The Return of Faith Fondue and Lessons in Caring for Oneself

When my mom was diagnosed with cancer in December, overnight I became much more than her daughter. I stepped into the role of primary caregiver — the CEO of a very important operation. In these months, I have received countless heartfelt messages of love and support for my mom, my family, and me. And almost always, they come with the same gentle reminder from those who have walked this road before: take care of yourself. I’m here to say that I found one way to head that advice: the return of a podcast I co-host. Welcome back, Faith Fondue.

Thanks to this special weekend on campus, Haley and I reignited the flame and our podcast is back.

Haley Scott DeMaria and I launched Faith Fondue in 2019. Although we completed 24 episodes in 2024, somehow 2025 got away from us. However, we recorded our first episode of Season Five this past weekend—We are back! 

Our format will remain the same—we begin with The flame—What's Hot, followed by our Spiritual Stew—Reflections on the Gospel and concluding with The Melting Pot—our take-aways. However, we have an added twist. This season, we’ll dip a shared read, movie, or podcast into the melting pot — and let the conversation simmer. I'm excited to discover how the Spirit stirs through our shared stories.

But how does creating a podcast amount to caring for oneself? Certainly, a podcast requires preparation, time, and effort. The answer came to me only through the process of asking a deeper question: What does it mean to take care of oneself?  I understand the sentiment, but I haven’t always been sure how to live it out.

I've consulted people who have walked similar paths. Sadly, I haven't had to look too far or too hard—this is a journey that too many others have taken. But they have hard earned wisdom and I hope this blog will serve as another source for others in the future.

Rest: A dear friend and classmate told me, "I think rest is super important…especially as the caregiver is challenged with life 'going on as usual' when nothing is really as it was. You get to carry both. 🤷🏼‍♀️ You may find that the things that relaxed you before, don’t fit the bill. Make time to rest."

Because of her answer, I was able to hit pause on working late at night. I turn out the lights a little earlier than usual. These words gave me permission to slow things down. There is rest for the weary.

Exercise: I am a person who plans where and when I will exercise. I seldom if ever let more than a day go by without some form of physical activity. To me, exercise is a sure fire way to maintain not only my physical health, but my mental health too. Therefore, it should be prioritized as a way to take care of oneself. 

I stopped playing golf. I could care less about my step count; my walks became sporadic. I told a friend that I lost the edge—the edge that gets me out of bed in the morning to join the workout crew on the sixth floor of my gym at 0600. When I finally made it back, another friend admitted that there were times in his life when things spun out of control. Amidst the chaos he noted "don't let this go. Commit to some form of exercise. It's just too important." I know he's right.

Prayer: During this challenging and scary time I have leaned into prayer in a number of ways. I have found comfort in morning mass. I have gotten to know Saint Peregrine, the patron saint of those with cancer and continue to ask for his intercession for my mom and countless others.

I’ll admit there are moments when it feels as though God is answering everyone else’s prayers and not my own. And yet, I’ve found deep comfort in knowing that others are praying the same words I am. Somehow, that shared prayer eases the burden. It reminds me that I don’t have to pray more, pray harder, or pray in any particular prayer. God loves us. God knows. us. Those are two good reasons to pray: we grow in our love of God and in our knowledge of God—not the other way around.

Creativity: No one has told me to make time to be creative or find that creative outlet but for me, the creative process has always been a way for me to take care of myself. How? Why?

For one, I believe creativity keeps us alive on the inside, not just functional on the outside. It amazes me how creativity allows for what’s stirring beneath the surface to come into the open, where it can be seen, shared, and healed. Furthermore, creativity relieves pressure. In order for me to be creative, I must pause, pay attention and listen. That shift—from control to curiosity—can be deeply restorative, especially in a time like this when answers don’t come easily.

And as a spiritual practice, creativity makes us co-creators. All comes from God. All is gift. Creating something—writing, praying, making, imagining—becomes a form of participation rather than performance. I don’t have to get it “right.” I just have to show up. And that's exactly what I get to do in front of my laptop with Haley as we create Faith Fondue. I'm so grateful we're back. I told Haley it's one of the few things I have been truly excited about in 2026. She believes reaching out to me was the work of the Holy Spirit. That flame is pretty powerful.

So give it a listen. Take care of yourself. One way might be to give us a listen! And after the second episode, you can take care of yourself by reading "Pray Like a Champion Today" by Father Nate Wills, C.S.C. and beyond....by praying like one, too.

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Cheer her name
Saint Peregrine

The Men and Women of Sports and Spirituality: Who My Students Meet

On the first day class for seniors enrolled in Sports and Spirituality—an elective course for seniors at St. Ignatius, I assure my students that we will not spend six months on this:

In case you can't read this, it says "Sports & Spirituality: Not just athletes pointing to the sky

I love that one of my students had the good humor and understanding to affirm that what we read, discuss and learn is much more than the gestures/rituals we see on display in sports. 

So what then, is the curriculum? What do we study? What are the learning outcomes? I'll leave that for my syllabus and course reader (available upon request). Instead, I would like to honor the men and women my students "meet" as a result of the course work. These are the athletes who make an impression on them for much more than their strength, fitness, achievements, contracts, championships, and so forth. The athletes featured here are the ones my students have singled out as individuals they are "glad to have met." While some stars are familiar to them—Serena Williams and J.J. Watt, others are new—Haley Scott DeMaria and Jake Olson. Meeting them, in this course, however means they are examined in a new way, with a new vision and speaking a new language. The way that Sports and Spirituality asks us to see and speak.

I have articles or video clips posted beneath most photos so you can share in the learning!

Jill Costello: Featured in the SI's 60th Anniversary Issue, The Courage of Jill Costello won an award for "Most Outstanding Story" at the 13th Annual Luce Awards. I was Jill's novice crew coach; she graduated from SI in 2006. She lives on in the memory and hearts of so many.

Jake Olson: I first "met" Jake through "Sports in the News" a presentation that asks students to choose what is happening in the wide world of sports that they want to teach the class and discuss. I have loved following Jake's story and success at USC. There is no shortage of video documenting this man's incredible journey.

James Conner: This year's addition to "Sports in the News" I'm not convinced Conner wasn't on this presenters' fantasy football team. However, this assignment and even mentioning fantasy football is reflective of the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm. The IPP is, in short, how teachers are called to teach at Jesuit schools. The very first step is a call for Context: 

• Understand the world of our students, including the ways in which family, friends, social pressures, politics, economies, media and other realities impact them. 
• Love them, love what they love…love what you teach. 

Fantasy Football is a viable way to enter in the world of a high school student. Knowledge of James Conner can only add to that.

JJ Watt: At the conclusion of the course, I ask students who is someone they wish they had "met" in class. Two years ago, one bright and visionary student mentioned JJ Watt. I knew she was right.....and then Hurricane Harvey happened but a few months later. What he did for the people of Houston earned him the title of "The Patron Saint of Houston" as well as Co-Sportsman of the Year. I am not the least bit surprised so many students enjoyed learning more about the Texans Defensive end. Talk about fun to teach...

Bethany Hamilton: I can't quite put my finger on it, but boys and girls—no matter what sport they play—are interested the story of this Soul Surfer. Maybe it's because the movie was released when they were at an impressionable age (2011). Regardless, she is unapologetic for her faith and not one student seems to challenge her words or rebuff her devotion.

Serena and Venus Williams: It is an honor, a privilege and a delight to teach about the Williams sisters. Race, gender, excellence, ascesis, soul force, equality and justice, fashion and flare, sisterhood, motherhood...the list of themes goes on. I use "Venus and Serena," a video recommended by a former student (thank you, Sydney!) and will be showing "Venus vs" in my Ethics class in January.

Haley Scott DeMaria: Our 80-minute class periods begin with what I call "the Silent 10." Students read a Sports and Spirituality book of their choice, in silence for you guessed it, ten minutes. One student picked from my S&S library. I had no idea if "What Though the Odds" would resonate with her, as its the story of a swimmer who experienced hardship and tragedy and found hope and healing through her teammates and the larger Notre Dame family. She was so inspired by DeMaria's message and her story that she said it ought to be required reading for the course. What a gift....and it became one that kept on giving. Haley actually came to SI to speak to my class and followed up our time together with a Skype session. Still amazed that all of that happened....

The Fordson Football Team: A colleague asked in the faculty room just the other day, Where do must Muslims live in the United States. I was able to provide an answer right away, thanks to this documentary. The largest Arabic speaking population can be found in Dearborn, Michigan. Their religious and cultural practices are tightly bound, as evidenced in this documentary. My students love learning about a community that is unfamiliar to them through something  as familiar as....football.

Bo Jackson: The final unit of the course is "Story, Saints and Sportsmen and Sportswomen." One of the essential questions is What is the relationship between story and spirituality? I dare say Bo Jackson is essential to answering this question. After all, the "30 for 30 You Don't Know Bo" is subtitled "The Legend of Bo Jackson." The legend lives on...and looms large.

Eric Liddell: Teaching about the Muscular Christian is a non-negotiable. I have his beautiful words: I believe God made me for a purpose. He made me fast. And when I run, I feel his pleasure and a personal connection to him in my life to thank for the gift of this course. His story, his witness is the gift that keeps on giving.

“We might not have the same gift as others, or the same success,
but we are asked to make an effort with what we have been given.” - Running for God

I am hoping to offer Sports and Spirituality as an evening course for parents in Spring 2019. It is exciting to me to share these life stories with adults and gain from the own collection of beloved athletes, spiritual heroes and saints.

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