Every time Maggie’s Place opens a new home, it is placed under the patronage of a saint. To date, we have homes named for St. Mary Magdalene, St. Elizabeth, St. Michael, St. Zachariah and St. Hannah. We ask them to intercede for us when we pray as a community every day. However, there are other saints who we also ask to pray for our community in a special way:
St. Gianna (Patroness of Mothers and the Unborn): St. Gianna was a wife, mother of four, and doctor in Italy. During her fourth pregnancy she found out she had a tumor on her uterus. Removing the tumor would be fatal to her unborn child, but Gianna would risk losing her own life if she did not remove the tumor. She chose life for her child even though it would cost her own, dying just days after delivering her daughter.
St Gianna, pray for our moms as they make sacrifices every day to raise their children.
St. John Paul the Great (Patron of Families): Pope John Paul II is known for his work, The Theology of the Body, where he discusses God’s plans for us as men and women. Through this work, he tried to address the problems that families of our day are facing.
St. John Paul, intercede for the moms we serve who are trying to heal broken relationships in their families, especially for those who are trying to reunite with their children. May they have the courage to take the necessary steps towards reunifying and growing relationships with their children.
St. Maximilian Kolbe (Patron of Addicts): St. Maximilian Kolbe was a priest in Poland who was persecuted and killed during the Holocaust. During his time at a concentration camp, he volunteered to take the place of another prisoner being sent to death. This man survived the Holocaust and was then able to attend Maximilian Kolbe’s canonization.
St. Maximilian Kolbe, help our moms who struggle with addictions with the renewed strength and courage to maintain their sobriety.
St. Therese of Lisieux (Patroness of Missionaries): St. Therese of Lisieux was a 19th century French nun. She is known for her “little way” of doing small things with great love for God. She is particularly special to me as I know she has been interceding for me during my time as a Corps member.
St. Therese, please intercede for our community as we change diapers, do laundry and chores, clean messes and attend to the duty of the moment. Be with us as we share conversation, laughter, and heartache. As we forgive and are forgiven, as we surrender difficult moments to God’s mercy, and as we become the people we were meant to be.
By Emily Lavastida, a MissionCorps member
Thane was able to pick a patron for the year (with the help of his mom, of course!) and his patron happens to be St. Maximilian Kolbe, who we ask to intercede for us in daily prayer!
