How One Accompanies Women on their GIVEN Journeys: GIVEN Mentor Dominique Seraphin

"Young people of America and of the world, listen to what Christ the Redeemer is saying to you!” - Pope John Paul II, World Youth Day, Denver, CO

The GIVEN Institute recently hired a new Director of Events, three-time GIVEN mentor, Dominique Seraphin. Deeply connected to the GIVEN Institute, Dominique has shared her wisdom with her mentees and her deep understanding of the faith through her own unique experiences. Dominique says:

“I love finding ways to communicate the truths of our faith in a way that feels personal, accessible, and rooted in real life. My own experiences have also given me a great deal of empathy for people navigating transition, disappointment, discernment, or unexpected changes in their lives…I believe one of my greatest strengths is accompaniment. I am comfortable sitting with people in both their joy and their messiness. I don't feel the need to have all the answers. I try to listen well, encourage them, remind them of their identity in Christ, and help them recognize what the Lord may already be doing in their lives.”

Currently based in Hampton, Virginia, with her husband of nearly twenty years, Anderson, and their two children, Therese and Alex, Dominique is a wife, mother, and active member in female apostolates like GIVEN. Dominique was born and raised in New York City and is proud of her Haitian heritage. While she is a self-proclaimed, “cradle Catholic,” Dominique explains that it was her profound encounter at the 1993 World Youth Day with Pope John Paul the Second that truly ignited her faith. Afterwards, Dominique felt a call to the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal after a trip to Assisi – home of St. Francis of Assisi – and she entered religious life as Sister Therese Faustina. 

While Dominique eventually discerned out of her religious community, she says that the spiritual themes from St. Therese’s “Little Way” and St. Faustina’s message of “Divine Mercy,” are pillars of her faith. After Dominique left the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal, she met Anderson and they were married on Divine Mercy Sunday in 2010 at 3:00 p.m., the Hour of Mercy. Dominique reflects:

“I have been blessed with many opportunities to serve the Church, but being a wife and mother has been one of the greatest gifts and accomplishments of my life. Looking back, I can see how the Lord has woven together every part of my story—the unexpected turns, the surrender, religious life, Divine Mercy, St. Thérèse, marriage, and motherhood.”

Now, Dominique accompanies other women on their journeys at the GIVEN Institute. Dominique has been a mentor at the GIVEN Leadership Forum in 2021, 2022, and 2024. She is a mentor for Forum Participants in the Church and Ministry  track. As a mentor, Dominique says:

“One of the things I love most about GIVEN is that mentorship isn't about having all the answers or telling another woman what she should do. It is about accompaniment—walking alongside her, listening deeply, asking good questions, praying with and for her, and helping her recognize what God may already be doing in her life.”

Dominique explains that she finds it particularly rewarding when she sees her mentee’s growth over time:

“What has been most meaningful for me is watching my mentee grow in confidence—not simply confidence in herself, but confidence in who God created her to be and in the gifts He has entrusted to her. There is something sacred about being invited into another person's discernment and watching pieces begin to come together as she recognizes her gifts, desires, and mission.”

She recalls one such example:

“During my time mentoring my mentee, she needed to step away from her Action Plan for personal reasons. I encouraged her to take the time she needed, trusting that the Lord’s timing is always perfect. When she was ready, she returned to her plan, creating a journal to help Spanish-speaking women grow in their prayer lives and experience deeper healing with Jesus. I was so proud of her when she reached out to tell me that her journal was finished and published!"

For me, the lesson is to give ourselves permission to pause and allow the Lord to work, trusting that He is still at work even when we need to step back.”

Now, Dominique starts on a new journey with the GIVEN Institute as the Director of Events. Upon being hired for this new role, Dominique says:

“I’m most excited to create opportunities for women to encounter Christ, recognize the gifts God has entrusted to them, and find the encouragement to put those gifts into action. Having served as a GIVEN mentor, I’ve seen the beauty of this mission firsthand, and I’m grateful to help bring it to life as Director of Events.”

Please pray for Dominique as she prepares for her first Leadership Forum as Director of Events and for the rest of the GIVEN team as they prepare to open applications for the 2027 Leadership Forum.