Facilitators
February 2012: Donor of the Month
Donor of the Month – Karen Gargan
“I was kind of a ‘roamin’ Catholic’”, says Karen Gargan in describing her young adult life when she was trying to find a church that was the right fit. Karen and her husband Kevin live in the suburbs southwest of Denver and eventually settled in at St. Mary’s in Littleton. There is a healthy Endow presence in that parish and the solid catechetical instruction is something Karen appreciates.
She has been facilitating an Endow group for a couple of years now. “I enjoy Endow,” says Karen. “It’s like you build your own little community of believers. You know who they are and where they stand.” She says she gains strength and encouragement from her group. “I’ve always been one to search for more information. I like to think about what we Catholics believe and why.”
Her group met on a recent night and happily, someone who had been away was able to come back for one night. They were all so glad to see each other. “We had hors d’oeurves and a potluck dinner,” said Karen, and they were reminded of why they got together in the first place.
To some extent, the women in Karen’s group carry on a tradition that was part of her experience growing up. “My mother instilled in me the basics: praying in the car on the way to school, saying the Angelus. They are little things that plant the seeds of faith.” With her Endow friends, that praying together and sharing faith is more important than ever.
Karen says that for her and husband Kevin, a strong faith life is a big part of their marriage. As committed Catholics, they are happy to support the Church. She understands it as a mandate that all Catholics help in all ways – including financial – to advance the work of the new evangelization. Karen shares that she is impressed by the work Endow’s Executive Director Terry Polakovic is doing. “Endow has made so much possible; it touched my heart and changed my life. I love the friendship, the fellowship.”
More than once, Karen mentioned that giving is “part of who I am.” Like most Endow donors, she shies from receiving kudos and frames her giving as simply a natural response to a stated need. “It’s important to support these efforts.”
February 2012: Facilitator of the Month
Gretchen Ridgely
Endow’s “home office” is in Denver, but we are fortunate to have “outposts” all over the country where some wonderful things are happening. One of these locations is in the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia where Gretchen Ridgely has taken the mandate to evangelize very seriously. When Endow called for a phone interview, Gretchen was in the middle of watching EWTN’s coverage of the Respect Life March in Washington. She came to the phone breathless with excitement over the concluding speeches.
Gretchen’s story of growing up Catholic but poorly catechized is a familiar one. She recalls that her religious education in the 1970’s left many things unexplained and so she reached adulthood clinging to her Catholic faith but unsure of exactly what that meant.
Marriage to husband, Chuck, and later giving birth to Vivien and Thomas, now ages 6 and 3, gave new purpose and direction to their family life. It became important to know the faith into which their children were baptized and to really learn to live it fully. This quest brought Gretchen to a series of talks in Catholic churches here and there, but she often left disillusioned, suspecting that the teachings were somehow distorted. Was she learning the truth? How could she know? Then, a gentleman at her parish threw her a lifeline. His name was Deacon Keith Fournier.
Today she recalls that deacon at her parish of St. Benedict in Richmond with affection even as she wonders a little at the workings of Divine Providence. Deacon Fournier, a constitutional lawyer with numerous theological degrees to his name, is an author of many Catholic books and articles and was serving at St. Benedict’s at the time Gretchen was searching. He told her about Endow and that sent her scrambling to her computer to investigate the site.
“It was so refreshing! In time, we were able to receive [limited] approval from our bishop’s office.” Gretchen received training and was off and running. “The women in our parish love it! Most of us are young moms; seems someone is always pregnant or nursing but we all love our group and make it a priority.”
Gretchen shares that great things go on at her parish under the leadership of Fr. Kauffmann. “Ours is a destination parish. Chances are, when you land here, you’ve been looking for a St. Benedict’s: truly Catholic, beautiful, with really excellent formation.”
Her group has a consistent core of close friends, though some members have come and gone. During their recent exploration of Edith Stein, Gretchen observed that it is a perfect study for our time, so relevant to today. “Religious liberty today is being slammed at by the chisel blows [of a dominant culture] that is forcing us to act against our religious principles.”
Gretchen credits Endow with equipping modern women with the tools to defend the faith and the inspiration to live it with joy.
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.
January 2012: Donor of the Month
Irene Landrau
“It feels so wonderful when I walk in!” Irene Landrau is talking about her Endow group and she will tell you she landed in a great one. At 26, this Catholic nursing student was open to finding a study group with other young adult women. She found one with Endow associate director and facilitator, Kate Sweeney. “Everyone is so fun and engaging,” she says, “it is where I get my spiritual nutrition.”
Their evening meetings are held biweekly and currently they are in the middle of Pope Benedict XVI’s God Is Love. “We take our time…we hope to finish by Lent.”
Like many young people in the Denver area, Irene was influenced by Archbishop Charles Chaput, now archbishop of Philadelphia. Denverites affectionately remember his Sunday evening masses which were attended by throngs of worshippers, many of them young people. They were riveted by the homilies, each a mini-course in theology. Irene and her fiancé, Ryan, always tried to make the 6:30; it was a perfect start to a new week.
Following up worship with her Endow group, Irene is consciously attending to her on-going religious formation. “It’s so nice to have other people to talk to who value the Catholic faith as I do.” Irene says that her Endow lessons have helped to shed light on her professional obligations. She explains that in the medical field there are occasional treatments that are inappropriate for a woman of faith to assist with. In speaking with other Catholic medical professionals and studying the Church teachings in her group, she is learning her faith more deeply.
It is the faith she was raised in and Irene remembers that it was always important to her. She and her family were members at St. Mark’s in Westminster where Irene sang in the choir. Though she strayed and questioned for a few years in college, she returned more convinced than ever that the doctrine of the Church surely contains God’s self-revelation to man. “Without God, there is no meaning.” In 2003 she was part of a contingent that traveled to World Youth Day in Germany. She did not come back unchanged.
She echoes the sentiments of other Endow women who muse about how life might have been different if they had “done Endow” earlier. “I would have loved to have True Beauty Revealed [Endow’s high school program] when I was a teenager. It would have helped me choose those good friends you value in life.”
Irene is eager to make Endow possible for others and so she was happy to respond to the recent appeal when it showed up in her mailbox. She promptly made a donation and hopes that in the future she can become a regular monthly giver. She is right when she notes that every little bit helps. When something has enriched your life, you want to share that with others. Irene sums it up, “Endow is a beautiful message.”
December 2011: Donor of the Month
John Heath
It’s not every day you hear from someone who wants to send you money. But that is exactly what happened last summer when an Endow staffer picked up the phone on the morning after an Endow appearance on EWTN.
Last summer, Executive Director Terry Polakovic and Youth Program Coordinator Brigid DeMoor appeared as guests on Fr. Mitch Pacwa’s program. The two spoke about the mission and message of Endow and the wide appeal it has to women across the spectrum. It was a lively conversation and many people called in to ask questions and express gratitude for a program that educates on the nature and dignity of women. As Terry and Brigid fielded questions and enjoyed some great on-air visiting with Fr. Pacwa and the studio audience, they got the attention of quite a few viewers. John Heath was one of them.
Sixty-three year old John Heath was watching the program from his trailer home 3000 miles away inSan Jose,California. EWTN is a favorite channel; he has numerous shows taped and backed up waiting to be watched. So impressed was he by Endow that he called the office the next day and pledged $5.00 a month. That modest sum – what others might spend on a fancy coffee – would be felt by John. He lives on a fixed income and has to be careful with expenses. But he was moved to partner with an organization he decided was worthy to believe in and he committed to a regular gift. He has kept his promise.
John grew up in the pre-Vatican II era and will tell you he was blessed to be Catholic from birth. In the trailer he shares with his sister, a cat, and a chihuahua, he has a lot of time to think about life. It has had its ups and downs. One of the downs was a ten year span when he was away from the Church. During that time John wandered, developed a drug abuse problem, and hung around with an unsavory crowd. “I haven’t been the most perfect person,” he says as easily as if he were commenting on the weather. “But I shaped up. What I most want now is to be a saint.”
He appears to be well on his way. With the help of his sister, whom he credits with bringing him back to Christ, John is making amends. “I read two chapters from the Bible every day. I pray the rosary and say some other prayers for about 25 minutes.” John has learned that there is no easy road straight to holiness; it is often an arduous journey, but Christ walks every step with the disciple who asks for His help. With his breathing labored from emphysema, John patiently explains that “when I’m humble I’m happier.” Now that he is committed to Christ, John is praying for the women he has known in his previous life who were badly hurt on the streets.
He recently notified the Endow office that he can see his way clear to increase his monthly gift to $10.00. He says he gives to Endow for the sake of all women and the health of society. Jesus is the way. “I’d like to help women lead holy lives.”
November 2011: Facilitator of the Month
Lillian Flenner
Her Endow group meets on Wednesday mornings at 6:15. Yes, before most of the city is out of bed, Lillian and nine other women meet to pray and study the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas. “You have to be crazy or in love,” she laughs.
In love, she is. But that wasn’t always the case.
Among Endow women, many are cradle Catholics and come to adulthood thoroughly churched and well catechized. Such was not the case for Lillian Flenner, a divorced mother of two grown girls from Humble, Texas who works as a business travel consultant. As far as religion goes, she’ll tell you she knew how to spell God, that was it. Oh, and there was her Polish grandmother who was Catholic, but the faith never found its way into Lillian’s heart until she was 36 years old.
Seeking something that she couldn’t quite name, Lillian located a Catholic church and attended a SundayMass. Sitting in the back of St. Phillip the Apostle Churchin Huffman,Texas, Lillian was confused but intrigued. She felt like a visitor to some far-away land, unfamiliar with the rituals, language, and customs. She attended like that for three years until she began a friendship with the pastor, a man she credits with ‘saving her life.’
Lillian remembers how Fr. George Olsovsky led her to Christ. “He never gave up on me,” she recalls. With his guidance, a whole new world opened up as Lillian was instructed in the faith. “I fell in love with the Catholic Church because he was in love with the Catholic Church.” She was received into the Church in April 1995.
“The Catholic Church is so beautiful. It saddens me when I see Catholic women – cradle Catholics – who know less than I do.”
Happily, that’s changing with Endow groups meeting in her part of Houston. She learned about Endow from Fr. Michael Barrett, chaplain of Holy Cross Chapel, a two-story, store-front city church that is a spiritual oasis in the midst of the bustling downtown. It was when she signed up for a morning Lenten series during which Fr. Michael taught John Paul II’s Letter to Women that Lillian had her defining moment. In article two, the Pope thanks women simply for being women. “That really struck me,” says Lillian, “I read that over and over. He thanked me for being who I am.”
Lillian loves the fellowship, the networking, and the friendships that Endow fosters. With her eye for detail and spot-on event planning skills, Lillian recently put together a well-attended Endow-in-a-Day Seminar on Mother of the Redeemer which was taught by Eileen Love from Denver. She tells of how happy she was to see women lingering after the class concluded, excitedly chatting with each other about what they had just experienced. Lillian perceives a hunger in women’s hearts for the truth that Endow communicates so well. “They’re so ready for this!”
Lillian is doing all she can to see that Endow spreads. Houston’s next big event will be a Lenten session, an Endow-in-a-Day Seminar on The Christian Meaning of Human Suffering. She invites Texas ladies to put March 10th on the calendar. She’ll be ready for you.
All this ‘feminine genius’ poured out for others proves that it’s not just the size of Texas that’s big – it’s the hearts of the women who live there.
October 2011: Facilitator of the Month
Dr. Michelle Stanford
If you’re looking for Michelle on a Wednesday, better be prepared to run after her.
Just last week, Michelle had spent her “day off” volunteering at her son’s morning pre-school, putting him down for a nap, tending to household chores, then taking her two other children to catechism class. That would be followed by dinner and a meeting of the Denver Catholic Medical Association, of which she is president.
You’d be forgiven for thinking Michelle is an unlikely candidate for Endow. Not because she wouldn’t love it but because she is so busy with her own medical practice, Centennial Pediatrics, and raising three children Michael, 11, Kaitlin, 8, and Austin, 3, with husband Phil, a Denver Police officer. Yet Michelle felt powerfully drawn to it.
In the fall of 2008, Michelle and her mother attended the Annual Endow Women’s Conference and heard a presentation on “Humanae Vitae: Forty Years of Life and Love.” Afterwards, there was a panel discussion and one member, a nurse anesthetist, spoke about her refusal to participate in medical practices that were against her religious convictions. Michelle listened, riveted, and felt a stirring in her heart. She reflected that in bringing her to this place, perhaps God had a message for her not only personally, but for how she practiced medicine.
Blessings flowed from that conference. Soon Michelle learned about the Catholic Medical Association and began attending meetings. Over time, she discussed what she was learning with her medical partner, a Catholic woman 20 years Michelle’s senior, and their staff, many of whom are Christian.
It didn’t happen overnight, but they came to see the wisdom in teaching chastity and values over prescribing contraceptives. Michelle explains that you’d be surprised at how many mothers of teenagers think this is the safe and best route for girls. They eventually stopped prescribing the contraceptive pill altogether. Has her practice suffered? Not really. While she lost a few families, she picked up more and she reports that these days office visits usually include a lot of good discussions with young people.
Endow has been a big part of her journey. A couple of years ago, Michelle gathered a few friends, who, like her, were all catechists at Light of the World Parish in Littleton, and shared with them her desire to start an Endow study group, which she would facilitate. Says Michelle, “I had a strong desire to learn more about my Catholic faith and Endow is the place. It is so grounded in the fundamentals.” She has been happily and fruitfully facilitating her group since. They have picked up a few new members as well.
Her study group probably has the distinction of latest meeting time, from 8:00 until 9:30 p.m. But since three of them are mothers of little ones, homework and bedtime routines come first. Their meetings are lively affairs that sometimes run a little over but Michelle always ducks out in time to make her Adoration hour from 10:00 – 11:00 p.m. It is part of her new direction in life to spend this time with Jesus.
October 2011: Donor of the Month
Suzie LaVelle
They say that stewardship takes three forms – time, talent and treasure. In stewarding the gifts God has given her, Suzie gives back all three.
If the name Suzie LaVelle sounds familiar, it might be because she has been part of Endow since its beginning and in 2006 Endow was honored to choose her as the first recipient of the Julia Greeley Award. She was selected in part for her passionate work in the Pro-Life movement.
Suzie’s main apostolate is tending the Memorial Wall for the Unborn which is part of Sacred Heart of Mary Parish in Boulder. Erected in 2000, the wall began as a response to the nearby Boulder Abortion Clinic’s practice of sending the remains of aborted fetuses to a local mortuary for cremation. What the mortuary was receiving were the chillingly recognizable bodies of tiny babies who never lived outside the womb. The mortuary agreed to entrust the remains to Father Kemberling, pastor at the time, and he began doing funerals for these “holy innocents.” Suzie was right beside him. She had found her calling. 
Key to Suzie’s work with post-abortive women is the tender message from John Paul II in his 1995 encyclical Gospel of Life. Often they read from the letter where the Pope speaks words of hope and consolation to the woman who has had an abortion.
The Pope acknowledges the grief and shame she may be feeling as she grapples with her participation in an act that is intrinsically evil. But he does not leave her there mired in sorrow and regret. He points her in the direction of forgiveness and assures her of God’s mercy even as he indicates a bright future can still be hers. With God’s grace she may likely become one of the most eloquent defenders of life.
Suzie says that she has seen for herself that this message “touches deep within a woman’s soul and she grabs it and holds on like a life ring.” It is a private moment of grief meeting solace. “When I see God touch them it is a holy moment that I am not even sure I should be a part of.” Yet she never doubts that God placed her in this ministry for His own reasons and that being an instrument of empathy and healing is her call.
“Endow has given me tools I never knew were out there. I’ve learned that the truth is written in our hearts. I’ve been reminded that human dignity comes from God and extends to all persons and cannot be diminished by man.”
In addition to the time invested in this good work and the talent that comes with pouring out her feminine genius on the women she serves, Suzie and her husband, Terry Lavelle, are generous financial donors to Endow. Terry also serves on Endow’s Board of Directors.
She explains, “I want to see this program go to every woman. I have seen women weep when they have felt the love of God. Whatever I can do for Endow, I will. It’s not about me, it’s about God.”
September 2011: Facilitator of the Month
Diane Schwind
At Endow we like to say that our lives are made up of “defining moments” – those brief and unrepeatable events – that can strike like a lightning bolt and in an instant change everything.
For Diane Schwind, that moment came outside an abortion facility. At the time, Diane was the Director of the Marriage and Family Life office for the Diocese of Fort Worth. They were in the middle of a Forty Days for Life campaign and her heart broke as she saw one girl and after another step into the clutches of that sterile and depressive building.
“I prayed from deep in my soul, ‘Lord, don’t they know what they are doing?!’” And then in a flash, Diane is sure she heard a response. “No. When are you going to teach them?”
Quite a mandate for a woman married nearly 25 years who had spent the better part of 23 years as a full time mother.
After her moment in front of the clinic, she left her job with the diocese and she and her husband, Robert (they are parents of Meghan, 23, twins Michael and Molli, 21, and 17 year old Madelyn) set up Balanced Families Ministries. Through Pre-Cana courses, theology lectures, and counseling, they spread the word about living an authentically Catholic life. An integral part of this is John Paul II’s Theology of the Body.
When Diane went to the TOTB Institute for the summer immersion course, she came across a flyer for Endow.
Suddenly, all the pieces fit and Diane realized what had landed in her lap. “Endow is a program to help me help women appreciate how they are made.” With great excitement she took the training to become an Endow group facilitator. Since then, she has encouraged others to follow suit.
While hosting information nights on Endow, it shook her to realize how many unhappy women are out there. Sometimes in her speaking, Diane would look out at the faces of women, many wet with tears. The sense of urgency grew. With so much sadness in the adults’ lives, she figures it is best to teach girls while they are still young.
As a way of “tilling the soil” for girls before they jump into Endow’s Girl Genius Middle School program, Diane has organized fun retreats for 11-14 year olds. Her college daughter, Molli, a theology major at Benedictine College, keeps the girls enthralled while Diane works with the fathers, reminding them that their daughters’ bodies are developing along with their hearts and spirits. With mothers looking on silently, Diane tells the men that a girl needs the steady and sure love of her dad in a special way right now.
Diane loves sharing the message about feminine genius to young and old alike. She uses a favorite story to demonstrate:
A male and a female surgeon had just lost a patient on the operating table. Shaken and sorrowful, they step into the hospital elevator staring blankly up at the numbers. Soon the woman detects a sniffle coming from her companion. Realizing he needs a minute, she stops the elevator. He cries. She soothes. Once the male surgeon is composed, she restarts the elevator.
Diane loves the story because it shows woman in a role natural to her, that of a maternal presence to another hurting soul. She encourages women to step into the role of one who is attuned to others’ needs and responds with compassion.
Happily for the women and girls in the Fort Worth Diocese, Diane takes her own advice. If you live in the Fort Worth area and want to talk about Endow groups or a girls’ retreat, call Diane at 214-763-7890. To follow in Diane’s footsteps and become a facilitator, visit our website: www.EndowGroups.org.
September 2011: Donors of the Month
Fr. Rick Zerwas
and the People of Church of the Incarnation,
Rio Rancho, NM
It’s not like he doesn’t have enough to spend money on. His parish is the fastest growing one in the area and they are in the middle of a capital campaign. Construction is full speed ahead and they plan to open the new church building in the next two weeks.
But when Fr. Rick Zerwas sat down with his tithing committee Monday morning they elected to send a generous check to Endow.
It’s gestures like that that bring a smile to the bookkeeper’s face and make the rest of us sigh with relief as the financial burden is eased a little. It’s also a psychological boost to feel the moral support.
In a phone conversation Fr. Rick says Endow has been a boon to his parish. A few women were trained as Endow facilitators three years ago and study groups are alive and well. Fr. Rick, pastor to the 500+ families who make this parish their spiritual home, appreciates the quality of the Endow materials and how they support and encourage faithfulness to the Church’s magisterium.
“I learned in my last parish,” says Fr. Rick, “that it is important to bring in speakers who can teach competently. People need to hear the message of truth from other voices. They all add to the solidity of the message.”
“Like a lot of things coming out of Denver, Endow can be trusted. You can’t go wrong with orthodoxy,” he says. Asked if his is a parish that is willing to subsidize women who cannot afford the program, he states that it is their position that no one should be denied because of financial strain. Requests are handled in-house with sensitivity and confidentiality. (Endow also makes scholarship money available for this purpose.)
It is clear this pastor is dedicated to his flock and his affection comes through in his voice. “These guys have taught me that the capacity for people to give is great.” He makes it a policy to, as he puts it, “never get in the way of someone’s sainthood.” He means that sacrificing for a noble cause may be exactly what God is calling them to do.
He cites the widow from the gospel accounts who gives her mite. Fr. Rick notes that Jesus does not caution her to save for a future emergency, He points out her pure generosity to His apostles and praises her goodness.
To the people of Church of the Incarnation – thank you for your generosity and goodness. We depend on our benefactors and are grateful to have you among them.