Mary is grateful for the many wonderful people who have enriched her life and ministry. 

"As Mary enriches our lives through her presentations, she shares her enthusiasm. She is a dynamic presenter, personable and fun as she speaks of faith with real life."  
Sister Jeanine Kuhn, PBVM, Director, American Martyrs Retreat House, Cedar Falls, IA

"Mary's passion for the Lord exudes from her very being. Whenever I hear her speak, the Spirit becomes more palpable in the world.  Mary's words allow me to see God's presence in even the most everyday aspects of life. She awakens my imagination to see how God is at work not only in naturally joy-filled times but also in the valleys of life. Through her guidance, the students with whom  I work become alive in Christ and yearn to grow closer to him. She helps us all mine for the gems in our faith life."     
Anastasia Nicklaus Schmelzer, Director of Liturgy/Music, St. Stephen the Witness Catholic Student Center, Cedar Falls, IA

"The women of St Frances Cabrini Parish in Spring Hill, Fl had their first “Daughters of God’ retreat in January, 2008. We chose 'Courageous Faith, Courageous Women' as our theme. This was to be our first retreat for women, put on by women and we needed a dynamic woman to lead it. 

We were blessed to have a connection to Mary Pedersen who brought boundless enthusiasm, love, humor and grace to our experience. Mary is a biblical scholar and she made the Saints and Women of the Bible come alive. Through her words, spoken in faith and knowledge each of us fell in love with Jesus all over again. As she spoke of the women at the foot of the cross there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

Mary epitomized our theme, she is a courageous faith filled woman. Those who attended continue to speak of her and their retreat experience with awe. We now have two hundred participants at our annual retreat and we look forward to Mary’s return as our retreat speaker."    
Rita Burbridge, Women’s Faith Enrichment Team, Co-Coordinator
Cindy Chase, Director of Faith Formation
St Frances Cabrini Parish, Spring Hill, Florida 34609

Mary Pedersen is a dynamic faith-filled Catholic lay woman who captivates and inspires parish communities through her preaching and her love of the Word. Mary is deeply rooted in the contemplative dimension of the Gospel that springs forth to life when she preaches at parish missions. Her preaching is fueled by her simply sitting with the Lord in the silence of her heart. It is in the silence that the Word becomes flesh moved by the Holy Spirit. I have been blessed to see and hear Mary preach a parish mission on Stewardship at Our Lady of the Black Hills in Piedmont, SD. Her presence was well received, challenging the parish community to develop and live the gifts of our Catholic faith, to be the Body of Christ for others.
Fr. Marl McCormick
Pastor of St. John the Evangelist, Fort Pierre SD