The prayers of a grieving Sandy Hook mother

(AP) — The experience of an unanswered prayer is one of those trials of life that can make anyone wonder if prayer really works.

[...] in the darkest moment of Jennifer Hubbard's life — the moment she realized God was not going to bring her little girl, Catherine, home from Sandy Hook Elementary School — the grieving mother did not stop praying.

Like others who lost loved ones in the shooting of 26 first-graders and educators at Sandy Hook in 2012, Hubbard's story of personal loss has become a cause for public inspiration.

While some families who lost loved ones in the massacre have gone into advocacy, Hubbard has gravitated into a ministry of sorts — writing for the monthly Catholic spiritual guide, "Magnificat."

"Jenny is just such an inspiration and such a very strong and amazing woman with a very deep faith," said Meg Arena, a coordinator in the religious education program at St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown.

Hubbard was a catechist in St. Rose's religious education program in 2012, teaching Catherine and other first-graders about Jesus.

The pastor of St. Rose said Hubbard is among a core of ordinary people who lost loved ones in the massacre who have emerged as model Christians.

Sitting in a butterfly garden in the middle of great meadow, which one day will house the animal sanctuary in Catherine's name, Hubbard said she is grateful she had enough time with her daughter to understand her heart and spirit.