Say Yes to Holiness Newsletter #371
Inspiration for the week of June 15, 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.
Welcome to the Eleventh week of Ordianry Time and this week’s edition of the Say Yes to Holiness newsletter.
First, thank you for your prayers last week on Tuesday as I laid my husband to rest at Arlington National Cemetery juts outside Washington, DC. It was a memorable day, and I am grateful for your prayers.
But now, let us turn our attention to what the Lord asks of us as His disciples this week because the Gospel is not merely something we believe, rather, it is something we live.
Jesus did not simply call His disciples to know about Him. He called them (and us) to become His hands and feet in the world, carrying His love to those who are lonely, forgotten, wounded, and searching for hope.
Saints throughout the centuries have understood that authentic discipleship is rooted in love—love of God and love of neighbor, and they recognized that every person they encountered was an opportunity to encounter Christ Himself.
We are each called to such an understanding and recognition on our own journeys towards holiness, so this week’s Food for the Head, Heart, Hands and Feet will seek to help us reflect upon what it means to become laborers in the Lord’s harvest and be powerful witnesses of His love in the world.
Food for the Head
“To love God is to love our neighbor." — Saint John of the Cross
Saint John of the Cross reminds us that love of God and love of neighbor cannot be separated.
Sometimes we convince ourselves that holiness is primarily about prayer, spiritual reading, or learning more about the faith. While these are important, they must ultimately lead us to love.
The measure of our relationship with God is often revealed by how we treat the people around us.
Do we show patience when it is difficult?
Do we forgive when we have been hurt?
Do we seek the good of others even when it costs us something?
Love of God always bears fruit in love of neighbor.
This week, resolve to intentionally show Christ’s love to someone who may be difficult to love.
Food for the Heart
“The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for." — Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Saint Mother Teresa spent her life among those whom the world had forgotten.
She understood that many people may suffer from physical illness, but they also suffer from loneliness, rejection, and isolation.
Because the truth is that every human heart longs to be seen, known, and loved.
As disciples of Jesus, we are called to notice those who are overlooked and to remind them of their dignity as a beloved child of God.
A kind word, a phone call, a handwritten note, or simply taking time to listen can become an instrument of God’s healing grace.
This week, resolve to reach out to someone who may be feeling forgotten or alone.
Food for the Hands
“We must never forget that we are called to be the hands and feet of Christ." — Saint Teresa of Avila
Saint Teresa understood that Christ chooses to work through His disciples.
When someone is hungry, we can feed them.
When someone is discouraged, we can encourage them.
When someone is burdened, we can help carry the load.
The Lord continues His mission through His people.
Rather than asking what someone else should do, we can ask, “Lord, what are You asking me to do?”
The answer may be simpler than we think.
This week, resolve to perform one concrete act of service for another person without expecting anything in return.
Food for the Feet
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; let us be those laborers." — Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
Saint Therese, the Little Flower, spent most of her life hidden within a convent, yet she understood that every Christian is called to participate in Christ’s mission.
Some labor in mission fields.
Some labor in parishes.
Some labor within their families.
Others labor through prayer, sacrifice, and faithful witness in daily life.
The important thing is not where we labor, but that we answer the Lord’s invitation.
There are people around us every day who need hope, encouragement, truth, and love.
The harvest remains plentiful.
This week, resolve to ask the Lord where He is inviting you to labor in His vineyard.
Exhortation
"The measure of love is to love without measure." — Saint Francis de Sales
What would happen if we truly embraced this challenge to love wothout measure?
What would change in our families, workplaces, parishes, and communities if we loved without keeping score?
The saints became saints because they allowed God’s love to flow through them without reservation.
They loved generously.
They forgave freely.
They served joyfully.
They trusted completely.
The same invitation is extended to each one of us.
This week, may each of us do WHATEVER IT TAKES to love without measure, so that together we can tell the Master of Death, “NOT TODAY!”
Know of my prayers for each of you, and God bless.
All the best,
Christina
PS—Go check out 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!
Check out my christinasemmens.com website.
The website is where I blog, so you can find out the latest by checking out the website. ALSO, if you would like to work with me or talk about spiritual direction, 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 #262
“Hope Springs Eternal”—1:1 with Paul McCusker, Senior Director Creative Content, Augustine Institute
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
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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!!
THIS WEEK! I will be holding a Zoom Q&A to answer questions about my new book, Solving the Parish Puzzle: One Person, One Disciple, One Leader at a Time on Wednesday, June 3rd at 7pmCST.
Click here for the Zoom link to join the meeting. Also, keep sending your questions to me at: christinasemmens@gmail.com
Looking forward to seeing you there!
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