Hope Graham

Hi there! :) Thank you so much for your consideration of supporting me as a missionary! Sharyl & I often say that we live the best lives . . . And I'd love to share mine with you! :) While this mission-life certainly isn't easy, it is full; to walk with & befriend each of these precious women, through some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives, is one of the deepest honors there is. In each of them I see mirrored the poverty, wounds, and aching needs of my own heart—most profoundly my need for love. That is why we devote ourselves to true, sincere friendship with these women, as it allows them to heal & catch a glimpse of their own personal belovedness, despite all their built up trauma & pain . . . And when that happens, let me tell you: it is truly God's own light shining :)

One of my favorite stories from this year involves one of our women who, when I met her, hardly ever smiled. But, after a long time of slowly being kind to her throughout the end of this year, we have now become dear friends; we sit together at Mass every day, we tease each other in the Day Center, and every day when she leaves she grips my hands and smiles. We have "bigger" moments at the Day Center, such as supporting new mothers or helping women get to rehab, but these are the moments I live for here. Such is the true Gift of Mary, who is always ready to help love us & heal us with her maternal heart.

All that being said, I would love if you could join me in this mission! For me, this overall desire to serve & love the poor is one of the greatest passions of my life. It was part of my upbringing, thanks to my family's commitment to mission trips & other service opportunities through the Media Presbyterian Church. And now, since becoming Catholic, I have longed to continue that passion which was so gracefully instilled in my heart. When I heard of Gift of Mary, I eventually came to realize that this mission is God's answer to that prayer! Therefore, I would love nothing more than to have your partnership or help sharing this page; by supporting me, you join in this community & mission of Jesus, the original seeker & lover of the poor. :) May God bless you & Mary keep you! 

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"The real protagonist of history is the beggar: Christ who begs for man's heart, and man's heart that begs for Christ." ~ Msgr. Luigi Giussani, S.D. 

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Gift of Mary is a nonprofit devoted to serving homeless women in downtown Pittsburgh and leading impactful mission trips. Through practical care, community-building, and spiritual accompaniment, we walk alongside those in need and invite others to join us in this work of mercy.