Say Yes to Holiness Newsletter #367
Inspiration for the week of May 18, 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.
He is Ascended! Alleluia!
This last week, the Church celebrated the Feast of the Ascension—the moment when Christ returns to the Father… not to leave us behind, but to draw us upward.
The Ascension is not an ending.
It is a commissioning.
A calling.
An invitation to live with our hearts fixed on heaven while our feet remain firmly planted on earth.
So this week’s Food for the Head, Heart, Hands, and Feet is meant to help you live in that tension—fully present here, but fully oriented toward eternity on our journey towards holiness...
Food for the Head
“People often think of Christian morality as a kind of bargain… but… every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you… into something… either… in harmony with God… or… in a state of war…” — C.S. Lewis
The Ascension reminds us that heaven is real.
But not only that—it is our destination.
Yet what we often forget is this: We are becoming something right now.
Every choice:
shapes our souls
forms our hearts
directs our lives
We are not standing still.
We are either moving toward God… or away from Him.
Jesus’ Ascension calls us higher, but we must choose to follow.
This week, resolve to become more aware of your daily choices—and intentionally choose what leads you toward God.
Food for the Heart
“God walks into your soul with silent step… The more you respond to His gentle pressure, the greater will be your freedom.” — Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen
The Ascension can feel like absence.
But it is actually presence—just in a deeper way.
Because Christ is not gone.
He is closer than ever.
in our soul
in the Eucharist
in our prayer
But His presence is quiet.
Subtle.
Easy to miss.
Unless we are paying attention.
The spiritual life is not about chasing experiences.
It is about responding to presence.
This week, resolve to slow down and become attentive to the quiet ways God is moving in your life.
Food for the Hands
“Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice… doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.” — St. Thérèse of Lisieux
After the Ascension, the disciples didn’t just stand there.
They went.
They acted.
They loved.
And they changed the world.
Not through massive, dramatic actions…
But through faithful, consistent love.
Our mission is no different.
We don’t need to do everything.
We just need to do what is ours to do—with love.
This week, resolve to embrace your daily responsibilities as your mission field—and do them with great love.
Food for the Feet
“When uncertain about God’s will… we neglect things that are God’s will for us every day… Lacking answers about the future, we should… live today to the full.” — Fr. Jacques Philippe
After the Ascension, the disciples had questions.
What now?
Where do we go?
What does this mean?
And yet—they were told to wait… and to be faithful.
We do the same thing as the disciples did.
We want clarity about the future.
But God gives us something better:
The present moment.
His will is not hidden.
It is already in front of us.
This week, resolve to let go of trying to control the future—and fully live the responsibilities God has given you today.
Exhortation
“The only person who is free is the one who lives for Christ.” — St. John Chrysostom
The Ascension of the Lord reveals where true freedom is found.
Not in doing whatever we want.
But in living for Christ.
Because when we live for Him:
our life has purpose
our suffering has meaning
our love has power
And our destination becomes clear.
Heaven is not just a place we hope for.
It is a life we begin now.
Your Mission This Week
Be intentional in your choices
Pay attention to God’s quiet presence
Love faithfully in small ways
Live fully in the present moment
Remember, the Ascension is not Christ leaving.
It is Christ leading.
Leading us higher.
Calling us forward.
Inviting us into more.
So this week, keep doing WHATEVER IT TAKES to lift your heart, your mind, and your life toward heaven, so that together, we can tell the Master of Death, “NOT TODAY.”
All the best,
Christina
PS—In case you missed it, my new book, Solving the Parish Puzzle: One Person, One Disciple, One Leader at a Time is now available for purchase on Amazon.
Below are the Latest Happenings In the Say Yes to Holiness Community!
My christinasemmens.com website is LIVE!
I will be traveling the next few weeks and plan to be blogging daily, so you can follow along by checking out the website. Would love to know what you think, AND if you would like to work with me, make sure to sign up for a FREE consultation. Looking forward to hearing from you!
The latest Say Yes to Holiness Online Retreat is still available!
This retreat saw us read the spiritual classic, Rooting Out Hidden Faults: How the Particular Examen Conquers Sin by Father James McElhone, CSC. If you are interested, simply go to the Say Yes to Holiness podcast (plus, you can find the podcast on Spotify and Apple) or watch the episodes on the Say Yes to Holiness YouTube channel.
Finally, if you 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 #261
“Finding Purpose and Joy in the Easter Season”
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
Update from The Catholic Leadership Puzzle
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!
Zoom Q&A about my new book, Solving the Parish Puzzle: One Person, One Disciple, One Leader at a Time will be happening on Wednesday, June 3rd at 7pmCST.
More information about participating will be coming soon. In the interim, send any questions you want answered to me at: christinasemmens@gmail.com
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, and is a compilation of the work I have been sharing on The Catholic Leadership Puzzle Substack.
I encourage you to read the reviews below to help you determine if you should pick up a copy today…
“Christina's book is both thoughtful and practical. I appreciate the careful attention to crafting a solid plan for reinvigorating and reenergizing parish life from from the 'ground up' - in other words, she writes with wisdom and experience about starting small and engaging individuals and small groups who can then passionately spread this message like fire. Helpful resource for anyone seeking to help take their parish community to a place of deep spiritual, practical, and holy love for the Lord and for one another!”—Matthew Koscal
“This book is for anyone who wants to see their parish thrive. Whether you are a priest or lay person, read Solving the Parish Puzzle for clear guidance on taking an average parish to the next level of discipleship. What we have been doing is not working. It’s time for something new. Semmens lays the groundwork so we can put the pieces together.”—Carol Wiget
“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 of the book. If you do purchase a copy, send me an email saying “I purchased your book” and I will make sure you are sent information so you can participate in a special “Zoom Q&A” about the book.
And if you already have a book, please consider posting a review on Amazon as well.
To learn more, click here: The Catholic Leadership Puzzle