The Springs in the Desert Podcast: Catholic Accompaniment Through Infertility

Blessed Holy Week to all! As we turn our eyes toward Calvary, Jillian and Ann will talk about one of the ways that we describe Springs' mission: "Christ, not conception."

They'll share about:
What "Christ, not conception" means to our ministry.
Avoiding the trap of hyper-focusing on conception, especially when it affects our spiritual and emotional wellbeing.
How to talk about infertility with those who are not familiar with the experience.
Seeing Christ, not just the cross carried.

To the Springs community, we wish you a blessed Holy Week. We'll see you on the other side!

Jillian is back on the podcast with a life update and her testimony with how God has been carrying her and her family through a tough season. Providentially, "Carried" is also the theme of our Lenten devotional, so she and Cassandra reflect on letting the Lord bring us through the uncertainties of work and family life.

Cassandra and Jillian share about:
What it means to be "carried" – through Lent and other seasons.
Experiencing the power of prayer and trust in God's presence and providence.
What last message they would leave listeners with as we prepare to enter into Holy Week together.

Links:
Carried Devotional Bundle
Support Springs in the Desert

Our good friend Leigh Snead is back on the pod to talk about her new book, Infertile But Fruitful, Finding Fulfillment When You Can’t Conceive. She and Ann dig into some of the big themes in the book:
Why was this the right time to write a book on infertility
What it was like revisiting the memories – and emotions – of that time when she and her husband were “in the thick of it”
The value of sharing our infertility struggles with others and asking for prayers
And a lot more!
Leigh’s book is engaging, funny, encouraging, and real. She’s “our people,” and her book, and this conversation, feels like a heart-to-heart with a friend.

Links:
Pick up Leigh’s book at Sophia Press, or your favorite bookseller.
Read more about why Leigh wrote this book on The Catholic Association’s Substack.
If you missed it the first time, catch Cassandra and Leigh’s pre-book release conversation.

Cassandra welcomes her husband Michael to the podcast to talk about all things pilgrimage! The Taylors share about:
Walking the Camino together last year with a group of students.

How pilgrimages help you open up space for God in your life.

The witness that couples without children give to the Church.

By focusing on just the next kilometer instead of being overwhelmed by the entire journey, we can approach all of life like a pilgrimage, and let God lead us through it.

Links:
Camino de Santiago – Pilgrim's Office
Support Springs in the Desert!

We often talk about infertility being a "path," and sometimes we can walk that path literally! Today we're welcoming community members Mark and Carissa to the podcast to share about their life-changing pilgrimage to the Holy Land and beyond. They'll share about:
What it was like to walk where Jesus Himself had walked.
What insights and healing they received regarding living through a season of infertility.
The advice that they would give to couples who would like to go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land themselves.
It is our honor to walk this path with you!

Links:
Mark and Carissa's YouTube Channel