Short Bio
Mary is currently a Coach and Team Leader with the Missionary Strategic Planning Department at the Archdiocese of Detroit, providing pastors and parishes a “transition plan to mission.” After serving 12 years in various pastoral positions at St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Lake Orion Michigan, she started Mary Martin Consulting offering spiritual direction and leadership retreats. Mary continues her part time work as a teacher for Called and Gifted, Spiritual Gifts Discernment Process with the Catherine of Siena Institute and is a Board Members for Mary's Mantle, A Catholic Home for Pregnant Mothers. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Studies, (MAPS) from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit Michigan. A trained Spiritual Director, she encourages people and parishes to become all that God calls them to be. Enjoying all the seasons of Michigan, this mother of two, (and grandmother of 2) spends time traveling, cooking and transforming sacred spaces.
diocesan leadership
As a Coach and Team Leader, Mary supervises a team of missionaries in the Northeast Region of The Archdiocese of Detroit. These teams guide parishes to be ‘on mission’ to help every person in their parish boundaries, encounter Jesus anew, grow as his disciples and witness to his love and mercy. This includes equipping parishes with healthy leadership teams, providing intercessory prayer training and developing a dynamic strategic plan through a process of study and discernment.
In preparation for Synod 16 on the New Evangelization with the Archdiocese of Detroit, Mary served as a volunteer member of the Prayer and Intercession Team, offering prayer support to leadership and developing a training program for Prayer and Intercession Teams in parishes.
Pastoral Leadership
While at St. Joseph Parish Mary and a team of volunteers, led the parish through a five-year pastoral planning process, including goal setting, progress reports and ministry improvement training. She and other leaders in the vicariate created Catholic 2 Catholic, a small group process to form parishioners who want to live their Catholic faith as intentional disciples.
Non Profit
Mary worked at Guest House, an Addiction and Recovery Facility for Catholic Priests and Religious Men and Women as the Director of the National Catholic Council on Addictions (NCCA) offering an educational forum providing support and programming for Catholics in Crisis.
For a decade, she served on the board of Catholic Social Services of Oakland County.
As the current Board Secretary at Mary’s Mantle, a Catholic Home for Expectant Mothers, she assists with long term strategic planning.
Spiritual Gifts work
As a National Teacher with the Catherine of Siena Institute, Mary teaches Called and Gifted, a process of spiritual gifts discernment and provides local team training and coordination.
Mary Martin Consulting provides spiritual direction and leadership retreat work in and around the Detroit area.