Mary Kay McDermott: The Spirit and Song and Dance

Messy Jesus Business

Episode 93 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh. Thanks for listening to Messy Jesus Business! We're taking our summer break after this episode. Look for new interviews in your podcast feed starting in late September 2025. In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with Mary Kay McDermott about following the lead of the Spirit, Catholic Worker, intentional community, works of mercy, co-creation, singing into the liminal, the healing power of community song and dance, and more. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Email | RSS | More A transcript of the show is available. "My great joy is to lead dances where five-year-olds and seventy-five-year-olds are all dancing together with big smiles on their faces, and looking each other in the eye and breathing together and feeling some synchronicity in their movements." -Mary Kay McDermott Mary Kay McDermott Find Mary Kay McDermott's Substack here. ABOUT THE GUEST Mary Kay has been a part of the Catholic Worker movement for the last 25 years. She has co-founded several CW intentional communities including the one where she and her family currently live, St. Isidore Catholic Worker Farm in SW WI. Over the past 10 years she has become passionate about and cultivated the skills for building community through dance, song, and movement that is accessible and inclusive for all. As an American folk dance leader/caller she enjoys leading contra, circle, and square dances that unite people of all ages and abilities. She leads a community singing group that sings joyful, diverse, easy-to-memorize songs in a no practice, no performance experience that boosts energy and enlivens spirits. In addition, Mary Kay teaches mindful movement yoga classes that blend breath and movement, and encourage relaxation and inner peace. In all of her modalities, Mary Kay’s overarching goal is to cultivate experiences where people feel a deeper connection to body, mind, spirit, and community. MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. Produced and edited by Colin Wambsgans. Email us at [email protected] BE SOCIAL: https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Twitter: @messyjesusbiz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messyjesusbusiness SUPPORT US: https://www.patreon.com/messyjesusbusiness