By Caitlin Wojtasek
Maria Tell’s story is one of tragedy, healing and God’s unending mercy, one that led her out of Denver as a victim of human trafficking to a small town in Nebraska and finally back to freedom with her children in her hometown of Fort Collins.
After years of being trafficked, Maria and her three children escaped their dangerous situation in 2020.
“Literally, by the grace of God, I got out, and I came back to Colorado,” Tell shared. “It was just a really scary time for me and my kids.”
Amid struggles to find a safe place to live while raising her three children alone, Tell filed for new identities for her family, and started going back to Mass and Confession in Fort Collins.
It was in Confession that she encountered encouragement, love and support from a priest, Father Michael Freihofer.
“My heart was shattered, and I needed help. Father Michael gave me hope in a very dark time in my life,” she said.
He encouraged her to continue to go to Mass, connected her with a prayer team and strongly suggested that she send her children to Catholic school. Still healing and recovering from her traumatic experiences, Tell didn’t think Catholic education was a realistic choice for her family. And so, she prayed, “God, if you want this to happen, make it happen.”
Through tuition assistance provided by Seeds of Hope in partnership with St. Joseph Catholic School in Fort Collins, Tell was able to send all three of her children to Catholic school last year.
“It was life-changing for me,” Tell said of the unforeseen opportunity for her children to attend Catholic school.
While much of her concern about sending her children to Catholic school was financial, she was also concerned about whether her family would be welcome.
“I'm a single mom,” she said. “I have tattoos, and I just feel like I stick out, but these people received me with open arms. It's like being in a family.”
At their previous public schools, Tell was concerned about her children's physical safety and what they were hearing from their peers or learning in class. But at St. Joseph Catholic School, she knows they are safe and learning the truth about themselves and God’s unending mercy and love.
“My kids would come home, and they'd be talking about Jesus and going to adoration,” Tell said. “They’re gushing about saints, new prayers they’ve learned and how to grow in virtue.”
She also loves that the students attend school Mass, and parents are encouraged to attend, too. “It's just so beautiful to be able to attend Mass with them and see all the faithful families in our community,” she shared.
This support, confidence and security in the safety of her children has allowed Tell to pursue a new mission with her non-profit which offers resources to empower trafficking survivors by helping them reclaim their independence and rebuild their lives.
“Because my mind is at ease and I know my children are safe and in the right place, it healed a part of me,” Tell said of the new freedom she feels to be able to serve and help survivors of trafficking who are in need.
“After what I’ve been through, I have complex PTSD,” she continued. “A lot of this pain stemmed from worrying for the safety of my children. But now I can drop them off at school and know they are safe; I was finally able to focus on what God was calling me to do.”
Through the support of Seeds of Hope, Tell was able to choose which school would best support her family with a quality education that focuses on the whole person. Her children are growing in their faith as well as their emotional, physical and mental well-being. She continues to find God and unconditional love in Catholic schools.
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Seeds of Hope provides more than 1,300 K-8 scholarships each year to families like the Tells who want a faith-filled education for their children. For more information or to make a donation, call 303-715-3127 or click here.
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