When I first launched Not Strictly Spiritual, I did so with a favorite prayer by St. Francis de Sales, whose writings are remarkably relevant to our world today despite his being a 17th century bishop. I used to have this prayer hanging on my bathroom mirror so it was the first thing I would see when I began my day:

Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;
rather, look to them with full hope that as they arise,
God, whose very own you are,
will lead you safely through all things;
and when you cannot stand it,
God will carry you in His arms.
Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
the same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will take care of you then and every day.
He will either shield you from suffering,
or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace,
and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.
— St. Francis de Sales

So much has happened over these past 17 years, much of incredibly wonderful, some of it painfully awful. And yet through it all we carry on, trusting the path, trusting our story as it unfolds, trusting that God will carry us, enfold us, shield us, care for us.

As I continue on the next leg of this journey, I hope to start doing more episodes of my Life Lines podcast, which many of you tell me you listen to on repeat when I don’t record new episodes (Thank you! I love you.) I will continue posting my monthly Life Lines column, which runs in The Evangelist, and I will post other spiritual writing as I am able. You’ll also be able to find my upcoming events, which includes several weekend retreats in 2025, including my annual Stillpoint at Pyramid Life Center in September and two retreats at Bon Secours Retreat Center in Maryland in July and December. Continue to check the Events tab at the top of the home page to see what’s coming up. I also hope to offer some online and in-person yoga workshops and class, so check the Yoga tab, if you have interest in those. I hope I see you along the way.

Thank you again for joining me in this space and in my Tribe. If you haven’t signed up for the Tribe, which includes receiving an occasional email newsletter from me, you can do so at the Join the Tribe button in the top right corner of this page.

Peace, Love, Blessings, and Every Good Thing,

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Air travel is not for the faint of heart. Although I don’t have a fear of flying, I do have a fear of pretty much everything else involved: getting through security, missing my connection, losing my luggage, etc. So when a recent trip from Milwaukee to upstate New York devolved into a multi-day travel odyssey, I was amazed to find myself reveling in the experience.

It began after I’d led a five-day retreat for the Pallottine Fathers on the Wisconsin-Illinois border and was dropped off at the airport five hours before my flight. Armed with a new novel, a cup of coffee and a two-hour webinar on compassion and courage, I patiently whiled away the hours. As the time for my flight to Detroit neared, a delay was posted and I knew there was no way I’d make my connection. Attempts to get rerouted proved unsuccessful, so I returned to my seat, accepting the likelihood that I’d be sleeping in the Detroit airport on the travel yoga mat packed in my carry-on. A stranger sitting nearby suggested I try to get on the flight to New York’s LaGuardia Airport, which was boarding at the gate opposite ours. My first angel on this trip.

Continue reading

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When I first launched Not Strictly Spiritual, I did so with a favorite prayer by St. Francis de Sales, whose writings are remarkably relevant to our world today despite his being a 17th century bishop. I used to have this prayer hanging on my bathroom mirror so it was the first thing I would see when I began my day:

Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;
rather, look to them with full hope that as they arise,
God, whose very own you are,
will lead you safely through all things;
and when you cannot stand it,
God will carry you in His arms.
Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
the same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will take care of you then and every day.
He will either shield you from suffering,
or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace,
and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.
— St. Francis de Sales

So much has happened over these past 15 years, much of incredibly wonderful, some of it painfully awful. And yet through it all we carry on, trusting the path, trusting our story as it unfolds, trusting that God will carry us, enfold us, shield us, care for us.

As I look out toward the next leg of this journey, I can tell you that I hope to get back to my Life Lines podcast and make that more regular/frequent. I will continue posting my monthly Life Lines column, which runs in The Evangelist, and I will post other spiritual writing as I am able. You’ll also be able to find my upcoming events, which includes four weekend retreats in 2023 (one in the Capital Region, one in Syracuse, one in the Adirondacks, and one in Maryland), plus some single-day events here and there. I’ll be adding more as they are scheduled, so continue to check back on the Events tab at the top of the home page to see what’s coming up. I hope I see you along the way.

Thank you again for joining me in this space and in my Tribe. If you haven’t signed up for the Tribe, which includes receiving an occasional email newsletter from me, you can do so at the Join the Tribe button in the top right corner of this page.

Peace, Love, Blessings, and Every Good Thing,

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I have been so touched by your willingness to share your own faith stories and to talk openly about your struggles, accomplishments and moments of crisis. Our community of blog regulars might be small, but you are mighty and devoted little band of followers. You constantly remind me that being willing and able to share the secrets of my soul is not only a great opportunity for spiritual growth but for personal transformation.

In a world where we are often far from family and cut off from daily interactions with friends — especially during life in the time of COVID, this virtual community can serve as touchstone, buoying us up when we are starting to list. Every once in a while when I start to wonder if I am just spewing my spiritual insecurities to no one in particular, a virtual version of talking to myself, I inevitably receive a comment or email telling me how something on the blog struck a chord or gave someone a feeling of peace. I can assure you that when I started this blog all those years ago, I never imagined that I would be granted such access to other people’s spiritual thoughts and lives. I am humbled and grateful.

Thanks again for sticking with me. You are a blessing in my life. Peace and Love, Mary.

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Now, all these years later, a lot has changed. While I still maintain a chunk of my freelance writing business, I spend my days working for the Diocese of Albany, and so blogging has dropped off significantly. Not to mention the fact that my kids have reached the age where they now have veto power of my sharing of their stories. Those are no longer my stories to share; they get to write their own stories now. Recipes and travel are on the back burner while I go about the business of my current daily life. And while I’m not here as often as I used to be (or would like to be), this blog will always be one of my favorite places to hang out. I thank those who have continued to visit day after day, year after year, and I welcome those who only recently have joined us. I will do my best to be present here at least somewhat regularly. A special thank you to those who comment or send me emails when a particular post speaks to them. I appreciate the support, encouragement, and sharing.

When I started this blog, I did so with a prayer, and so I will share that prayer again here today on this special anniversary:

Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;

rather, look to them with full hope that as they arise,

God, whose very own you are,

will lead you safely through all things;

and when you cannot stand it,

God will carry you in His arms.

Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;

the same everlasting Father who cares for you today

will take care of you then and every day.

He will either shield you from suffering,

or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.

Be at peace,

and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.

                                                                        — St. Francis de Sales

Photo credit:
unsplash-logoNicolas Tissot

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“Read why @MaryDTP is one of our top 25 blogs on #spiritual wellness.”

And I was like, wait, what? So I clicked on the link that took me to a list of the “top 25 spiritual wellness bloggers,” and there I was, slipped in among some of the most wonderful and inspiring contemporary spiritual wellness/wholeness writers and thinkers: Louise Hay, Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Danielle LaPorte, Krista Tippett. And me?!? How did that happen? I’m still not sure. I just know I am beyond overwhelmed and grateful that anyone, anywhere would include me and my blog — this blog! — on that list. I’m not worthy. And I’m especially honored to be the Catholic writer representing on that list. Preach.

Thank you again to the folks at The Clearing. I am so grateful. And, now, here’s the full list. You’ll find me in the #6 slot:

Spiritual Wellness Bloggers We Love and Respect

Here’s our list of the top 25 spiritual wellness bloggers, in no particular order, to inspire and encourage you in your spiritual path.

1. Louise Hay

Louise Hay is an internationally-lauded author and speaker who focuses on how positive philosophies and affirmations can help people to heal their lives. She began her healing work by speaking in church, and later chronicled how she healed her physical body from cancer through emotional work, nutritional support, and therapy.

2. Lori Deschene

Lori Deschene is the founder of Tiny Buddha, a popular online community devoted to “reflecting on simple wisdom and learning new ways to apply it to our complex lives”. The site features guest posts from individuals all across the world to help readers cultivate happiness in their own lives.

3. Leo Babauta

Leo Babauta of Zen Habits was among the first personal development bloggers on the web. He writes about minimalism and the concrete, real-world habits that promote happiness; recent posts include essays on mindful walking and eating. He emphasizes clearing the clutter to allow for a greater focus on what matters most.

4. Ilchi Lee

Ilchi Lee of Change Your Energy writes about unleashing positive transformations for the mind, body, and soul. He offers various courses, videos, and products designed to increase your energy and thus improve your quality of life.

5. Marianne Williamson

Marianne Williamson is an acclaimed, bestselling author and speaker who penned the much-beloved, oft-quoted paragraph that begins: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure…” She writes about the spiritual journey from suffering to enlightenment.

6. Mary DeTurris Poust

Mary DeTurris Poust of Not Strictly Spiritual is a Catholic writer, speaker, blogger, and communications consultant who writes about finding the Divine in the everyday, healing from grief, developing spiritual friendships, and more.

See the rest HERE.

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MARY DeTURRIS POUST

Background: Born and raised in Pearl River in Rockland County. She graduated from Pace University. Her husband, Dennis, and their children, Noah, 19, a freshman at Le Moyne College, and daughters Olivia, 15, and Chiara, 10, who attend Bethlehem public schools, live in Delmar where they are parishioners at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. She’s director of communications for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.

Your resume includes reporter, editor, columnist, author and blogger. You’ve switched hats in your new job.

It’s the culmination of everything I’ve done professionally over the past 32 years, not only as a writer but as a public speaker, retreat leader and commentator of Catholic issues. Dealing with the media is my favorite part of my job, because I’ll always be a journalist at heart. I love to find an interesting story in the diocese and get it out there in the secular press: Good news with a capital g and a lower case g. I do sometimes miss being a full-time writer.

Continue reading HERE.

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Although I will be full time with the Diocese of Albany, I will continue to do my spiritual writing. I can’t give that up. Writing is a bit like breathing for me. I think I would wither and die without it, so I’ll find a way to do at least a little of that. I will continue my monthly Life Lines column, which appears in Catholic New York and the Catholic Spirit (Metuchen), and I will continue to write for Give Us This Day. In fact, I have a book of Lenten reflections coming out from Liturgical Press in November, and I am beginning work on another book of spiritual reflections for release in 2017.

And I will continue to lead retreats and pilgrimages now and then. I already have a fantastic Holy Year of Mercy Food & Faith pilgrimage to Italy scheduled for May 15-26, 2016. We are going from Rome and Castel Gandolfo to Orvieto, Assisi, Siena, Bologna, the Emilia-Romagna region, Padua and Venice. It promises to be a trip to remember. You can read more about it HERE. I’ll be back with a separate post on that soon. I promise.

So, please, send a prayer my way as I begin this new chapter in my life. I truly believe the Spirit was at work in all of this and that this is exactly where God wants me to be right now. Although I have been doing social and digital media for the diocese part time for the past five months, I am looking forward to kicking it up a notch and using my background and experience to help the diocese spread the Good News in new ways. (P.S. That’s our diocesan crest up there on the left. The beaver is a symbol of Albany, which was once called Beverwyck — “Beaver” — and the crosier is a symbol of the Office of Bishop. The crescent moon and the blue represent the Blessed Mother, patroness of the diocese under the title of the Immaculate Conception. And that’s our cathedral on the right.)

If you’re interested, here’s the press release announcing my appointment and explaining Bishop Scharfenberger’s vision for my office:

Bishop Scharfenberger Announces Changes
To Diocesan Communications Office

Recognizing the power and potential of the changing media landscape, Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger today announced a new vision for the Diocese of Albany’s Office of Communications. To lead that effort, he has appointed Mary DeTurris Poust, currently diocesan Consultant for Digital and Social Media, as Director of Communications, effective Sept. 3. She replaces Kenneth J. Goldfarb, who has served in that position since 2002. The appointment also follows the retirement of Father Kenneth J. Doyle from his position as Chancellor for Public Information.

The restructured Office of Communications will not only include public information and media relations but social and digital media and oversight of The Evangelist, the weekly newspaper of the diocese, bringing together under one roof the diocese’s varied communications tools.

“We want to use our communications proactively to announce and spread the Gospel and to equip not only the Catholic population but the general public with accurate, timely and helpful information about the Church and the activities of the diocese and our parishes,” said Bishop Scharfenberger. “We need to use every means available to do that, and while traditional media, such as The Evangelist, remains critical to our communication and evangelization efforts, we must take advantage of the many new media platforms that allow us to broaden our reach and engage more Catholics in the New Evangelization.”

The diocese joined social media in April, when it launched Facebook pages and Twitter accounts for both the diocese and the bishop. Since then, the number of followers has been on the rise as the diocese begins to engage the rapidly increasing local and global Catholic community that exists online.

“As a long-time journalist, I value the power of the printed word, but there is no denying the equal power of new media to reach untapped populations that are hungry for a relationship with God,” said Ms. DeTurris Poust. “With both traditional and new media working together under the newly revamped Communications Office, we will be able to better respond to the needs of our people and the needs of our times. I’m grateful to Bishop Scharfenberger for his vision and for the confidence he’s shown in me to help him implement that plan.”

Ms. DeTurris Poust has been working in Catholic media for more than 30 years and has written seven books on Catholic spirituality and teaching and published hundreds of articles in both Catholic and secular newspapers and magazines on national, regional, and local levels. The former managing editor of Catholic New York newspaper, she is regular contributor to Catholic radio and cable, and a social media expert who has spoken about the importance of using new media as a tool for evangelization to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in 2012 and World Communications Day in Brooklyn in 2014.

Father Doyle, former editor of The Evangelist, spokesman for the USCCB, and Rome Bureau Chief for Catholic News Service, has served as Chancellor for Public Information since 2000. He will continue as pastor of Mater Christi Parish in Albany and will continue to write his nationally syndicated “Question Corner” column, which runs in The Evangelist, for Catholic News Service. Mr. Goldfarb, who came to the diocese after a long career as a journalist covering state government and later as spokesman for the State University of New York, has served as diocesan Director of Communications for the past 13 years.

“We are so grateful to Father Doyle and Ken Goldfarb for their many years of dedicated service to the diocese and the people of God,” said Bishop Scharfenberger. “They leave us with a strong foundation on which to build this next generation of Catholic communications.”

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For me, this was one of those moments:

“After all these years, I’ve come to realize that I really don’t enjoy reading the “Divine Comedy”; I just like the thought of being someone who enjoys reading the “Divine Comedy.” I like to pretend I’m special, but I’m really just like everyone else.”

Yup, except, unlike Bob, I’ve never even attempted The Divine Comedy, despite having a bachelor’s degree in English, despite owning that lovely set of books you see in the photo here, complete with side-by-side Italian and English translations. Those books have been on my bookshelf in various apartments and houses in various cities for more than 30 years. I guess I, too, like the idea of Dante more than I like the actual reading of this classic. (For the record, I also have not read the The Iliad or The Odyssey shelved right next to it. Same idea, different classics.)

Then again, there’s a lot I’ve got sitting on the shelf of my life, unopened, untouched, undiscovered for a host of reasons that run the gamut from laziness to fear to exhaustion by a life that at times overwhelms and confounds.

“Life is messy,” Bob writes. “It’s forever unfinished, often complicated and sometimes extraordinary, and it renews itself with or without you. Everything matters, because every moment is unique.” (Read the full post HERE.)

Amen. Why do I always seem to forget that?

So what would you tell your 22-year-old self as you look at your life with 20/20 hindsight thanks to your progressive lenses? I’m going to ponder that thought as I go about my day and come back with my own version of this post.

Right after I put my Dante books out on the curb.

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St. Francis de Sales is one of my all-time favorites, and today is his feast day, so I thought I would share the two quotes from my retreat talk on brokenness because St. Francis has a lot to say about accepting our brokenness and learning to be who we are meant to be without a whole lot of angst and misery over what we’re not.

“Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.”

Easier said than done, right? But, still, great advice, and if we saw it on scrolling by on Facebook or Pinterest from some New Age guru or, say, Oprah, we’d probably think: YES! But somehow coming from a 17th century Catholic bishop, we give it less credence, or don’t pay any attention to it at all. What can he have to say that could possibly mean anything to me? A lot, as it turns out.

Here’s my other favorite:

“Our perfection consists of struggling against our imperfection. Think of the time before you were born. Where was your soul then? The world existed, but it saw nothing of you.

“God pulled you out of that void and made you who you are out of his own goodness.

“Think of the possibilities God has placed in you.”

So, today, on the Feast of St. Francis de Sales, reflect on these two pieces of timeless wisdom and consider what possibilities God has placed in you.

Oh, today also happens to be the SEVENTH anniversary of this blog. How did that happen?!? I kicked off Not Strictly Spiritual on the Feast of St. Francis de Sales since he is the patron saint of writers. Yet another reason I love St. Francis. Click HERE to read my very first blog post, which happens to include my favorite prayer by St. Francis de Sales.

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