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Testimonial: Anne Gerard

Posted on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 by Kate Mathis

We love sharing the inspiring stories from our Sacred Sisters of their experiences with Women of Grace. Today we're hearing from Anne Gerard. If you would like to share your story, click here! Stay tuned for regular testimonial stories.

 
"My first-ever experience attending the Women of Grace Retreat at The Malvern Retreat House was, in a word — AMAZING! The grounds of the center are tranquil and inviting, lending itself beautifully to assist the attendees in having an enriching and fulfilling experience. But, it is the focus of the retreat, Women of Grace, the speakers and their content that provides the BANG! Each talk provides an opportunity for the listeners to learn more about scripture, the Catholic Faith, as well as their role in God’s Divine Plan for our world. One can’t help but come away empowered and confident in herself as a daughter of the Most High God.
 
The challenge however, is to maintain this new found understanding once we return to our everyday lives. I know for me, I said to my husband, 'I’m glad to be home. But, I’m going to miss the environment.' What I meant by that is, I am going to miss the profound sense of sisterhood that is prevalent throughout the retreat. The sense of feeling that you are part of something greater than yourself, specifically, part of God’s Great Plan, can be felt by all in attendance to some degree. Again, in my own experience, after I spoke those words to my husband, I heard the soft voice of the Spirit whisper to my heart, 'Then create one (the environment of sisterhood) where you are.' And with those words, I know that I am to start a Women of Grace Foundational Study group in my area. At the moment, I have no idea of how to make that happen. But with all the graces that came along with my presence at the WOG Retreat, I have no worries that it will be done if it is God’s will.
 
Besides the whisper to my heart, I also came away with the knowledge that I had just experienced something so special. As I’m sure every woman did, I had moments of grace and clarity in my alone time during the retreat. The Malvern Retreat House is a holy place where the Spirit of the Lord can be found by anyone looking and/or praying for It. During each of my private prayer times (twice on the grounds with a statue of Jesus and once in Adoration) I felt His Holy presence there with me. Each time, I felt His deep love and was moved to tears. Feeling the presence of the Lord is a blessing unlike any other. And, those moments will be with me always, just as Jesus Himself promises to be with each of us always. I‘ll take that!
 
If asked if I would recommend the Women of Grace Retreat to others, I would say unequivocally 'YES!' Do not hesitate should the opportunity present itself. And if that doesn’t happen when you want it, look for a Women of Grace Foundational Study group to join either in your area or online. The Women of Grace Study provides women with the truth of our purpose in God’s Divine Plan. All I can say is — learn it so you can live it! Be blessed my sisters!"
-Anne Gerard
 
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace®

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The Angelus: Perfect Prayer for Advent

Posted on Monday, December 13, 2021 by Guest Blogger

by Theresa Cavicchio

How is your Advent going so far? Now that we’re about halfway through this season of waiting and preparing, it may be a good time to switch spiritual gears, so to say, and to introduce a prayer that wouldn’t necessarily be associated with the Advent season, despite its appropriateness.

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The Year of Saint Joseph: Looking Back, Looking Forward

Posted on Wednesday, December 08, 2021 by Guest Blogger

by Theresa Cavicchio

Just a year ago, the faithful received the welcome news that Pope Francis had proclaimed the time beginning last December 8th through the same date in 2021 as the Year of Saint Joseph, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of his designation as Patron of the Catholic Church.

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Month of the Holy Rosary: Reflections on the Glorious Mysteries

Posted on Friday, October 29, 2021 by Guest Blogger

by Theresa Cavicchio

The Mysteries of the Rosary close out in a blaze of glory, in keeping with the spiritually powerful events they signify. Elevating our spirits to the interplay between heaven and earth, they lift us outside the realm of strictly human experience. The Glorious Mysteries traditionally are prayed on Sunday and Wednesday.

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Month of the Holy Rosary: Reflections on the Sorrowful Mysteries

Posted on Friday, October 22, 2021 by Guest Blogger

by Theresa Cavicchio

The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary follow the Luminous in exact sequence. As one group ends and the other begins, the events of Holy Thursday evening descend from the heights -- the solemnity of the upper room -- to the depths at Gethsemane. Following traditional practice, we pray the Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesday and Friday.

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Meet the Team: Thomas K Sullivan

Posted on Monday, October 18, 2021 by Kate Mathis

It's time to meet the team that makes Women of Grace the impactful apostolate that it is!
Today we're featuring Thomas K Sullivan, our Director of Operations and Producer of the EWTN's Women of Grace Television Show. We hope you enjoy learning more about Tom from his answers to the questions below. Stay tuned for regular "Meet the Team" features!
 

1 How long have you been on the Women of Grace team and how did you begin?

"I have been with Living His Life Abundantly / Women of Grace for 20 years. I was recruited by Johnnette after we had worked in ministry together for 5 years prior."

 

2 What do you love best about Women of Grace's apostolate?

"You may ask, 'Why is a man working in an apostolate for women?' My answer is best summed up by the late Archbishop Fulton J Sheen when he  said, 'To a great extent, the level of any civilization is the level of its womanhood. When a man loves a woman, he has to become worthy of her. The higher her virtue, the more noble her character, the more devoted she is to truth, justice, goodness, the more a man has to aspire to be worthy of her. The history of civilization could actually be written in terms of the level of its women.'

I have experienced the truth of this statement in my own life, in my marriage, with the women I work with, and with the thousands of women, I have met through this apostolate. Each of them trying to respond to Christ's call to holiness, and to give their own 'Fiat' or 'yes' to God.  By doing so, these women seek to not only become virtuous and valiant women, but they seek to inspire the men in their lives to do the same, and for these men to become the best Knights, Warriors, and sons of God they can be on this battlefield we call life. That is why I have dedicated much of my life to serving the Lord through this mission."

 

3 What is your favorite devotion?

"The Rosary is my favorite devotion. Specifically, the Warrior's Rosary."

 

4 Who is your favorite saint?

"St. Jose Sanchez del Rio has become one of my favorite saints."

 

5 If you could have lunch with Jesus today, what would you want to talk about?

"I would like to know more about what Jesus was doing before He created."

© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace®

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Month of the Holy Rosary: Reflections on the Luminous Mysteries

Posted on Friday, October 15, 2021 by Guest Blogger

by Theresa Cavicchio

As we continue our month-long look at the events of Our Lady’s rosary, we turn toward the second group of Mysteries. The Luminous Mysteries, filling the gap between the Joyful and Sorrowful, were given to us by Pope Saint John Paul II in 2002 as an addition to the three traditional groups of long standing.

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Meet the Team: Kate Mathis

Posted on Monday, October 11, 2021 by Kate Mathis

It's time to meet the team that makes Women of Grace the impactful apostolate that it is!
Today we're featuring Kate Mathis, our Social Media Coordinator. We hope you enjoy learning more about Kate from her answers to the questions below. Stay tuned for regular "Meet the Team" features!
 

1 How long have you been on the Women of Grace team and how did you begin?

"I've been working with Women of Grace for about a year and a half. I started a business helping Catholic businesses and apostolates with their marketing efforts and Women of Grace was at the top of my list of dream apostolates to work with! I reached out to them and they've made me feel so welcomed."

 

2 What do you love best about Women of Grace's apostolate?

"I love that they don't shy away from tough topics or water down the faith. Johnnette and the team live what they preach and they give everything to live for Christ. From an early age, I've loved that I could go to Women of Grace with my questions and get answers and resources I can trust. At our events, I've also seen firsthand how women are touched by Women of Grace in learning to live authentic femininity and aim high to become saints."

 

3 What is your favorite devotion?

"My favorite devotion is praying something similar to the Liturgy of the Hours with the Magnificat publication. I also especially love adoration."

 

4 Who is your favorite saint?

"My favorites saint sisters are St. Joan of Arc, St. Zélie Martin, St. Gianna Beretta Molla, St. Thérèse, St. Margaret Clithrow, and St. Elizabeth of the Visitation."

 

5 If you could have lunch with Jesus today, what would you want to talk about?

"I'd want to talk about suffering and why God physically heals in some situations and not in others. And just to know if He's proud of me!"

© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace®

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A Rosary Army for the Month of the Holy Rosary

Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2021 by Thomas K Sullivan

"Give me an army praying the rosary and I will conquer the world." - Pope Pius IX
Dear Rosary Crusaders, welcome to October, the month of the Holy Rosary!

It's a month in which we rededicate ourselves to our prayer of the Rosary. Perhaps you are praying it for the first time. Or maybe you will begin praying it every day. Or you might be called to pray it more fervently than ever before through your participation in a Rosary group or campaign. Our Lord Jesus and His Blessed Mother Mary will guide each of us in how we are to grow in our commitment to this powerful prayer.

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