Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School (OLS School) offers the only Young Women of Grace program in the diocese, though John Carroll Catholic High School will begin this same program in the coming weeks.
This inspirational program is derived from founder Johnnette Benkovic Williams’ original Women of Grace program and is faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church. It genuinely incorporates scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, prayer, and courageous women saints. The style and presentation appeal to young girls in middle and high school.
OLS School began this ministry in the fall of 2019. Today, approximately thirty enthusiastic young girls participate in the program on campus, with facilitators Cindy Westbrook and first-grade teachers Olivia DiChiara and Jessica Taff.
Every Tuesday morning, the girls arrive at 7 a.m. to participate. Over breakfast provided by parents, the facilitators guide the girls through the lesson and engage them in small group activities, including art, writing, and spiritual exercises, to promote their growth in virtue.
Because OLS School’s Young Women of Grace program is considered a national and international model, Cindy Westbrook and Olivia DiChiara were invited to appear on EWTN’s television show in the past. The special series highlighted the remarkable benefits of both Women of Grace and Young Women of Grace and aimed to expand each program.
“The Young Women of Grace program is a blessing for our school,” Principal Mary Jane Dorn said. “It is inspiring to see how the program has created a desire for these young girls to try to understand their faith better and to live it to the fullest.”
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School fosters the religious, academic, and social development of every child, recognizing that knowledge enlightened by faith and realized through service is at the heart of Catholic education. Accredited by Cognia, the school provides a curriculum that combines Catholic faith and teachings with academic excellence. It offers a partnership with parents in the religious formation of their children through a family friendly environment to prepare students to be productive citizens and future leaders. To learn more about the school, visit olsschool.com or call 205.879.3237.
This article was originally published in OneVoice, the Magazine of the Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama and is reprinted here with their kind permission.
