My name is Jennifer Franco. I\u2019m originally from Omaha, Nebraska but have lived in Chicago since 2002. I was born and raised Catholic. In 2015, I was working as a home care occupational therapist and struggling to recover from a prolonged illness that left me in debt. A friend of mine asked me to join her for an interview with Linda Couri regarding the program for a Masters of Arts Degree in Pastoral Studies at University of Saint Mary of the Lake (USML). I had never considered going back to school and can\u2019t now recall why I said \u201cyes.\u201d However, attending that meeting was a pivotal moment in my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I discerned through prayer to apply to USML, but realized that I would need a scholarship to cover the cost of tuition. I knew this might not be possible. I applied as an act of faith. I was accepted with the scholarship I needed! I had no idea what God was trying to do in my life but was so excited and grateful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I was taking classes and learning more about the Catholic Church and its theology, I found a beauty and richness I had not known before. I also discovered that I had a desire to know more. I wanted to share these insights with others, so that they too could be drawn more deeply into a relationship with God through their Catholic Faith and share the benefit from it as I had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I completed the Master\u2019s Degree in Pastoral Studies in 2019. In applying the education and skills I have acquired from the degree, I have been able to volunteer for my parish as a leader of a young adult group and a catechist for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. As an employee, I work as coordinator of volunteers for the parish soup kitchen. In all of these areas, I am seeking to find new ways to help others understand the love God has for them and the richness of the Catholic Faith. For example, a woman from the young adult group has discerned a call to religious life and has entered as a novice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have recently returned to USML to complete the Master\u2019s Degree in Theological Studies to deepen my knowledge of Catholic Doctrine. I desire to share what I learn with others, possibly through teaching in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
None of my education at USML would have been possible without the financial aid and support of scholarships. I understand that these scholarship programs are made possible through the generosity of those who donate to USML. So, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. It is because of your generosity that I have been able to discover, pursue, and share my passion for theology and the Catholic Faith. This has changed my life for the better in so many ways. I hope to continue to share the beauty and truth of the Catholic Faith to others so that they may know the depth of love that God has for them.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My name is Jennifer Franco. I\u2019m originally from Omaha, Nebraska but have lived in Chicago since 2002. I was born and raised Catholic. In 2015,…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":4759,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"hide","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4758","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-impact-story"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n