On this final episode of Beyond Sunday, in anticipation of the Feast of the Holy Family, Rakhi and Nicole unpack how we, as families, can grow in holiness. They revisit some of the themes that have come up over the last year of hosting this podcast, and they offer encouragement to listeners striving to live lives of holiness with their families. Looking to the Holy Family as a model of humanity and docility to the Lord, they invite listeners to entrust their families to the Lord and continue to use 52 Sundays in the new year as a way to weave the Sunday experience into their weeks. 

This episode of Beyond Sunday is brought to you by Assumption University in Windsor, Ontario — one of Canada's most historic Catholic institutes of higher learning, tracing its origins to 1857. Learn more about their online Graduate Diploma in Catholic Studies by going to assumptionu.ca — or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

(01:34) Rakhi and Nicole commence their fifty-third and final episode of Beyond Sunday. They encourage listeners to remain committed to bringing the light of Christ through their families by using 52 Sundays weekly and following Unleash the Gospel on social media. They share what they’re grateful for from this past year by pulling something from their “virtual gratitude jar” to share. 

(05:36) They encourage reflecting on the past year with the Lord and the Blessed Mother and revisit some of the most prominent themes that arose on the podcast in the past year. 

(12:14) They highlight how the Holy Family can inspire us to live out holiness in our own families. They note how we can carry the same disposition as the Holy Family in whatever the Lord calls us to. 

(15:08) They encourage listeners to extend the season of celebration that Christmas brings by having an Epiphany party, surrounding themselves with people who encourage us in our faith, and seeking out strong relationships. They also encourage listeners to strive to make time for the Lord, especially when things get busy or overwhelming and to trust God is working, even if we don’t see fruit. 

(20:27) They offer a challenge to listeners to pick one thing from 52 Sundays to commit to incorporating into each week in the new year. They also invite listeners to remember they are human and entrust their families to the Lord and his holy will.  

This episode of Beyond Sunday is brought to you by Assumption University in Windsor, Ontario — one of Canada's most historic Catholic institutes of higher learning, tracing its origins to 1857. Learn more about their online Graduate Diploma in Catholic Studies by going to assumptionu.ca — or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Reflecting on the fourth Sunday of Advent’s Gospel reading, Rakhi and Nicole unpack the power and joy of God’s surprises, especially in relation to our life of discipleship. They note how surrendering to and following the Lord wherever he calls us is not always easy, but highlight how he equips those he anoints for a particular purpose. They encourage listeners to lean on the Blessed Mother and follow her example of peace following the Annunciation, and wish their listeners a very merry Christmas.

This episode of Beyond Sunday is brought to you by Assumption University in Windsor, Ontario — one of Canada's most historic Catholic institutes of higher learning, tracing its origins to 1857. Learn more about their online Graduate Diploma in Catholic Studies by going to assumptionu.ca — or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

(02:01) Rakhi re-joins Nicole on the podcast, and she shares about her surprise 40th birthday party. They talk about how Christmas sneaks up very quickly this year, with only one day to celebrate the fourth Sunday of Advent. They talk about how they keep Christmas gifts a surprise in their families. 

(08:11) They discuss how to hold a posture of joyful anticipation and trust, counting on the surprises that God might have for us. They talk about leaving space for the unexpected and looking for how God is moving in our lives in unexpected ways. 

(13:52) Looking at this Sunday’s Gospel reading, they talk about how Mary and Zechariah have different reactions to God’s plan for their lives. They share how it can be difficult to release control as God often calls us to do. 

(17:55) They share how God will ask specific things of each of us and how to discern in faith. They share from their own experiences how this is often very hard to do but that discipleship is not always easy. They discuss the idea of being anointed to do the work God calls us to, no matter how challenging it is, and how God equips us for it. 

(20:35) With Mary as our example, they highlight how to remain peaceful in the midst of the challenge of God’s plan for our lives. They also note the role that Elizabeth and Mary play in each others’ lives as they accept God’s will. They encourage listeners to turn to the Blessed Mother as a source of comfort, especially if they don’t have anyone to turn to for support in their life as a disciple. 

(22:12) They offer this week’s challenge, inviting listeners to pray the Litany of Mary found in this week’s 52 Sundays and considering throwing Jesus a birthday party. 

This episode of Beyond Sunday is brought to you by Assumption University in Windsor, Ontario — one of Canada's most historic Catholic institutes of higher learning, tracing its origins to 1857. Learn more about their online Graduate Diploma in Catholic Studies by going to assumptionu.ca — or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Cohosts Nicole and Tara continue to discuss the Advent season, focusing on the third week of Advent and noting the shortness of the final week this year. They propose praying with the “O antiphons,” ancient prayers prayed by the Church, to help us enter into the final days of Advent, and share how praying reflecting on them might be particularly impactful for you and your family. 

This episode of Beyond Sunday is brought to you by Assumption University in Windsor, Ontario — one of Canada's most historic Catholic institutes of higher learning tracing its origins to 1857. Learn more about their online Graduate Diploma in Catholic Studies by going to assumptionu.ca — or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

(02:07) Nicole and Tara talk about how the fourth week of Advent is literally one day this year, given where it falls on the liturgical calendar. They talk about “pink week” and how they like to spend the week rejoicing. They share some of their favorite family traditions. 

(06:12) They introduce the “O antiphons,” ancient prayers to be prayed during the final days of Advent. They discuss some of them, unpacking what they reveal about God and his love for his people throughout salvation history. 

(12:36) They talk about the importance of being vulnerable with our kids about traditions that are especially meaningful to our faith and emphasize the impact sharing our faith can have on our kids. They also share how traditions like praying the “O antiphons” can help our kids better understand the universality of the Catholic Church. 

(17:43) Continuing to unpack the “O antiphons,” they discuss the reality of darkness but the hope that Jesus brings to the darkness. They share how they invite their children to recognize the light of Christ in their own lives. They highlight the beauty of a lighted Christmas tree and how it symbolizes the reality that we celebrate at Christmas: Christ has come to “shine on those who dwell in darkness.”  

This episode of Beyond Sunday is brought to you by Assumption University in Windsor, Ontario — one of Canada's most historic Catholic institutes of higher learning tracing its origins to 1857. Learn more about their online Graduate Diploma in Catholic Studies by going to assumptionu.ca — or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.