Women's Apostolate to Youth
ABOUT US
The Women's Apostolate to Youth (WAY) is an inter-generational lay Association of Christ's Faithful for Catholic women in the Diocese of Arlington. We take as our heavenly patroness and model of spiritual maternity the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Incarnate Love. Our spiritual mentors are Saints Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, Elizabeth Ann Seton, Therese of Lisieux, and Teresa Benedicta of the Cross -- holy women whose lives and works offer perennially valid inspiration and guidance to women seeking an authentically Catholic and feminine form of spiritual practice.
OUR MISSION
To promote the spiritual well being of children and youth and to provide spiritual formation and moral support for women who are called to work in a variety of ministries dedicated to this end, whether as mothers, teachers and catechists, youth ministers, social workers or as relatives, godparents and friends. WAY recognizes that such women have their own particular spiritual needs and therefore seek to foster a helpful pattern of personal and communal spiritual practice as well as a philosophy of Christian formation that will be especially helpful in work with children and youth.
OUR HISTORY
The Women’s Apostolate to Youth (WAY) is Public Association of the Christian Faithful in the Diocese of Arlington founded in 1990. We take as our heavenly patroness and model of spiritual maternity the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Incarnate Love. Our spiritual mentors are Saints Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, Elizabeth Ann Seton, Therese of Lisieux, and Teresa Benedicta of the Cross - holy women whose lives and works offer perennially valid inspiration and guidance to women seeking an authentically Catholic and feminine form of spiritual practice.
FROM OUR DIRECTOR
The joy of growing spiritually in a community of women who are dedicated to sharing the faith with one another and with the souls God places in our lives is a tremendous gift. It can be a life-changing encounter! I invite you to attend one of our twice monthly spiritual formation meetings or our monthly holy hour and Mass; visitors are always welcome. If you are interested, contact me. In the meantime,
I will be praying for you!
-Mary Camarca
OUR PATRONESSES
MARY, MOTHER OF INCARNATE LOVE
"Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word."
ST. TERESA OF AVILA
"I tried as hard as I could to keep Jesus Christ, our God and our Lord, present within me, that was my way of prayer."
ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA
"The soul who follows your Truth's teaching in love becomes through love another you."
ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON
"We sanctify ourselves for others."
ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX
"My little way is the way of spiritual childhood, the way of trust and absolute surrender."
ST. TERESA BENEDICTA
OF THE CROSS
(EDITH STEIN)
"The woman's soul is fashioned as a shelter in which other souls may unfold."