(Wendy Cukierski is the mother of fourteen children, and lives in upstate New York where she and her husband Walt have a small farm and sell Catholic sacramentals online at www.cukierski.net. This interview originally ran in the January 2007 issue of Secretum Meum Mihi, when little Wilson (left) was the youngest.)

Kristen: Are you barefoot right now?
Wendy: Yes-- oh my gosh you caught me! But I’m not pregnant! I’m the crunchy Catholic mama.

Kristen: Were you and your husband always devout Catholics?
Wendy: I’m a cradle Catholic. Walt and I met in college and got married at 20. He was agnostic. The priest who married us told me, “Wendy, I feel in my heart that your husband is truly not agnostic. We’ll have a convert on our hands someday.” We did!

Kristen: You’re a real Bible thumper – what led you to the Bible?
Wendy: My evangelical friends in the early 90s quoted scriptures at me, trying to pull me out of the “whore of Babylon” (that’s what they call the Church) and I couldn’t keep up with them. And my husband was beginning to look at converting. This was also during my “chase the apparition” period. (Don’t most Catholic women have one of those?) Our priest suggested that I just read the Bible and talk about approved apparitions only.  Once I got into it, I was like, “Wow, an instruction manual! Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?”

Kristen: Eleven kids! How did this happen?! (laughs)
Wendy: You know, for me NFP was a pain in the butt.  I’m not bashing NFP, it’s just that I felt I truly did not have a good and serious reason to be using it. So, I said, whatever! Let’s throw out the charts and just let it be in God’s hands. I told Walt, “Not once in the Bible does it say that the Lord will curse you with children. No, it says the Lord will bless you with children.” And he agreed.

Kristen: OK, it’s roster time. Tell us about your blessings.
Wendy: First there’s Walter, Jr. (18), he started a rare coin business with his dad now that he’s finished up high school. Then, Weston (15), who’s all boy. See, we didn’t start out fast. I had several miscarriages, little saints waiting for me in heaven. I thought for awhile it would be just a little family. Boy was I wrong! Then, there’s William (13), and Wellsley (11). She’s my only girl.

Kristen: If this was ancient Israel, you’d be highly revered for all these sons!
Wendy: We’re in America now-- I’m just the insane mom. (laughs) So, then there is Wyatt (10), and Wade (9). When I told my father-in-law I was pregnant with Wade, he said, “This is it, now, right?” And I said, “No, this is our middle child!” (laughs) I really was joking, but now here we have Waylan (6), Woodman (5), Walker (3), Wylie (2) – boy is he 2! – and little Wilson is six months old today.

Kristen: So, I have to ask – are you done?
Wendy: I ask it too! Can I be done, Jesus? (laughs) Now Walt and I are trying a different way. We tell Jesus we’re waiting on our 12th. We’ll see if that works.

Seriously, though, I’ve gained weight over the years-- I’m not circus lady material – but I’m never going to have the body I used to have. This is my motherly body. My belly tells a story! I tell people, “Take a look—it’s very interesting!”

Kristen: How did your sacramentals apostolate get started?
Wendy: It all started with a little book I put together explaining what the church teaches about sex and fertility. With help from my friend’s Catholic moms group online and encouragement from Judie Brown at American Life League, we got it printed.

About the same time, I discovered sacramentals – chaplets, prayer cloths, and other devotions like novenas. They’re short and I can pray ‘em really quick – and it all just took off from there.

Kristen: How have things changed for you and Walt over the years?
Wendy: My husband thinks I’m wonderful no matter what I do – he’s still as lovey dovey as he was when we were first married. I’m a great mother but I’m a lousy wife. I’m really working on that. Obedience doesn’t come naturally to me – I’m Irish.

Kristen: When you talk to people who are intimidated by you, what do you tell them?
Wendy: I’ve always been a high strung and strong-willed person. I would get tons of anxiety attacks.  The Bible is what I read to trust more. I found that as my faith increased, my anxiety attacks decreased. Well. (pause) That and a glass of wine and you’re good to go!

Wendy’s Favorite Scripture:
Psalm 127:3-5

Behold, sons are a gift from the Lord;
the fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the sons of one’s youth.
Happy the man whose quiver is
filled with them;
they shall not be put to shame
when they contend
with enemies at the gate.
(New American Bible)

Wendy’s Favorite Sacramental:
Prayer Cloths

People had great devotion to the garment which had clothed Christ’s body. They received many graces through touching it in faith.  (see Matt 9:20-22 and Matt 14:35-36). They did not worship the garment, but they knew that by its contact with Him, it had become holy. Prayercloths are also used in the same way (with FAITH!) and have been a powerful instrument in many healings. (from Wendy’s website)

View prayer cloths and other sacramentals favored by this crunchy Catholic mama at:
www.cukierski.net