Say Yes to Holiness Newsletter #362
Inspiration for the week of April 13, 2026
Welcome to the latest edition of the weekly Say Yes to Holiness newsletter—designed to help inspire, encourage and accompany you on the path towards holiness.
Happy Easter!
Yes, it is still Easter! Our Lord is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!
We are merely one week now into the great season of Easter, and there are another seven weeks ahead of us until the great feast of Pentecost. Until then, the Church invites us to immerse ourselves and meditate upon the richness and beauty of the mysteries of the Easter season.
One of the richest mysteries of Easter is one that reflects the fullness of God’s love —His mercy. God’s mercy is limitless and eternal, transcending human understanding and boundaries. But we are still invited to ponder and meditate upon it, particularly during the Easter season.
So, this week’s Food for the Head, Heart, Hands and Feet will help you meditate more deeply upon the mercy of God so that you may more deeply celebrate the beauty, joy and peace of this Easter season on your journey towards holiness…
Food for the Head
“Mercy is the greatest attribute of God.” – Saint Thomas Aquinas
Saint Thomas states the truth also contained in tbe Catechism of the Catholic Church—mercy is the greatest atrribute of God.
Why?
Because God’s mercy is a fundamental attribute that reflects His love and compassion for humanity. He offers His mercy freely to all, and he invites every one of us to repentance.
Why again?
Because God desires to restore and heal relationships, especially with His creation—which is each and every one of us.
Knowing that, spend a portion of the upcoming week to reflect upon God’s great mercy and love for you.
This week, resolve to meditate upon God’s great love and mercy for you.
Food for the Heart
“The greater the sinner, the greater the right he has to My mercy.” – Saint Faustina Kowalska
God’s mercy is a tremendous gift because, whether we admit it or not, each one of us is a sinner. As sinners, we need a way to repair our relationships.
As Saint Faustina tells us, the greater the sinner, the greater our right to God’s mercy.
Wonderfully, because of God’s mercy, He has provided the means for doing exactly that through His sacraments. Restoration occurs most often in the sacrament of Reconciliation.
Unfortunately, many of us fail to make use of this great gift.
But there is no better time than the Easter season to make use of the sacrament so we may know the mercy of Godin an intimate way.
This week, resolve to experience God’s mercy in the sacrament of Reconciliation.
Food for the Hands
“To be merciful is to be like God.” – Saint Teresa of Avila
Saint Teresa of Avila gives us the best resolution that will help us grow in holiness this Easter season—to be merciful.
We should seek to be merciful so that we can be like God.
Pretty simple, eh?
We are called to practice mercy in our lives, following Christ’s example, and as we do this, we become more and more like God.
This week, resolve to live mercy in your daily life.
Food for the Feet
“God’s mercy is infinite; it knows no bounds.” – Saint Catherine of Siena
Saint Catherine of Siena gives us insight into a source of hope for us to reflect upon this Easter season.
The reality that God’s mercy is infinite and knows no bounds.
It means that no matter what, God will love us.
It also means that God’s love knows no bounds for us, too.
Meditate. On. That.
This week, resolve to meditate upon the fact that God’s mercy knows no bounds.
Exhortation
”In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone.” – Saint John of the Cross
Saint John of the Cross tells us that in the evening of our life, we be judged on love alone.
We have insight into what love looks like because of God’s mercy for us.
Love is infinite, enduring, patient, and kind.
But most especially, it is merciful.
We are called to be merciful as the Lord is merciful.
And through love and mercy, we must strive to repair our relationships with God and one another, but most importantly, ourselves.
During this Easter season, there is no greater gift to ponder and immerse yourself in than the mercy of God.
So make sure to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to experience His mercy, so that together we can tell the Master of Death, "NOT TODAY!"
All the best,
Christina
Below are the Latest Happenings In the Say Yes to Holiness Community!
Our Lenten Online Retreat has now concluded, but it is still possible to participate!
This retreat saw us read the spiritual classic, Rooting Out Hidden Faults: How the Particular Examen Conquers Sin by Father James McElhone, CSC. This online retreat included a brief reflection and daily resolution that is designed to help you incorporate the use of a particular examen in your daily life to help you take the next step on our pilgrimage towards holiness.
If you are interested, in using this online retreat during the Easter season, you can simply go to the Say Yes to Holiness podcast (you can also find the podcast on Spotify and Apple) or watch the episodes on the Say Yes to Holiness YouTube channel.
Finally, if you participated in the retreat and would like to make a donation in support of the work associated with this endeavor, you can click the link below.
Latest Post on the Women of the New Evangelization (WINE) blog:
Mercy, Peace and Exultation (April 12)
Harden Not Our Hearts (Mar 9)
Do Not Be Terrified (Nov 16)
Gaining Wisdom of Heart (Sept 9)
Guest appearance on the Equipcast Podcast:
"When God Asks, How Do You Answer?: The Power of 'Yes' with Christina Semmens
Article on Catholic365.com Platform:
We Are All Eucharistic Missionaires!
Latest episode of the Say Yes to Holiness podcast...
Episode #260—”Helping Your Marriage Flourish—1:1 with Katie Zulanas, Executive Director, Couple to Couple League”
Subscribe to the Say Yes to Holiness podcast!
You can listen to the latest episodes of the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere else you listen to podcasts.
You can also watch the podcast on the Say Yes to Holiness YouTube channel
Click Here to Check Out All the Podcast Episodes
The Say Yes to Holiness YouTube Channel
The latest offering is available—the Lenten Book Online Retreat—”Rooting Out Hidden Faults” by Father James McElhone on YouTube—Click here to be taken to the playlist
The content found at the Catholic Leadership Puzzle is now going to be in a book!
Solving the Parish Puzzle: One Person, One Disciple, One Leader at a Time is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, April 21st!
The book focuses upon how we each can help to create life-giving communities where we can become the holy men and women that God created us to be.
The book will become available for purchase on Amazon at 9am on Tuesday, April 21st. Plan to purchase your copy that day to help make this book’s message get out far and wide!
In the interim, here is an endorsement of the book for your consideration…
“From my perspective, the value of Solving the Parish Puzzle is that it brings much-needed clarity and integration to a space that is often fragmented. Parish leaders, ministry teams, and disciples are usually generous and committed, but not always aligned around a common mission or framework. This book provides a language and structure that helps unify efforts, ensuring that what we do is not simply activity, but intentional participation in forming missionary disciples and building communities that truly accompany people toward Christ.
As a leader, what stands out is how the book reinforces that healthy ministries do not emerge from isolated talent or charisma, but from a disciplined commitment to principles that can be learned, practiced, and replicated. By identifying the twelve “puzzle pieces,” it gives leaders a roadmap for sustainability. It shifts the focus from short-term success or programmatic growth to long-term fruitfulness rooted in evangelization, formation, relationships, and accountability. That is exactly what is needed to form leaders who can endure, multiply, and build environments where others can flourish.
What I find most compelling is the insistence on integration and the rejection of the “Christmas tree” mentality. That diagnosis is both honest and accurate. Too many of our parishes are doing a lot but not always moving in the same direction. The call to rediscover the “why,” to place everything at the service of mission, and to intentionally build communities where people are known, formed, and sent, is not only helpful but also, urgent. The Church does not need more activity. It needs greater coherence, deeper conviction, and leaders who can align people and purpose toward the work of making saints.”
Cristofer Pereyra
Chief Executive Officer
Tepeyac Leadership Initiative (TLI)
Again, I pray that you will consider purchasing a copy when it becomes available on April 21st and consider posting a review on Amazon as well.
To check out more resources; click here: The Catholic Leadership Puzzle