FIAT Feature: Maria Anastasia Corkery

I left the Immersion filled with awe, gratitude, and excitement to read the Bible with fresh eyes ...

[I felt] the importance of sharing joy with those I encounter back home ... The memories still fill me with joy and get me fired up about my faith and the True, the Good, and the Beautiful.

Maria Anastasia near the Vatican

My name is Maria Anastasia Corkery. I'm from Keene, Ontario. This year, I am studying for an MLitt in Theology and the Arts at St Andrews in Scotland, situated on the North Sea. On the side, I work in Customer Support and marketi

ng for a skincare business. I am passionate about communication and would love to one day work professionally in editing, or creative marketing and coordination. I love to host events and plan trips with friends to explore new countries and cultures. In my spare time, you can find me going for runs along the water on a coffee walk with friends, or cozying up with a good book. Paper lists, journaling, and the notes app are my go-to modes of organization.

My FIAT - the FIAT is a project Fellows create to help spread virtue back home after the Immersion in Rome  

I participated in TBP in March of 2025. For my FIAT Project, I organized an evening of discussion between three speakers in Canada. The title of the symposium was “In Defense of the Transcendentals: Recognizing and Cultivating Our Talents.” The event was aimed at young people in my area, though people of all ages attended!

It was a cozy evening with appetizers and cocktails in our local Knights of Columbus Hall. The speakers were Father John O'Brien, SJ, Director of Martyrs’ Shrine in Ontario; Natalie McMaster, a mother and professional musician; and Eden O'Brien, a young business

In St. Peter’s Square with other Fellows from her Young Adult Immersion

professional and scholar.

My FIAT was inspired by the biblical idea of talents and Matthew 7:6, in which Jesus cautions against casting our pearls before swine. I've always been interested in how we can recognize our talents and put them to work in our lives, in service of the True, the Good, and the Beautiful. As a young person, I think it can be difficult to see how one can live out a virtuous life and be active in the world through a professional vocation.

Over the past few years, specifically throughout my undergraduate studies, I've noticed how many of us young adults feel stuck and aimless. We can feel unsure about what our talents are, let alone how to apply them professionally. Pursuing the Good, the True, and the Beautiful — especially in work or study — can feel a bit isolating. Our culture doesn’t always reflect these values. However, I've been blessed to grow up among friends and family members who have chased their dreams of starting businesses, going to graduate school, and becoming entrepreneurs, all while keeping sight of these values. This, in turn, has emboldened me in my dreams — both to live out my faith and to pursue creative job opportunities.

I hoped this event would embolden and encourage other young adults in their creativity and offer some practical takeaways on recognizing their talents and pursuing professional opportunities.

Maria Anastasia enjoying the beautiful Italian countryside

My TBP Mentor - each Fellow works with a mentor for 6 months for guidance to make the FIAT Project a reality

My Fiat Mentor was Paul Wood. Paul had also gone on a TBP Immersion the year before I did. Paul reached out to me through email and introduced himself and his family to me. We then set up a regular monthly call to discuss my Fiat. Paul was so helpful to me during the planning and execution of my Fiat. Whether through prayers, being a sounding board, or offering practical advice, he kept me accountable and made the planning process much easier!

My TBP experience - Young adults between 18 and 30 who are selected receive a scholarship to participate in a week-long TBP faith Immersion in Rome

My TBP experience was deeply enriching. Walking around Rome — stepping into beautiful churches filled with explosive art, following in the footsteps of artists, saints, and martyrs — all of it filled me with wonder.

I could never have experienced the riches of Rome on my own as I did with John and Ashley, and all of those who run TBP. I also had the chance to meet other young people from all over the world. It felt like an adventure, a spiritual deepending, an educational field trip, and a visit with friends all rolled into one.

I appreciated that the TBP Immersion wasn’t like a typical pilgrimage. It felt very integrated in

In front of the Historic Pantheon with other Young Adult Immersion Fellows

that we had time for quiet prayer and reflection, but also for trattoria dinners and gelato trips. One of my favorite memories from the Immersion was our visit to the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls. At first glance, the church — though impressively large — seemed a bit empty. But John then slowly walked us through the whole building, unpacking the scenes from St. Paul’s life depicted high on the ceilings and walls. Scripture came alive before our eyes, and I came to know St Paul as a person and adventurer as much as a saint and biblical author.

I left the Immersion filled with awe, gratitude, and excitement to read the Bible with fresh eyes.

A Memorable Moment

Although I grew up Catholic, I've never participated in evangelization in a public sense. On our final day of the Immersion, a group of us joined the Shalom community in St. Peter's Sqaure, along with the World Youth Day Cross. We spent the afternoon singing, playing music, and meeting tourists and visitors and inviting them to give us their prayer intentions. I was surpised at how many people wanted to talk and learn about the cross and offer a prayer intention. It was very out of my comfort zone but is one of my most memorable experiences of the Immersion.

Bringing TBP Back Home

One big takeaway from my TBP Immersion experience was the importance of sharing joy with those I encounter back home. A common conversation I had with other friends on our Immersion was how beautiful Rome felt compared to some of our home cities and how difficult it would be to feel as inspired when going about our daily lives. But after a week spent with John and Ashley and the other participants, I felt reinvigorated in my faith and imagination. Now, about 9 months on from the Immersion, I still remember the trip and what we learned. The memories still fill me with joy and get me fired up about my faith and the True, the Good, and the Beautiful. I think this sort of confidence and joy is contagious and can't help but come through in my general life.