Gloria Purvis facts for kids

Gloria Purvis is a well-known journalist and speaker. She is famous for hosting The Gloria Purvis Podcast. She often talks about faith, justice, and important social issues. Gloria has shared her ideas on many big news shows and in famous newspapers. She is also known for being the first African-American female Catholic journalist to have a long interview with Pope Francis at his home.

Early Life and Learning

Gloria Purvis was born and grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. When she was a child, she learned from the Oblate Sisters of Providence. She also became a member of the Catholic Church at a young age.

Later, Gloria went to Cornell University. She earned a special degree in Human Development and Family Studies. This helped her understand how people grow and families work.

Her Work and Achievements

Before becoming a journalist, Gloria Purvis worked for over ten years in the money and housing loan business. She then became a manager at a big financial company. There, she helped lead a group for Catholic employees.

For many years, Gloria co-hosted a radio show called Morning Glory on EWTN Radio. This show ended in 2020. After that, she started her own show called The Gloria Purvis Podcast]. She created this podcast with America Media.

In 2021, the University of Notre Dame chose Gloria for a special role. She became the first Pastoral Fellow at their McGrath Institute for Church Life. This role helps connect the Church with everyday life.

Meeting Pope Francis

In November 2022, Gloria Purvis had a very special meeting. She spent two hours at the home of Pope Francis in Rome. She was part of a small team from America magazine. This made her the first African-American female Catholic journalist to interview the Pope for such a long time at his personal residence. During their talk, Gloria shared the thoughts and experiences of Black Catholics in the U.S. Catholic Church with the Pope.

Gloria also interviewed Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco in May 2022. They talked about his decision regarding Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Recent Activities

For the 2023-24 school year, Gloria Purvis was a special scholar at St. Martin's University.

In 2024, Gloria gave an important speech at the National Eucharistic Congress. She encouraged the U.S. Church to remember its unity. She also spoke about how racism can cause division within the Church.

Helping Her Community

Gloria Purvis has spent many years helping others. From 1998 to 2002, she led the Culture of Life Committee at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Washington, D.C.. She also helped coordinate the Young Adult Association there.

She was also a member of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council for the Archdiocese of Washington. This was from 1999 to 2003.

Gloria has served on the board of the Northwest Pregnancy Center and Maternity Home. She was also an advisor for the Maryland Catholic Conference's Respect for Life Department. She has also helped the National Black Catholic Congress' Leadership Commission on Social Justice.

Media Appearances

Gloria Purvis has been featured in many major news outlets. These include The New York Times, National Catholic Reporter, and Newsweek. She has also appeared on TV shows like PBS NewsHour and Fox News.

She also created a six-part video series for the Word on Fire Institute. This series was about racism, human dignity, and the Catholic Church in America.

Awards and Honors

In 2020, Our Sunday Visitor named Gloria Purvis "Catholic of the Year."

She has received several special honorary degrees called "Doctor of Humane Letters":

• In 2022, the University of Portland gave her this honor.
• In May 2023, St. Martin's University also gave her this degree. She was also the main speaker at their graduation ceremony that year.
• Salve Regina University also awarded her a Doctorate in Humane Letters Honora Causa.

In October 2024, Ender's Island gave Dr. Gloria Purvis the St. Edmund's Medal of Honor. This award is given to people who use their talents to serve the church and community in extraordinary ways. It is a very respected honor.