The Gathering Place, a Podcast from Blessed is She

Lent can so easily become about checking boxes… giving things up, adding things in, trying harder. But what if this year was less about routine and more about relationship?
In this Weekly Visit, Jenna and Steph will reflect on how to keep Jesus at the center of our Lenten practices, so fasting, prayer, and sacrifice become pathways to intimacy rather than "spiritual busywork." We’ll explore simple ways to stay rooted in love, grace, and presence, especially when motivation fades or life feels full.
Come be reminded that Lent isn’t about perfection - it’s about proximity to the heart of Christ.
Reflection Questions:
When I think about Lent, what tends to motivate me most: discipline, obligation, or desire for deeper relationship with Jesus?

Where have my spiritual routines become automatic, and how might Jesus be inviting me to re-engage with love and intention?

What is one simple way I can intentionally place Jesus at the center of my Lenten prayer or sacrifice this year?

Join us live every Tuesdays at 1pm ET in the BIS Member Community!

Before Lent officially begins, the Church gently invites us to slow down and prepare our hearts. In this Weekly Visit, Jenna and Steph will introduce the often-overlooked season of Septuagesima: a sacred threshold that helps us transition from Ordinary Time into deeper repentance and renewal.
Together, we’ll talk about why preparation matters, how small interior shifts can make a big difference, and how God meets us before we ever “get it right.” If you’ve ever felt rushed into Lent or unsure how to begin well, this conversation is for you.
Reflection Questions:
Where do I sense the Lord inviting me to slow down and prepare - not strive - as Lent approaches?

What habits, distractions, or expectations might God be gently asking me to loosen my grip on before the season begins?

How can I make space this week to listen for God’s voice rather than rushing ahead to “do Lent well”?

Join us LIVE every Tuesdays at 1pm ET for The Weekly Visit in the BIS Member Community!

Are we truly hungry for God?

In Luke 6, Jesus tells us: “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.” But what kind of hunger is He talking about?

In this episode of Catholicism for Catholics, Alison Oertle invites us to reflect on our deepest longings and the gift of the Eucharist, where God makes Himself bread to feed His people.

Together, we explore what Scripture says about hunger and thirst for God, from the Psalms to the Prophets, and how those longings are ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life.

This teaching walks through:
- Biblical hunger and thirst as signs of desire for God
- Jesus’ Bread of Life discourse in John 6
- Why the Eucharist is not symbolic, but truly Jesus Himself
- The vulnerability of admitting our need for God
- How “false food” can dull our spiritual appetite
- An invitation to be healed, renewed, and made hungry again

If you’ve ever felt spiritually numb, distracted, or unsure of your desire for God, this reflection offers hope, clarity, and a gentle call back to the Lord who alone satisfies.

🙏🏽 “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (Psalm 81:10)

We’re so grateful to be walking with you in faith! Want to learn more? Watch the Catholicism for Catholics series on our YouTube channel. 💜

We weren’t made to walk the Christian life by ourselves. Yet community can feel intimidating, messy, or out of reach. This week, we’ll talk honestly about the vulnerability it takes to be known, the courage it takes to try again after disappointment, and the practical steps that help us find people who share our faith, lift our hearts, and point us to Christ. Real community is possible, not because it’s perfect, but because Jesus is in it.
Reflection Questions:
Do I truly let others into my life, or do I carry everything quietly?

What fears hold me back from deeper friendship and community?

Who is one person I can reach out to this week to take a step toward connection?

Join us LIVE on Tuesdays at 1pm ET in the Member Community for The Weekly Visit!

Join us for a special Author Live conversation with Debra Herbeck, author of our Lent 2026 devotional, Who Do You Say That I Am?
Debra shares the heart behind the book, her own journey of faith, and the invitation Jesus extends to each of us this Lent: to encounter Him not as an idea, but as a living Person who desires to reveal Himself to us.
We’ll talk about prayer, Scripture, and how walking intentionally through Lent can deepen our relationship with Christ, right where we are.
This conversation is an invitation to slow down, listen, and prepare your heart to journey with Jesus toward Easter.
🕯️Hosted by Blessed is She
📖 Featuring Who Do You Say That I Am? by Debra Herbeck
🙏 Perfect for personal prayer or group reflection this Lent