During this program, we will take a look at contemporary issues and concerns in our Church and in the world through the lives of women throughout church history. Using his own paintings and the stories that inspired them, Bro. Mickey will highlight the many ways in which women have been living and preaching the Joyful Good News from Bethlehem and Calvary through the homes of the four women Doctors of the Church to the Lower East side of Manhattan. 

Pope Francis’ will be highlighted through Laudato Si' and other prominent letters, as will contemporary women such as Dorothy Day and Sr. Thea Bowman. In addition, each day will include a creative activity, such as the creation of a mandala, designed to lead us to contemplative space and the present moment. 

We will take a fresh look at the following women and themes associated with them- and a few good men for good measure: 

 Mary and Elizabeth (and St. Joseph)- the Catholic social teaching

 Hildegard of Bingen (and St. Francis of Assisi) - and love of creation

 Catherine of Siena (and Pope St. John XXIII)- making peace and speaking truth

 Teresa of Avila (and Thomas Merton)-nurturing a contemplative spirit

 Therese of Lisieux (and St. Francis de Sales) – responding creatively to the Cross

Resource Person: Bro. Mickey Mc Grath, OSFS, an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales, is an award-winning artist, author and storyteller who lives and works in Camden, NJ.  He is a popular presenter and frequent keynote speaker at Conferences, parishes, and retreat centers throughout the United States and Canada. Using his own paintings and the stories that inspired them, Bro. Mickey makes deep and humorous connections between art, social justice and religious faith.

He is a recipient of the Thea Bowman Black Catholic Education Award in recognition of his work (This Little Light) on Sr. Thea Bowman, his great spiritual mentor and inspiration. Since 1987 he has been a summer faculty member at the Grunewald Guild in Leavenworth, Washington, an interfaith art guild where he is officially designated a “Guild Master.” 

His books, Saved By Beauty and Go To Joseph were the recipients of multiple awards from the Association of Catholic Publishers, the Catholic Press Association and Illumination Christian Book Awards.  In 2015-16, his most recent book with WLP, Dear Young People: Inspirations from Pope Francis for Everyone was granted three awards, most recently a Silver Award from eLit Books in the Religion category.

Whatever the titles of his presentations and whatever type of audience, Mickey’s message is always about the healing power of art and its ability to lead us to light and grace.