Excited to announce my upcoming book!

Releasing in March 2013 by Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Company

More details to follow as we get closer to the release!

Coming in September!

NEW VIDEO. Have a look!

A Catholic Woman's Book of Prayers

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

"Papal Visit 2008 News and Views" at Our Sunday Visitor's Blog

Our Sunday Visitor has a great place to check out our Holy Father's visit. It's called, "Papal Visit 2008 News and Views" by John Norton, OSV Editor; Mary DeTurris Poust, OSV Contributing Editor and Russell Shaw, OSV Contributing Editor check it out!

Mary De Turris Poust shares this for Lent...

Mary De Turris Poust, a Catholic Mom, author and a contributing editor for Our Sunday Visitor newspaper recently wrote an article about Lenten family traditions in which she offers us some ideas and resources for Lent.

She said on her blog, Not Strictly Spiritual, "I recently wrote an article on Lenten family traditions for Our Sunday Visitor, a national Catholic news weekly for whom I am a contributing editor. I thought some of you might like to hear what other people are doing to celebrate this special season. Some families go the whole nine yards, giving up TV for the entire season of Lent. Whoa! We are nowhere near that level of holiness at our house. Give up watching Lost? But I waited so patiently for new episodes to begin -- almost simultaneously with Lent. Bad timing. Anyway, here’s the article with some great ideas from some really cool people and a few links to other Lenten resources as well."

I feel very honored to have been mentioned in Mary's article, 'Making Lent More Meaningful."


Read her article by clicking here.

Fun Quiz to win this book!

To win one of the first copies of my upcoming book, Catholic Saints Prayer Book published by the Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Company and scheduled for release in March, you must answer these three questions correctly. The first person who answers all three questions correctly will win a signed copy of this book!

1) Who is the Saint who was drawn to a life of holiness because of dead bodies?

2) Who is a Saint whose birth place is unknown?

3) Who is the Saint who was scheduled for an amputation and through prayer and a vision from Jesus was healed and no longer required the operation?

Send your answers in an email to me at DMCooperOboyle(at)aol(dot)com with the words, "Saint quiz" in the subject line, please or to P. O. Box 773, New Milford, CT 06776. You may only enter this contest one time.

I will announce the winner on March 15th, feast of St. Joseph, husband of Mary!

Good luck!

Book giveaway contest coming up!

Get ready for my newest book giveaway contest! I'll be posting the directions for this contest very soon. It has to do with my new book published by Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Company coming out in March, Catholic Saints Prayer Book! Stay tuned!

My forthcoming book, "Catholic Saints Prayer Book"

My newest book, Catholic Saints Prayer Book is now listed with its cover image on Amazon.Com. This book will be released in March 2008 by Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Company and can be pre-ordered through my website or Amazon.Com.

My new book cover!

I'm so excited! I was just shown my new book cover for my book, Catholic Saints Prayer Book which will be released in March 2008! I will show it to you very soon. I have to wait for the high resolution image to be sent to me before I can post it.

I caught you!

I caught you not resting on a Sunday! Oh, you are resting? You're just checking out a few blogs? I'll let it slide this time. :)

When I was growing up, Sundays were special--reserved for Mass together as a family, a nice big Sunday meal usually in early afternoon, and either visiting relatives or they visiting us. You knew it was a Sunday. These days it's hard to tell one day from another sometimes. We are so busy that I think we carry our busy-ness into Sundays, too. It's hard not to when there's so much to do and so little time, it seems! Are we doing too much? Do we need to plan better?

So, what's a Christian mother to do? How do we observe the Sabbath when we are catching up on laundry, washing the kitchen floor (because we haven't had a chance to do it the other day and it is disgusting), and endless other household tasks as well as trips to the store for materials for a school project or kids just wanting to shop?

We have to draw the line somewhere and then stick with that. Perhaps it will be vowing not to do laundry on a Sunday, refusing to go to stores unnecessarily on Sundays, and certainly spending more family time together and making sure everyone knows that they are all required to be present for Sunday dinner. Of course, we know that some sports events have crept into our Sundays so we need to adjust our schedules at times, perhaps. However, it is up to us parents to set the limits and lay down the foundations. The traditions we begin now will be carried out throughout our family's life to a certain extent and even into our children's future family's traditions.

How can we slow down a little and what can we do to enjoy a day of rest?

1) Vow to make certain adjustments to the Sunday schedule.
a) a regular dinner time when everyone is required to be there.
b) less or no shopping.
c) no doing laundry.
d) and wherever you need to adjust the hectic-ness to achieve more calmness.

2) hug your kids and spouse.
3) hug them again.
4) and again (now wasn't that nice?)
5) read a book.
6) read to the kids.
7) take a nap. what?! I've not done this but hope to try it sometime. :)
8) do something outside together.
9) do some yard work together (even though it's technically work, it can be fun!)
10) take a walk in the fresh air, weather permitting.
11) tell a story while walking.
12) tell jokes.
13) play a game.
14) talk about something inspirational.
15) pray.
16) plan dinner together (hopefully you have already planned it previously but want the kids to feel included).
17) get the family to help out with dinner--make it fun.
18) bake a dessert together.
19) call a relative you have been meaning to talk to but haven't had time.
20) invite a relative over.
21) give the dog a bath (well, maybe not. My dog needs one, though!).
22) write a letter--not an email, an actual letter or card that you will put in an envelope and put a stamp on to mail to brighten some one's day.
23) have the kids write a thank you note to someone special in their lives.
24) pray some more.
25) plan an outing.
26) get creative - draw some pictures with the kids.
27) start a tradition with the kids.
28) think about what you can do to help a needy family with in the upcoming holidays.
29) smile!
30) smile some more, happy that God has truly blessed you!

I'm sure you get the idea. Think of some of your own things to do. I have to go now to hug my family and enjoy this beautiful Sunday which I hope will include going for a walk on this gorgeous Autumn day! Go and have a BLESSED day!

God bless!

Put that laundry down!

It's a day of rest (whatever that means to a mother!). Put that laundry down. Can't it wait until tomorrow? There's plenty of other things that need to be done in the care of the family. Today is Sunday and a day of rest. Turn the computer off! Let's see if we can put aside some time to enjoy the family.

May God bless your day!


PS But tune in bright and early tomorrow to my "Mom's Corner" segmant with Teresa Tomeo on "Catholic Connection" on Ave Maria Radio at 9:15 AM Eastern Standard Time. We'll be talking about Halloween, All Saints, and All Souls Day. I hope you tune in and perhaps call in. Here's the link to listen from your computer!

Since this is Respect Life month

I am posting an article I wrote a while back for Our Sunday Visitor on Stem cell research here since October is "Respect Life" month. You can also see it by clicking on this link to my old website. Then when there, scroll down the left hand column and it is the first article under "Misc."

***

Adult cell research
continues to grow up
Doctor shares advances, advantages in working with this moral alternative that has been used to treat many diseases

By Donna Cooper O'Boyle
Our Sunday Visitor
September 25, 2005

"I am a practicing Catholic and try to integrate my faith into all aspects of my life. I have a strong commitment to working at the leading edge of scientific innovation in an effort to improve and preserve human life at all stages."
– Dr. Keith L. March, Director of Indiana Center for Vascular Biology and Medicine

(Photo Courtesy IU School of Medicine)

The degree of respect and value to be given a human embryo has always been a complex and controversial issue. Even more so now, since some researchers are experimenting with embryos and are diligently pushing for federal funding.
Some people believe stem cells can "morph" into virtually every kind of tissue, producing a potentially bottomless sources of human replacement parts.

But it is ever right to manipulate the building blocks of life itself with biotechnology? Is it OK to use embryos left over from in-vitro fertilization for research that could potentially hold cures for diseases and spinal-cord injuries?

Creating custom-made embryos in the lab for research raises more questions. This research has divided members of President Bush's own party as well as the scientific community with religious leaders. Pope John Paul II spoke out vehemently against embryonic stem-cell research.

But what about types of research, such as using stem cells derived from adults?

Seeking expert answers, Our Sunday Visitor interviewed Dr. Keith L. March, director of the Indiana Center for Vascular Biology and Medicine. March graduated from college at 15 with a dual degree in chemistry and biology in 1979. He received a combined medical degree and doctorate at 21.

As director of the center, he heads up a team that develops revolutionary medical therapies, devices, drugs and genetic interventions.

Our Sunday Visitor: What compelled you to become interested in stem-cell research?

Dr. Keith L. March: As a practicing cardiologist, my research interests have always focused on blood-vessel diseases. I wanted to find a way to use cells with regenerative capabilities that could be found in abundance and were taken from the patients' own cells, thus posing no risk of rejection and importantly, avoiding moral or ethical concerns with their use.

OSV: Do you find your fellow researchers receptive to pursuing other options of research besides embryonic stem-cell initiatives?

March: Many of my colleagues are actively pursuing stem cells from adult sources because of the track record of success with such cells.

OSV: What diseases are most likely to be helped with adult stem-cell research and why?

March: Leukemias, anemias and cancer are already being treated successfully with therapies using umbilical-cord-blood-derived stem cells. our center is currently conduction the only FDA-approved clinical trial using a patient's stem cells derived from bone marrow.

Stroke, Parkinsons's disease, spinal-cord injury, diabetes and cancer are other key targets for treatment. Intensive cell biology research is needed to learn about how and why this happens.

OSV: Why is adult stem-cell research more promising right now over embryonic stem-cell research? What are the advances in adult stem-cell research?

March: Adult stem cells are readily available, in some cases easy to procure, such as those found in the fat, skin and bone marrow.

They are not potentially subject to immune rejection, as cells obtained from the patient rather than an unrelated random embryo donor.

They are already somewhat specialized and are poised to repair disease within the body' embryonic stem cells are poised to create an embryo. No embryonic cell-based therapies have been demonstrated to produce results in patients.

Umbilical-cord-blood transfusions were initially used in the early 1990s to treat Fanconi's anemia in children, a life-threatening condition. These sources of stem cells have great potential to treat a variety of other blood disorders.

OSV: What role does your faith play in your research?

March: I am a practicing Catholic and try to integrate my faith into all aspects of my life. I have a strong commitment to working at the leading edge of scientific innovation in an effort to improve and preserve human life at all stages.

I am highly motivated to bring novel and effective therapies to patients as rapidly as possible, and equally committed to working with cell sources that do not involve human live at its embryonic stage.

OSV: Do you see a debate among your peers over the ethics of embryonic stem-cell research or is it a non-issue?

March: I think that the debate over embryonic stem-cell research is active among the scientific community as well as within the lay public.

OSV: What do you think the big push is for embryonic stem-cell research with some researchers over adult stem-cell research?

March: It is believed that stem cells from human embryos can potentially provide endless supplies of cells with desired characteristics. It is also believed that there are quantities of human embryos that are available from in-vitro fertilization clinics that would otherwise be frozen indefinitely.

Adult stem cells have already been used successfully. If efforts were focused on cells from adult sources, scientists would have an upstart on finding cures for life-threatening diseases.

OSV: Why do you feel the public isn't informed about the advances in adult stem-cell research?

March: Stem-cell research has become a lighting rod for controversy. People have taken sides. The lay public is mostly unaware of the differences between stem cells derived from adult sources and those for embryos. The media likes to fuel controversy, making it a political issue rather than a scientific one.

OSV: What do you think the public should know about stem-cell research?

March: There are distinct types of "stem cells" and distinct sources for their derivation. Adult stem cells have already proven effective in treating diseases. Their potential for treating a broader range of diseases is very promising, growing daily.

OSV: Do you think the continued success in the area of adult stem-cell research would essentially put an end to this major ethical debate by eliminating the need to research on embryonic stem cells?

March: I think that a group of scientists will likely want to continue to push research efforts forward on embryo cell fronts with the goal of finding cures no matter what is achieved in other areas.

I feel that adult stem-cell research is significantly advanced toward patients, compared with research using embryonic stem cells, therefore more likely to achieve results more quickly. Directing financial resources to support adult stem-cell research is one key way to accelerate success. The source for stem cells that proves most effective at treating patients will win the "race" to therapy.


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Donna Cooper O'Boyle is the author of "Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers" (OSV, $6.95). She writes from Connecticut. Contacting Dr. March
Readers interested in learning more about Dr. Keith March's work with adult stem cells may e-mail him directly at kmarch@iupui.edu, visit www.vascularbiomed.iu.edu or call (317) 278-0130.