Bio

Who is Donna-Marie?

Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle is known to millions as the friendly face and soothing voice of Catholic motherhood. Her frequent appearances on radio and television, her many books, and her speaking engagements are the public face of a life devoted to seeking holiness in the context of a happy Catholic family.

She grew up in a in a large, close-knit Catholic family, married, and is raising five children. Family life has always been her first vocation. She is certainly no stranger to all of the joys and the many challenges interwoven within the sublime vocation of motherhood.

But in addition to her work as a mother, Donna-Marie has found opportunities to serve God both close to home and throughout the world. She has been a catechist for over twenty-five years at her parish and in the past, a Eucharistic minister to the sick, as well as a world-renowned journalist and author.

Where did her writing career begin? It could have possibly started in grade school, although Donna-Marie wasn’t aware at the time. One day, out of the blue, her fourth grade teacher held up a booklet which Donna-Marie created showing the class her artwork and then asked her to read her story aloud. She complied, albeit with a bit of blushing.

Later on, Donna-Marie’s decade-long friendship with Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta led to a long correspondence and meetings around the world. Following in the footsteps of Blessed Teresa, Donna-Marie became a lay Missionary of Charity and founded a branch of the lay Missionaries of Charity. Today, Donna-Marie is passionate about encouraging others to follow in the footsteps of her blessed friend, caring for the poorest of the poor.

It was Mother Teresa who constantly encouraged Donna-Marie to keep writing for mothers, women, and families, and she wrote the Foreword to Donna-Marie’s book Prayerfully Expecting: A Nine Month Novena for Mothers-To-Be, as well as back-cover endorsements for her other books. Donna-Marie was also blessed with the spiritual guidance and friendship of the late world-renowned theologian, Rev. John A. Hardon S. J.

Remembering Jesus’ request in the Gospel of Matthew that we should care for Him in others, Donna-Marie founded the “Friends of Veronica,” an outreach to the seniors, the sick, and the lonely in nursing homes and hospitals. Their goal is to bring love and comfort in imitation of St. Veronica, who lovingly gave her veil to wipe Jesus’ forehead as He walked to Calvary. Donna-Marie has founded several other apostolates and organizations.

Donna-Marie was invited by Cardinal Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity to participate in an International Congress for women at the Vatican in early 2008 to mark the twentieth anniversary of the Apostolic Letter Mulieris Dignitatem: On the Dignity and Vocation of Women penned by Pope John Paul II.

Donna-Marie has been a frequent guest on EWTN television and discusses Catholic and family and parenting issues on a regular Ave Maria Radio segment called “Mom’s Corner” at “Catholic Connection” with radio host Teresa Tomeo. She also has a regular show on Domestic Church Media with Cheryl and Jim called “A Cup of Tea With Donna-Marie!” and can be heard every first Friday at 4:14 PM EDT.

She is also an EWTN TV host. Look for Donna-Marie’s EWTN television segments called “Everyday Blessings for Catholic Moms” which will also be available on DVD from the EWTN Religious Catalogue.

She was noted as one of the the top ten most fascinating Catholics in 2009:

Faith & Family Live! : Lisa Hendey’s Most Fascinating Catholics of 2009

Donna-Marie’s books

  • Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers (Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Company, 2005)
  • The Heart of Motherhood: Finding Holiness in the Catholic Home (The Crossroad Publishing Company, 2006)
  • Prayerfully Expecting: A Nine Month Novena for Mothers-To-Be (The Crossroad Publishing Company, 2007)
  • Catholic Saints Prayer Book (Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Company, 2008)
  • The Domestic Church: Room by Room: A Mother’s Study Guide (first with Circle Press, 2008, re-released by Servant Books, 2011)
  • Grace Café: Serving Up Recipes for Faithful Mothering (Circle Press, 2008)
  • Mother Teresa and Me: Ten Years of Friendship (first by Circle Press, 2009, re-released by Our Sunday Visitor, Sept. 2011)
  • A Catholic Woman’s Book of Prayers (Our Sunday Visitor, September 2010)
  • Bringing Lent Home With Mother Teresa (Ave Maria Press, early 2012)
  • Embracing Motherhood (Servant Books, January, 2012) Audio version of the book too!

In addition to her books, Donna-Marie’s writing can be found in many Catholic magazines, newspapers, including L’Osservatore Romano (the Vatican newspaper, English Edition),  The National Catholic Register, Our Sunday Visitor Newsweekly (national), Columbia Magazine, Faith & Family magazine, Canticle Magazine, Lay Witness Magazine, and on the Internet in her many columns at CatholicMom.Com, Catholic Exchange, and Catholic Online, as well as on her website and many blogs. Donna-Marie also writes a parenting column for the “Irish Family Press,” an Irish Catholic newspaper in Ireland.

Donna-Marie’s work has been blessed with many awards and honors, including the Media Award in 2004 from the American Cancer Society. She has received the prestigious honor of Pope John Paul II’s and Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic blessings on her books and work, along with commendations from two Connecticut bishops, Bishop Lori and Archbishop Mansell. In addition to those honors, in 1988 she received a letter of commendation from Cardinal Pironio, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, as well as several letters of commendation from the Catholic clergy and letters of acknowledgement of her work from two popes. She has earned first place on a state and national level for her book: Mother Teresa and Me: Ten Years of Friendship. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta wrote a Foreword for Donna-Marie’s book: Prayerfully Expecting: A Nine Month Novena for Mothers to Be.

Keeping up with Donna-Marie

 Donna-Marie travels the country to speak about prayer, motherhood, family and women’s issues. In addition, she sometimes travels internationally to speak and give retreats.

To schedule, talks, retreats, and events, you can reach Donna-Marie through her main Web site:

http://www.donnacooperoboyle.com.

She can also be reached through email: DMCOBoyle@aol.com

Her daily inspiration can be found at her blogs:

•“Embracing Motherhood”
http://www.donnamarieembracingmotherhood.blogspot.com

•“Daily Donna-Marie: A Dose of Inspiration”
http://www.donnamariecooperoboyle.blogspot.com

•“Moments of Inspiration with Your Favorite Saints”
http://www.momentsofinspirationsaints.blogspot.com

•“View from the Domestic Church”
http://www.viewdomesticchurch.blogspot.com

All of Donna-Marie’s blogs can be accessed through her main Web site. You can also find her on Face Book and Twitter.

[Photos and text on this website are the property of Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle and are protected under copyright law. Permission must be requested and granted to use photos or text.]