Women's Apostolate to Youth, WAY

BristowEnews.com recently attended a new W.A.Y. chapter that is beginning to meet in Bristow, Virginia. "W.A.Y." stands for the "Women's Apostolate to Youth," and is a group of lay Catholic women from various walks of life who wish to grow spiritually in order to help promote the spiritual well being of children. W.A.Y. was formed about twenty years ago by director Robin Maas and today has various fruits of their work including the "Little Messengers Preschool Co-operative," "Angelus Academy," a preschool thru junior high private elementary school and the "Saint Michael the Archangel Hotline for Spiritually at Risk Youth." For more information about their various Apostolates, see: http://www.rc.net/arlington/way/index.htm

Members of W.A.Y begin and end each meeting with prayer and in particular the prayer of the "Angelus" which is taken from the Bible and depicts the Angel Gabriel asking Mary to be the mother of God and her response is "Be it done unto me according to thy word." W.A.Y. has four women saints whom they mentor in order to become spiritually closer to God:

St. Teresa of Avila, was a Doctor of the Church who was often distracted and became devoted to prayer. "Prayer is an act of love, words are not needed. Even if sickness distracts from thoughts, all that is needed is the will to love."

St. Catherine of Sienna, had visions of Christ, Mary and the saints. She died when she was 33 in and her body was found incorrupt.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was the first native born American, to be canonized. Elizabeth's desire for the Bread of Life was to be a strong force leading her to the Catholic Church.

St. Therese of Lisieux, sought scripture for these words and idea of living: "Whosoever is a little one, come to me." It is your arms, Jesus, that are the lift to carry me to heaven. And so there is no need for me to grow up: I must stay little and become less and less."

Each week W.A.Y. meets to discuss spiritual readings together. They read one chapter a week about their mentors and then meet for prayer, discussion and fellowship. Once a month the director, Robin Maas, comes to give a talk. Robin gave a talk and discussion on Mary's maternity as a model of spirituality.

"From Mary's consent and the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit comes Jesus, who is Salvation in the flesh, our way to the Father. His perfect embodiment of the Father's love for us provides the primary spiritual principle for the formation of our members and of the young people we serve." Quote from W.A.Y. website.

Dr. Robin Maas' background was rooted in the United Methodist Church. She received her master's degree in Washington, DC from the Wesley Theological Seminary and later a doctorate from Catholic University. She taught at Wesley, a United Methodist school and later discovered that she had acquired a Catholic point of view. In 1987 Robin became a Catholic. For more information about Dr. Robin Maas see article by Kristen McGuire: http://www.catholicherald.com/articles/00articles/drmaas.htm

 

 

Date Published: 2007-09-26 06:00:00

Section: Education,