Born in Lancaster, England, Edwina Gateley's educational experiences have awarded her a Teacher's Degree from England, a Masters in Theology from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and certification as an HIV counselor in the State of Illinois.
From 1981 to 1982, Edwina lived for nine months in prayer and solitude in a hermitage in Illinois. In 1983, she spent over a year on the streets of Chicago, walking with the homeless and women involved in prostitution. Within these two experiences were the seeds of her ministry that would be realized in 1983 when she founded a house of hospitality and nurturing for women involved in prostitution.
Edwina's work and ministry have been publically commended by numerous groups and individuals, including the Governor of the State of Illionis, the Mayor of Chicago, the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, and the former President of the United States, Bill Clinton.
Imagine what it was like a little more than 30 years ago to be a layperson who wanted to be a missionary. Your choices were pretty much limited to becoming a priest or minister, a religious sister or a brother. While many people felt the call to mission, they didn't always feel called to one of these other ministries.
This was exactly the situation that led Edwina Gateley to found the Volunteer Missionary Movement in 1969. Out of her own mission experience in Africa, following the Gospel, she set out to build a community of Christians committed to justice for all peoples. Since 1969, more than 1,700 women and men have provided this witness in 26 countries on five continents.
Click here to visit Edwina's website.
Edwina is an accomplished author and has published numerous books and C.D's. To view and/or purchase her publications, please click here.
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| Read Tuesdays Reflection
Tuesday is the VMM traditional day of prayer. Each week, a reflection is written by Cecily Mills, who served three years in Chahel, Guatemala.
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