I am grateful to God for the gift of life He gave me. I truly believe that our Blessed Mother Mary had a strong guiding hand in my life. I was born to a young, single mother in Nova Scotia. I was adopted through Catholic Social Services. Mary gave me two incredible strong women as models for my own life.

I am a life long Catholic, married mother with three almost grown children. I met Dan while in college. I had never met anyone like him before. He was so deeply committed to his faith. He inspired me to delve deeper into my own faith. That was the first thing I loved about him. After twenty-five years, I could not imagine spending my life with anyone else.

I am passionate about how our children learn to read. I was a Catholic schoolteacher for many years. I have great ideas on how parents can help their children become stronger readers. My greatest joy in Catholic education has always been the teaching of the faith. There is such joy in watching children fall in love with Christ, and watching that grow inside them.

I am also a breast cancer survivor! I tell people I am the luckiest person in the world, and I am. My survival story is one of my greatest intimate prayer journeys. I think it is critical to support and encourage women to take their breast health seriously.

My mother had brain cancer. It affected our entire family. We learned the value of a sacramental marriage in helping Dad care for Mom, and in his undying belief that God was with them in their journey. In the last years of Mom’s life, she lived with my family. I believe we should do much more to care for our aging parents and loved ones.