What makes a lesson so memorable that a child will carry it in their heart for a lifetime? Corinne Cathcart has accompanied hundreds of children to the Lord's table as they celebrate their first Eucharist, from her days as a teenage catechist in Cincinnati to her current role as Elementary Faith Formation Coordinator at Blessed Sacrament. Drawing on Jesus' own teaching style—engaging storytelling, real-world examples, and big surprises—Corinne shares unforgettable object lessons from sacramental prep retreats, including the raw egg versus hard-boiled egg demonstration that shows how sacraments change us on the inside even when we look the same on the outside. The absolute best lesson? When second graders experience the Last Supper with Jesus at their retreat, complete with stone wall backdrop, dimmed lights, volunteers dressed as apostles, and Jesus himself kneeling to wash feet and break bread, saying, "This is my body given up for you." Connecting this powerful moment to today's Gospel of the road to Emmaus, Corinne reflects on that stunning, surprising, unforgettable moment at the dinner table when Cleopas and his friend recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread. As children prepare to receive their first Eucharist, may they—and all of us—never forget to recognize Jesus every time the bread is broken.

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Corinne was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, but has been a member of the Blessed Sacrament community for 14 years. She earned a bachelor's degree from Ohio State University, where she met her husband of over 25 years, and a Master's in Education from the University of Cincinnati. She was a second grade Catholic school teacher in Cincinnati before moving here when her husband started working for Dow Chemical. She loves working with the littles of the Blessed Sacrament family as the Children's Faith Formation Coordinator. When she's not at work, you'll find her with her nose in a book or learning something new!

What does it take for faith to move from something taught by our parents to something we truly own? Jean Thiele shares her powerful conversion story, rooted in 1 Peter 1:8-9—a verse she didn't understand at first but heard proclaimed three times in one weekend until she finally "got it." At age 37, Jean experienced an indescribable joy when God spoke to her through Scripture for the first time, transforming her understanding of Eucharist and the significance of Jesus' death and resurrection. She connects her mountaintop experience with the ongoing challenge of doubt, finding kinship with Doubting Thomas and discovering that the trials in her life—skepticism, anxiety, and uncertainty—have become the very areas God has transformed into her strengths. Drawing on the first reading's account of the early community enlivened by the Holy Spirit after Pentecost, Jean reflects on how she sees that same Spirit at work today in Christ Renews His Parish and in communities of believers breaking open the Word together. Because without Jesus dying on the cross, we would not know the Holy Spirit as we do now. So as we enter the Easter season, Jean invites us to shake off our worries and dance to "Shake" by MercyMe—just as she does before every Christ Renews meeting.

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Jean Thiele was born and raised in Iron Mountain Michigan and attended St. Mary and St. Joseph grade school. In 1978, she graduated from Iron Mountain High School. She attended Michigan State University and graduated in 1982 with a bachelor in Nursing and in 1992 with a Masters in Geriatric Nursing. She later received a certificate to become a Lay Minister in the Saginaw Diocese and after 4 years became a Spiritual Director from the Dominican Center in Farmington Hills Michigan. She is a grief facilitator, centering prayer practitioner, and retreat leader. She loves biking with her husband, Scott, golf, and traveling with family and friends. Faith to Jean is service from a trinitarian spirituality, having the freedom to make a choice to co-create with our Loving God.

What if the miracle of Easter doesn't happen when Jesus rises, but when we actually believe it? Ansley Dauenhauer takes us from childhood memories of giving up chocolate for Lent (and the delicious relief of Easter morning indulgence) to the profound reality of that first Easter—which was nothing like the joyful awakening we experience today. The disciples woke up heavy with grief, wondering if they'd been used, questioning whether Jesus was actually who he said he was. Even as Mary went to tend his body, love drove her forward despite despair. Ansley explores the moment when the miracle truly occurs—not when Jesus is risen, but when the disciples believe. Using spiritual imagination, she wonders if Jesus himself sat up in the tomb in wonder, perhaps even in disbelief, before joyfully shedding his burial cloths and rushing out shouting, "I am risen!" This beautiful meditation on Jesus' full humanity—his questions, his suffering, and his triumphant joy—makes the resurrection feel more relatable and real. Because Jesus lived his questions all the way to the answers, we can trust that God is victorious and death itself is conquered. So enjoy that chocolate Easter bunny without one iota of guilt—Jesus fully understands, and his joy mirrors your own.

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Ansley Dauenhauer is a life-long educator and writer. Her roles in schools, museums, and parish settings have afforded her opportunities to connect with students of all ages through the curricula she has developed on topics that range from Latin programs for elementary school students to leading and writing programs for summer science camps to coordinating the elementary Faith Formation program at Blessed Sacrament to demystifying writing advanced research papers for high school students. Ansley often captures her experiences in essay form, some of which have been published in both local and national presses. She loves to wrestle with complex topics (like Scripture!) through words. Recently, her twin passions of teaching and writing led her to offer Guided Memoir Writing classes and freelance editing services at her venture, The Lofty Quill.

In this episode, Kristyn Russell tells a childhood story about her blunt 9-year-old brother named Jonny who predicted a "flighty" waitress would spill food—and was proven right. But this seemingly simple anecdote opens the door to an exploration of what it truly means to be a prophet. Spoiler alert: prophets aren't fortune tellers. Drawing on Fr. Richard Rohr's image of prophets as "truth tellers," we dive into Isaiah's third Servant Song, where God's agent listens daily to hear the divine voice and speaks in ways that inspire—and enrage. The Servant faces backlash, violence, and shame, yet perseveres with faith that God will vindicate him. We see this Servant as Jesus, but also as us. Each of us is called to be a prophet—to step out of our comfort zones, bring mercy to a merciless world, offer hope to the hopeless, and embody Jesus in the very spaces where we exist. It's hard, it's uncomfortable, but we can do it together. This Holy Week, the challenge is clear: spend time in prayer, ask God to open your ears to hear and give you a tongue that speaks truth, and discern where God is calling you to be his love in your corner of the world. Then go be that. Go be a prophet.

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Kristyn is a Midland native who attended St. Brigid Catholic School before heading to Jefferson and Dow High School. She holds a Master’s degree in Theology from Villanova University and in Strategic Communication from Michigan State University. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Theology with a minor in Communication from Aquinas College. When she’s not at work, she’s usually with her dog, Caspian, kayaking a new river, hiking through the woods, or sitting by a campfire reading a book.

In this this week's episode, Christy Granda leads us on a journey from a playful Barbie Day celebration in the Faith Formation Office to the profound mystery of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Exploring the two definitions of resurrection—revitalization and the literal restoration of a dead person to life—Christy reflects on what we know (and don't know) about Lazarus: a man who hosted Jesus, lived with his two sisters, became gravely ill, and experienced the final reality of death. Yet Lazarus is silent in Scripture, leaving us to imagine his very human life of good days and bad days, faithful moments and slacker moments, family disagreements and local gossip. The focus then shifts to Jesus' curious command after calling Lazarus from the tomb: "Unbind him and let him go." This phrase takes on dual meaning—the physical removal of burial cloths and the spiritual freedom Jesus offers through his own death and resurrection. We are invited to step from the tomb of our failings, tear off whatever binds us, take the hand of Jesus, and go forth into a newly resurrected life.

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Christy was born and raised in Bay City. She met her husband on a blind date and they worked briefly together at Dow when she was a co-op and he was a contractor. Soon after that their work paths diverged as she finished her degree in Elementary Special Education and he continued as a graphic designer. She worked as a Special Education teacher for 32 years before retiring and immediately jumped into her new role as Adult Faith Formation Coordinator. When asked about the differences between working with adults and children she might reply "so far, nobody has tried to kick, bite or scream at me." She and her husband have two adult children and have been members of Blessed Sacrament for the past 20 plus years.

In this personal episode, Corinne Cathcart shares her family's generations-long experience with retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary eye disease that causes gradual blindness. Through vivid stories—from learning Punnett squares in middle school biology class, to her grandpa's ingenious organizational systems (including the memorable chili made with green beans instead of kidney beans), to her great-uncle Bob confidently striding across an open field—Corinne illustrates how trust transforms the experience of blindness. She connects these family stories to the Gospel account of the man born blind, reflecting on Jesus' strange method of healing with mud and saliva, the cruel popular belief that blindness was caused by sin, and her grandpa's painful experience of being told "no one wanted to see people like him" at a restaurant. Through the beautiful image of her dad's cousin Joyce winning dance competitions while blind, fully trusting her husband Kenny to lead and catch her, Corinne reminds us that Jesus is always reaching out his hand, ready to pull us back in—if only we trust that his hand is right where it's supposed to be. We don't need to see. We just need to close our eyes and trust in him.

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Corinne was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, but has been a member of the Blessed Sacrament community for 14 years. She earned a bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University, where she met her husband of over 25 years, and a Master's in Education from the University of Cincinnati. She was a second grade Catholic school teacher in Cincinnati before moving here when her husband started working for Dow Chemical. She loves working with the littles of the Blessed Sacrament family as the Children's Faith Formation Coordinator. When she's not at work, you'll find her with her nose in a book or learning something new!

In this episode, Kristyn Russell shares the story behind her intentional "spelling mistake" tattoo—a quote from Julian of Norwich that bridges "All shall be well" with the physical well where Jesus met the Samaritan woman. Through vivid storytelling, Kristyn unpacks this beloved Gospel encounter: a woman trudging to the well alone at noon, trying to avoid judgment and gossip, only to meet a Jewish stranger who sees her, knows her, and reveals himself as the Messiah. Kristyn explores why this woman went to the well at the hottest part of the day, what it means to be fully known by Jesus in the mundane and exhausting parts of life, and how that encounter transformed her from someone hiding from people to someone running to share the good news. With vulnerability and hope, Kristyn reflects on her own "well moments" with God and challenges us to recognize where Jesus is meeting us in our mess—and to sit at the well with others who feel isolated, judged, or like mistakes. Because no matter how messy life gets, all shall be well.

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Kristyn is a Midland native who attended St. Brigid Catholic School before heading to Jefferson and Dow High School. She holds a Master’s degree in Theology from Villanova University and in Strategic Communication from Michigan State University. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Theology with a minor in Communication from Aquinas College. When she’s not at work, she’s usually with her dog, Caspian, kayaking a new river, hiking through the woods, or sitting by a campfire reading a book.

In this personal episode, Mike Briggs takes us on a journey to Mount Tabor in the Holy Land, where he and his wife Vicki stood on the very hill where Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John. Mike shares the experience of climbing 1,500 feet up steep switchback roads and witnessing sunbeams breaking through clouds over the Jezreel Valley—a moment that brought the Scripture to life in stunning clarity. Drawing from his pilgrimage and the Catechism's teaching that the Transfiguration gives us "a foretaste of the Kingdom," Mike unpacks three powerful truths: that the Transfiguration offers us a glimpse of our own glorious future, that Jesus continually comforts us with "do not be afraid," and most importantly, that we are called to listen to him and follow. With honest vulnerability, Mike shares his struggle with "monkey brain" and the challenge of listening in silence to Scripture, while also reflecting on times he heard God's call—and times he didn't respond. This episode is an invitation to spend time in the Word, let it speak to us, and discover what we're each called to do.

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Mike was born and raised in Midland and has been a member of Blessed Sacrament since 1985. He graduated from Michigan Tech in 1977 and after spending 2ys at Exxon in Texas, where he met his wife, they moved to Midland to work for Dow Corning. They were married at Blessed Sacrament in 1980 and have 3 children and 8 grandkids. Mike worked for Dow Corning for 30 plus years. He has been active at Blessed Sacrament as a Eucharist Minister, has been involved in Christ Renews for several years, and is also a member of two different small faith groups. In his spare time he volunteers in the science classroom at Central Park and Floyd Elementary schools and enjoys sports.