Participants
Some Gems from St. Virginia
By Jamie Gruber
Today is the feast day of St. Virginia Centurione Bracelli. The patroness of widowers. Two things struck me this morning as I contemplated her life. I found a great article about her on the Vatican’s website and I thought I would share with you some tidbits of her life today:
Husbands
“…Virginia, however, with her great patience, prayer and affection, tried to convince her husband to a modest life. Unfortunately, Gaspare get ill died on June 13, 1607, in Alessandria, thus, enabling him to reach a state of grace and peace with God, relieved and assisted by his faithful wife.”
I am not married yet, but I would assume that it is a big temptation to nag our husbands. While probably done out of love for their betterment, St. Virginia shows us through her life that being patient, prayerful and affectionate toward her husband gained him grace and peace with God. Instead of being quick to comment, maybe we ought to practice patience and out of love pray and show affection!
The poor
“…The beneficiaries of Our Lady of Refuge became for Virginia her excellent “daughters”, with whom she shared the food and clothing. She taught them catechism and trained them to work so that they could earn their own sustenance.”
Part of loving our family as Catholics means sharing with them the richness of faith. We selflessly desire for them to attain the prize of Perpetual Eternity with the One who is Love. Saint Virginia reminds us that all humanity is our family and in each person we meet we should be encouraging to strive for Heaven.
click here to read the full story of St. Virginia
Holy Land Pilgrimage
ENDOW Advisory Board Member, Mary Jane Fox, invites all women of ENDOW on a special Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in October 2010! This will be a very powerful experience which will include a Women’s Conference, a detailed discussion of ENDOW’s Valiant Women in the Bible study guide, a meeting with His Beatitude Fouad Twal, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and so much more! Below Terry Polakovic, ENDOW’s Executive Director, shares about the pilgrimage she did with Mary Jane Fox in 2008.
Terry Polakovic, ENDOW executive director, reflects on her experience on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2008
I never dreamed that I would go to the Holy Land. Truthfully, even though I love to travel and have done a fair amount of it, the Holy Land was never even on my radar. That was until I met ENDOW Advisory Board Member, Mary Jane Fox. In 1993, together with her husband Tom, Mary Jane founded the Pilgrim Center of Hope, a Catholic evangelization center located in San Antonio, Texas. Among other endeavors, Mary Jane and Tom have made it their life’s work to lead pilgrimages, primarily to the Holy Land. They have a great devotion to the people and places in that region.
In June of 2008, I embarked on my own adventure to the Holy Land. With my family beside me, we joined 33 other pilgrims, boarded a plane and flew into Tel Aviv airport. That was the start of an unforgettable journey. We visited Mount Carmel and the homes of Mary and Joseph in Nazareth and spent 3 nights at Mount of the Beatitudes by the Sea of Galilee. We visited the site of the Transfiguration of our Lord at Mount Tabor, renewed wedding vows in Cana and swam in the Dead Sea. And, even though it was the end of June, we celebrated the Liturgy of Christmas at the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem and spent an incredible night in the Garden of Gethsemane overlooking Jerusalem. I could go on…
As wonderful as all of these places were, it was the people we met who changed my life. Mary Jane had organized a “Woman’s Conference” in Bethlehem which featured several Catholic Palestinian women. They spoke to us about their dreams, their fears, their families and their on-going sense of vulnerability. They were beautiful and articulate and I fell in love with them. Later that day, we also met with some Muslim women who sold us handmade Palestinian crafts and embroidery, which they had carefully sewn in an effort to help support their families.
When we arrived in Jerusalem we spent an afternoon with Sarah Bernstein and Hanadi Soudah-Younan. Sarah is an Israeli Jew who is married to a reformed Rabbi. She is the mother of 3 children, the oldest of whom is serving in the Israeli Army. She is also currently working on her Doctorate in Peace and Reconciliation through a university in England. Hanadi introduced herself in the following order: a Palestinian, a Christian, and a woman. She is a professor of English Literature at Bethlehem University. Both of them belong to a “Women’s Group” which has been established to dialogue in an effort to find common ground in their search for peace. Again, our entire group was mesmerized by their presentation.
I tell you all of this because we are planning another ENDOW pilgrimage – this time to the Holy Land from October 27th – November 9th, 2010! We are still in the very preliminary planning stages, but here is a sneak preview: 1 night at Mount Carmel; 3 nights at the Mount of the Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee with visits to Nazareth, Mt. Tabor, Cana and Capernaum; 5 nights in Jerusalem with visits to Bethlehem, the Mount of Olives, and other sites pertaining to the Passion of Christ including Gethsemane, the Via Crucis and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher; and 3 nights in Madaba, Jordan.
This will be a very powerful experience which will include a Women’s Conference, a detailed discussion of ENDOW’s Valiant Women in the Bible study guide, a meeting with
His Beatitude Fouad Twal, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and so much more!
Stay tuned and start saving your money! This is a first come, first serve opportunity, and there will only be 30 spaces available. The cost has not yet been firmly determined, but it is expected to be around $5000 per person.
For a DVD copy of last year’s panel discussion and for more information on this upcoming pilgrimage, please contact Mary Jane Fox at dtmjfox@pilgrimcenterofhope.org.
2007 Pilgrimage to Germany
Eighteen board members and friends of ENDOW embarked on the 2007 ENDOW pilgrimage to Germany this October. For ten days ENDOW women traveled Germany, retracing the life of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (St. Edith Stein). While piloting the upcoming St. Edith Stein ENDOW study guide, these women prayed for the future of ENDOW and its great mission. As is evident in the below pictures, this was a very memorable experience for all.
To learn about the ENDOW Study Guide on St. Edith Stein click here.
ENDOW Pilgrimages
Annually ENDOW hosts an international pilgrimage, praying especially for the mission of ENDOW.
2010: ENDOW Advisory Board Member, Mary Jane Fox, invites all women of ENDOW on a special Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in October 2010! This will be a very powerful experience which will include a Women’s Conference, a detailed discussion of ENDOW’s Valiant Women in the Bible study guide, a meeting with His Beatitude Fouad Twal, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and so much more! Click here to learn more!
2010: ENDOW pilgrims again traveled to Jerusalem, to learn more about Christ!
(2009: ENDOW did not sponsor a pilgrimage in 2009.)
2008: ENDOW pilgrims traveled to Jerusalem, to study more about Christ!
2007: ENDOW pilgrims traveled to Germany, to study about St. Edith Stein.
2006: ENDOW pilgrims traveled to Italy, to study about St. Catherine of Siena.
Young Women Love ENDOW
Feedback from young women
In the fall of 2009, the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center, the Catholic center for the University of Colorado at Boulder, hosted a special evening for the students. Titled “Date with Dignity” the evening consisted in several presentations on the origin, identity, and mission of women, group discussions, and desserts. (To read more about this event, click here.) Following this special evening, several ENDOW groups formed on campus. Below are comments from some of the students at the completion of their first ENDOW study.
“I love ENDOW’s mission. Bringing it to a college campus is greatly needed when there is such a great attack on the dignity of women.” ~ Maggi (Fort Collins, CO)
”I’ve never seen ‘feminism’ from a Catholic viewpoint before. This study has introduced me to a new way to see my sisters, and to live my vocation as a woman to the fullest.” ~ Katie (Fort Collins, CO)
”I really appreciate that ENDOW strives to let each woman know her unique dignity and worth. What an important message for college students to fully embrace!” ~ Therese (Tulsa, OK)
”It has been amazing to hear the perspectives of other Catholic women, and to share experiences as we grow in our Catholic faith.” ~ Jenna (Boulder, CO)
”When you talk to non-Catholics about ‘women’ issues, it’s hard for them to be accepting as soon as they know you are Catholic. I love JP II’s Letter to Women because it’s addressed to all women, no matter their profession, nationality, or religion, which legitimizes it to everyone.” ~ Elena (Kenai, AK)
“ENDOW has been enlightening, educational, and a beautiful experience. I will continue to grow and learn from these women.” ~ Kelly (Colorado Springs, CO)
Edith Stein: Seeker of Truth
“ENDOW is always edified to hear about successful study groups across the country. One ENDOW group from Centennial, CO recently completed Edith Stein: Seeker of Truth. Following their class, participants shared with us some of their feedback. Please see the amazing quotes below.
I love the Edith Stein study!! I’ve had a wonderful experience learning about the life of such an amazing, profound and liberated Catholic woman. Where has she been all my life?” -Lina
“ENDOW has provided an opportunity for me to better understand the foundations of my faith and share that joy of discovery with women who have become cherished friends as a result of this journey.” -Lorrie
“In studying St. Edith Stein, I have found a model for strength, humility, and womanhood. She is a gift not only to our faith, but also our world. I would encourage all men and women to study and learn of her extraordinary life and thoughts.” -Rene
“I liked the canonization and homily in appendix one - ‘Pay attention! Your life is not a series of open doors! Listen to your heart!…’ as it pertained to Edith Stein’s life…[M]y favorite was not a quote by her but one by the Pope explaining the importance of her courage: ‘In our time, truth is often mistaken for the opinion of the majority.’” -Nancy
“Here’s a quote from Chapter Four that I like: ‘The closer you get to God, you will discover who you’re really meant to be.’” -Darla
“I have been studying with ENDOW for several years and have found each study to be a fulfilling journey. Edith Stein is an amazing example of how one person can change the lives of so many including the life of Pope John Paul II. Thank you ENDOW for bringing her story to life for us!” -Anita, Facilitator
Girl Genius in Colorado Springs!
Sr. Theresa Jones, FMA facilitated the first Girl Genius ENDOW group in Colorado Springs! For the first four Saturdays in November girls in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades met at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, embarking upon a four week adventure to unveil Pope John Paul II’s message regarding the dignity and vocation of women.
The comments below show how much this study guide impacts the girls involved!:
- “Beauty comes from within.” Jessica
- “Girl Genius helped me understand myself better and to love myself because I’m beautiful inside more than out.” Kirana “Girl Genius helped me face how wrong the world is.” Charlotte
- “Not every girl is the same, but we hang out with people who do the same thing, with friends who share our values.” Ashlee
- “I feel that Girl Genius made me think about things and understand.” Samantha
- “In Girl Genius I got a better understanding of a woman’s dignity and learned that inner beauty is what really matters more than your outer beauty.” Marisa
- “With the heightened awareness the Girl Genius program provides, young ladies are better equipped to be critical evaluators of the desired female image our world presents. My prayer is that these beautiful young ladies live what they learned and spread to others the message of what comprises one’s dignity.” Sr. Theresa Jones, FMA
ENDOW Partcipant Publishes Book!
ENDOW participant Dr. Gerri Kelley has recently published a book regarding Catholic life in Russia! She volunteers with a grass-roots organization serving the Catholics of the Russian Far East. As part of her volunteer work, Dr. Kelley provided her translation and writing skills to translate a book on the history of the Far East. To learn more about Harsh Vineyard: A History of Catholic Life in the Russian Far East or to order your own copy, please click here. (This book is also available through www.amazon.com.)Dr. Kelley’s offering of her gifts to help others is a great example of the Feminine Genius at work!
Excited about ENDOW
Thank YOU for offering such excellent programs. The ladies in my group (and throughout the Archdiocese of Detriot) are so excited about ENDOW. We will be having another training in the near future as so many women signed up at the Women’s Conference. I am continually getting calls and emails for new groups to begin–in areas beyond where it is well-established!
-Judy, from Detroit
ENDOW facilitator discovers her vocation
Liza Boquiren shares her religious vocation story below. Liza, a committed ENDOW facilitator from Walnut, CA, shared this story with us, noting that ENDOW played a major part in her discernment process.
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JULY ’08
“So I will allure her,
I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart.
On that day, says the Lord,
She shall call me, – My husband.” Hosea 2:16 & 18
These are gentle words I heard God speak to me, when opening my heart to the religious life. There is nothing extraordinary in me except for the grace of Him whom my soul loves. My parents raised me Catholic, I received all the sacraments, I sang in the parish choir through high school. But once in a secular college at the University of California, San Diego, I found myself going to mass only half-heartedly. Then, after working professionally for 5 years in the Environmental Engineering industry, I was happy to attend mass perhaps once a month, if that. My heart, it seemed was a dry wasted, desert.
In 2003, after leaving my professional career and moving back home to start a business with my sister and friends, my heart was ripe for God. I had stopped going to mass completely and after telling this to a Catholic friend, he said, “Liza, if you’re going to leave the Church, you better first learn what you are leaving.” One night, depressed and heart broken, I got on my knees and prayed, “Lord, let me exchange my pride for your humility, your strength for my weakness.” And like a man on a mission, God took me at my word and swooped me up into His arms.
After that year and the following 5 years, my heart grew to know Jesus, then to love Jesus, and in loving Him, having a strong desire to serve Him in the Holy Catholic Church. I went to Confession for the first time in 10 years, was introduced to holy and devout Catholic friends who helped me on the road back into the heart of the Church. My heart caught fire with God’s love and mercy and His constancy and forgiveness gave me the strength to seek all things that would lead me to Him. My mind was like a sponge and making up for lost time, going to retreats, classes, and talks to learn more about the Church’s teachings. Through the teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux, St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, and St. Francis of Assisi, I felt pursued by God with an ardent love. I sought in my heart, the man I was going to marry who was going to help me fulfill my vocation, because surely, I was called to married life. Surely.
Over a year after my conversion, in 2005, my spiritual director at the time consecrated me to Our Lady on December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and recommended that I be open to religious life. For the first time, I visited a religious order, the Nashville Dominicans. I did not feel an attraction to the way of life, in fact, I felt quite the opposite. I left satisfied, thinking I did not have a religious calling and so I opened myself up to dating. I felt a sense of relief, yet deep inside, I knew I didn’t give God a chance.
I dated soon after, and throughout a 4-month relationship, a question would randomly enter my mind, “Lord, Jesus, if a soul truly wants to love you, would not giving up their lives entirely be most pleasing to you?” I was annoyed that this question would arise because religious life seemed to always be my answer and I didn’t like it. However, in addition to daily mass and rosary, I found myself longing to be alone with Him in Eucharistic Adoration, spending hours before Him during the week, just gazing back at the One gazing at me. My peace, my happiness would be complete only with Him. During the same year, I met the Carmelites of Alhambra through their monthly Handmaiden talks. Here is where I started to learn more about my gift of femininity and that God was answering my prayers when I didn’t even realize it. However, I was still convinced in my mind that I was called to be married, and while I waited for Mr. Right, I decided to learn the act of self-giving by serving my family in their needs, as a Confirmation teacher for two years and a facilitator for a Catholic based women’s ministry called ENDOW, Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women. My strongest prayer became, “Lord, please make me the woman you created me to be.”
Slowly but surely, my heart started to fill up with so much love that I didn’t know what to do with it. I had started to make daily holy hours before mass in the mornings and with my busy travel schedule, I found myself longing to find a Church for mass and to pray anywhere I traveled. At home, volunteering my time didn’t seem to be enough, and there was something deep inside of me, calling me for something “more.” The “more” I wanted was to be given entirely in love to a life of self-giving. On December 8th, 2006, God answered my prayer through His mother. On my knees, crying with joy, my heart felt free for the first time to choose. “What about me, would you choose me?” He asked. “Yes, my Lord, yes, I choose you.”
Almost two years since that wonderful evening, my heart has felt taken by Jesus. I have not questioned this choice for it has given me peace, and my time has been spent in fidelity to this choice. I have discerned between three wonderful communities and will be entering the Carmelites of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles, in Alhambra, CA., in August of 2008. I have been allured into the desert of my own heart, where the dryness has been quenched by Living Waters. There is a silent knowing that nothing could ever satisfy these longings, which is Him. My prayer has been to die for Him as He has died for me. I want every drop of my being to be poured out for Him, whom I love so much. It is in Carmel where I hope to truly become the woman He created me to be. Praised be to Jesus Christ, now and forever, Amen!