We continue here our series highlighting the members of the Priests for Life Family who serve or have served on our staff and pastoral team.
Theresa Watson is one of the newest employees of Priests for Life but like many others who have worked for the ministry throughout the years, she began as a volunteer.
But her story is not so simple.
The native of Queens, New York, has lived in Merritt Island, Florida, for 17 years. After relocating to Florida, she met John Watson and married him a year later. John is Executive Director Janet Morana’s brother.
“God not only gave me a wonderful husband, but also an amazing sister.” Theresa says. “It was a divine appointment for sure!”
Theresa and John both worked at a timeshare resort in Cocoa Beach and were able to help the Priests for Life leadership team arrange planning sessions at the resort as the Titusville building was under renovation.
“I was able to meet the team on many occasions and was able to assist them as they planned their move to Florida,” Theresa explains. “I was leading my church’s Hospitality Ministry and started helping in that capacity once the headquarters in Titusville opened. My plan was to find a leader to handle the hospitality needs at Priests for Life. I expressed my desire to find someone I could train and one of the members of the Pastoral Team, Bryan Kemper, said he felt God wanted me to take the lead. So, I couldn’t say no to God and became the Hospitality Leader at PFL! I was blessed to be able to cook in the Horn of Plenty Café for the team when they visit for the Pastoral Team meetings, as well as for leadership meetings and for other visitors. One thing led to another and I am now honored and blessed to be a part of the Priests for Life team and not only lead the Hospitality Department but serve as Janet’s personal assistant. I guess I was in the right place at the right time.”
A woman of deep faith, Theresa says she is “most excited to be able to serve God each day in my workplace. How many people actually have the ability to work within a Christian organization with a mission as paramount as ‘Life’? As Jeremiah 1:5 says ‘I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.’ We as Christians have the job to educate the world so that everyone understands that life begins at conception and ends at death, which is only to be determined by God. Here at Priests for Life we get to do just that.”
Theresa’s responsibilities include assisting Janet in all of her duties, planning menus, shopping and cooking for on-sight meetings, coordinating meetings on sight and off, and assisting Father Frank Pavone as needed.
“What I find so exciting about working here is the variety of projects and tasks that I get to participate in,” she says. “There is never a boring day at Priests for Life.”
Theresa describes the work environment as one of support and team work.
“I find the staff willing to help each other and fill in where needed,” she says. “Being the new kid on the block, I have a lot of questions and everyone is always eager to assist me. I am blessed to be able to work with my sister (we don’t like to say sister-in-law) and assist her as she works endlessly for this mission of saving the babies. We all work as a family, helping each other and praying for one another and our families.”
Working for Father Frank “is a privilege and an honor,” Theresa says.
“They are both encouraging and helpful. Janet always takes the time, even as busy as she is to make sure that we all have everything we need to do our jobs and to make our work environment positive, cheery and bright. I thank God every day for the opportunity to serve Him in this capacity. I can’t help but feeling complete joy each day as I enter our beautiful headquarters here in sunny Titusville, Florida, where I get to work and serve.”