Category: formidable women

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Sister Jean: Trusting God with Every Next Act

When I heard that Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt had passed away this week at 106, I was a little saddened before reflecting on what an incredible life she led, and what an incredible legacy she has left. If there was anyone who knew how to live joyfully, purposefully, and with complete trust in God’s plan, it was Sister Jean.

You probably know her as the spirited chaplain for Loyola University Chicago’s basketball team, the charming nun in maroon and gold who became a hit during the team’s unexpected run to the Final Four in 2018. But for those of us who followed her story a little more closely, she was so much more than a team mascot, she was a lifelong educator, mentor, and proof that God’s call doesn’t have an expiration date.

She was also part of the inspiration behind my book, A Beautiful Second Act. Because Sister Jean didn’t just talk about trusting God with your next chapter, she lived it.

A Life Rooted in Faith and Student

Sister Jean’s career in education stretched across decades in classrooms, campuses, and generations of students who were touched by her. She entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary back in 1937 and from then on, teaching and guiding young people became her life’s work.

She taught in California before “graduating” and moving on to Mundelein College in Chicago, and when the college merged with Loyola in the early ’90s, she just kept right on going with her mentoring, advising, praying, and showing up for students in unexpected ways.

The Inspiration She Gave Me

When most people would have been thinking about retirement, she was stepping into a brand-new chapter as Loyola’s team chaplain. She was in her 70s. That’s when the world really started to see what her students already knew: this woman radiated faith, joy, and a fierce love for her community. I loved to see the love poured out to her by the students. She was truly a gift to all who knew her.

Sister Jean was sharp, funny, and full of energy. She answered emails, gave interviews, prayed with players, and waved from her courtside seat at a hundred years old!

But even in all the noise and fame, she never lost her center. She kept it simple: love God, love people, and keep saying yes to the next thing He puts in front of you.

When I was writing about women who embrace new beginnings with grace, Sister Jean immediately came to mind. She didn’t reinvent herself so much as open herself to God, to change, and to life.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

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Episode 8: Brilliance Behind the Scenes: Hedy Lamarr & Elisabeth Leseur

Audio episode•

We explore the quiet genius and hidden strength of two remarkable women: Hollywood star and inventor Hedy Lamarr, and Servant of God Elisabeth Leseur, a spiritual powerhouse whose interior life inspired a dramatic conversion. Host Maria Morera Johnson unpacks how these women, though worlds apart, each lived out a beautiful second act marked by perseverance, faith, and unseen impact. Their stories remind us that God often does His most powerful work behind the scenes.

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Holy Women and New Chapters: A Retreat for Catholic Women

From Saints to Second Acts

One of the perks of women’s ministry is the obvious: fellowship with women! This past weekend I had the pleasure of leading a parish retreat on Saints and Second Acts at the conclusion of a book study on My Badass Book of Saints as a seque into a book club about A Beautiful Second Act. What an honor for me to be able to share in this way!

Picture this: a room full of Catholic women, cups of coffee in hand, laughing together as connections were made or remade. What better way to bridge these two books than a retreat—a sacred pause to celebrate bold faith and step into our own renewed purpose in whatever new act is coming?

Bridging Badass and Second Act

The day kicked off with a 45-minute talk about befriending the saints, and seeking them in our daily lives. It was a light talk punctuated by stories of my favorite saints, especially Sister Blandina Segale, who was inspiration for the Badass book, and the astonishing and frightening St. Olga of Kyiv, whose appallingly violent first act was followed by a profound conversion to the Christianity is told in A Beautiful Second Act.

Next came the heart of the retreat—a small group activity to reflect on our faith journey. We settled into our groups by table, armed with markers and paper. First, each woman jotted down a “badass” moment from her past—maybe standing up for her faith or powering through a tough season—and a current challenge that might be the start of something new. Then, we shared and created group “maps”—timelines, pictures, or lists weaving our stories together.

The morning wrapped up with a second talk that examined our feminine genius and how, as women, we are deeply connected to the Blessed Mother. Notes from scripture and the Catechism emphasized the changing seasons in our lives and the opportunity for renewal and second chances. Ecclesiastes 3:1—”There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens”—underscores that God ordains different phases, each with its own purpose.

In a cozy church hall, surrounded by saint statues and sisterhood, we bridged two books and countless stories. We talked about our bold roots and beautiful next steps—perfect for badass Catholic women like us. Ready for your second act?

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