Hi friends! Last month, Christie and I had the opportunity to attend an inspiring 2 day retreat for Catholic entrepreneurs and business owners on the theme of “Holy Collisions” hosted by Sent Ventures. Talking to other small (and large) business owners reminded me how grateful I am for the “Holy Collision” that brought Christie and I together over a decade ago—first as friends, and now as co-founders and owners of ESS!
Holding the first edition of ESS back in 2017! I’m on the left in the pic and Christie is on the right, which is fitting since we often joke that I’m the “left-brain” of ESS (production and operations) and Christie is our “right-brain” (artwork and creative direction)…I guess when you put us together we have one full brain! ;)
From Roomies to Friends
In January of 2011, Christie and I were both returning to Trinity University in San Antonio after studying abroad (in New Zealand for Christie and in Spain for me). Mutual friends matched us up to be roommates, and it was a “Holy Collision” in the making. 😊💙 Christie was an Anthropology and Studio Art major, and my courses were focused in the sciences, but we bonded over our shared experience of adjusting to life back in the states. Christie was also my biggest spiritual cheerleader during this time, rejuvenating my faith by her example and through her welcoming invitations to go to Mass together. Over time, our small everyday moments spent together grew into a deep friendship, and 6 months after graduation Christie stood beside me as a bridesmaid when Stephen and I were married in December of 2012.
From friends (Top left - Christie leading the prayer before dinner at our wedding!) to friends+business partners (Bottom right - Being vendors at our very first conference on the day ESS was funded on Kickstarter!)
A Holy Collision Sparks an Idea
By 2016, we were each living in Houston and a few years into the “real world”— Christie was working as an elementary school art teacher and I was finishing final experiments for my PhD in molecular biology. At this time, the Holy Spirit guided Christie and I to another “Holy Collision”—specifically, a special discussion we had about the Mass. Sitting together in our local Whole Foods Cafe, we mentioned how nice it would be to have a journal with the full Mass readings and space to take notes. After a quick internet search, we didn’t see what we were envisioning and looked at each other—the call to create ESS hit us both in that moment!
Discernment—and a Big YES!
We each took the idea to prayer over the coming month—with no extra cash and zero experience in book printing, it seemed a little crazy to move forward with this idea—but we both felt the Holy Spirit pulling us to create this resource. In the ensuing weeks, we decided on the name Every Sacred Sunday and our motto—Say “Yes!” to God, one Sunday at a time.
I’m forever thankful for the holy collision that brought Christie and I together and for God’s grace to say “Yes!” in that moment. I feel that call to say yes each day, although it is usually in a myriad of small ways. Yes to the alarm. Yes to preparing breakfast. Yes to laundry and wiping down the high chair and filling out paperwork. Yes even when it looks like a no—such as declining good opportunities to prioritize prayer and family time. And thank goodness for Jesus and His perfect “Yes!” on the cross for all the times I need to begin again!
What’s Your Yes?
I’m inspired each day by this community saying yes. Moms and dads who say yes over and over each day. Entrepreneurs and freelancers who step boldly into uncertainty. Parish volunteers and ministry workers who do the work of showing up. The list goes on and on.
In case no one has told you today, yesterday, or in a long while—thank you for your yes! It matters and God multiplies it for good. Wherever you are today, at this just past halfway point in the year, I hope you can look back and celebrate all the ways God has been with you this year in your personal “Yes”, whatever that may be. And for whatever “holy collisions” God has in store for the future, thank you for joining us in saying “Yes!” to God, one Sunday at a time!
Kassie Manning is the Operations Director and Co-founder of Every Sacred Sunday. After getting her Ph.D. in molecular biology and working in healthcare consulting, she took a leap of faith to make books. When not thinking about paper thickness and sample swatches, she can be found around Texas climbing tall rocks, searching for lost chapstick, or eating breakfast tacos with her husband and baby girl.