Maureen O'Brien's award-winning short stories and poems have been published widely in magazines and anthologies. She lives in Connecticut, where she taught creative writing to teenagers for 25 years. She holds an MA in creative writing and a BA in philosophy and religion. She is the author of What Was Lost: Seeking Refuge in the Psalms and Gather the Fragments: My Year of Finding God’s Love. Read her latest cover story in St. Anthony Messenger here.

(00:00:01) Introduction

(00:03:09) Background, Creativity, and Pilgrimage

(00:08:53) Franciscan Spirituality and Creativity

(00:11:44) Franciscan Faith in the Messiness of Life

(00:20:31) Reflection: Arms Wide Open (by Susan Hines-Brigger)

(00:23:07) Listening and Healing

(00:41:20) Reflection: Honest Prayer (by Susan Hines-Brigger)

(00:44:42) Following and Re-Discovering

(01:00:14) Hope Beneath It All

(01:06:38) Conclusion