MISSION
Fidelis forms girls — heart, mind, body, and soul — into a sisterhood of mature, virtuous disciples of Christ through the witness of Catholic women.
Who We Are
Fidelis is a parish sponsored multigenerational program inviting girls in grades 6-12 into sisterhood with women, young and old, leading each other to Christ. With our 'yes' to God we use intentional, virtuous and feminine means to form girls into women who can proclaim with confidence to God, "Paratum cor meum Deus, my heart is ready , O God, my heart is ready."
What We Do
With the intent on capturing the heart of a young woman, Fidelis uses movie clips, activities, and games to teach virtue, all in the context of mentorship and sisterhood. Fidelis draws girls into the heart of the Church by connecting discussions on virtue to the Sunday Mass readings. These lessons come to life during weekly meetings, seasonal outings, and an annual Inspire trip where chapters from around the country gather.
Why We Do It
Fidelis invites women into a virtuous life through personal prayer, participation in the Sacraments, and meaningful involvement with their parish. As women grow in holiness, the Holy Spirit compels them to pass this on to the next generation. Fidelis forms young women not only by teaching about virtue but also by presenting living models of discipleship.
LEADING A CHAPTER
Understanding that many women are eager to help but are restricted
by time and inexperience, Fidelis provides all the resources to equip
a team of women to build a Sisterhood of Disciples.
Fidelis walks with you through the initial discernment, recruitment, training, and launch phase to ensure your success.
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Fidelis provides all program content, training, continual support, online workshops, and access to a host of online resources.
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Fidelis connects volunteers across the country to learn from the experience and wisdom of other women.
The goal is to provide a top-quality program for the girls while catering to the schedule of busy moms and working women. These resources don't just ask women to coordinate events but also challenges them to live out a fuller sisterhood amongst themselves into which they can invite the girls.
CURRENT CHAPTERS
FLORIDA
NORTH CAROLINA
SOUTH
CAROLINA
TENNESSEE
FOR THE BOYS
Check out our brother ministry, Fraternus! Many parishes have
both a Fraternus chapter for boys and a Fidelis chapter for girls.
STAFF
STAFF
PRISCILLA
MCKINNEY
Executive Director
Priscilla was raised in a typical Catholic household, going to Mass each Sunday and attending Catholic schools including an all girls Catholic high school. Her mother and grandmother were always great examples of strong women, dedicating their lives to serving both the Church and their families. Priscilla joined the Navy out of high school and spent six years in the Nuclear Field. On board the USS Abraham Lincoln, Priscilla learned what it meant to make her faith her own. She left on deployment a nominal Catholic and returned in love with her Lord, Jesus Christ and his Mother.
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After her enlistment Priscilla felt called to pursue a life of ministry. She received a Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies from the Center of Ministry Development and a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from the University of Dallas, School of Ministry. Prior to joining Fidelis National she started a Fidelis Chapter at Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Bremerton, WA.
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Priscilla and her husband, John, have 4 boys and 2 girls. They reside in Knoxville, TN and attend Holy Ghost Catholic Church, where they help to lead their local Fraternus and Fidelis Chapters.
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For general questions or to start a new chapter contact Priscilla@fidelisonline.org
Raised in an Assemblies of God faith background, Destiny attended Sunday school and youth group each week and came to know the Lord at a young age. Now a passionate Catholic convert, Destiny enjoys reading about the saints and meditating on the Holy Rosary.
Destiny attended Colorado State University-Pueblo where she studied a B.A. and M.A. in English, professional writing, and education. After graduation, Destiny served as the communications coordinator for the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce and went on to teach English in grades 6-11 before answering the call to ministry.
Destiny and her husband, Jose, have two beautiful little boys and are parishioners of the Shrine of Saint Therese Catholic Church in Pueblo, Colorado, their hometown.
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For program or content questions contact program@fidelisonline.org
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DESTINY CAMPA
MEZA
Program Director
Nikki is currently living in Grand Rapids, Michigan near family where she was born and raised. Before she returned to Michigan, Nikki spent 15 years in the Nashville, Tennessee area and 12 years before that in Tampa, Florida where she attended the University of South Florida. She was raised in a Catholic household where she found her love of devoting her time to the Church from her grandmother.
She has been involved with religious education, youth groups, the Women's Group, and anything else she felt called to help with including making mac and cheese for the Lenten Fish Fry's. Nikki is a mother of two girls, Sydney and Martha, who are her pride and joy!
She enjoys doing anything and everything outside from ice skating, laying on the beach, to hiking with her two dogs, Sadie and Toby.
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For accounting or registration questions contact accounting@fidelisonline.org
NIKKI JAENT
Director of Finance & Operations
Betsy, daughter of the King, wife to Craig, and mom to Curtis and Henry, joins us from Huntersville, NC. Betsy has been a part of the Fidelis Sisterhood since 2016. Betsy has been a Lead Lady, a Lady Mentor, a Ceremonies P.A.L. and Communications P.A.L. in her local chapter, before joining the National Team in October 2020.
When she's not training mentors or helping chapters with Bosco events, Betsy coaches women in living the integrated life through ordered wellness practices and currently leads Instructor Training for Pietra Fitness, where she trains instructors from all over the world. You can find her coaching website here: https://www.integratedcatholicwoman.com/
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For mentorship help or to plan a Bosco event contact mentorship@fidelisonline.org / bosco@fraternus.net
BETSY HOYT​
Mentor Development
SHEA NOWICKI​
Media Associate
Shea Nowicki is a senior at Benedictine College, where she studies Theology, Education and Psychology. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Shea's heart was sparked to a love of women's ministry during her four years at an all-girls Catholic high school. She loves the idea of a Church of fully alive women, deeply convicted of their belovedness!
When she's not posting on Fidelis' Instagram account, Shea enjoys reading poetry, drinking iced lattes at the on-campus coffee shop, and going on long "heart to heart" chat walks with friends.
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Contact Shea at media@fidelisonline.org.
Mary Paul Forsyth, a retired mother and grandmother, lives in Charlotte, NC. She joined the St. Mark Fidelis chapter in 2019. Mary Paul graduated from the University of Tennessee and spent most of her professional life in the banking industry in various roles. After the birth of her youngest child, she began a new career as the event manager for MiraVia, a residential maternity and outreach organization. She has been actively volunteering in her diocese for more than 20 years.
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For Inspire questions, contact inspire@fidelisonline.org.
MARY PAUL
FORSYTH​
Inspire & Fiat Camp Coordinator
MARY PAUL
FORSYTH​
Inspire & Fiat Camp Coordinator
Ruth Rivaldi is a wife and mother of one boy and two daughters. Ruth has been a lead lady and
a mentor at the Fidelis chapter at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Bremerton, Washington since
2019. Ruth graduated from Tulane University and was a CPA and audit manager for ten years.
Ruth currently volunteers extensively in her parish and children’s Catholic schools. She has led
both the school parents’ group and organized the annual school fundraising gala. She enjoys
watching her kids play soccer and high school volleyball and feels blessed to be able to help
young women grow in their Catholic faith.
RUTH
RIVALDI​
Washington Inspire Camp Coordinator
RUTH
RIVALDI​
Washington
Inspire Camp Coordinator
JESS EVITT​
Development Assistant
Jessica is a wife and mother of two young boys in Upstate South Carolina. She works from home for our brother organization Fraternus, as well as Fidelis. She enjoys the simple pleasures in life: family, food, and God’s beautiful creation, and her awesome church family. She counts it a true blessing to work for organizations like, Fraternus and Fidelis, that are seeking to glorify and honor God.
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For donation questions contact development@fidelisonline.org
GUEST WRITERS
JULIANNE
KOS
Guest Content Writer
JESSAMYN ANDERSON FRAIN
Guest Content Writer
CAROLINA
DUPONT
Guest Content Writer
LUCY
FERNANDES
Guest Content Writer
KATE
KIRSTEIN
Guest Content Writer
MARY MARGARET
LEWIS
Guest Content Writer
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PATTI DEFFENDAL
Board Chair
Patti graduated from Vanderbilt University. She completed a Master's in Linguistics from LSU and a Master's in Moral Theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary in 2020. She initiated both the Fraternus Chapter and the Fidelis Chapter at her parish, Our Lady of the Lake in Hendersonville, TN. She is a mother of 2 and has been married to Mark since 1983. She is an original member of the Fidelis National Board.
Dianne and her husband Tom are members of St. Mark in Huntersville, NC. They have been involved in youth ministry since the inception of the parish. Dianne helped establish the St. Mark Fidelis chapter in 2015 and served as the first Lead Lady. Fidelis is at the very heart of her current service to her parish and community. She stepped out in faith and has never looked back.
DIANE RIDER
Board Secretary
Kaitlyn is a senior accounting analyst for Carrier Corporation in Charlotte, NC. She grew up in the Lake Norman area attending and participating in the LifeTeen program at St. Mark Catholic Church, where she is now a Fidelis Lady. Kaitlyn got her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she met her now-husband, Justin.
In her free time, Kaitlyn enjoys hiking with her husband and her dogs, Joker and Quinn, powerlifting, and reading.
KAITLYN COBB
Board Treasurer
LINDA LANDRIGAN
Member at Large
Linda is a wife, mother of 7, and grandmother of 28. She and her husband Dan reside in Fort Wayne, IN where she is currently a Fidelis Lead Lady at their parish,St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. She previously taught CCD for over 20 years and served as DRE for 5 years at a previous parish.
LINDA LANDRIGAN
Board Member at Large
Nicole is passionate about the formation of young women and worked in classical high schools for nearly decade as an assistant headmaster and guidance counselor. She is currently a licensed associate marriage and family therapist, and also works as nonprofit business consultant in talent development and fundraising. She lives in downtown Phoenix.
NICOLE RIZKALLAH
Board Member at Large
MIRIAM BARRY
Guest Content Writer
MICHAELA ZIEGLER
Guest Content Writer
MICHAELA REYES
Guest Content Writer
LAURIE BARCLAY
Guest Content Writer
FIDELIS CHAPLAIN
Father Joshua Johnson is priest of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. He serves as the Parish Priest at St. Edmund Campion Catholic Church in Flat Rock, North Carolina. Previous to becoming Catholic, he was a United Methodist Minister. Married with six children, he received special permission from the Vatican to be ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood as a married man. Before entering priestly formation, Fr. Johnson worked for Fraternus, assisted in the founding of Fidelis and worked in Catholic parishes.
FATHER
JOSHUA JOHNSON
Fidelis Chaplain
