St. Mary Mokena welcomes Sr. Miriam James Heidland, a national Catholic speaker and author, to lead its 2021 parish mission from March 7-9. The event will take place live in the church and be streamed on the St. Mary YouTube channel.
Sr. Miriam is a former Division I athlete who had a radical conversion and joined the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) in 1998. Her story has been featured on EWTN’s The Journey Home, SEEK Conferences, USCCB Convocation, Steubenville Conferences and other outlets. She holds a master’s degree in theology from the Augustine Institute and speaks extensively on the topics of conversion, authentic love, forgiveness, healing (and sports!).
Despite being raised Catholic, Sr. Miriam describes falling away from the faith during her college years before hitting a low point in her life.
She writes,
“Time after time as my faux freedom brought me bitter suffering, I wondered if there was more to life than the small, shallow world in which I had found myself. I was looking for love and wholeness. I wanted contentment and peace. I wanted to live a life that truly mattered. Right in the middle of it all, God deeply intervened into my life in the form of a beloved priest and the desperate prayers of my mother” (Catholic News Service).
The parish mission is entitled: Encountering the Heart of Jesus: Hope and Healing in the Season of Lent The mission schedule is as follows:
Sunday, March 7, 2021
7 PM-8:30 PM in the Main Church
Topic: “The Decisive Encounters: Why Our Hearts Matter”
Monday, March 8, 2021
7 PM-8:30 PM in the Main Church
Topic: “Healing the Brokenhearted” (Confession will be offered)
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
7 PM-8:30 PM in the Main Church
Topic: “Hope for the Journey” (Adoration will be held after her talk)
Like with Mass, pre-registration is required to attend the event due to limited space because of Covid restrictions. You can register for one day, or all three, on this sign-up page. To register by phone, please call 708-326-9303.
Those unable to make the in-person event can still watch via a livestream on YouTube.
Sr. Miriam’s podcast, Abiding Together, can be found on iTunes and her book, Loved As I Am, can be found on Amazon and will be available for purchase each night after the mission while supplies last. She tweets at @onegroovynun.
The Mokena Marian 