ST. BENEDICT PARISH

Jill Conroy has been married for forty years, is a mother of two, a grandmother of four, a retired elementary school teacher, a St. Benedict parishioner, and a Salesian Cooperator.  Having grown up in a large Catholic family, surrounded by excellent models of faith, and educated in the Catholic school system,   Jill naively thought that she was ready to face whatever challenges would come in her marriage.  When those challenges came and proved to be formidable, Jill came to realize that in her sheltered youth, her faith had never been truly tested.  The challenges in marriage revealed an ugly truth:  her faith in God was feeble and her relationship with God even weaker.

A profound experience at a low point in her marriage was the beginning of Jill’s willingness to turn her life over to the care of God. Her mustard seed of faith took root when her prayer life blossomed which led to growth in Jill’s relationship with God as well as a newfound confidence in Our Lady, Help of Christians to intercede, guide and inspire her life.

Jill has come to understand that she has a story and that although it is ordinary, human, and sometimes difficult to tell, it is nonetheless a beautiful story that needs to be shared so that others who feel similarly lost and alone can come to know the great love and plan that Jesus has for them as well.  Jill’s story is her experience, strength, and hope.