Mother Mary Mother of Faith, SSVM: Receive the Gift that You Are

Mother Faith entered the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará (female branch of the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word) on August 15, 2003.  During an Ignatian Retreat after her sophomore year of college, she received a clear and undeniable call to leave all and follow Christ as a Servant of the Lord.  In 2007 after completing her period of initial formation, Sister served for 7 years in Italy at her communities’ International House of Studies living with sisters from over 35 different countries. She professed final vows in 2010 and returned to the United States to serve in her community’s Novitiate as Vocations Director.  Sister currently teaches at the High School Seminary of her Religious Family in Mankato, MN.

In the footsteps of Our Lady and in totally docility to the Holy Spirit a Servant of the Lord seek in all things to extend Christ’s Incarnation. She strives to “become like another humanity of Christ,” so that the Word can become flesh in “all men, in all of man and in all the manifestations of man.”

Leah Jacobson: Realize the Gifts You’ve Been Given

Hailing from central Minnesota, Leah has been working with young people and mothers since the year 2000. Leah founded The Guiding Star Project in 2011 after feeling called to help women and families by providing resources that honor natural law and promote wholistic feminism. She seeks to create Guiding Star Centers to serve as beacons of hope, joy, and truth – safe havens that uphold human dignity in all stages of life. Leah lives in Minnesota with her family and works as a board-certified lactation consultant. As a mother to seven children, she has a special interest in supporting young women as they transition into their roles as new mothers.

Lauren Garcia: Respond With the Gift Only You Can Give

Lauren Garcia, a Texas native, graduated in 2010 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in advertising. After being formed as a FOCUS student leader in college, she served with FOCUS for nearly seven years as a missionary at Drake University and the University of Texas-Austin, a regional director for the East Region and a development officer at the Denver Support Center. She currently represents the three Catholic Bishops serving in Nebraska as the Communications and Outreach Specialist for the Nebraska Catholic Conference. She helps advance the public policy priorities of the Nebraska Bishops and helping Catholic citizens engage in faithful citizenship.

Ashley Cermak: Action Plan Witness Talk

Ashley Cermak is working toward her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling, after which she hopes to bridge the beauty of our Catholic faith with the healing that professional therapy offers. Prior to this, Ashley worked as a Youth Minister, Religion teacher, and NET missionary, all of which contributed to her passion for answering the need for Catholic-based counseling, especially for teens. When not studying for school or working, Ashley enjoys reading, sharing her passion about the feminine genius, sipping coffee with friends, and laughing until her sides hurt.

Sister Maria Catherine Rethwisch, OP: Musician

Sister Maria Catherine grew up in Iowa and had the joy to respond to the Lord’s call to religious life and enter the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia after one year of college, professing her final vows in 2012. She finished her studies for teaching at Aquinas College in Nashville, and has been privileged to share the joy of the Gospel through the formation of young hearts in education for 10 years. At her community’s mission in Stillwater, Minnesota, Sister Maria Catherine teaches 7-8 grade students, where she delights being part of Christ’s work in the young people she serves.

Sister María Advocata Nostra, SSVM: Musician

Sr. Advocata grew up in Colorado.  She entered the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará in 2007 and professed her final vows in 2014.  Currently she teaches at the High School Seminary of her Religious Family in Mankato, MN.