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National Director, US Association of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
When you listen to my interview with Mary Mirrione, you’ll quickly figure out that this was not a typical interview for me. I’ve known Mary for around half of my life now as one of my sisters in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd movement—a Montessori-based faith formation experience for children starting in infancy through 12 years old. For many years, Mary coordinated CGS at St. Anne’s Parish in a suburb of Phoenix, serving over 5000 families. Her commitment to sharing CGS with children in poverty has led to extensive collaboration with the Missionaries of Charity and the Franciscan Friars in such diverse places as Kolkata, India, Portugal, Bangladesh, and Honduras. For almost 15 years now she has served as the national director of the US Association of CGS, a position that has made her a well-known voice in the USCCB committee work related to catechetics.
Mary was raised in Brooklyn and met her future husband in a karate class. She is tough and direct and protective of those in her care… much like a shepherd might be with sheep. She is also one of the holiest, most loving people I know… much like the “good shepherd” himself.
When I talked with Mary, she had just been reading a book on Holy Daring, focusing on the word “parrhesia” meaning frank, direct speech. Her comments on this topic helped to shape Chapter 2 in Redeeming Power in a most particular way.