatholicMom.com Books will be a treasury of wisdom from many of Hendey’s well-known and trusted online contributors and others.