Our Sorrowful Mother's Ministry had always been just the two of us, Debbie & Vanessa, but we are pleased to say that in 2007 all of that changed. We were given the gift of a group of people, all with different talents and different contributions to make.

We are so thankful that this wonderful group of people has made the commitment to be an integral part of this ministry. Some of these people have always helped in some way, but now we have an active, intentional community working together to help make each OSMM retreat as special as it can be. We envision our group to be a school of love: we strive to grow in holiness, faithfulness, and love in order to more effectively share with everyone we encounter the peace and the joy that comes from knowing and following Jesus.

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." —Erma Bombeck

Our Head Coach

We have affectionately given former University of Illinois and Olympic women's basketball head coach Theresa Grentz the title "Mary's Head Coach." She used to recruit for sports teams, but now she recruits for God's team, pointing the way to the ultimate championship—Heaven! Theresa's engaging talks are filled with humorous stories, and we are so grateful for her leadership and for the gifts she brings to this ministry.

Prayer Teams & Spiritual Direction

Sue Young is the Spiritual Director for our ministry, and she is truly a prayer powerhouse. She explains things in a way that is so Spirit-filled, you can sense that God is whispering into her ear. Sue helps us to create a retreat atmosphere that facilitates a genuine encounter with God by offering spiritual direction.

John Seliga is the counselor and Spiritual Leader for our ministry, gifted in helping discern the path that God is calling us to. He is a powerful prayer warrior that the ministry and our retreat participants can count on to lift us up, teaming with Annette Sherwood for individual prayer sessions. John holds the mission and vision of this ministry close to his heart, and he currently serves as Master of Ceremonies for our events.

Annette Sherwood is a certified Spiritual Director with a gentle voice to help the retreatants, teaming up as a prayer partner with John Seliga. Annette completed the Master's level Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis in May 2005. She has served as a Spiritual Director and Prayer Guide for several retreat ministries, and she has led groups and individuals for Spiritual Direction. Annette also serves as a Peer-Supervisor for other Spiritual Directors.

Ted Whitehead & Randy Wells have been with us for some time, and they do whatever is needed, whenever it's needed. They work in tandem as another of our powerful prayer teams in a beautiful way. These dedicated men bring their great and giving hearts to each retreat, and it's a comfort knowing they are there.

Sabina Reyes has worked with Fr. Peter Rookey's International Compassion Ministry for many years, praying with people over the telephone all day, every day. Her spiritual insights and wisdom are a tremendous addition to our ministry. Sabina makes herself available to pray with retreatants, and we are so pleased to have her as part of our community.

Mike and Ann Roberts share their gifts and their beautiful spirits as members of our Prayer Team. This couple has a deep devotion and faith in God, and has contributed in a variety of ways to the many retreats they have attended over the past year. We are blessed to have them as part of our ministry!

Sara is another prayer intercessor for OSMM and a member of our Prayer Team. She is also our official photographer, snapping pics for our web page and newsletters. Her free spirit is an inspiration to all of us to "let go and let God", to be open and obedient to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit moving in our hearts to reach out to help those in need.

Sr. Susan of the Apostles of the Interior Life (at left, some of the Apostles with their founder, Fr. Salvatore, at Janel's first vows.) brings discernment and guidance to Vanessa and Debbie through prayer and spiritual direction. She and the other Apostles have been in the heart of OSMM since the year 2000. We are grateful for all the love, friendship and direction that Sr. Susan brings to us and to the ministry on many levels.

Hospitality & Service

Mariann Timmermann is very special to us, serving in many ways as the backbone of OSMM. She has been with us from the very first day of the birth of this ministry. Mariann handles all registration duties, and she is usually the first person to welcome retreatants at the door, making sure they have everything they need.

Angela and Debbie Mucci are first of all...Italian! This family blesses us with their warm hearts, friendship, love, and gifts of generosity. The Muccis are a Godsend to this ministry in many ways.

Kathy Tuntland is our Irish efficiency expert. She can do (and does!) just about anything that's required, taking care of our ministry 'store' at all of our events. Kathy has expertise in many areas of business and organizational planning, and she shares her generous heart so kindly with everyone. She is a member of our Loaves & Fishes team, helping to raise funds to support the ongoing work of the ministry. Kathy has been a major source of help on many OSMM projects, and she continues to provide invaluable support in many ways.

Terry Meats manages our Email Ministry, sending out prayer requests and event announcements to build an ongoing sense of community beyond our retreats. He is also our goodwill ambassador, always eager to help anyone needing extra assistance or care. Terry joins with Randy, Ted, and John Frailey to pray as a team with retreatants.

Debby Themig spreads joy and hope to everyone she meets. She is a powerful witness who is willing to share her experiences with others so people know they are not alone in their pain. Debby works with Kathy at the merchandise tables and on the Loaves & Fishes team, and she serves as the Sacristan for Mary's Chapel and for all of our liturgies. Debby partners with Mike and Ann Roberts to form another Prayer Team for the ministry.

John and Ann Frailey, along with their children (shown below with the children of other families that pray regularly for our ministry), bring a joyful and peaceful presence to each OSMM retreat. John is part of the Men's Prayer Team, working with Ted, Randy, and Terry to help lift up those in need of intercession. Ann serves as the Pro-life Leader for the OSMM community at all of our events. Through her words and through her vocation as mother and homeschool teacher she witnesses to the dignity of every human being, no matter how small.

Our retreats are often filled with the joyful presence of many home-schooled children, eager to be 'ambassadors' for Christ and OSMM, helping out in whatever ways they can, big or small!

Knights of Our Mother of Sorrows

The Knights of Our Mother of Sorrows are a special group of men who promise to be prayer warriors for the ministry, and to assist in whatever needs to be done to further the work of the Holy Spirit in healing wounded souls. These men are also committed to defending and spreading the Catholic Faith, and to protecting and nurturing their families, providing the spiritual leadership that strong families require. Learn more by visiting the Knights page.

Music Ministry

Annie Karto has also been with us from the very beginning. She has served as our music minister for 10 years, and has been our Master of Ceremonies many times. She has the voice of an angel and we have never tired of listening to her. She sets the tone with her beautiful music, helping to usher in the Holy Spirit.

Matthew Baute is the other half of our music ministry team. Matthew has a gentle spirit, full of the love of God, which comes through in his music. He and Annie make up a musical 'dream team' all their own.

This is our community. We are not at all a steering committee or a board, but a family—a family of believers working together to further the Kingdom of God. We are all trying to use the gifts that God has given us to act in virtue, to be obedient to Christ, and to honor His Blessed Mother. We strive to be servants to all those who come to experience healing and reconciliation. Hope and healing comes from a real encounter with God. That is what we are trying to bring to all who come here, that real encounter with God.

Why did we name our ministry as we did?
Fr. Peter Rookey, of the order of the Servants of Mary (Servites), has long had a deep devotion to the Sorrowful Mother (read the Chaplet of our Mother of Sorrows). For years he said daily Mass in Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica in Chicago. Since so much of what we have done over the last 10 years has sprung out of Father's priesthood, we decided to name our ministry to honor him. Additionally, our parish here in Vandalia is named Mother of Dolors, but since no one knew what 'Dolors' meant (people thought it was 'dollars') we decided that the "Our Sorrowful Mother" name fit perfectly for us.

Read more about the History of OSMM.

Dearest Lord, teach me
 to be generous,
  to serve you as you deserve,
   to give and not to count the cost,
    to fight and not to heed the wounds,
     to labor and not to seek to rest,
      to give of myself and not to ask for reward,
       except the reward of knowing that I am doing your will.
                —St. Ignatius of Loyola