--- title: "Week 3: Beautiful Second Act Book Club" description: Watch the video from Week 3 of the Catholic Mom Book Club featuring 'A Beautiful Second Act' by Maria Morera Johnson. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20250115%20BSzyszkiewicz%201.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/week-3-beautiful-second-act-book-club#) [BOOKS](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/books) # Week 3: Beautiful Second Act Book Club Mar 25, 2025 11:30:00 AM  |  by [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20250115%20BSzyszkiewicz%201.png) *Watch the video from Week 3 of the Catholic Mom Book Club featuring *A Beautiful Second Act* by Maria Morera Johnson.* --- The March 2025 Book Club features Catholic Mom media editor Maria Morera Johnson and her new book, *[A Beautiful Second Act: Saints and Soul Sisters who Taught Me to Be a Badass Age with Grace](https://www.avemariapress.com/products/beautiful-second-act),* published by Ave Maria Press.   ## Did you miss Week 3 of the Book Club? Watch the video here:     Maria and host Allison Gingras discuss Chapters 7 through 10 of our Book Club selection, chatting about the fascinating women profiled in this book and what we can learn from their successes and their difficulties. They also talk about the importance of spiritual rest and the example of women who faced the same kinds of challenges we did — and are now on the pathway to sainthood. Thank you for participating in our March 2025 Book Club! We've loved discussing this beautiful book and bringing you the stories of amazing and inspiring women.   ![null](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20250325%20CM%20Book%20Club%203.png?width=860&height=1075&name=20250325%20CM%20Book%20Club%203.png)   ## What's the book about? **In [*A Beautiful Second Act*](https://www.avemariapress.com/products/beautiful-second-act), bestselling author Maria Morera Johnson explores the adventure of life’s second half, drawing inspiration from twenty saints and “soul sisters” who faced these challenges with courage.** As advancements in health and medicine extend our lifespan, women of the sandwich generation — those balancing the needs of both children and parents — are experiencing a multitude of challenges as they transition out of the workforce and into the promise of retirement. [*A Beautiful Second Act: Saints and Soul Sisters Who Taught Me to Be a Badass Age with Grace* ](https://www.avemariapress.com/products/beautiful-second-act)contains encouragement and wisdom from saints and contemporary soul sisters who experienced similar challenges during their transition to midlife and beyond and offers insight into the aging process. Chapter after chapter, these inspiring saints and contemporary changemakers from all over the world will help you, too, embrace your second half and the changes it brings to our health, our personal relationships, our responsibilities, our work, and our faith.   [![Beautiful Second Act](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Beautiful%20Second%20Act.jpg?width=900&height=1391&name=Beautiful%20Second%20Act.jpg)](https://www.avemariapress.com/products/beautiful-second-act)   ## Where can I get a copy of this book? [Ave Maria Press](https://www.avemariapress.com/products/beautiful-second-act), the publisher, is offering a generous discount on [A Beautiful Second Act](https://www.avemariapress.com/products/beautiful-second-act): use code CATHOLICMOM to save 10% off the purchase price of the book. This offer expires April 27, 2025.   [![Purchase our Book Club book from Ave Maria Press](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/3604c5f0-75d6-40ce-8170-b54f538c8b0f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/3604c5f0-75d6-40ce-8170-b54f538c8b0f)   [![Purchase our Book Club book from Amazon](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/d5e40fd3-f63e-462b-b69a-fdefcba11d2c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/d5e40fd3-f63e-462b-b69a-fdefcba11d2c)   It's free to participate in our Book Club, and we hope you'll consider joining us and inviting a friend to join as well! We'll be announcing our next Book Club selection soon, and if you sign up for our Book Club newsletters, you'll be among the first to know!   [![Sign up for our Book Club newsletters](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/78171057-58eb-45ac-b5d0-9c2729ae9f68.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/78171057-58eb-45ac-b5d0-9c2729ae9f68)   [![Catch up on our Book Club articles](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/a53cba5c-903d-44bd-b370-0b6a1802b16e.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/a53cba5c-903d-44bd-b370-0b6a1802b16e)   [![20250308 Book Club 2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20250308%20Book%20Club%202.png?width=860&height=1075&name=20250308%20Book%20Club%202.png)](https://www.avemariapress.com/products/beautiful-second-act)     Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles. --- Copyright 2025 Barb Szyszkiewicz Images: Ave Maria Press ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fweek-3-beautiful-second-act-book-club%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fweek-3-beautiful-second-act-book-club%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fweek-3-beautiful-second-act-book-club%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Week%203%3A%20Beautiful%20Second%20Act%20Book%20Club) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fweek-3-beautiful-second-act-book-club%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fweek-3-beautiful-second-act-book-club%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/BSzyszkiewicz%202022.jpg) ### [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at [CatholicMom.com](http://catholicmom.com), is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at [FranciscanMom](http://franciscanmom.com) and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information at [Cook and Count](http://cookandcount.wordpress.com). Barb is the author of *[The Handy Little Guide to Prayer](https://amzn.to/2LQB2oL)* and * [The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours](https://amzn.to/3wbDB8k)*, available from Our Sunday Visitor. ## Related Blog Articles [ Week 1: Beautiful Second Act Book Club Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/week-1-beautiful-second-act-book-club) [ Week 2: Beautiful Second Act Book Club Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/week-2-beautiful-second-act-book-club) [ Join Catholic Mom's Beautiful Second Act Book Club Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/join-catholic-moms-beautiful-second-act-book-club) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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