Christine Wohar
-
Frassati GuideFor Christine Wohar, a funny thing happened on her way to law school at Vanderbilt University in Nashville,Tennessee. Her new parish priest asked her to help form a group for young adults under the patronage of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. It was her introduction to this inspiring saint. Two Frassati Societies and 10 years later, she met Wanda Gawronska, a niece of Blessed Frassati's, in Rome. That encounter led to a life-changing decision.
Wohar put her professional career on hold and headed off to Pollone, Italy, where she would come to know Blessed Pier Giorgio in a more personal way. Working closely with Gawronska, Wohar founded FrassatiUSA in 2006. The non-profit organization works to promote the spirituality of Blessed Pier Giorgio and to further his cause for canonization.
Wohar spent extended periods of time in both 2006 and 2007 in Pollone with members of the Frassati family, including Blessed Pier Giorgio's younger sister and biographer Luciana. When Luciana Frassati passed away at the age of 105 in Pollone, Wohar attended her funeral. "It was profoundly moving for me to know that Luciana had attended Pier Giorgio's funeral and I was there at hers. It is a connection that is difficult to explain but I often feel like Pier Giorgio allows me to experience things like that in his place."
In March of 2008, Wohar went to Rome to assist with the preparations for the transfer of Blessed Pier Giorgio's mortal remains to Sydney, Australia, for World Youth Day. She appeared on EWTN's "Life on the Rock" in June 2008. The following year, she appeared on "EWTN Live" with Wanda Gawronska. In June 2009, Wohar hosted a three-part series for EWTN featuring an in-depth discussion with Gawronska. The series is titled, "Pier Giorgio Frassati: Sanctity Within Reach." Wohar co-edited the book "Pier Giorgio Frassati: Letters to His Friends and Family" published for the first time in English in July 2009. She led the first FrassatiUSA pilgrimage in the summer of 2009, tracing the footsteps of Blessed Pier Giorgio from Rome through northern Italy.
Wohar is now considered a world expert speaker on the life and devotion of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. She has been interviewed on several radio programs and for various publications and has given presentations on Blessed Pier Giorgio to audiences of all sizes in the U.S., Canada and Italy.
"I have been truly blessed with many opportunities to walk in Blessed Pier Giorgio's footsteps and to deepen my devotion to him. His message is simple but profound -- that holiness is possible for everyone. He challenges us to live and not exist, to rise above mediocrity and to journey with him to the top."