Introducing the 2011 Magdalene Graduates

Last week, we celebrated the graduation of seven incredible women from the two-year Magdalene program. We are so proud of each of these ladies and are blessed to be a part of their journey.

Introducing the 2011 Magdalene Graduates:

Chassidy Nowlin

LaTasha King

Tracey Mahrs

Sonya Page

Margaret (Penny) Hall

Not pictured (but with us in spirit!):

Starla Heck

Demetria Prince

We are especially grateful to our friends at St. Bartholomew's for their beautiful spread of food and all of the families and friends who came to celebrate with us.

And we leave you with a prayer from Magdalene founder, Becca Stevens:

Our hearts are full at every Magdalene graduation. They are full of joy for all the graduates, full of prayers for women still suffering on the streets and in the jails, and full of thanksgiving for all those who helped bring this day into fruition. Our hearts our sated today with pride for the seven women who have completed the two year program. They are an unbelievable class of women. Graduation seems like it only take a moment, to walk down the aisle and shake a hand. But it comes from the same root word as gradual. Graduation is a slow process. It is a walk not a run, and there are no short cuts to the aisle. Graduation is the slow miracle of new life taking root and blossoming through seasons and hard work. When we are busy, doing what we are called to do, graduation comes before we know it. And then when its over, we head out back into the world to work in love to help others graduate. This is a beautiful day in the life of Magdalene and in the lives of all the graduates. Our hearts are truly full.

For more photos from the love-filled day, check out our Facebook album HERE.