Welcome to another Quick Takes post!! Last time we polled all the Ink Slingers to make up one post, this time we are interviewing just one Ink Slinger, our faithful foundress and whip wielder, Martina. Martina is the brains behind Catholic Sistas so it only made sense to interview her first. She’s a Texan without much of a Texas accent (which is a big deal, I’m told, considering she grew up in East Texas), a mother to six kidlets, and loves her Snickers candy bars (out of the freezer, of course). Continue reading to learn seven more fun and interesting things about our ringleader.
—1—
Are you a cradle Catholic who never strayed, a cradle Catholic and a revert, or a convert?
I’m a cradle Catholic. I wouldn’t say I never strayed, but I definitely went through a time where I was incredibly lazy, apathetic, and ignorant of the Faith. As I learned more about the Faith over the past decade, I came to realize that many others had similar experiences to mine. It was because of some orthodox women in an online Catholic group who upheld Church teaching in all discussions {and being unpopular in the process} that I began to learn what the Church taught. This is what fueled my desire to start the blog. I want to do what they did for us by sharing the Faith in a loving, yet firm and unapologetic way. I understand the grip that ignorance and apathy can take on any of us, at any time.
—2—
What is your favorite household chore?
I’ve always loved to vacuum – even as a kid. There’s something about seeing those vacuum lines in the carpet! However, we just moved into a new house that has almost all tile and hardwood floors. The only carpet is in our tiny closets, one bedroom and the game room. Somehow, it’s not the same vacuuming area rugs!
—3—
What is a random fact about you most people don’t know?
Before I graduated high school, I had photographed our governor, been to Texas Stadium to photograph a football game and was asked to be on the NBC show Name Your Adventure hosted by Mario Lopez to do photography. I would have been on the show if it wasn’t the same weekend as my graduation!
—4—
How did you meet your husband?
You kids these days, you have NO idea how easy you have it in terms of meeting your future spouse online! Back in MY day, I had to scour chat rooms using dialup services like AOL. There was no Ave Maria Singles or Catholic Match online! We had to find each other using good old fashioned grit and determination…and instant messages. We had to fight the negative stereotypes of meeting people online. I may or may not have been known to avoid the question “where did you meet?” by simply saying “in college” which was also technically true.
—5—
What volunteer activities are you involved in?
I’m involved in quite a bit in my parish community, but I’ve been slowing my activities down recently. We just moved closer to our parish and we also welcomed our youngest little guy on June 16. Currently, I am in my third year of serving for our parish Pastoral Council, and my second year as the chairperson. I have been helping with the Catholic Speaker Series program at my church that brought in Matthew Kelly in January and Father Rocky from Relevant Radio in April. I had a blast working on those speaking projects as part of the event planning and I hope to get back into that ministry as time permits! I helped plan and put into place our current Adult Faith Formation program, which is actually a huge inspiration for the blog when it comes to sharing testimonies and catechesis. Lastly, I blog for and sit on the executive board of directors for Austin Catholic New Media.
—6—
What is your favorite prayer?
At first, I wasn’t sure I had a favorite prayer. I love so many. In the middle of the night when I can’t sleep, it’s Hail Mary and/or the St. Michael prayer. After communion, I pray Anima Christi. I love the prayers from the Divine Mercy Chaplet and I love Hail Holy Queen. Even obscure prayers have a special place such as a short prayer we insert after the Fatima prayer in the rosary that goes “All for the Sacred and Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, all for the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, all in union with St. Joseph.”
BUT
if I had to choose a favorite, I think I would have to say it has easily become the
Abandonment Prayer
by Brother Charles de Foucald.
Father,
I abandon myself into your hands;
do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you:
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures — I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into your hands I commend my soul;
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,
for I love you Lord, and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands, without reserve,
and with boundless confidence,
for you are my Father. Amen.
—7—
What most makes you smile?
My kids and their goofy ways. They are always so huggy and lovey with each other – we hear “I love you” a LOT in our house and it always makes me smile.
For more Quick Takes, visit Martina’s friend Jen Fulwiler over at Conversion Diary.