The Power of Mothers

Tammy Marino of Unbound reflects on the quiet strength and faith of mothers. 

Many of us view the month of May as a time to reflect on motherhood. We remember our mothers and other maternal figures who helped to shape the people we’ve become. We consider ourselves as mothers — what we have done well, and what we can improve upon. We wonder how our children will one day reflect on our mothering. And Catholic moms, especially, often think about the ultimate role model and Blessed Mother, Mary.  

As the recently deceased Pope Francis stated in 2015:

A society without mothers would be a dehumanized society, for mothers are always, even in the worst moments, witnesses of tenderness, dedication and moral strength. Without mothers, not only would there be no new faithful, but the faith would lose a good part of its simple and profound warmth. 

Throughout the organization’s history, Unbound has been inspired by and focused largely on moms and their journeys out of poverty with their families. Like Mary, the women Unbound walks with exemplify resilience, strength, courage and faith in the face of obstacles. And they have a steadfast focus on their children’s well-being.   

Strength, Warmth, and Faith

Maria is a mom of three adult children living in El Salvador. When she was younger, despite dreams of becoming a nurse, Maria had to leave school after the sixth grade to begin providing childcare to help support her family. At age 16 Maria married Felix, who works four days a week in San Salvador as a security guard to provide for their family.  

About eight years ago, Maria’s family became part of the Unbound community when her youngest son, Carlos, was sponsored. The family was able to use the Unbound support to send Carlos to school and build him a safe and dry bedroom in their home.  

But Maria always felt called to help others, so she and another woman in the community became leaders of an Unbound mothers group called “Blessed Mothers of Divine Mercy.” As a group leader, Maria was able to spearhead an Agents of Change initiative for a water tank for their community, to ensure people would have access to clean and safe drinking water. 

While Maria knows that Unbound, with support from generous sponsors and donors, was key in providing access to her son’s education and her community’s drinking water, she also believes none of it would be possible without God. 

“I thank God and [the Unbound community] for opening those doors for us because with the help they give us, we get ahead with our children, and we achieve goals. We ask God that wherever they are, that God takes care of them, that God is the one who blesses them with their family always.” 

Quiet Patience

In Pope Francis’s homily on World Peace Day in 2021, he said:

Women are concrete and know how to weave life’s threads with quiet patience. How many women, how many mothers, thus give birth and rebirth to life, offering the world a future! 

Blanca is a mom in Mexico who works side by side with her family on their modest 10-acre plot of land to cultivate coffee plants, relying on the harvest for their livelihood. A strong and faithful mother who leads her family with quiet resilience and unwavering patience, Bianca remained steadfast even when her husband struggled with illness, resulting in money being scarce and meals reduced to just sweet potatoes. She stretched every resource to ensure her children were fed, and she continued to teach them gratitude for what they had. Her deep faith and ability to endure hardship without complaint speak volumes about the quiet strength she carries within. 

Though once shy and unsure of herself, Blanca has grown into a confident leader within her community. Her involvement in her mothers group marked the beginning of a transformation, turning fear into self-worth and silence into empowerment. Now, she speaks on motivational topics and serves as president of the school committee working to improve education for all children in her area. Blanca’s strength is deeply rooted in her commitment to others. 

In addition to her community roles, Blanca serves as a caregiver and healer. She learned basic health-care skills while tending to her own mother and now offers help during medical emergencies in her neighborhood. Even as she reflects on her journey, Blanca affirms her life with gratitude, saying, “I would choose the same life again that I have now, because thanks to God and everything that I have, [I have] been able to get ahead.”  

These mothers, and countless others, exude patience, strength and steady love as they shape not only their children’s futures, but also the well-being of their entire communities. They prove that challenges can be overcome with faith, love and the support of caring people.  

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Copyright 2025 Tammy Marino for Unbound
Images: copyright 2025 Unbound, all rights reserved.