Women Of Hope – 2025

Jeannine Peters is a certified Spiritual Director. She received her Certificate through Divine Mercy University. She is also certified in Theology of the Body through the Theology of the Body Institute and is trained in Unbound Healing Prayer through Heart of the Father Ministries. She holds an MA in Religion and Religious Education from Providence College and an MA in Theology from the Catholic University of America.

In addition to her spiritual direction practice, Jeannine is a Spiritual Director on courses at the Theology of the Body Institute as well as a Residency Facilitator for the Spiritual Direction Certificate Program at Divine Mercy University. She is a former Member of the Theology of the Body Institute’s Board of Directors from 2013-2018 and is currently the Acting Chair of the Theology of the Body Foundation’s Board of Directors.

She leads retreats for women, speaks on faith related topics, and is a contributing author to various books and websites on topics ranging from adoption, faith, prayer, and Theology of the Body.

Jeannine resides in Devon, PA with her husband, Michael, and their two teenage daughters. She and her family served as a Foster Family through Chester County Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

Nicky Verna is a Catholic wife of 30 years to her Deacon husband, Tom, and mother to their 4 young adult children. She entered into the fullness of the Catholic faith in 1992, holds a Masters degree in Theology from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary’s School of Theological Studies and is currently Director of the New Evangelization at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Drexel Hill. Nicky has served the Church as a substitute teacher for area Catholic schools, a prayer intercessor and leader for Unbound, a board member for AbbeyFest Ministries and has served on the planning committee for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Catholic Women’s Conference. Nicky is also a leader and regional ambassador for SoulCore, a Marian prayer apostolate which combines movement, core strengthening and functional exercises with the prayers of the Rosary. She is genuinely in love with Christ.

Sister Sheila is a Professor of Theology at Immaculata University. She has been teaching at Immaculata since 1990 and has also held courses at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. Her studies include extensive research on C.S. Lewis and Pope John Paul II, both of whom she examines in a literary and theological context. She also studies the theological basis of forgiveness. Her volunteer experiences include the Villanova Consortium for Mission Effectiveness, the Pastoral Council of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Generation Life and serving as Immaculata University’s “Macs Respect Life” Club moderator.

Led to Jesus through Our Blessed Mother, Mary Bea is a passionate Catholic Evangelist, with a deep love for the Eucharist, Our Lady, and for our one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Her witness is one of giving her continuous ‘Yes’ at the calling of Our Lord – in the workplace, in the family and in the world. Most recently, she responded to the Lord’s whisper to create a place of Eucharistic Encounter for the youth at Malvern Retreat House, building upon the life and work of Blessed Carlo Acutis – and the challenge to become the saints we were created to be.

Mary Bea is the President of Vovéo Marketing Group, a full service B2B Marketing Agency which she founded in January of 1995.  A graduate of St. Joseph’s University, Mary Bea has served on the Haub School of Business Marketing Advisory Board, and is an active member of the Malvern Retreat House Board, as well as the St. Patrick School Board. She serves on the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Eucharistic Revival Committee, and is an active member of St. Patrick Parish Malvern. Through her business, Mary Bea has worked to assist many Catholic Non-Profit organizations – such as World Meeting of Families, Miraculous Medal Shrine, and National Centre for Padre Pio.

She has been a retreatant at Malvern since 2018, and has attended nearly 30 retreats.