The missionaries of the Gift of Mary GIFT Program spend their mission year in prayer and service to the poor within the context of the Gift of Mary Women’s Shelter.

 

Gift of Mary is a shelter for homeless women in downtown Pittsburgh specifically built to help women in emergency situations due to domestic violence and human trafficking. Gift of Mary meets women where they are at, providing an atmosphere that receives them with dignity and love, and giving them resources to improve their situations so they do not have to go back to abusive situations. The missionaries with Gift of Mary strive to always see Christ in the Poor, and to treat the women we serve with the utmost respect and gentleness.

 

Gift of Mary is staffed by a team committed to bringing women out of crisis situations. While our case managers work to provide women with resources and next steps, our missionaries serve in a ministry of presence, meeting women face to face, providing them with a listening ear, Bible studies and prayer groups, and a good community.

 

The life of GIFT Missionaries is structured with the intention of creating an atmosphere of prayer, community life, and discernment. The GIFT Program is modeled after Mary’s own Fiat, and missionaries spend the year listening to God’s voice while serving the poor, with the goal of saying “yes” to God in whatever He might be asking of them for their lives. Regular missionary commitments include:

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• Daily Mass

• Daily Holy Hour

• Daily Rosary

• Daily Morning & Evening Prayer

• Weekly Formation Meetings 

• Regular Spiritual Direction

• Community nights with mission team 

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