Sacred Placemaking: Leading with Beauty

In this episode of Modern Catholic Family, Jim and Meghan sit down with Betsy Orr, Founder and CEO of Heritage, to explore the power of sacred placemaking. Betsy shares her 20-year journey to launch a Catholic retreat space rooted in Georgia’s rich faith history. She reflects on how beauty, simplicity, and intentional time together can transform families—and why saying “no” might be the most loving decision of all.

What’s in this episode:

• Betsy shares her journey from Episcopalian roots to Catholic conversion
• Launching Heritage as a sacred space for prayer, play, and presence
• Supporting the Flannery O’Connor film Wildcat to evangelize through beauty
• Creating family-friendly prayer experiences like the walking rosary
• Why stillness, margin, and saying no are essential for Catholic families
• Favorite book: Praying the Scriptures for Your Children by Jodie Berndt
• One resource every Catholic family should know: Praying the Scriptures series by Jodie Berndt
• Book she’s currently reading: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
• Advice to her younger self: Say no more often—protect family time
• Final advice for listeners: Stop chasing experiences; be present where God has you

Resources Mentioned:

Heritage – A 200-acre Catholic retreat and pilgrimage site in Sharon, GA

Praying the Scriptures series by Jodie Berndt – Includes editions for children, teens, adult children, and marriage