Born in Lancaster, England, Edwina Gateley earned a Teacher’s Degree from her home country, a Master’s in Theology from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and certification as an HIV counselor in Illinois.

After three years working as a volunteer in Uganda, East Africa, Edwina felt called to invite others to offer their services in the developing world. It was the time of Vatican II when the Catholic Church began to open itself to lay involvement and ministry. After 18 months of struggling to receive church support and endorsement, Edwina founded the Volunteer Missionary Movement (VMM) in London, England to recruit, prepare and send women and men to serve in developing countries throughout the world. Since its foundation in 1969, the VMM has sent almost 3,000 lay missioners to serve in 26 countries.

From 1981 to 1982, Edwina lived for nine months in prayer and solitude in a hermitage in Illinois. In 1983, she spent over a year on the streets of Chicago walking with the homeless and women involved in prostitution. Also in 1983, Edwina founded Genesis House – a house of hospitality and nurturing for women involved in prostitution.

Edwina is currently writing, giving talks and leading retreats nationally and internationally. Her programs include weekends and week-long retreats as well as parish missions. Topics include her own Faith Journey, Discipleship, Women in Scripture, Justice, Mission, Spirituality, Mysticism, and the Feminine Divine.