Help Launch Crown of Creation: Catholic Teen Girls Program
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Over the past 6-8 months, I have been working on a program for teenage girls. This idea came to life in June 2024 during my attendance at a young women’s Catholic leadership conference called The GIVEN Institute . Every month since then, I have been meeting with a religious Sister who has helped me to refine the idea.
I am excited to launch Crown of Creation– a program whose mission is to support the spiritual and mental well-being of teenage girls by integrating Catholic traditions and the liturgical life of the Church within their day-to-day lives.
Through a small group setting and providing tangible “take-aways” each week, we guide young women to connect with the Lord in their inner selves to help them re-connect with their worth and dignity in Christ.
This idea came from a gap I found in my own life while trying to manage various mental health challenges outside of therapy, books, and apps. I’ve been volunteering or working with youth since high school, and the same theme repeated itself which I found in my own journey. Why is it so difficult to manage day-to-day stressors, and what is the Church’s role in this? How do we heal and stay rooted in our identity as Daughters of the King while simultaneously detaching from technology, stressors of the world, and unhealthy habits and relationships?
This program was created to provide practical ways to answer those questions throughout any point in the day. I found that when I actually engaged all five (5) senses, the healing really expedited. Simply holding a rosary while having severe anxiety snapped my brain back into peace mode. Looking at a burning candle calmed my soul. Putting on Gregorian Chant as soon as the anxious thoughts rose almost immediately helped me keep focus and not get overwhelmed.
Where you come in:
I am looking for partners on mission–both in prayer and financially. I want to provide the girls high-quality, beautiful art and take-aways for each session– not something they will forget about or lose.
By March, I hope to launch all 5 sessions to a group of girls whom I have mentored through youth ministry at my parish this past fall. I have a few girls interested so far, and the goal is to have 10 girls participate. Please see below for specifically how you can help:
- Pray for me and the girls – One of my youth ministry teens has reminded me at least 3 times how she is excited about this and keeps asking me when we are starting. It has truly been my motivation to kick into gear and get to this point! Pray for each of them to be open, for my own humility and prioritization of this initiative, and for the Lord’s hand to guide every step of the way.
- Contribute to my Go-Fund Me - my initial goal is $2300 total. Gifts for the girls include San Damiano crucifixes, rosaries, Marian statues, Visio and Lectio Divinia journals and resources, Benedictines of Mary chant CDs, and candles ($2100). The remaining funds will go toward payments for the church facilities use ($200).
Any additional funds over the initial goal will go toward branding and website design ($1500) in hopes to expand the program, more resources for the girls, the ability to include more girls to participate, the option to repeat the program this fall, and ongoing donations/payments to parish staff for use of facilities.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart! Know of my prayers for you and please keep me and the girls in your prayers on this journey.
In Christ,
Marie Athaide
Organizer
Marie Athaide
Organizer
Atlanta, GA