January 2012: Facilitator of the Month

 Margaret Purcell

Each week, Margaret Purcell makes the 45 minute drive from her home in Albany, New York to the neighboring town of Amsterdam to facilitate her Endow group. This beautiful area of upstate New York – northwest of the famed Catskill Mountains – can make for difficult driving in winter weather. But Margaret believes in Endow and is faithful to her present calling to evangelize. She actually doesn’t mind the drive as it gives her time to pray, meditate, and spiritually prepare for her study group.

Margaret, who was born in 1960, calls herself one of the “lost generation” – those Catholics whose religious knowledge was weak or non-existent and in adulthood are trying to make up for lost time. For patching the holes in her catechetical background, she is grateful to Endow.

Born a cradle Catholic, Margaret has worked in various capacities eventually receiving her master’s degree in health education. She has been employed in the insurance business and currently is in home health care. But her deepest passion lies in pondering the mysteries of faith and lingering among the theological greats and their abundant writings. A few years ago, that passion for learning led her to the Theology of the Body Institute where she was serendipitously assigned to share a room with Endow’s Executive Director, Terry Polakovic.

Hearing about Endow’s mission to educate women on their true worth and dignity directed Margaret’s focus. Once trained as a facilitator, Margaret wondered how to actually get a group started. “I found it difficult to take the first step”, says Margaret. “I remember sitting in my computer room and giving myself a pep talk.” At one point she felt a sense of peace come over her.

Today her original group is basically intact though some people have left as others joined. One new member Margaret calls their “resident theologian” and she has added a lot to the group, connecting dots and helping to expound on concepts. As others have discovered, there is a lot of wisdom that surfaces in an Endow group.

Her advice to would-be facilitators is to put your love for God into practice. “If you love Our Lord and want to make a difference, you can lead an Endow group. It’s not hard and there is a good support network. So much is done for you and most importantly, it’s done well!”

And you can’t argue with the results. Margaret says she is amazed at what Endow study can do to transform hearts that have encountered true Christian teaching. In particular, she is acutely aware of the sufferings of women who bear the wounds of abortion. She reflects that liberation from the bondage of sin is available to all who seek God’s mercy. Endow helps encourage women to appreciate that God’s mercy is available at all times to every person through the extraordinary grace of sacramental confession. 

 “I find there is a wonderful balance between Endow study materials and Catholic worship,” says Margaret who has found that the connections are plentiful. When she comes across interesting articles that support something the group has been studying, she sends her women e-mails with links to the internet sites. She has also invited a seminarian to guest speak to their group. “I like to add things to the mix.”  

Married for twenty years to husband Roger, Margaret works as a non-medical care giver to seniors. As she is naturally “other-oriented”, Margaret finds this work suits her. “I’ve met some wonderful people through this work which is like ministry.” Many of her patients are Italian and Margaret laughs as she recalls some recent exchanges. Just like women everywhere, “…we talk about faith, family, and food!” 

Her Endow group has forged some true friendships too, as women find themselves walking the path of faith beside others whose goals are the same. Next up for her group is Mother of the Redeemer. What could be more perfect for a group of life-long learners than a study of the one John Paul II calls “the most excellent example of the feminine genius”?

Thank you, Margaret, for following Mary’s lead and using your “genius” to lead others to Christ.