Alumnae Mom Christmas Letter
Dear Elizabeth House Moms, My name is Jennifer. I used to live here at this house for a year. I had my daughter Ava just the day after Christmas. And let me tell you, it was the happiest time in my life. I miss those day a lot! I want you to know that when I walked...
Feminine Genius
If living in the Maggie’s Place community teaches you anything, it teaches you a thing or two about women. I’ve been reflecting on this because, well, at present our house is home to eleven women. (Though the three baby gentlemen also deserve a shout out.) Here’s a...
Babies Come Anyway
Everyone's life is messy in some way. Lives at Maggie's Place are frequently messier than average. Our moms are pregnant, homeless, and often scared and alone. Many have been abused or struggled with an addiction. They are working hard to accomplish goals like earning...
Room in the Inn
I can't help at this time of year but to be reminded of the journey that Mary had to take to get to a safe place to have her baby. She traveled the streets of Bethlehem to find someplace that had space for her to lay her head, a place that was clean and secure. I also...
A Year In Review
I want to give a shout out to all the MissionCorps, past, present and future. When I was your age, a year of service was the furthest thing from my mind. I was a single mom at that time in my life so I naturally relate to our moms. My year at Maggie's Place is coming...
Laugh a little harder… Smile a lot more!
“The smallest thing when done for the love of God is priceless” ~ St. Teresa of Avila It’s been a glorious two and a half months at Maggie’s Place and I am still in awe. I wake up every day with a sense of peace and pride to be an integral part of this delightful...
The Fairy Tale Waiting
Waiting is the worst. Waiting for a green light, waiting for the coffeepot, waiting for a bad haircut to grow out. Waiting for a husband, waiting for direction, waiting for the next Masterpiece Mystery to air on PBS. And then there’s the kind of waiting all mothers...
Giving Thanks
A few years ago I was on a mission trip to a remote part of Honduras and was struck by the beauty of simplicity. The people I encountered had a joy that came from the bonds of community, the beauty of their surroundings and a deep faith in Christ, despite their...
Beautifully Broken
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all...
New Perspectives
It is truly amazing how God gives us the wisdom and understanding we need at the moments we are not expecting it. After a particularly long, hectic and draining day, I sat on the window seat of the Corps bedroom, admittedly feeling a little sorry for myself. I was...
National Vocation Awareness Week – Lety
A Journey in the Desert I truly believe it was God’s grace that led me to Maggie’s Place and His will that I should learn the language of love in action there. The 2nd day I was at The Elizabeth House for my interview, I knew God wanted me there and I had this...
National Vocation Awareness Week – Sister Margaret Joseph
When I came to Maggie’s Place in the summer of 2007, I came with many questions waiting for answers in my heart. I had chosen to come to Maggie’s Place because I loved to be involved in pro-life work and was discerning with a number of religious communities, including...
National Vocation Awareness Week – Sister Jaime
It was not until I was at Maggie’s Place that I truly understood Divine Providence. I had the privilege to be a MissionCorps member at The Magdalene House in 2009, right after the house fire occurred, living in a convent that we affectionately called the “Magvent.”...
Out of the Ashes
Death and life, destruction and renewal, pain and growth. We all experience these dichotomous but connected realities, but they are especially present in life at Maggie’s Place. By our very mission, we are a place of birth, new life growing and coming into the world....
The Bread Basket
I will never forget the first time I bit into a piece of homemade bread. I don’t remember where I was or who I was with, but I can vividly remember the soft and spongy texture, the subtle salty sweet flavor, and the warmth inside my mouth. I remember feeling shocked...
Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow
Transitions are a constant part of life, especially at Maggie’s Place. If you are like me, you probably have a bittersweet relationship with change. On the one hand, change brings unexplored adventures, opportunities and relationships; on the other hand, it brings...
God is Love
On Sunday I heard a beautiful sermon about the woman at the well and her encounter with the living God. I will turn 51 before I leave Maggie’s Place. I’ve spent this year of service also praying for my future husband. Unlike the woman at the well, I’ve never been...
A Great Cloud of Witnesses
When I was a tween I was obsessed with celebrities. I had pictures of my favorites all over my walls and could tell you a million factoids about all their lives. I idolized them because I wanted to be just like them: famous, attractive, important and rich. A few years...
Generosity
Merriam-Webster's simple definition of generosity: The quality of being kind, understanding, and not selfish: the quality of being generous; especially: willingness to give money and other valuable things to others. One of the most wonderful things to me about...
Prescription Birthday Cake
"Last night was the first time I had ever blown out my own birthday candles or had birthday cake," she said casually. "My mom was an alcoholic so, I guess she just forgot most of the time." Birthday cake. Something I never thought of as a luxury. These are the words...