Barb Szyszkiewicz

New Jersey

Founder and Blogger at FranciscanMom

Married mom of 3 adults, Secular Franciscan, semiprofessional intercessor. Editor @CatholicMomCom, author: https://t.co/yqHVlTvRgw and https://t.co/z2yArah1wk.

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Articles

Daily Gospel Reflection for June 20, 2025

1 week ago | catholicmom.com | Barb Szyszkiewicz

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel. Today's Gospel: Matthew 6:19-23What is my treasure -- and what do I do with it? What light do I allow to shine? That's what Jesus asks us to consider today. It's all about our priorities. These two little teachings are connected by a call to act. If we have treasure of any kind, we shouldn't hoard it. Treasure is useless unless we use it.
Summer Reads for Catholic Kids and Teens

1 week ago | catholicmom.com | Barb Szyszkiewicz

Barb Szyszkiewicz reviews a stack of new books for your family to enjoy on road trips or lazy summer days. Summer is a great time to read new books! As a child, whenever I packed for summer vacation, the books were always the first things in my travel bag. Introduce your children to a new author or a genre this summer with these books your family can enjoy together.
Meatless Friday: Escarole and Beans

3 weeks ago | catholicmom.com | Barb Szyszkiewicz

For Meatless Friday, Barb Szyszkiewicz shares a quick-to-prepare dish that's simple and delicious. Download our printable recipe card!This is the best time of year to buy escarole, a hardy green you can enjoy in salads or cooked in soups or other dishes. This meal takes less than 30 minutes to make, including the time to chop and clean the greens, and it's economical too! I like to serve it with hearty bread or rolls and some Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.
Real Life with Mary Book Club: Week 3

3 weeks ago | catholicmom.com | Barb Szyszkiewicz

Our Book Club selection for May 2025: Real Life with Mary by Kelsey Gillespy. Watch the Week 3 video!Our May 2025 Book Club selection is a book honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary! Kelsey Gillespy, in her new book, Real Life with Mary: Growing in Virtue to Magnify the Lord, encourages moms to grow in friendship with Mary and learn from her how to walk the daily path to holiness.
Real Life with Mary Book Club: Week 2

1 month ago | catholicmom.com | Barb Szyszkiewicz

Our Book Club selection for May 2025: Real Life with Mary by Kelsey Gillespy. Watch the Week 2 video!Our May 2025 Book Club selection is a book honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary! Kelsey Gillespy, in her new book, Real Life with Mary: Growing in Virtue to Magnify the Lord, encourages moms to grow in friendship with Mary and learn from her how to walk the daily path to holiness.
Meatless Friday: 5 Dishes to Bring to a Picnic

1 month ago | catholicmom.com | Barb Szyszkiewicz

Here in the USA, it's a holiday weekend! If you're attending a picnic (or hosting one), here are five meatless options complete with printable recipe cards. It's the unofficial start of summer, and the perfect time of year for a picnic! Whether you're hosting the event or bringing a dish along, having a meatless option is always helpful. Here are five choices shared by our writers! You can click on each photo to go straight to the recipe.
Real Life with Mary Book Club: Week 1

1 month ago | catholicmom.com | Barb Szyszkiewicz

Our Book Club selection for May 2025: Real Life with Mary by Kelsey Gillespy. Find out why Kelsey wrote this book!Our May 2025 Book Club selection is a book honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary! Kelsey Gillespy, in her new book, Real Life with Mary: Growing in Virtue to Magnify the Lord, encourages moms to grow in friendship with Mary and learn from her how to walk the daily path to holiness.
Meatless Friday: Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice

1 month ago | catholicmom.com | Barb Szyszkiewicz

For an easy Meatless Friday meal, Barb Szyszkiewicz recommends adding pineapple and shrimp to fried rice. Download our printable recipe card!I cook a lot with shrimp because it's quick and relatively inexpensive; I can get frozen shrimp for about $5 a pound, which is a bargain compared to most seafood and even most meat these days. Fried rice is also an inexpensive meal. It lets me use up cooked rice left over from another meal, as well as all kinds of produce I might have around.
Pray for the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV

1 month ago | catholicmom.com | Barb Szyszkiewicz

The newly elected pope, Robert Francis Prevost, has chosen the name Leo XIV. How will you pray for the new pope, and how did you hear about the election? Shortly after noon Eastern today, white smoke was seen from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, and the announcement was made a little more than an hour later that the new pope, Robert Francis Prevost, has chosen the name Pope Leo XIV. The pope was born in 1955 in Chicago, Illinois, and has dual citizenship in the USA and Peru.
Meatless Friday: Lemon Tilapia with Broccoli Slaw Stir-Fry

1 month ago | catholicmom.com | Barb Szyszkiewicz

Barb Szyszkiewicz shares a simple fish dish made even simpler with pre-shredded vegetables. Download our printable recipe card!What can you do with a bag of broccoli slaw? Turns out, a lot more than simply making slaw. It's great in stir-fries, so if you've opened a bag and didn't use it all, this is a great way to serve the rest. If you prep your vegetables while the oven preheats, you can cook the stir-fry as the fish bakes, and it will all be done at the same time.