Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School’s Young Women of Grace recently hosted “Advent Journey to Grace: Bringing Jesus to the World” with special guest Johnette Benkovic Williams, EWTN’s Women of Grace television and radio host and executive producer. The inspirational event held at the Our Lady of Sorrows Family Life Center helped prepare young girls and women for the Advent season and to learn more about their authentic feminine genius. Father Frankline Fomukong celebrated Mass, delivering a powerful homily highlighting the opportunity of Advent. Williams, filled with the Holy Spirit, inspired all to seek authentic feminine genius as daughters of the Most High God.

Young Women of Grace is derived from 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 are appealing to young girls in middle and high school. 

The school offers the only Young Women of Grace program in the Birmingham diocese. The school began the ministry in the fall of 2019. Teachers Cindy Westbrook and Mary Paige Griffin felt God was calling them to minister to middle school girls in spiritual formation and to purposefully teach them to navigate the challenging world in which we live. “God, in His loving and merciful way, was calling us to bring His unrepeatable daughters back to Him! Our ‘Fiat’ allowed us to begin this mission,” said Westbrook. In prayerful research investigating various religious sources, they felt the foundational study, Young Women of Grace, was very special.  With the unwavering support of Principal Mary Jane Dorn, the program was established. Today, thirty enthusiastic young girls participate in the program at school with Westbrook and first grade teacher Olivia DiChiara as their leaders.

“Our girls arrive at 7 a.m. every Wednesday morning to participate in Young Women of Grace,” explained Westbrook. “Over breakfast provided by our parents, we guide the girls through the lesson, engage in small group activities including art, writing, and spiritual exercises to promote the growth of virtue. The process is transformative!”

Because Our Lady of Sorrows’ Young Women of Grace program is considered a national and international model, Westbrook and DiChiara were invited to appear on EWTN’s television show this past summer. The special series highlighted the remarkable benefits of both Women of Grace and Young Women of Grace with the goal of expanding each program.  

“We are truly blessed to have Young Women of Grace at our school,” said Dorn. “It is inspiring to see how our girls want to understand and live their faith to the fullest.”

Would you like to transform the lives of your middle and high school girls? Westbrook and DiChiara are available to speak to school faculties and administrators as well as youth groups and parishes about this incredible program. Please contact them at cindycwestbrook@gmail.com and odichiara@olsschool.com.