Practicing Resurrection: Parenting Through Easter and Beyond: An Easter Bible Study with the Rev. Dr. Libby Catania

2025-04-25

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📖 Gain confidence with the scriptures through our weekly Bible Study. The Rev. Dr. Libby Catania returns to help families explore what resurrection means in the midst of everyday chaos. Reflecting on the beauty and complexity of Easter, Libby reminds us that resurrection doesn’t arrive in perfection but in the messy, sacred middle of life—where God meets us. Together with hosts Natalie and James, she discusses how children often intuitively understand the joy of resurrection through their whole-bodied expressions of delight, and how parents can nurture that instinct with langua...

This episode guides families through the lectionary readings for Easter week and opens up honest conversation about Jesus as a friend, the power of love over violence, and how to support children navigating a world filled with complexity. Libby offers both spiritual encouragement and practical advice for forming young hearts—inviting us to normalize talking to Jesus in daily life and helping kids hold both joy and grief in their spiritual imagination. This episode is a companion for any parent hoping to raise children who know, love, and follow Jesus—even in uncertain times.

The Rev. Dr. Libby Catania is a friend, mentor, and example of how to live our one’s vocation in a whole-hearted authentic way. She is the co-founder of Limina Renewal Center, a Spiritual Companion, and priest who is canonically resident in Diocese of Maine.

Libby Catania is a mother of human, furry and plant beings, grandmother, wife and friend. She and her husband Bill are blessed to be co-stewards of Limina Renewal Center on the coast of Maine. Prior to founding Limina, Libby was a full-time priest in the diocese of Massachusetts and prior to that the diocese of Virginia. She has taught ethics and preaching classes at the graduate level, but most enjoys wondering and dreaming with children and teens. When not roaming the tidal flats, Libby loves to run, knit, read, garden, and cook - especially with family and friends. We highly recommend checking out Liminia if you’re looking for a retreat that will be balm to your soul and food for the journey!

Key moments in our conversation include:

00:00 – Welcome and Easter greetings from Natalie, James, and Libby
02:11 – Resurrection in the messy middle: Easter hope in a chaotic world
03:45 – How families can reconnect the Easter story with cultural celebrations
05:36 – Children’s intuitive grasp of resurrection and experiencing joy in their bodies
08:12 – Mary Magdalene’s garden moment and childlike wonder in Scripture
11:42 – Modeling friendship with Jesus through everyday conversation
15:49 – Addressing children’s exposure to violence and modeling love in response
21:43 – Wrestling with John 14:6 and the claim that “Jesus is the way”

You can read a complete transcript of this episode, here.

Further Resources from this Discussion

Poem Referenced: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front by Wendell Berry — especially the closing line, “Practice resurrection.” A great piece for parents to reflect on during the Easter season

Let’s stay connected!