THINK HOPE Foundation

08/21/2026

In Maria’s Own Words….Her Words of Inspiration

HOPE begins with thoughts…
On February 25, 2020 Maria wrote:

“I can never forget how I feel now.

Completely helpless and in need of His Love. The fact that we have any control over our life is such a delusion and sometimes it takes being physically unable to do anything for us to realize it.

I have had to put complete surrender and trust in God.”

~Maria Middleton

“Know that the Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to him; we are His people, the sheep He tends.”
~ Psalm 100:3

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“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27

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“If God sends you many sufferings it is a sign that He has great pans for you, and certainly wants to make you a saint.”
~ St Ignatius of Loyola

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“Do not let your troubles disturb your trust in God.”
~ Saint Mary MacKillop

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“Do not have any anxiety about the future. Leave everything in God’s hands for He will take care of you.”
~ Saint John the Baptist de La Salle

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“God will provide.”
~ Saint John Bosco

08/05/2026

In Maria’s Own Words…..Her Words of Inspiration

HOPE begins with thoughts…
In 2019 - 2 months after her diagnosis, Maria wrote:

“ The diagnosis of illness does bring about scary and confusing thoughts, but the overwhelming word that I have associated with it is gratitude.

Now, I realize that each day is a gift from God and I try to see how I can live each moment to the fullest. ”
~Maria Middleton
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“ Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”
~ Psalm 103:2
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“Every good and perfect gift is from above.”
~ James 1:17
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“ A constant fidelity in small things is a great and heroic virtue.”
~ St Bonaventure
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“Nothing is more pleasing to God than a grateful heart.”
~ Saint Ambrose
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“Begin now to be what you will be hereafter.”
~ Saint Jerome

07/29/2026

Please join us!

Maria Middleton 6th Anniversary Mass
October 5th at 5:30
Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown, PA

Archbishop Nelson Perez Celebrant

07/23/2026

In Maria’s Own Words…..Her Words of Inspiration

HOPE begins with thoughts…In 2016 - age 14, Maria journaled:

“Life would be a lot easier if we focused on our blessings rather than annoyances.”
Maria Middleton

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“ I will bless you….and you will be a blessing to others.” Genesis 12:2
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“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”
Ephesians 1:3
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“ A constant fidelity in small things is a great and heroic virtue.”
St Bonaventure
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“ It is remarkable how easy it is to bless others, to speak good things to and about them, to call forth their beauty and truth, when you yourself are in touch with your own blessedness.
The blessed one always blesses.”
Henri Nouwen
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07/09/2026

Maria’s message of hope continues to inspire so many. 💚 We are grateful that the Maria Middleton Memorial THINK HOPE Run continues to bring our community together in honor of her beautiful legacy.

Join us on September 26 and help us spread the word by sharing this post. Together, we can continue to share Maria’s message: Think Hope.

Regina Academy at St. John the Baptist

Join us for our 3rd annual Maria Middleton Memorial Think Hope Run! All are welcome!

Register now at https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Doylestown/MariaMiddletonMemorialTHINKHOPERUN

07/09/2026

In Maria’s Own Words…..Her Words of Inspiration

HOPE begins in the heart ….

At Age 16 1/2 Maria wrote in her journal these thoughts in July 2019 while she was thinking about social media and its impact on her life:

“I also think social media and stuff doesn’t help, ..instead of living in the moment, like we did when we were little, we are too worried about what other people think of our pics on Instagram.

In a world of being weirdly connected to others through the internet, we have never been as disconnected in real life because thoughts and emotions are not as expressed as (they are) in person.”

…..”Keep that childhood innocence when it comes to using your personality. Be joyful!”

Maria Middleton
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“ Let your old age be childlike, and your childhood like old age; that is, so that neither may your wisdom be with pride, nor your humility without wisdom.” St. Augustine of Hippo
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“….joyful people see with open eyes the hard reality of human existence and at the same time are not imprisoned by it. They have no illusion about the evil powers that roam around, “looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8), but they also know that death has no final power. They suffer with those who suffer, yet they do not hold on to suffering; they point beyond it to an everlasting peace.” Henri Nouwen
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“ No misery is more genuine than false joy.” St. Bernard of Clairvaux

06/29/2026

With grateful hearts, we share this beautiful and humbling moment for our family and for all those who have been inspired by Maria’s life.

On June 26th, CatholicPhilly published the news that Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez has formally received the first documents requesting the introduction of Maria's cause for canonization in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

We continue to pray that Maria’s witness of faith, joy, trust, and hope will lead others closer to Christ.

Thank you to everyone who has prayed with us, shared Maria’s story, and carried forward her message to “Think Hope.”

Read the full article below.

https://catholicphilly.com/2026/06/news/local-news/archbishop-perez-receives-first-documents-tracing-maria-middletons-path-to-holiness/

The Bucks County teen died in 2020 at age 18. The story of her life and her legacy, presented to the Archbishop June 22, gives witness to the power of trust and hope in God.

06/24/2026

In Maria’s Own Words…..Words of Inspiration

HOPE begins with thoughts…

In April 2019, as Maria began her 6th and final week of radiation, she journaled:

“Everyone’s kind and selfless hearts have made me see how selfish I can be - even through all of this. Instead of being focused on what I’m going through (there is time to think of all of that), I need to also be focused and grateful for all of the great people who are helping me.

I need to keep them in my prayers because especially now, as I am dealing with this, I am actually closer to Christ (united through suffering).”

Maria Middleton
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“And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.” Romans 8:17
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“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” Psalms 103:2
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“I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3
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“Think Hope”

06/11/2026

In Maria’s Own Words…..Words of Inspiration

HOPE begins with thoughts…

Preparing for her Confirmation in 7th grade on April 17, 2016, Maria answered the following questions:

1) Which of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit do you feel most in need of at this time in your life? “Fortitude. I feel like that’s always hard because it means giving up something.”

2) How would your life be better if you really opened yourself up to the gifts of the Holy Spirit? “The Gifts are basically an instruction manual on life. If we follow them, we would be living our lives out according to God’s Will. ”

Maria Middleton

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“ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6
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“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
2 Corinthians 5:7
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“Don’t spend your energies on things that generate worry, anxiety, and anguish. Only one thing is necessary: Lift up your spirit and love God.”
St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

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“Think Hope”

05/27/2026

In Maria’s Own Words…..Words of Inspiration
HOPE begins with thoughts…

Maria wrote in her journal July 2018,
about 6 months before her diagnosis:

“I spend too much time focusing on me: how I feel, how other people view me, etc. The main one is how I am concerned with how I am viewed by others. I want them to view me as a good, young woman who is authentic and filled with character.

What I am finding out is that it’s impossible to truly have those characteristics when the focus is on yourself. So, by truly and sincerely caring about others over yourself, one can achieve those good qualities and others will be drawn to that.”
Maria Middleton
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“You are God’s children whom He loves, so try to be like Him. Live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:1-2
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“If there are poor among you, in one of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be selfish or greedy toward them. But give freely to them, and freely lend them whatever they need.”
Deuteronomy 15:7-8
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“We descend by self-exaltation and ascend by humility.”
St. Benedict of Nursia
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“Think Hope”