Bernadette Gietka, desperate to find financing for a musical she was writing to celebrate the sanctity of life, said she prayed to God, "It would benefit you to make me rich."

National Catholic Reporter, August 1, 2003

* Bernadette Gietka, desperate to find financing for a musical she was writing to celebrate the sanctity of life, said she prayed to God, "It would benefit you to make me rich." Three weeks later, she bought what turned out to be the winning ticket in the Mega Millions interstate lottery game. A parishioner of Holy Rosary Church in Baltimore, Gietka, 54, has pledged to tithe 10 percent of her $112.8 million lottery winnings to local parishes and charities and to promote religious life.

The musical will be her top priority, she said. "If it's not finished in two years, I'll be in trouble with you know who!"