“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.” These are words that I have often prayed on and pondered in light of Mary’s “yes” at the Annunciation. But now, these words have a whole different meaning. They have an immensely personal impact on me. They resonate with the story of my own life and God’s call to me, especially through the 2016 GIVEN Forum.

The day is over now, with all its cares and worries. I stand in front of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and slowly lay my head against her chest. I imagine her arms encircling me. Wrapped within her mantle, I can almost hear the slow beating of her heart. Here, I know that I am loved. Without a need for words, I allow her to hold me at the end of this day, her love my place of refuge. “Am I not here, I who am your Mother?” she gently asks, “Could there be anything else you need?”

During Women’s History Month, we are all more keenly aware of the impact of women leaders upon society. Especially on March 8th, media outlets and all of our favorite Instagram accounts were proudly promoting women’s accomplishments and sharing stories of heroines. But does Women’s History Month include Catholic female leaders? Sometimes, yes! Last week, CNN released the headline that Colorado will replace Columbus Day with Cabrini Day, the first paid holiday recognizing a woman in the US. I was thrilled to see this Catholic religious sister, known as the patron saint of immigrants, being recognized by secular outlets!

“As I reflected on the Given Forum 2019, the word ‘receptive’ had been planted on my heart. I had uncertainty about whether I was magnifying my gifts in my current life as a high school history teacher and coach at an all-girls Catholic school outside of Washington D.C. I loved the school, my students, and my coworkers, but I still felt a sense of restlessness in the silence. I was ready and receptive–with arms stretched out– to use my gifts to glorify God and to follow wherever He was leading me."

It’s been 100 years since women earned the right to vote, 56 years since that right was extended to all women in our society. But the divisiveness and animosity of recent election cycles have left many feeling jaded, depressed, unheard, frustrated, and just plain over it. Can you relate?

During our first annual International Women’s Day Panel, you submitted so many excellent questions to our panel that we weren’t able to answer them all. So, we asked professional women from our GIVEN network to respond to them through our Blog! In this post (1 of 3) Meghan Cokeley, Director of the Office for the New Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, shares her thoughts on what inspires her, what keeps her grounded and how we can discern God’s will for our lives.

During our first annual International Women’s Day Panel, you submitted so many excellent questions to our panel that we weren’t able to answer them all. So, we asked professional women from our GIVEN network to respond to them through our Blog! In this post (2 of 3) Rachel Bulman shares her thoughts on the importance of using her gifts, the most important woman in her life, and hearing her vocational call.

During our first annual International Women’s Day Panel, you submitted so many excellent questions to our panel that we weren’t able to answer them all. So, we asked professional women from our GIVEN network to respond to them through our Blog! In this post ( 3 of 3) Beth Leverich shares her thoughts on motivation in a period of waiting, prayer, and more!

Perhaps you’re changing careers for a more lucrative salary – but taking on a new job often comes with unexpected hidden expenses. As a woman in the workforce, you want to get ahead, yet you don’t want to be caught off guard by surprise expenses as you advance in your new job. Consider the following tips when you’re changing careers.

Location: Miami, FL Job Title:  Social Media Manager Education: Florida International University  Degree: Mass Communication and Portuguese Daniela Egües-Roversi, GIVEN '22 [...]

Location: Houston, TX Job Title: Director of Worship Education: Catholic Theological Union Degree: Doctor of Ministry in Liturgical Studies Erika Gonzalez, GIVEN [...]

Location: Bridgeport, PA Job Title: Wedding Photographer Organization: Merciful Love Photography Education: Temple University Degree: BA in Public Health & Nutrition, MPH [...]

Location: Los Angeles, CA Job Title: Stunt Actress Organization: Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) Education: Cal-State [...]