Well-Read Mom Ministry
Two years ago, Sarah Duffy searched for a volunteer opportunity while St. Vincent Ferrer Parish’s Well-Read Mom ministry needed a leader. She stepped up to take the reins, not knowing that it would be an exercise in both patience and faith.
“When I first took over, it was just two of us,” Duffy recalls. “There were days I would make coffee, and no one would come, but I kept showing up. It felt like I was putting a light on my front porch, inviting others to come.” Her persistence paid off. The group has grown to six members, drawing women from nearby parishes, including Riverside and Oak Park, each bringing their unique perspective to the readings.
The Well-Read Mom movement, founded in Minnesota by Marcie Stokman, extends far beyond St. Vincent Ferrer Parish. With over 1,000 groups in the U.S. and worldwide, Well-Read Mom encourages women to read together and explore great works that examine the human condition, orienting them toward the good, the beautiful, and the true. Stokman and a committee select each year’s theme and reading list, bringing members nationwide into a shared literary journey. The Well-Read Mom seeks to make selections that ask questions like What are a human person’s most fundamental needs? How do we live in a fallen world? How do we cope with death? What gives life meaning?
This year, the theme is “The Year of the Father,” which has prompted Duffy’s group to reflect on the role of fathers and father figures in the books they read, including Peace Like a River by Leif Enger, the classic Aeneid by Virgil, and My God and My All by Elizabeth Goudge. Duffy explains, “Our members are women looking for books and discussion that highlight relationships with God, they want to really explore how some characters live their faith.”
As Duffy describes, the Well-Read Mom group’s discussions go beyond typical book club conversations. They delve into how characters’ decisions reflect their beliefs and faith, creating an open space for discussing moral dilemmas and faith. This approach profoundly impacts the members, deepening their intellectual and spiritual understanding and enriching their reading experience.
Duffy’s personal favorite was Death Comes to the Archbishop by Willa Cather, explaining, “I love the stark landscape of the Southwest where characters Jean Latour and Vicar Joseph Vaillant work to build the church. One of my favorite scenes was when Bishop Latour came upon a woman curled up at the door of the Santa Fe Cathedral - she had been enslaved and ran away that cold winter night. When asked why she was outside the locked door, she said she wanted to be as close to Christ as possible and pray. Her enslaver did not allow her to worship or pray, and she ached to be near the church.”
For Duffy, the group has also rekindled friendships from her past and fostered new connections with women she hadn’t previously known. “Many of us have kids who are grown now, some with families of their own,” she says. “It’s been wonderful to reconnect and to discuss these meaningful works together. If I am going to read a book, I want to be able to grow from it.” The group has even become a source of inspiration and solace for members like one recent transplant to Chicago who, after praying to meet supportive Catholic women, found her way to Duffy’s group. “I was about to give up on the ministry,” Duffy admits. “Then I got her call. She really needed a group, which encouraged me to keep going.”
Through Well-Read Mom, Duffy has found both personal growth and a way to serve her parish community after overcoming a serious illness. “For five years, I was out of the loop, going through cancer treatments,” she says. “Now, I’m healthy and grateful. I can’t waste this time. I may not be able to end hunger, but I can do small things in my parish.” Beyond leading Well-Read Mom, Duffy serves as a catechesis shepherd and lector. “My illness strengthened my relationship with God, and connecting with others in this way deepens my faith. Faith grows through relationships; in this group, you learn from others and find true friendship.”
Duffy’s advice to women interested in starting or joining a Well-Read Mom group? “Be patient with yourself and others, and don’t give up,” she says. Twice, her group nearly dissolved, but she learned that persistence matters. She says, “Even when no one shows up, the act of what you’re doing is important.” This commitment to shared learning and spiritual growth continues to be transformative for Duffy and the women of her Well-Read Mom group.
