I’m going for it!
About a year ago my spiritual director said something to me that stopped me in my tracks: “How long have you been feeling the call to start this magazine?” Me: “Four or five years.”
“It’s clearly not going away. If you don’t take actual, concrete steps to try and do this — succeed or fail — you are being disobedient to the Holy Spirit.”
Ouch! Going against the Holy Spirit is something this charismatic girl never wants to do, so here I am.
A non-profit organization has been established, Embodied Publishing, with the mission of publishing Embodied Magazine. The 501c3 designation has been applied for, the website has been created, the banking account is set up, initial design and branding work has been done, and I’ve recently wrapped up three months of strategic planning with an incredible team of TOB-knowledgeable people who are excited to see this magazine become a reality.
Wanna hear our 10-year target (often called the BHAG – big, hairy, audacious goal)?
To make Embodied Magazine available to 5 million readers in the U.S. by 2030.
Yep, we are dreaming big.
And rightly so. Those already familiar with the Theology of the Body (TOB), an incomparable collection of writings by St. Pope John Paul II released from 1979-1984, are aware of its life-changing potential and the need for widespread knowledge of it. If you are completely unfamiliar with TOB, it answers the really big questions that we all have: What does it mean to be human? How do I live my life in a way that brings true happiness and fulfillment?
Indeed, quite a few excellent TOB ministries have been created to unfold this rich teaching to others – I myself have been greatly blessed by their work! But at some point the Lord started nudging me with the idea that perhaps I was supposed to use my own unique gifts and talents to bring TOB to others.
While my talent at baking a mouth-watering homemade pie crust isn’t much help here, I am an award-winning magazine editor and writer. For over 35 years I produced Family Foundations, the magazine of the Couple to Couple League, which teaches natural family planning. It grew from an 8-page black and white newsletter to a full-color, professionally produced magazine that was repeatedly recognized for excellence by the Catholic Press Association. For many years I was blessed to have Christina Ries, also an award-winning writer, alongside me as assistant editor, and she is joining me at Embodied Magazine.
My years of producing material to inspire and support married couples to turn away from contraception and live marital love as a true self-gift have readied me for this new venture that will explore all facets of life through the lens of self-gift. I can’t wait to get started! More news coming soon.
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