Sr. Ann Shields, SGL, recently retired from her radio program and podcast Food for the Journey. Below, we’ve shared some expressions of gratitude written by her many supporters. First is a brief reflection (edited for length) shared by Jess Maciborski, director of media and marketing for Encounter Ministries, at a reception Ave Maria Radio hosted in honor of the recording of Sr. Ann Shield’s final episode.

A Life Forever Changed

By Jess Maciborski

In 2010, my family had fallen apart. I had been away from the Church for ten years, since I was a little kid. I was struggling with depression and addiction. I didn’t know the Lord at all. And I was really, really at rock bottom. As I was flipping through the radio stations, and Sr. Ann’s voice came on, she started speaking directly into all my struggles and pains. I wondered, “Who is this and how does she know my life?”

I started listening to her program every day for six months, because I was curious. She talked about the Lord like she knew Him, and I’d never experienced that before. She had joy, and I was curious. I wanted to know what she knew.

After about six months of listening to the program, I was getting ready for work in the morning, and Sr. Ann said, “Maybe you’ve been listening to this program for a while, but you haven’t changed your life yet. If that’s you, I want to invite you to pray right now.”

I got on my knees—because I knew she was talking to me—and she said, “Lord, maybe I don’t even want to know You. But can You give me a desire to search for You?”

Within one year, my addictions were gone. My entire life had changed. I gave my entire life to Jesus. I wanted to be consecrated to Him, and I’ve never looked back. Jesus is everything.

Sr. Ann was there on some of the most difficult days in my journey. It seemed like sometimes the Lord allowed me to experience struggles in my life based on what she was going to talk about that day. What struck me the most was that if I was struggling with something, or I needed a grace, she would say, “Just ask Him, brothers and sisters, just ask Him. Our Father is good. He will give it to you.”

I didn’t know you could pray like that. Sister Ann Shields taught me how to pray. She taught me that the Father is good. She taught me that He has a plan for our lives and his mercy is endless.

I am grateful to her for that moment of turning to Jesus and giving my life to Him. Every time I kneel before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, I thank Him for Sr. Ann’s yes and for coming after me.

More Expressions of Gratitude

Below is a small sample of the many letters written to Sr. Ann over the years in gratitude for Food for the Journey.

“I’ve been listening to your program for several months and wanted to let you know what a difference you have made! I heard you say time and time again, ‘Go to confession.’ Well, after a lapse of thirty-six years, I went to confession, and I can’t tell you how wonderful it was! I plan to go regularly from now on.

I also heard you say, ‘Don’t swear or take the Lord’s name in vain.’ I realized I was letting that slip into my speech and thought, ‘Yes, He does hear everything I say!’ I told that to my two grown children, and they have also taken it to heart. My son recently said, ‘My language is a lot less colorful, but I definitely feel better about it.’

“Thank you for your wonderful words! I feel like you are talking directly to me! You’ve made such a difference in my life!”

. . . . .

“Your food for my journey has been most fulfilling, and I cannot describe how much you mean to me. Your instructions do work. Daily meditation and time alone with the Lord over time rewire the mind, strengthen faith, and increase love and joy. Life’s challenges don’t go away, but there is a larger capacity to endure and move forward with confidence, knowing He is with you always. I find your teaching inspirational, instructional, and practical. I think about what you say throughout my day. I look up and read the bible verses you suggest and often refer others to your website.

“I have been listening to you for so many years and many of those years were before my conversion and baptism. At one point, I changed my work schedule so I could listen to your explanation of the daily reading on my way to work. Later, I found out I could listen to you online, so you were with me on many deployments to the Middle East and Afghanistan.

“You have been a spiritual mother to me, and I can say you have saved my life—indeed, my soul. Your words and teachings led to my conversion and baptism.
Your gentle voice and wisdom are being heard loud and clear around the globe, and your mission has succeeded in bringing at least my soul to Christ. I am a convert from Islam.”

. . . . .

“I have been away from the Church for over fifty years and by the grace of the Holy Spirit have returned. Thank you for your inspiration in my journey home to God.”

. . . . .

“Recently, a friend of mine found himself in dark times. A few weeks ago, we met to catch up on things. He asked if I listened to Catholic radio, and I said no. He then suggested that I do. His face lit up when he began to talk about you. He was so certain that every segment was for him and (said your words were always) exactly what he needed to hear.

“The next morning, I tuned in and felt exactly what he meant. What a wonderful feeling to know that God is just and so merciful that He will forgive us and then guide us. I have been listening to you ever since. I even found you on Spotify. I listen to and from work and every chance I get. It fills my soul with such joy.”

. . . . .

“Your show has inspired me to be a better child of God and encouraged me to depend on God more and have a closer relationship with Him.”

. . . . .

“Your voice is being used by God to help awaken and inspire many of us to the truth and beauty of Scripture. Thank you for your efforts and willingness
to come back after a stroke.”

. . . . .

“Your program is food for my journey. I have listened to you regularly for over five years. It is how I start every morning during my drive to work. You are like a spiritual director. You often mention a simple prayer or idea to focus on that really helps me. I am an engineer surrounded during work hours by baptized Catholics who have turned away from God. It is not a highly spiritualized environment. I am nowhere near being a saint, but your words encourage me and help me on my path to becoming closer to being a saint.”

. . . . .

“I started listening to your program by accident a few years ago during my drive to work. Many times throughout my day, I would try to recall something from the readings or some piece of wisdom that you shared. Finally, I decided to wake up early and listen with my Bible and a journal. Now I have many journals filled with wisdom from the readings and your commentary. I am filled with gratitude for your work. I recently heard someone say, ‘When I die, Jesus will ask me two questions: Do I know you? And, who did you bring? You are helping me with both questions, and I am so thankful!”

. . . . .

Isaiah 66

By Pete Burak, Renewal Ministries Vice President

“Early in my time working for Renewal Ministries, I learned the value of randomly popping into Sr. Ann’s office for a chat. Inevitably, I’d leave wiser, inspired, challenged, and eager to love the Lord more fully. On one such occasion, I felt inspired to ask her a simple question, “Sister Ann, what’s your favorite bible verse?” The revered and beloved host of Food for the Journey thought quietly for a second and responded, “Isaiah 66, the second half of verse two.” Then, with her characteristic twinkle in her eye, she added, “I’ll let you look it up.”

“It says, ‘But this is the man to whom I will look, he that is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.’

“For decades, Sr. Ann faithfully and humbly trembled at the Word of God. She believed what she was reading, and she believed we should too! Sr. Ann knows Jesus, in large part because she knows his Word. While there will be no new episodes of Food For the Journey moving forward, Sr. Ann will forever encourage us to be nourished by the living sustenance that is the Sacred Scriptures . . . and I’m so grateful.”

. . . . .

Food for the Journey’s archives will remain available on our website or wherever you listen to podcasts.

This article originally appeared in Renewal Ministries February 2025 newsletter.