Back in March we highlighted the growth of Women of Grace in the Lafayette, Louisiana area.  The following update was provided by Our Lady of Fatima, where they recently had 125 women graduate from the Women of Grace Foundational Study Program.

On Monday, May 19^th, 2014, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church celebrated the Mass and graduation ceremony of 125 of their parishioner women who had recently completed the Women of Grace Study Program.  The Mass opening was graced by a surprise for all. Father Michael Russo, Pastor, had secretly invited Johnnette Benkovic to the event. As the facilitators waited to process into Church for the Mass, at the last minute Father Russo whisked Johnnette from the Bride’s Room.   It was a priceless Kodak moment (as evidenced here)  to see the joy and surprise of the facilitators as Johnnette joined them for the celebration.

The Mass ended with a graduation ceremony where Father Russo and Johnnette shared their heartfelt thanks with each facilitator as they presented them with their graduation certificates and pins.

Likewise, each facilitator presented graduation certificates and “Women of Grace” pins to each of their study group members along with a loving embrace, sometimes tears, and always the love of Jesus Christ that had developed with all the women through the Women of Grace study program.

Following the Mass, the parish held a dinner whereby the twelve groups of women participating in the program could share in a celebratory meal and fellowship.   Seeing the importance of maintaining “shared group support”, many of them begin a bible study program for the summer through the Come Lord Jesus bible study program.

Stephanie Supple, Parish Administrator and Coordinator for the study program shared: “Our Lady of Fatima parish is gearing up to launch two study programs in the Fall to accommodate 50 women who could not be accommodated in the recent Women of Grace study, and to reach out to those who  have inquired since last enrollment with a desire to participate. We plan to partner with Women of Grace to package the resources and processes we have developed together to easily implement a large-scale Parish study program that we can make available to parishes world-wide. A blessing of this magnitude must be shared with others.”

Our Pastor, Fr. Michael Russo, reflects on the nine week program:  “What a joy to witness, as a pastor, the persevering presence of the women each week, who shared their strong desire to go in deeper friendship with the Lord.   Their hearts were expanded….to love and to obey; and life- long friendships were formed.   The Women of Grace program made these women better spouses, better mothers, and better women, and I look forward to offering and supporting this program in the future.”

For more information about how you can bring Women of Grace® study program to your area or to plan a Facilitator Training in your region, please email us at info@womenofgrace.com or call 1-800-558-5452.