What floats your boat with the CST

August 3, 2026 by Leave a Comment

What Floats Your Boat with the CST

What floats your boat? Hear inspiring testimonies about faith and trust in God from the women of Magnificat.

A Conversation on Faith, Community, and Trust in God

As the final day of a memorable retreat cruise came to a close, the women of Magnificat gathered for one last inspiring conversation centered around a simple yet profound question: “What floats your boat?” In other words, what keeps you spiritually afloat through the storms and challenges of life?

In this heartfelt panel discussion, members of the Some Women podcast share personal testimonies of faith, healing, and transformation. Their answers reveal common themes that resonate deeply with every Christian journey.

For some, what keeps them afloat is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ—learning to surrender control and allow Him to guide the course of life. Others speak of the power of community, emphasizing that faith was never meant to be lived alone. Through prayer groups, friendships, and ministries, they have discovered the strength that comes from walking alongside fellow believers.

The discussion also highlights the importance of Scripture and the Sacraments, particularly the Eucharist, as essential sources of spiritual nourishment. Panelists share how obedience to God’s will, even during difficult and uncertain times, has carried them through life’s storms.

Several touching testimonies underscore the beauty of God’s faithfulness: overcoming fear, receiving answers to years of prayer, witnessing family members return to the faith, and experiencing the peace that comes through complete trust and surrender to God.

Audience members add their own reflections, speaking about the goodness of God, unconditional love, perseverance, forgiveness, and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit. A special contribution from Fr. John reminds listeners that true intimacy is found not merely in human relationships but in a deep, spiritual relationship with God and one another.

This episode is a beautiful reminder that while everyone’s “boat” may look different, the source of our strength is the same. Whether through community, prayer, the sacraments, trust, or surrender, Jesus Christ remains the One who keeps us afloat.

Key Themes:

  • Trusting God through every season of life
  • The power of Christian community
  • The importance of Scripture and the Sacraments
  • Learning surrender and obedience
  • Persevering through trials with faith
  • Growing in intimacy with God
  • Recognizing the work of the Holy Spirit in everyday life

No matter what storms may come, this conversation encourages us to ask ourselves: What truly floats our boat—and are we allowing Christ to be our captain?

The Central Service Team (CST) talk was given on February 13, 2026, the 5th day of the Water Walking Women Retreat on the Caribbean Visitation Cruise Jan.31– Feb. 14, 2026.

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Staying on Course by Jimmy Seghers

July 10, 2026 by Leave a Comment

In this episode, Jimmy Seghers highlights the path to holiness with insights drawn from scripture and personal experiences.Staying on Course by Jimmy Seghers

Guest: Jimmy Seghers, Author of The Fullness of Truth

Episode Summary

In this moving and deeply spiritual episode, renowned scripture scholar and apologist Jimmy Seghers shares profound insights on the journey toward true holiness. Drawing from the Song of Songs and the wisdom of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Jimmy breaks down the stages of spiritual growth—the purgative, illuminative, and unitive ways—and challenges listeners to fully surrender their wills to Christ.

Through personal anecdotes of conversion, historical saintly examples, and a striking nautical analogy, Jimmy explains that holiness is not about our own spectacular actions but    about allowing Christ to live and love through us in the present moment.

Key Themes & Takeaways

  • The Three Kisses of Spiritual Life: Utilizing St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s 87 homilies on the Song of Songs, Jimmy explores the developmental stages of faith:
    • The Kiss of the Feet (The Purgative Way): The stage of intense repentance, turning away from mortal sin, and entering life from death (symbolized by Mary Magdalene).
    • The Kiss of the Hand (The Illuminative Way): A period of spiritual adolescence where love shifts from emotional and selfish to a committed, self-sacrificing will (symbolized by Peter being pulled from the waves).
    • The Kiss of the Mouth (The Unitive Way): The way of perfection and spiritual adulthood where our entire being is united with God’s will.
  • The Danger of Attachments: Many Christians get “stuck” in the illuminative way because of earthly attachments. Like Gulliver tied down by tiny strings, we are often held back from wholehearted love by small, subtle attachments rather than a desire for grievous sin.
  • The 211° vs. 1° Misconception: Jimmy shares a personal realization about his own spiritual life. He thought he was “hot water” at 211° needing just one more degree to become a powerhouse. Instead, he realized he was at 1°, and Christ is the 211° powerhouse we must surrender to.
  • Holiness in the Ordinary: Authentic love is an act of the will, not a feeling. True transformation happens when ordinary, mundane actions (like changing diapers or cleaning toilets) are done strictly out of love for Christ.
  • The Danger of Being Two Degrees Off: In navigating a ship from Los Angeles to Hawaii, being a mere 2 degrees off course means being completely lost at sea. Regular course correction through scripture and grace is essential to stay aligned with God’s will.

This talk by Jimmy Seghers was given on February 1, 2026, the 1st day of the Water Walking Women Retreat on the Caribbean Visitation Cruise Jan.31st– Feb. 14th 2026.

 

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Fr. Erik Villa Saturday Homily- The Healing Power of Scars

May 22, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Join Fr. Erik Villa in a Saturday Mass that reflects on healing and the significance of scars in our lives.Episode: 03 Saturday Mass – Healing Power of Scars – Fr. Erik Villa

Title: Saturday Mass: Healing, Scars, and the Gift of Encounter

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This special Saturday liturgy from the Magnificat Conference in Tampa is a profound exploration of healing, fraternity, and the providence of God. The session opens with a moving moment of solidarity as Bishop David Toups invites the assembly to pray for the families in his diocese grieving the victims of recent tragic floods in Texas.

 

In the homily, Fr. Erick Villa shares a deeply personal “testimony of magnification.” He reflects on his childhood in the Philippines, his 16-year separation from his mother, and the physical scars he carries from his youth. Fr. Erick reframes these marks not as signs of trauma, but as “reminders that the wounds actually healed.” Drawing parallels to the life of Joseph in Genesis, he encourages listeners to see how God intertwines our paths—even through betrayal and displacement—to fulfill a divine plan.

 

Key Takeaways

  • Building the Body: Bishop Toups emphasizes the essential nature of the “lay priesthood,” noting that the love of the laity is what strengthens and holies the ordained clergy.
  • Bitter or Better: Fr. Erick discusses the choice we face when dealing with dysfunctional pasts or family separations. He argues that our experiences can either harden us or prepare us for a unique mission.
  • The Theology of Scars: Physical and emotional scars are proof of God’s healing power. They serve as a “normalizing” force that proves we have lived, struggled, and been restored.
  • A “Global” Church: Fr. Erick highlights the beauty of the universal Church, sharing how a Vietnamese seminarian invited a Filipino to minister in the United States.
  • Proclaiming from the Housetops: A call to live as “tangible expressions of love,” moving from the interior “domestic church” to the public square with boldness.

 

Scriptures Referenced

Genesis 49-50: The burial of Jacob and Joseph’s forgiveness of his brothers (“Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good”).

Matthew 10:24-33: The call to fearlessness and the reminder that we are worth “more than many sparrows.”

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Why Daily Prayer is the Foundation of Catholic Life

August 21, 2025 by Leave a Comment

Discover why daily prayer is the foundation of Catholic life. Learn what the Catechism teaches and how prayer transforms faith into relationship.Do you ever feel like your faith life is “missing something”? You go to Mass on Sunday, maybe even volunteer at your parish, but deep inside there’s a longing for something more. The truth is, without daily prayer, our faith risks becoming just a routine instead of a relationship.

Why Prayer Matters So Much

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us: “Prayer is the life of the new heart. It ought to animate us at every moment” (CCC 2697). In other words, prayer isn’t a box to check—it’s the very breath of our spiritual lives. Just as our bodies can’t survive without air, our souls can’t thrive without prayer.

Prayer is where we:

  • Encounter God personally

  • Receive strength for daily struggles

  • Grow in trust and love for Him

It’s not about saying the “right words.” It’s about showing up before the Father with an open heart.

Starting Small is Enough

If daily prayer feels intimidating, start small. A simple “Thank You, Lord” when you wake up. A quick “Jesus, I trust in You” before a hard meeting. God isn’t waiting for perfection—He’s waiting for you.

A Foundation You Can Build On

Daily prayer becomes the anchor for everything else: the way we love our families, the way we handle challenges, even the way we see the world. When we root ourselves in prayer, we begin to live the Catholic faith not just on Sundays, but every single day.

So ask yourself today: Where can I carve out even two minutes to speak with God? That small step can become the start of a lifelong foundation.

Podcast Episodes on the Prayer Life

Answered Prayer Through Journaling (A Few Minutes with God podcast)

How to Plan Your Prayer Time (A Few Minutes with God podcast)

Power Focused Prayer (A Few Minutes with God podcast)

Microprayers (A Few Minutes with God podcast)

 

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Testimony of Amanda Schneidau

June 11, 2025 by Leave a Comment

Amanda Schneidau shares her faith-filled journey through grief, motherhood, caregiving, and ministry, trusting Christ through every joy and sorrow.Testimony of Amanda Schneidau

Listen to more Magnificat Ministry Testimonies.

Amanda was raised in Louisiana in strong Catholic family and is the 5th of 8 children. She attributes the gift of her own faith to her mother, who did everything with great love. Amanda’s life is a story of Christ calling her more deeply into His Sacred Heart and her struggle to trust Him with every facet of her own heart.

Amanda has been married to her husband, Thomas, for 20 years. Being from large families themselves, they were very open to life.

Unfortunately, Amanda suffered several miscarriages at the beginning of their marriage, but trusted God had a plan for each one of these beautiful souls. They preserved through their loss and grief. The Lord continued to bless them with children and are now raising six children, ages 4-16.

In the past year, she lost her father to an unknown illness, and it was difficult to watch him decline, but the families’ strong faith carried them through the difficult time and Amanda brought Jesus to her father weekly. Amanda’s beloved mother has battled Alzheimer’s for the past 10 years, and she has the privilege to care for her and their relationship continues to grow in a new light filled with peace.

Amanda is the Coordinator of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at St. Margaret Mary School and was recently recognized as a formation leader by the U.S. Association of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. She is looking forward to passing on this beautiful work to more catechists.

Amanda’s favorite verse is “And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” -Luke 2:19

 

This testimony was given to the East St. Tammany/Slidell, Louisiana Chapter on January 2025. The recording is 40 minutes, 20 seconds in length.

 

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us at www.magnificat-ministry.org

Magnificat Store  

Did you know there is a wonderful shopping opportunity just waiting for you? Explore our shopping cart for rosaries, apparel, books, jewelry, statues, CDs, study programs, (ex. Bible studies, Life in the Spirit Seminar, Growth in the Spirit series), and much more. To find great gifts for family, friends and YOU, we invite you to visit    https://store.magnificat-ministry.net

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Testimony of Bishop Gregory Parkes

April 30, 2025 by Leave a Comment

Discover Bishop Gregory Parkes' inspiring journey from finance to the priesthood, following God’s call to serve. Listen to his powerful vocation testimony.Testimony of Bishop Gregory Parkes

Bishop Gregory L. Parkes is the middle child of three boys, born to Ronald and Joan Parkes in Mineola, New York on April 2, 1964. He grew up in a Catholic family that went to church on Sunday. He attended Catholic parochial school through eighth grade and public high school.

Bishop Gregory moved to Daytona, FL for college and graduated from Florida State University with a degree in finance. He worked in banking after his degree and climbed the corporate ladder of success, but he was not at peace.

He started attending daily Mass and regularly made visits to adoration.  The Lord soon called him to the priesthood.

He entered the St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in 1993 and later studied in Rome, where he earned additional degrees in Theology and Canon Law.

He was a priest in the Diocese of Orlando for 12 years, before being appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee.

He adopted as his pastoral motto “To your name give the glory”. Bishop Parkes is presently the fifth bishop of our Diocese of St. Petersburg.

Bishop Parkes currently serves on the Budget and Finance Committee at the USCCB, and on the Board of Trustees of St. Leo University.

We invite you to listen to St. Petersburg’s beloved bishop’s vocation story and how God called him to the priesthood. We give thanks and praise to God for his “Yes” and for doing the will of God as he shepherds.

 

Bishop Gregory Parkes: This testimony was given to the St. Petersburg, FL Chapter in February of 2024.

The recording is 28 min. 40 sec. in length.

 

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us at www.magnificat-ministry.org

Magnificat Store

Did you know there is a wonderful shopping opportunity just waiting for you? Explore our shopping cart for rosaries, apparel, books, jewelry, statues, CDs, study programs, (ex. Bible studies, Life in the Spirit Seminar, Growth in the Spirit series), and much more. To find great gifts for family, friends and YOU, we invite you to visit    https://store.magnificat-ministry.net

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