WINGS History

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The original WINGS program began in January 1987 in a southern California parish by a group of Catholic women who had just experienced the faith-enriching benefits of a RENEW program. The formation of the WINGS program was the result of their renewed faith.

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WINGS arrived in the Archdiocese of Boston in the spring of 2000. The first group began at St. Mary’s parish in Holliston, when Jennifer Schiller, a member of the southern California program for 3 years, moved home to Massachusetts with her family. She felt God calling her to start this enriching program in her new parish because it had been such a spiritually positive experience in her own faith life. 

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After months of planning and with the approval and support of St. Mary’s Pastor Reverend William Haley, who now prays for the group from heaven, many women of all ages attended the original St. Mary’s WINGS group. Then women from other parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston heard about the group and became interested, thus several new groups started in neighboring parishes. Over the years, there have been about twelve WINGS groups in the Archdiocese of Boston. Jennifer continues to assist women throughout the country who wish to start a WINGS program at their parish. If you are interested, contact Jennifer to learn more about this spiritually enriching ministry.

 

Membership in the WINGS group differs from that of other women’s prayer groups, as WINGS welcomes women of all ages who want to grow in their relationship with God and each other. WINGS welcomes women in all life situations; women who are working, at-home, or retired. In other words, WINGS is for every woman, no matter her age or life stage, seeking to deepen her faith in community with others from her parish or cluster. The integration of all age groups is one of the most powerful aspects of the program, and leads to many spiritually nourishing experiences for its members.