EWTN TV host and Catholic author, Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle recently interviewed Dorothy Pilarski about her new book Motherhood Matters.
Donna-Marie: Dorothy, the book you’ve seemed to put your heart into has finally been released. What are your thoughts?
Dorothy: There is a part of me that still doesn’t believe it’s true. There are moments where it feels like a bit of a dream. There have been so many obstacles to overcome, but Our Lady just kept opening up these doors. I just kept walking through the doors she opened. I have received so much help and encouragement from so many people. It all started with my own Mother’s Group. I think one of the best things a Catholic mother can do is to start a Mother’s Group. Being surrounded by Catholic girlfriends– that support, encourage, nurture, laugh, cry, and pray with you is the greatest privilege in the world. I am completely overjoyed by all of the endorsements, Motherhood Matters got from women who are hero’s of mine. My heart really is full of gratitude. Donna, thank you for taking the time to interview me and thank you for endorsing the book too!
I feel blessed that by the grace of God, I signed the contract for the book on the Feast of St. Frances de Sales. By the grace of God, it was launched on the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel. And I have been interviewed by Teresa Tomeo and on the Drew Mariani show too.
Donna-Marie: How long did it take to write this book?
Dorothy: The book was written over a sixteen year span. I have hosted a Catholic Mother’s Group for just a little over 15 years. We generally meet once a month at my home. We start off with the rosary, then I usually have a speaker or DVD. Next, we chat over a variety of herbal teas and pastries. I found in between our meetings that I would reflect on different things and decided to share these reflections with the Catholic moms. My email distribution list grew and grew. After reading the reflections I had written, many of the moms on my list suggested that I put them into a book. I never took their suggestions seriously. I just didn’t think I was that good of a writer. I wrote because I loved to write about matters that were close to my heart. Finally, one mom suggested I forward at least one piece to our Canadian newspaper, the Catholic Register—the rest is history!
Donna-Marie: Why did you write for mothers?
Dorothy: When I was just a little girl, I longed to stay at home and be a mother. I relished in the very thought of it. When I finally became a mom, quite late in life, I realized that not many women were staying at home to watch their own children. I remember being a bit stunned. I see the mother-child bond as being sacred and it appears that that very bond is being attacked.
Right now, our world does not need any more political, academic, theological, sophisticated, sexy, accomplished, worldly rich mothers—mothers that are too busy for their own children. Our world needs mothers who are anointed with the Holy Spirit and will storm heaven and earth–and will do whatever it takes to care for their own children in their early years. It needs mothers who will make it their priority to pray with their children and to pass down their Catholic Faith.
Donna-Marie: What are some of the issues that today’s mothers face?
Dorothy: Mothers today in some cases, are on a certain level, self-destructing. We are too busy; we are over saturated, over stimulated, over shopped, over travelled, over fed and over extended. We have systematically created a culture and life style that is squeezing out not only God, but the feminine nature out of women. Instead of having time to nurture, encourage, listen, sing, play, cook and perform acts of charity we have become driven, workaholics, obsessed with the next thing on our to do list. We often don’t have time just to “be” with our own children or our aging parents. We often don’t have time to pray, visit friends in the hospital or go to funerals.
In what is sometimes a harried life, as Catholic mothers there may be a temptation to forget that our primary duty is to pass down the Catholic faith.
Donna-Marie: What are your hopes for this book?
Dorothy: I have three hopes for this book. It is my hope to challenge the current cultural model of motherhood. Secondly, I would like to provide an evangelical tool for mothers who already view motherhood as a vocation. It is my hope that this is the type of Catholic book that anyone would feel comfortable in passing on to their other less-committed Catholic girlfriends! Thirdly, I want to affirm, encourage and inspire mothers and call them to start praying a Holy Hour for the vocation of motherhood in general. I would like to start a movement whereby a group of women voluntarily sign up for Holy Hours to reclaim the dignity of motherhood under the mantle of Mary, the Mother of God world wide!
Donna-Marie: Is there anything else you would like us to know about your journey in writing this book or what led up to you writing this book?
Dorothy: I would like to encourage women who, in their gut, know what they should be doing, but haven’t had the courage to listen to those promptings in their own hearts. I would like to encourage women to pray to the Holy Spirit, to engage in a lively sacramental life and to visit Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration often. I would really encourage mothers to start mother’s groups! Mother’s need to be ministered to! There are so many wonderful resources, just start the meeting off with the rosary and Our Lady will definitely do the rest!
Donna-Marie: Finally, Dorothy, where can we get a copy of your book?
Dorothy: Autographed copies of the book are available on my blog: http://gutsycatholicmom.blogspot.com/ and on my website www.dorothypilarski.com
Donna-Marie: Thanks very much, Dorothy.
Dorothy: Thank YOU Donna, I couldn’t have done it without your support and help!
