Faustina Fit:
Women Gather to Share in Weekly Prayer and Workout W hen it comes to saints and how they inspire us, we can certainly look to St. Faustina’s example in how we strive to live out our faith each day. As she once said, “From today onwards, I am going to strive for the greatest purity of soul, that the rays of God’s grace may be reflected in all their brilliance.” St. Faustina wanted to do her very best to have a pure soul to better show God’s grace. This is one of the principles on which the Faustina Fit group was founded — to find ways to become the best version of ourselves. The group meets weekly for prayer and physical activity. Faustina Fit meets at 8:15 a.m. every Saturday in St. John’s Hoffman Hall. All women 13 and older are welcome regardless of athletic ability. The women begin with a prayer, and then they engage in a workout, followed by stretching and more prayer. The workout can be anything from hiking or snowshoeing, to a circuit series. Jen Oelke has enjoyed leading this group and growing with the other women who are involved. “It really feels like a family after a while,” she says. “We really care for each other.” Jen wants women to know that the members are not judgmental — women can come as they are. Everyone is just trying to get stronger, whatever that means for them.
“This group fortifies you for your week,” she says. The group meet 15 minutes after the Fit Shepherds men’s group ends. This gives parents a chance to switch if they have kids at home that need care. Fr. Zach Weber was the impetus behind starting the Fit Shepherds, while Jen and Elyse Snider worked together to get Faustina Fit started. The leader for the week starts with a prayer. They end the workout by meditating on a section from St. Faustina’s diary and going around to pray for intentions. Jen loves that she can rely on this group of women to pray for each other anytime. “I can count on these ladies,” Jen says. “We have a text chain where we go around sometimes when someone needs prayers.” Jen says this group can really work to counteract the messages women receive from society on who they are supposed to be and what they need to do to look beautiful. “God in His greatness has given us so many gifts to bring us into communion with Him and be our best selves — who we were intended to be,” Jen says. “In order to glorify God, we come together to make ourselves stronger in mind, body and soul.”
“God in His greatness has given us so many gifts to bring us into communion with Him and be our best selves — who we were intended to be. In order to glorify God, we come together to make ourselves stronger in mind, body and soul.” — JEN OELKE All women 13 and older are welcome to join Faustina Fit by gathering at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday mornings at St. John’s Hoffman Hall. 2
