Our Formation Team

Jennifer Mars

Jenny Mars is a dedicated Catholic mother and wife with a passion for service, faith, and community. She has been married to her husband Chris Mars since 1990. She is supportive of her husband in his role as the Deacon at St. David Parish in Willow Grove. Chris and Jenny have six adult children and one precious granddaughter. Jenny and Chris have been involved in Marriage Prep through their parish and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, RCIA in their parish and are a part of the Philadelphia Marriages of Grace Team. As a devout Catholic, who is deeply committed to the values of life, love and service, she is happy to help Mission, Love and Life grow and make a lasting impact on our Community.

Bernadette Morello

My name is Bernadette Morello. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, a wife of 28 years and a mother for 25 years. I have four wonderful, young adult children. I love exploring my faith and learning more and more about it. I love meeting new people who help me to journey closer to the Lord. I love to spend time with my family and friends, cook, learn about my faith, hike, swim, most all things in nature. My challenge is to sit quietly. “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” – Proverbs 13:20

Mike & Lisann Castagno

Michael Castagno has been married to his wife, Lisann, for over 30 years, and they have three daughters. Together, he and Lisann have been presenters for marriage preparation for about 28 years and are certified natural family planning teachers. In addition to his dedication to strengthening Catholic marriages, Michael supports Lisann in her role as a mathematics educator, a career she has pursued for over 33 years at both the secondary and college levels. She is currently teaching at St. Joseph Preparatory High School, where she also moderates the Respect Life Club, reflecting their shared commitment to the pro-life cause.

John & Katie Kinuthia

John and his wife Katie will lead a mission trip to Kenya with Mission Love and Life, continuing their shared passion for spreading the Gospel. As a Catholic speaker, youth minister, teacher, and podcaster, John conveys a powerful message of awakening the saint within, cultivating a deeper personal relationship with Jesus, and trusting in His divine plan. He is the founder of Awaken the Saint Within Ministries, a Catholic speaking ministry dedicated to inspiring and challenging individuals to step out of their comfort zones and embrace the greatness for which they were created. With 12 years of experience speaking at parish missions, conferences, youth events, and retreats, John engages diverse audiences with wisdom drawn from his home country of Kenya and the teachings of his mother and grandfather. At the heart of his message is a call to holiness and confidence in God's greatness, echoing Pope Benedict’s words: “Man was created for greatness—for God himself.” John continues to deepen his personal relationship with Jesus through gratitude, prayer, the sacraments, family life, and the guidance of Mama Mary and the Saints. At home, he cherishes time with his wife and their five children, enjoying the outdoors, campfires, reading the lives of the saints, and marveling at God’s creation.

Nicky Verna

Nicky holds a Masters in Theology from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary School of Theological Studies where she attended with her husband, Tom, who is a Permanent Deacon in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. They have been married since 1994, and have four children. Nicky works as Director of the New Evangelization at St. Andrew the Apostle Church. She serves the Church as a certified leader and Regional Ambassador for SoulCore; facilitator for women’s retreats; leader and prayer intercessor for the Unbound prayer ministry; board member for AbbeyFest Ministries; and facilitator/volunteer for Hope’s Garden, a ministry which accompanies women as they come to know themselves as beloved brides through teachings, prayer, support and connection to Christ the Bridegroom. Nicky is captivated by the lives of the saints, has a deep devotion to Our Blessed Mother and is genuinely in love with Jesus.

Michelle DiEnno

Michelle is a former Prodigal, now daughter of The King; transformed by the Love and Mercy of Jesus Christ to Proclaim the Gospel of Life. Michelle is a passionate pro- life advocate and speaker dedicated to empowering young people to choose life. Raised Catholic but in rebellion during her early years, she personally experienced the profound impact of abortion and its aftermath.

Now a single mother of three and grandmother of two, she courageously shares her transformative journey of forgiveness, healing and renewed Faith to inspire others. Her compelling personal story serves as a beacon of hope, encouraging compassion, loving support, and informed choices for, men, women, and families facing unexpected pregnancies and other life circumstances.

Michelle knows the Life saving power of God's Grace to persevere in the storms of life.

" I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13

Jennifer Lindner

I have been on a faith journey my whole life. I might not have called it that when I was younger. I'm not sure I knew I was even on a journey. I recognize now, thought, that I was always curious that I was seeking something. Meaning? Purpose? Clarity? Looking back at my life, though, I can see that God was constantly calling me to Him. Through growing pains, academic pursuits, relationships, confusion, suffering, sadness, beauty, art, music— God was calling me.

I traveled many different roads in the pursuit of virtue, beauty, excellence, and truth. I studied art history and English and developed skills as a painter and writer. I attended culinary school and worked in the culinary arts as a pastry chef and food writer. I studied decorative arts and worked in museums. I wrote books, cookbooks, chefs' books, and culinary memoirs. I developed blogs about life, relationships, and raising children. Over the course of about 15 years, though, family challenges and illness drove me to the edge of my life where God asked me to trust Him in a new way and jump into His arms. There was no safety net, no discernible worldly harness that would catch me. There was only God. And that was enough.

As I learned to listen for God's voice in everything I did, as I learned to rely on the Blessed Mother's tenderness and care to intercede for me and those I love, the Lord led me not only to spiritual direction, but also to earn a certificate in spiritual direction so that I could begin walking with others through their own faith journeys. While at Divine Mercy University, I began meeting with directees in September of
2023. I earned my certificate in the spring of 2024. I continue to study and am perpetually hungry to learn more about my faith and how I can support others in their quest for Truth. Reading scripture, attending daily Mass, and saying the rosary are essential elements in my consistent walk with God. I am a student of Theology of the Body, Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, and the Avila Institute, and I attend and participate in retreats and courses offered by the Legionaries of Christ, the Dominicans, Franciscans, CFRs, and Benedictines. I live in Malvern, PA, with my husband, three children, five dogs, eight guinea pigs, and two fish.