"[W]hen I uncovered my original action plan from 2016, while moving boxes as I once again moved out of my parent’s home, I laughed and cried. I had not realized how completely Christ [...]

"Working in ministry, it feels so easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day slog of office work or liturgy planning that it makes the work almost feel mundane when in actuality it [...]

"That the Feminine Genius is an absolute necessity for the Church and the greater world. That Sisters and lay women can collaborate through their different expressions of spiritual motherhood to heal our world. [...]

"God used the GIVEN Forum to teach me how valued I am in the Church and how to be receptive to His plan and gifts. By discovering my individual gifts and talents in [...]

"GIVEN was such a blessing! I learned that as women we are given gifts that only we can give, but that those gifts are given to us so that we may put them [...]

"My friends and mentors are a sign of God’s presence." Please share a little about yourself - feel free to include a fun fact! I grew up in a small town in Massachusetts [...]

"My key takeaway was that I was enough. GIVEN helped me realize that I had what it took to make an impact on the world..." Please share a little about yourself - feel [...]

"The GIVEN Forum reminded me of the great diversity of women in the Church, as well as the interests and issues to be addressed and served. It was an opportunity to celebrate the [...]

"GIVEN was so influential on my view of how I personally could contribute to the Church and the good of others. I left with a sense of purpose, knowing that the Kingdom of [...]

"Our role as women is to rest in knowing our identity as a daughter of God and to share the gift of ourselves with the world." Describe your professional work. How were you [...]

"When praying about the GIVEN action plan, three things were deeply on my heart: the persecuted Christians in the Middle East, the recent opening of the cause of canonization of the Martyrs of [...]

"My biggest takeaway from the GIVEN Forum was that the feminine genius is manifested in limitless ways, as unique as every woman. I spent a lot of time reflecting on the questions, 'What [...]

"One of the biggest takeaways from the GIVEN Forum for me was knowing that I was not alone in my pursuit of holiness. GIVEN helped me to see how much women are entrusted [...]

"GIVEN allowed me to better understand how much women are needed in our world. I left the Forum with a strong sense of purpose; I was able to feel God’s love for me [...]

"The GIVEN Forum allowed me to see that I am chosen. God wants me for himself. GIVEN is an opportunity to truly dive into who we are and who we are meant to [...]

"I left feeling not only incredibly empowered and ready to take on my entrepreneurial action plan, but ready to enter into the vocation of marriage, as well! GIVEN was hands down the most [...]

When St. Jacinta was canonized with her brother Francisco, a few years ago in 2017, the two children became the youngest non-martyrs to be canonized. Born in Portugal in 1910, Jacinta was the youngest [...]

Born into poverty in July of 1647, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque’s early life was marked by great faith and devotion, particularly to the Blessed Sacrament, even in the midst of difficulties. When [...]

When Jeanne was born in 1792, France was caught in the bloody French Revolution. Times were difficult for the Jugan family, and begging became a way of life for Jeanne from a young age. [...]

St. Rose of Lima was born in 1586 as Isabel Flores de Olivia. When she was an infant, her grandmother had a vision of a beautiful rose just over the child’s face, which is [...]

Although she was no stranger to suffering, St. Jane Frances de Chantal demonstrated great generosity of heart and trust in God. Born in Dijon, France in 1752, Jane lost her mother when she was [...]

St. Catherine Labouré is commonly remembered as the “Saint of the Miraculous Medal” and is admired for her tender relationship with the Blessed Mother, who entrusted her with the mission of spreading the message [...]

St. Gemma Galgani was born on March 12, 1878, as the fifth of eight children in her family. She was an obedient and quiet child who shared her beautiful smile with everyone. She was [...]

St. Gertrude the Great was born on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, 1256 in Eisleben, Germany. At the age of five, she began to attend a Cistercian monastery school in Saxony called [...]

St. Angela Merici’s early life was one filled with loss and tragedy. She was born on March 21, 1474 in Desenzano, the Lombardy region of Italy. She and her sister lost their parents when [...]

Elizabeth Clarrise Lange, later known as Mother Mary Lange of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, was born circa 1794 in the French part of Santiago de Cuba. Elizabeth was born to a family of [...]

There are many questions about the person of St. Mary Magdalene.  Is she the unnamed woman who washes Jesus’ feet in Luke chapter 7?  Is she the woman who anoints Jesus’ feet before His crucifixion?  Is [...]

St. Edith Stein was born as the youngest of 11 children into a prominent Jewish family in Breslau, Germany on October 12th, 1891. That year her birthday coincided with Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day [...]

The struggles of living during the American Revolution did not damper the warm and outgoing demeanor of Elizabeth Ann Bayley. She was born on August 28th, 1774, into an upper-class Anglican family in New York [...]

Katharine Drexel’s decision to leave high society and spend her life dedicated to service of American Indians and African Americans shocked those who were not aware of her ardent desire to be involved in [...]

God's loving mercy is powerfully displayed when He takes a life of tremendous suffering and transforms it into a marvelous work of grace. Such is the case of this great saint, who from a [...]

Born prematurely as the youngest of 13 children to a peasant Italian family in the year 1850, Francesca Cabrini was inspired by stories of the missionary life and developed a deep love for the [...]

Rita Rizzo’s early years began in Canton, Ohio with many hardships, including abandonment by her father and poverty. In her late teens, she endured severe pains in her stomach; this resulted in many doctor [...]

Born in Lourdes, France on January 7, 1844, Bernadette was the first of five children born to Francois and Louise Soubirous. She grew up in poverty and was often a sickly child, unable to [...]

Catherine was born in 1347 and grew up in a large family in Siena, Italy, where her childhood home still stands.  She was a light to her family, and they nicknamed her “Euphrosyne” which [...]

Elizabeth Catez enjoyed the parties and friendships that made up her active social life and had a love of beautiful clothes and the latest hairstyles. She was an accomplished pianist, studying at the Conservatory [...]

She was the third daughter of the celebrated American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne, but she abandoned a life of literature to care for the cancerous poor. Rose Hawthorne Lathrop was born in Massachusetts, one year after [...]

St. Hildegard's feminine strength and authority, combined with her intellectual talents and mystical gifts, allowed her to be a courageous and outspoken presence to the Church leaders and political figures of her time. Hildegard was [...]

St. Faustina was chosen by Jesus to be His missionary of the powerful message of Divine Mercy, but her visionary spiritual life was hidden by her humble external appearance. In 1905, she was born as [...]

Chiara Lubich is the foundress of the Focolare Movement (The Work of Mary) and is regarded as one of the most influential spiritual leaders of the twentieth century. Born in 1920 in Northern Italy [...]

No one would have ever guessed that this hidden and humble “Little Flower” had an unbending will of pure steel and the bold heart of a warrior. Yet anyone who reads her biography, “The Story [...]

Even at a young age, Teresa had a knack for getting into trouble. She was born to a prominent and pious couple in Old Castille, a city of Avila, Spain. Inspired by the stories of [...]

St.  Marianne Cope’s love of and gift for creating beauty and cleanliness served to bring peace and joy to those around her throughout her life. She was born Barbara Koob in the year 1838 [...]

Mother Teresa is one of the most beloved and renowned figures of our time. Her love for Jesus and the poor has inspired millions to serve the needy and to follow her directive to “do [...]

Edel Quinn was born in Ireland in 1907 and was known for her natural good looks, sense of fashion, and wide-ranging talents that allowed her to excel in her studies, sports, music, singing, and acting. [...]

History has proven there the famous statement of Tertullian “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church”. In 1656, nine years after the martyrdom of Jesuit missionaries Isaac Jogues and Jean de [...]