Maureen O'Brien

Maureen O'Brien

Maureen O'Brien is the author of two spiritual memoirs from Franciscan Media, What Was Lost: Seeking Refuge in the Psalms and Gather the Fragments: My Year of Finding God's Love. She lives in Connecticut, and travels throughout New York and New England presenting faith-based workshops built upon the themes within her books — especially finding wonder and hope in a broken world. She welcomes engaging with readers and can be found at maureenobrienwriter.com. 

By this Author

The reliquary of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, the 17th-century French nun who received visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is pictured on display at the Parish of St. Catherine of Siena in Trumbull, Connecticut in September 2026. (Maureen O'Brien)

My visit with the relics of the 'Sacred Heart' nun felt like a divine encounter

Maureen O'Brien describes her experience of praying with the relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.

Jelly Roll performs during a concert in St. Peter's Square for the conclusion of the World Meeting on Human Fraternity at the Vatican, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP/Gregorio Borgia)

Jelly Roll's Vatican performance offers hope to those impacted by addiction

Jelly Roll's growing, worldwide fanbase is populated with people like me: ordinary, struggling people whose lives have been impacted by addiction. His returning to, and offering of, light is why we seek out his music.

"Visitation," circa 1433-34 painting by Fra Angelico (Wikimedia Commons/Sailko)

Fra Angelico's 'Visitation' shines a light on a daughter and her aging mother

Maureen O'Brien didn't expect Fra Angelico's "Visitation" to lead to her acceptance of her mother's dementia. But in an intimate mother-daughter moment, the painting gave her strength and peace when she needed it most.

St. Teresa of Kolkata is seen in this undated photo. (CNS/Courtesy MotherTeresaMovie.com)

Encountering Mother Teresa through one woman's journey to love

Maureen O'Brien often prays with the words of Mother Teresa, "Do not let the past disturb you, just leave everything in the Sacred Heart and begin again with joy." But ever since one chance encounter, the words have taken on new meaning.

The "Do This in Memory of Me" exhibition runs through Aug. 25 at the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center in New Haven, Connecticut. Selected works will be shown at the Sacred Art Institute booth at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis July 17-21. (Dan DeLouise)

Contemporary art feeds hunger for sacred in 'Do This in Memory of Me' exhibit

More than 100 contemporary visual pieces were selected from all over the U.S. for the National Eucharistic Sacred Art Exhibit, "Do This in Memory of Me," which will be featured at the National Eucharistic Congress.

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