Jessie McCartney

Jessie McCartney is a recent grad from Saint Mary's College Notre Dame. She currently resides in Grand Rapids, MI, and is exploring her writing career through freelancing. Some of her greatest delights in life are being an aunt, spending summers in Northern Michigan, and rereading her favorite novels.

Check out how this app for prayer and meditation is changing the way people pray.

This App Guides You in Prayerful Meditation

Article / Prayer

Why following your passion is worth it.

How I Found My Calling to Be a Writer

Article / Career & Finance

Read how this young adult is discovering how to answer the new question, 'what does faith mean to you?'

How I’m Taking Ownership of My Faith Life

Article / Belief

The author shares how learning from difficult experiences helped her find hope.

How I Learned No Experience Is a Waste of Time

Read how instant gratification is really affecting us and is secretly of a cause of impatience.

How Instant Gratification is Really Affecting Us

Article / Health & Wellness

Want a better way of dealing with stress in college? Follow these tips to alleviate some of the burden of college stress.

A Better Way to Handle College Stress

Article / Transform

This introverted leader is defying stereotypes and showing society that you can be an introvert and a leader.

Why Introverted Leaders are Not a Contradiction

Follow these 6 tips for making big life decisions.

How to Make Better Decisions in Your 20s and 30s

Article / Career & Finance

These tips on how to save water will help delay 'Day Zero' around the world.

What You Need to Know About the World Water Crisis

Article / Transform

Ever wondered how social media affects relationships? The internet is great, but it has negative side effects too — here's what we should do about it.

A More Mindful Way to Communicate Online

Article / Transform

Dorothy Day’s life was one of heroic virtue, in which she created the Catholic Worker movement.

Dorothy Day’s Life of Heroic Virtue

Article / Volunteer

Part of this Millennial's tips for zero-waste living include taking note of all the plastic and trash we use in a given day, and replacing it with reusable containers, exhibited here in Maria's packed lunch.

One Millennial’s Journey Toward Zero-Waste Living

Article / Transform

Here are 4 steps for how to stop worrying — and move obstacles with faith.

How a Little Bit of Faith Can Move Mountains of Worry

Article / Belief

Here are 8 ways you can pay it forward on a budget.

8 Pay-It-Forward Ideas You Can Do on a Budget

Article / Volunteer

The creators of the Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal were wondering how to find meaning in Mass and were inspired to create this journal.

Finding Meaning in the Mass, Every Sacred Sunday

Article / Prayer

A table of friends gathered around the Christmas dinner table. Even surrounded by friends, holiday blues can be difficult to navigate during the holiday season.

How Merry Do I Need to be This Christmas?

Article / Health & Wellness

A young African girl holding a Christmas present from a charity and smiling at the camera.

Give the Gift of Charity This Christmas

Going green in the workplace — a burlap bag with a recycling symbol.

4 Steps to Lead Your Employer to a Greener Footprint

Article / Make an Impact

Young woman sitting on bench practicing mindfulness exercises by reading a book.

4 Mindfulness Exercises for Dealing with Stress

Article / Health & Wellness

Explore more Grotto

If you're thinking 'I lost the weight. Now what?' read what this author has to say about finding true joy after hitting your goal weight.

Where I Found Happiness After Hitting My Goal Weight

Who was Saint Mark? Learn more about him through our Spotify playlist inspired by his life and legacy.

St. Mark Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic

Here's how to destress and restore your energy reserves: pick up a 'restorative niche.'

What a ‘Restorative Niche’ Is & Why You Need One

How to celebrate Easter: feast on these 3 (non-food) joyful things!

3 Joyful Things to Feast on During Easter Week

Read about how a play brought out the true joy of family time on this family's vacations.

How a Play Brought Joy to Our Family Vacations

Read the science behind how to find joy.

Where to Find Joy According to Science

These inmates are starting a new life, and this volunteer is helping them externally represent that by removing tattoos.

Jail Tattoo Removal Ministry Gives Inmates a Fresh Start

Read this reflective narrative about a Gang of Youths concert and the joy the band radiates.

“‘Gang of Youths’ and Random Disclosure of Grace”

Download these 6 shareable notecards to spread joy.

Free Download: 6 Shareable Notecards to Spark Joy

Happy Easter (funny) from Grotto Network! Treat yourself!

Easter Celebrations by Grotto Network