Featured Speaker Spotlight: Barbara Kowalska

Discovering the Presence Within

This week we are honored to feature longtime Unity member Barbara Kowalska, whose spiritual journey reflects a lifelong quest for truth, understanding, and a deeper awareness of the Divine presence within.

Barbara's story begins in Belleville and Cranford, New Jersey, where she grew up as the oldest of seven children in a loving Catholic family. While her parents were devoted Catholics and ensured their children attended Catholic school through high school, they also instilled something equally important: a deep commitment to love and family.

"No matter how we might fight with each other, we still loved each other."

That foundation remains strong today. Barbara and her six siblings, along with their extended families, continue the cherished tradition of gathering together on Cape Cod each year, celebrating the bonds that have sustained them throughout their lives.

Barbara's love of learning led her to major in English and minor in Art and Psychology in college. Her professional career began in publishing, where she worked as a copywriter before moving into corporate leadership roles. Throughout her career, she held positions with what is now KPMG and later with two national insurance companies. Before relocating to Maine, she served as Director of Marketing Services, overseeing the development of marketing and sales materials.

Yet while her professional accomplishments were significant, a deeper calling was quietly unfolding.

That calling found its home in Unity.

Barbara first connected with Unity in 1988 through a meditation group that met in the basement of the Unity of Greater Portland, a church on Columbia Road in Portland. Although she had identified as an agnostic for many years, she felt increasingly drawn to explore spirituality and world religions.

As she entered the church each week, she encountered the warmth and joy of then-minister Audrey McGuinness.

"She seemed so happy, so content, and always greeted me with a smile."

After several invitations, Barbara attended a Sunday service. What happened that day would transform her spiritual life.

"I sat in the back and cried. The message was not about sin, or guilt, or repentance. It was about the Christ within. Not Jesus, but the Christ within all of us. My resistance crumbled, and soon I was attending every week." 

What drew her most deeply to Unity and New Thought teachings was the understanding that we are not separate from God.

"We do not need a priest or minister to intercede for us. We all embody the Presence. We have only to go within and let our own inner wisdom guide us."

Meditation became a cornerstone of Barbara's spiritual practice. In the beginning, guided imagery helped her relax and release stress. Over time, her practice evolved into something simpler and deeper: following the breath into stillness and allowing herself to rest in the present moment.

"Meditation has opened my mind and heart to the Truth of my Being."

She also credits Sunday services and the Unity community with continually encouraging and inspiring her to choose new ways of seeing and being.

One of the most meaningful lessons life continues to teach her is the ability to look beyond appearances and trust that even challenges contain gifts.

"Every challenge teaches me that I can choose to see beyond appearances to the gift within the challenge."

Today, Barbara is inspired by stories that affirm goodness and possibility. She points to the bestselling book Theo of Golden and the film Project Hail Mary as examples of humanity's desire to believe in hope, compassion, and our highest potential.

"It is heartening to know their popularity reflects that people want to believe in the good."

Outside of church, Barbara finds joy in reading, spending time outdoors, sketching, singing, dancing, and watching inspiring films.

At this stage of her spiritual journey, she describes herself as growing into an even deeper awareness of the Divine.

"I am growing into identifying with the Presence I embody. No separation."

When asked what she hopes people will take away from her Sunday message, her response is beautifully simple: "Expansive."

That single word captures Barbara's journey and her message. Through meditation, community, spiritual practice, and a commitment to seeing beyond appearances, she continues to discover a larger vision of herself, of others, and of the Divine.

And perhaps that is the invitation she offers all of us: to recognize that what we seek is already within us, waiting to be remembered.

Join us this Sunday as Barbara Kowalska shares her message and invites us into a more expansive experience of life, love, and the Presence within.

Rev. Patricia Bessey