Location: Washington, DC Job Title: Administrative Assistant Organization: Pontifical John Paul II Institute Education: Assumption College and Pontifical John Paul II Institute Degree: Bachelor of Arts, Theology; Masters of Theological Studies, Marriage and Family Kelley McNutt, GIVEN '19 "My friends and mentors are a sign of God’s presence." Please share a little about yourself - feel [...]
Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota Job Titles: Stay-at-Home Mom and Freelance Writer Organization: Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Education: University of St Thomas (BA) and Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity (MA) Susanna Parent, GIVEN '16 "My key takeaway was that I was enough. GIVEN helped me realize that I had what it took to make an [...]
Throughout the process of praying about where the Lord was guiding me and how he wanted me to serve Him, He simply spoke to me of my belovedness. He wanted me to experience what it means to be genuinely loved.
Pentecostal experience. These are the two words I use to describe my GIVEN experience. For over a year, I had longed and prayed for something like GIVEN to help discern my lost vocation. Before GIVEN, I was studying international relations and was presented with the opportunity to work for the Long Beach Mayor’s Office. My passion and drive to bring about peace surfaced all the more as I assisted with the city’s international trade. Three months into my internship, I was invited to the United Nations Leadership Summit in Washington D.C. My dream at that time was to work for the United Nations, so this opportunity was a dream come true.
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?”
Educator, Foundress of the Ursuline Order, Visionary St. Angela Merici 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 Angela was only ten years old. Angela’s tragedies continued when her [...]
Location: Seattle, WA Job Title: Registered Nurse Organization: Seattle Children’s Hospital Education: Texas Woman’s University Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing Allison Crawford, GIVEN '19 "My biggest takeaway from the GIVEN Forum was to not be afraid of Our Lady and to really let her into my life." - Allison Crawford Please share a little [...]
Beloved Spouse of Jesus, Patron of the Dead, Mystic, Theologian St. Gertrude the Great 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 Helfta, which is why she is also [...]
Location: Milwaukee, WI Job Title: Co-founder & Associate Director Organization: Eden Invitation Education: University of Wisconsin - Madison Degree: BA in Social Welfare; Minors in Gender & Women’s Studies and Entrepreneurship Shannon Ochoa, GIVEN '19 "The GIVEN Forum reminded me of the great diversity of women in the Church, as well as the interests and issues [...]
Location: Westminster, CA Occupation: Professional Singer, Voice Teacher, Founder of The Sparrow Initiative Education: California State University, Long Beach; University of Southern California Degree: BM Vocal Performance; MM Vocal Arts Alyssa Wills, GIVEN '19 "My experience at GIVEN completely changed my understanding of vocation. Through both the witness of the women speakers and my own personal [...]
