In this episode we welcome Sr. Josephine Garrett, a Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth, to talk about family systems. As a licensed counselor both in private practice and schools, Sr. Josephine shares the insights she has learned from working with children and parents to heal their relationships with each other and with themselves. We chat about the pain parents feel when their own wounds impact their kids, practical ways we can find hope and restoration, and how the sanctification within families contributes to the sanctification of the Church. 

Heather’s One Thing - The short film: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse 

Sister Miriam’s One Thing - Our listeners and college softball 

Michelle’s One Thing - The NBA playoffs

Sister Josephine’s One Thing - The women’s Bible study at her parish

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Wired to Connect: The Surprising Link Between Brain Science and Strong, Healthy Relationships by Amy Banks 
• How we Love 
• How we Love Website
• Sr. Josephine’s Instagram 

Discussion Questions:

• How have I experienced wounds in community? How have I experienced healing in community?
• How is the Lord inviting you and your family to greater healing and holiness?
• Was there anything from this episode that stuck out to you or surprised you?
• How do you struggle with setting boundaries with your family?

Journal Questions:

• What does a healthy relationship look like with myself? With others? With God?
• How have I experienced healing in my relationships, family, and friendships?
• Where in my family and family systems do I lack hope?
• How am I striving for perfection in my family?

Quote to Ponder: 

“The first and fundamental structure for “human ecology” is the family, in which man receives his first formative ideas about truth and goodness, and learns what it means to love and to be loved, and thus what it actually means to be a person.” - Pope John Paul II

Scripture for Lectio: 

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” - 1 John 4:7