HERE ARE SOME OF THE DIFFERENT PRESENTATIONS THAT MIRIAM CAN BRING TO YOUR PARISH, RETREAT OR EVENT:
SHINE LIKE LIGHTS IN THE WORLD: EXPLORING THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO HOLINESS
Miriam uses Pope Francis’ 2018 Apostolic Exhortation Rejoice and be Glad as a departure point to explore the call to holiness in everyday life and in the parish community. We will give special attention to the Beatitudes, which Pope Francis calls “the Christian’s identity card." They offer a beautiful roadmap towards holiness of life. We will also address the primary obstacles to holiness – including the notion that becoming a saint is for other people, but not for us. Nothing could be further from the truth! We are each called to holiness, and it is an adventure like none other.
FAITH AND STORYTELLING
"Still, I wonder if we shall ever be put into songs or tales. We're in one, of course, but I mean: put into words, you know, told by the fireside, or read out of a great big book with red and black letters, years and years afterwards..." (Tolkien, "The Two Towers") J.R.R. Tolkien understood this better than most: we *are* in a story. The most marvelous Story of all. The one that tells the tale of how God became man and changed the course of human history, down to the smallest detail of our most mundane Tuesday afternoon. How do we recapture the sense of storytelling through daily living? How can imagination and creativity prepare our hearts for a lively Christian faith? What do fairytales have to do with the mission of evangelization? Come "inside the story" and join us as we discuss the life, works, and ongoing significance of one of the famous Oxford "Inklings", J.R.R. Tolkien. It may very well be that his message has never been as important to hear as it is today.
APPROACHING THE THRONE OF GRACE: A WORKSHOP ON THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION
It's astonishing how a little green light over a door can evoke such a strong response - and these reactions often go in many different directions, ranging from "I don't need to confess my sins to a priest" to "this sacrament turned my life around completely". This presentation addresses many facets of the sacrament, including history, Scriptural origins, commentary from saints and Catholic writers, and a look at how the sacrament fits into today's world, with all its present concerns. Now is the time to approach the throne of grace - and together, let's discover the wonder of Divine Mercy.
BEAUTY AND THE FEAST: A TALK ON WOMEN, FAITH, AND FOOD
This presentation is a wonderful addition to any retreat or conference geared towards women (teen and older). Miriam discusses how her own pursuit of beauty led her down an unexpected path - which included dangerous detours and gentle epiphanies. Ultimately, it was a road which led to the embrace of a loving God. And hers is just one story among many - it's a fact that many women share similar struggles: how to look! What to eat! Where to turn for every fix and fortune! There seems to be an endless stream of voices, recommendations and remedies for any ache or restlessness in the woman's heart. Through this unique combination of personal testimony, Scripture meditations and the writings of holy sisters and brothers (past and present), Miriam hopes to dive deeper into the crucial conversation of what it means to be a woman striving to live a joyful, whole, and authentic life.
THE SIENA EFFECT: KEEPING THE FIRE OF FAITH BURNING
Whether you are about to enter the Catholic church or you've been attending Mass for fifty years, it's always a good time to consider those spiritual practices which help us to keep "running the race," as St. Paul would say. This talk will offer practical suggestions aimed at building up discipline, trust and acts of charity in daily life. This is a "back to basics" presentation: from a meditation on the Sign of the Cross to a discussion on the significance of hobbies to the importance of the Lord's Prayer, Miriam focuses on some of the fundamentals of healthy and authentic Christian living. And why the Siena Effect? Because a life anchored in prayer and sacraments is a life that shines brightly, and has - through the power of the Holy Spirit - the ability to help other hearts respond to the love of God. "When you are where God intends you to be, you will set the world aflame." - St. Catherine of Siena
Book a speaking engagement by emailing Miriam.