Lisa Duffy, Catholic author and divorce recovery expert

About Lisa Duffy

Lisa Duffy is a Catholic author, speaker, and divorce recovery expert who has spent 25 years helping separated and divorced Catholics rebuild their lives. She did not arrive at this work through research. She arrived through her own divorce.

Lisa's Story

Born and raised in Southern California, Lisa was a young Catholic woman when her marriage ended in the early 1990s. It was not a divorce she wanted. What followed were seven years of struggle, slow spiritual growth, and the particular loneliness of being a divorced Catholic at a time when few parishes knew what to offer. Eventually came remarriage in the Church and the birth of three children.

What stayed with her was the memory of how alone she had felt, and how many others were sitting in the same pews carrying the same silence.

The Journey of Hope Program

In 2001, Lisa wrote and led the first Journey of Hope group. Twenty-five years later, the program is used in parishes across the United States and Canada, giving separated and divorced Catholics a place to heal within their faith rather than apart from it. It has never treated divorce as acceptable or inevitable. It exists for the people left standing in the aftermath of one.

Books

Lisa is the author of five books on divorce recovery and the annulment process, available in English and two in Spanish. They include Mending the Heart: A Catholic Annulment Companion (Our Sunday Visitor), Divorced. Catholic. Now What?, The Catholic Guide to Dating After Divorce, and A Road to Healing: Daily Reflections for Divorced Catholics.

Speaking & Media

Dioceses throughout the United States have brought Lisa in to lead day-long workshops, retreats, and leader trainings for the Journey of Hope program. She has given numerous television and radio interviews, including NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, where she spoke as a divorce recovery expert on Pope Francis' changes to the annulment process; EWTN's Women of Grace with Johnnette Benkovic; The Sonrise Morning Show; Catholic Answers Live; Relevant Radio's On Call with Wendy Wiese; and The Teresa Tomeo Show.

She lives in South Carolina with her husband and three children.

Where To Find Lisa Now

Lisa publishes a new video every week on YouTube for anyone walking through separation, divorce, or the years of rebuilding afterward. It is free, and no one has to explain themselves to be there.

Watch on YouTube →

She also sends Daily Encouragement emails each morning. Subscribe here →

If you lead a parish or diocesan ministry, the Journey of Hope program is available in both printed materials and online subscriptions. See the program →

For speaking inquiries, contact lisa@lisaduffy.com.