Fiat Ministries seeks to foster encounters with the Lord

By Grace E. Irion 

“God is calling you to holiness.” This is the message of Fiat Ministries, an apostolate founded in Wichita that aims to create a culture of discernment, helping to support each woman in her identity and relationship with Jesus so as to inspire her to give her “fiat.”

The ministry began more than a decade ago and has expanded ever since. At this year’s annual Feast for Fiat, Fiat Ministries was humbled to host the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, His Eminence Cardinal Christophe Pierre both for the feast and for a special Mass of Thanksgiving for Fiat families. These events marked an important milestone for Fiat and its trajectory toward reaching increasingly more women and helping them encounter the person of Jesus Christ. 

Emily Savage founded Fiat Ministries in 2013 in an effort to help strengthen vocational discernment for women. During her Feast for Fiat remarks, Savage recounted that the organization began hosting discernment retreats in 2014 to “inspire women to dive deeper in their prayer life, in their own identity as a woman, and dive deeper into their relationship with Jesus.” 

Savage cited St. Frances Xavier Cabrini’s example of stepping up to meet needs that came to her attention, and Savage has sought to do likewise. In addition to discernment retreats, Fiat Ministries has expanded to include mother/daughter events, and middle/high school retreats. At the feast, Savage told attendees that earlier this year, Jesus asked her to start the process of seeking papal approval. Therefore, the nature of Cardinal Pierre’s position made it a logical step to extend a Feast for Fiat invitation.

The U.S. Apostolic Nuncio serves as “a visible sign of [the Pope’s] care for the entire flock of the Lord,” notes the U.S. Nunciature. Nuncio means “messenger,” and an apostolic nuncio serves as a bridge between the Holy Father and that country. As such, it was an incredible honor to have such an important figure attend this event. In addition to the nuncio, both Diocese of Wichita Bishop Carl Kemme and Diocese of Salina Bishop Jerry Vincke, more than 20 priests, and representatives of seven religious communities – including 20 religious sisters as well as four superior generals – were in attendance. With more than 520 attendees, the 2025 feast was the largest yet.

Cardinal Pierre’s remarks noted his personal motto, “If you knew the gift of God” from the fourth chapter of John’s Gospel in which Jesus meets the woman at the well. In the cardinal’s words, this story is about “an encounter with Jesus that reveals to her who she is – that she is seen, known, and loved by the one who wants to make her happy.”

Cardinal Pierre went on to suggest that attendees might desire that for all the women in their lives. Reactions from other guests indicate they were moved by both the cardinal’s presence and his speech. One such attendee, Katie Reichenberger, said, “This year was extra special, being able to listen to the papal nuncio recognize the unique gift that Fiat Ministries is to our entire Catholic Church.” 

“By being involved with Fiat Ministries, you are supporting an encounter that Jesus wants to have – personally – with each girl, each young woman, each person whose happiness you desire, and whose fidelity will become a witness to others,” Cardinal Pierre said. “By your involvement in this ministry, you are serving the desire of Christ, who wants to make these young women’s lives completely part of his own.”

Whether attendees were at their first or twelfth feast, Fiat Ministries’ impact on an ever-growing population was evident. “As Fiat Ministries continues to grow by leaps and bounds, it remains steadfast in helping young women discern God’s call in their lives, reminding them at every step that they are cherished by him,” said Sr. Joseph Marie, of the Little Sisters of the Poor. “This ministry is truly a family in love with the Church, passionately devoted to sharing with every young woman the truth that she is deeply loved by God.” 

Fiat Ministries will continue to offer more opportunities for encounter with the Lord through the next year and beyond. The next discernment retreat is being offered Dec. 12-14 at the Spiritual Life Center in Bel Aire. Several mother/daughter events and middle/high school retreats, as well as additional discernment retreats, are scheduled throughout 2026. More information can be found at fiatministries.org. May we all continue to work together to serve the Lord in all things for his greater glory.

Grace Irion is a contributing writer and member of Team Fiat.