I left the corporate world in 2013. At that time, I had achieved everything I set out to accomplish in my career, but I felt empty inside.
Dear John, I left the corporate world in 2013. At that time, I had achieved everything I set out to accomplish in my career, but I felt empty inside, especially when it came to my purpose. Through God’s grace—and not unlike Francis when he was captured in battle—I finally surrendered after nearly 25 years in the for-profit world. That surrender led to the gift of finding a few close, beautiful friends and joining a cool parish and spiritual community. That’s when the true transformation began. Hi, I am Christine Shea. I lead marketing and new product innovation here at Franciscan Media. My transformation gained some real traction two Septembers ago when I went on a trip to Assisi. It was a rare experience—something between a historical trip and an immersive retreat. I had always appreciated Saints Francis and Clare, but that trip gave me an even deeper appreciation for their faith and courage. Their inspiration fed my own desire to make a real difference. A short time after returning to the US, the leader of the trip introduced me to Franciscan Media’s president, Kelly McCracken. That amazingly led to an invitation by Kelly to join the Franciscan Media team. When I met Kelly, I really wasn’t looking to change my situation, but I did have it tucked in the back of my head that I had "one more major gig" in me. I was convinced that her invitation was literally a message from God, inviting me to step in and help the mission. A year and a half later, I am so grateful for that invitation. The team here at Franciscan Media is simply amazing and our offerings really do touch people and change lives! The journey of learning while teaching, giving while receiving, growing while leading is mutually fulfilling. Most significantly, working at Franciscan Media provides endless opportunities to, in my own way, become a tiny version of what Francis and Clare were in their lifetime, further fueling my spiritual transformation that kicked off nearly a decade ago. Every day is an invitation to transform. Today, I invite you to help continue the transformation of Franciscan Media by donating today. | Christine Shea Franciscan Media Chief Marketing Officer | |