Lighting the way

When Savanna Garver walked through the doors of Bismarck’s St. Mary's Academy (SMA) in the fall of 2022 as an 8th grader, she was guarded, uncertain and—by her own words—deeply skeptical. She didn’t know a single person, and she had no intention of letting SMA “change her.” But today, three years later, Savanna is a confirmed Catholic, a youth ministry leader and a bold witness for her faith.
 
Savanna’s spiritual roots began in the Lutheran tradition, baptized and raised in a home with Christian values. Her family includes her parents, Kellie and Chris, and two younger brothers, Gabe and Vincent. But despite these roots, middle school years were marked by emotional and spiritual struggle.
 
“I was miserable,” she recalled. “I went to youth group at Charity Lutheran—I saw little moments of God but wasn’t living it out.” Her experiences with friends were painful and confusing, including peer pressure to question her identity. Seeking healing, Savanna entered therapy and eventually transferred to SMA in 8th grade.
 
It was at SMA where her heart began to soften—especially after taking a religion class with Fr. Paul Gardner. “It changed my life,” she said. “It was a class I looked forward to… it was more than a book. We went to adoration during class. That was the turning point.” That moment eventually led her to ask Fr. Gardner to be her confirmation sponsor.
 
Savanna was received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil on April 8, 2023—a night she remembers vividly. “I remember the first time I realized I wanted to be Catholic. Father Gardner gave me a rosary. I asked my mom to pray with me when I got home. I associated Mary with my own mom.” Her mom was supportive, even though not Catholic herself.
 
Her extended family background is diverse—some Protestant, some Catholic, some disconnected from church. Still, many showed up for her Easter Vigil, including her grandmother, who had previously expressed anti-Catholic views. “She stayed the whole time—didn’t even go out to have a cigarette,” Savanna said with a smile.
 
Her faith has continued to blossom. She’s now actively involved in Corpus Christi Youth Group, has attended SEARCH retreats, helps lead “Summit” events for middle schoolers and plans to head to the Steubenville Youth Conference in Denver this summer.
 
Even her own family is being touched by her transformation. Her dad, Chris, recently discovered he had never been baptized and is now taking classes. “He listens to the audio recordings from the OCIA class,” Savanna laughed. “I make sure he does!”
 
Savanna doesn’t shy away from challenges to her faith. Once pro-choice, she now speaks passionately in defense of life. “Heck no!” she said when asked if she still holds her former views. In fact, she admits to reading anti-Catholic posts online just to “destroy their comments with Catholic stuff.”
 
Her little brother, Vincent, is also an inspiration. “If I’m having a bad day, he’ll say, ‘You just need to pray’ or share Bible verses with me. He even dressed as Jesus for hero day!”
 
Looking back, it’s clear that what began as a reluctant transfer to a new school turned into a life-altering encounter with Christ.
 
As for her message to others? Savanna said it best: “I told my mom, ‘How can you not have time for God, when He created time?’”
 
Savanna’s story is a beautiful reminder that God meets us where we are—but He doesn’t leave us there. He leads us home.