“Even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart” (Joel 2:12-13)

The first reading from the liturgy of Ash Wednesday from Joel, invites us deeply into the season of Lent.  We are called to return to God with all our hearts.  The words “even now” allow us to reflect on the gift that it is still not too late to turn our hearts to the Lord, especially during this season of Lent.

Mary Heinrich joins the podcast today to share her reflections on this scripture as we prepare our hearts for the season of Lent.  

Mary Heinrich began her journey with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in 2001 when her daughter was three years old.  She has been trained in all three levels of the catechesis, and is a formation leader throughout the United States, working primarily in Level I and Level II courses.  She works in the atrium at St. Augustin Catholic Church in Des Moines, Iowa and St. Pius X Catholic Church in Urbandale, Iowa.  Her involvement as catechist and formation leader has been a gift for her.

Mary has served as a Director of Faith Formation in the Catholic Church for twenty-nine years, as well as a consultant and editor for religious education publishers.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and a master’s degree in Pastoral Studies in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri.  Mary has served as Chair of the Board of the United States Association, and she has served on the Membership Committee, TLM Fund Committee and the LEAVEN Committee.

Her husband, Kurt is a permanent deacon and teaches theology at the local Catholic high school, is a Level One catechist, and enjoys making materials for the atrium.  Their daughter, Clare, is a Level One catechist and enjoys working in the atrium. When not immersed in CGS, Mary enjoys reading, art and spending time with her family.

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