One of the greatest challenges for today’s youth is the loss of strong role models. Both young men and young women find themselves bombarded with images and messages about how to be successful and attractive in a way that overlooks their personal dignity and their unique status as children of God. In our work with girls and young women, we teach them not only to know God, but to experience His love for them and understand themselves in light of this love.

In practical terms, this often means teaching young women to understand their own feminine gifts and dignity, acquire self-mastery so that they are not dominated by their emotions, open their hearts to others in sincere self-giving, and develop their talents for the good of their mission in society. Each soul is different, and so this process takes place through a personalized approach involving a lot of listening and gentle guidance as well as organized activities that give them the chance to exercise leadership in a spirit of service to others.

At the same time, we also emphasize the importance of friendship and teamwork. Girls are motivated by their relationships with others; when united by a positive goal, they can be a powerful source of motivation and inspiration for each other. In our work, we aim to foster these healthy, Christ-centered friendships so that from girlhood to womanhood, they bring out the best in each other and help each other to grow.

Working with girls and young women is an extraordinarily important mission for the transformation of society. Many of the young women we work with will go on to be wives and mothers who will set the tone for their entire family, or will influence society in their professional lives. If a woman is balanced, loving, and holy, her family is far more likely to be healthy, strong, and happy, and she will be a positive influence for her work environment. And if many families are healthy, society and the Church as a whole will receive the benefits.