Rochester Hills — Many young women today face a difficult choice: either follow their faith or become what society expects them to be.

Today’s world casts an impression of what it means to be an “independent” woman, which sometimes means forgoing the traditions and lessons that come with being raised Catholic.

Loyola University Chicago sophomore Julie Grembi faced those same choices during her senior year at Bloomfield Hills Marian High School, and they came with a cost.

“During my senior year, I lost a lot of friends because they made choices I didn’t want to make,” Grembi said. “I was losing friends because of the choices I made, standing up for what I believe, and not fitting in with what some people in my group of friends were doing — like drinking or smoking pot.”

Grembi’s father, Derick, noticed she was by herself during a soccer game, he learned why his daughter wasn’t sitting with a group of girls.

When Derick Grembi, a member of the Men of the Sacred Hearts, a group that enthrones homes with the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, told his fellow members about it, the group’s executive director, David Tay, had an idea.

“When we go to homes for the enthronement ceremony, people usually leave a basket of gifts next to the statues,” Tay said. “One of the times, a ring was in the donation basket. The ring was a twin-hearts ring, which is our logo.”

The group kept the ring, not sure what to do with it. Upon hearing Grembi’s story, Tay knew what the ring’s purpose would be.

“We decided to give the ring to her because of her virtues,” Tay said. “She was willing to forgo any friends she had for the sake of morality. We thought this ring could start a program where we recognize young women for standing up for their faith, because we knew there were other girls in the same plight.”

Julie had asked her parents for a purity ring as a graduation present, but was surprised when her dad announced she would be honored for her faith and conviction. She now uses the ring as a conversation starter.

“Most people who I talk with, they think it’s an amazing thing to have,” Grembi said. “It’s opened a lot of great conversations. I’ve formed a lot of friendships from these really deep talks about faith.”

After the Men of the Sacred Hearts saw how much the ring meant to Grembi, they decided to have copies made to award the ring to a new girl each year.

In October, Molly Propson of SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish in Sterling Heights was notified by the Men of the Sacred Hearts that she’d be the ring’s second recipient.

Grembi gave the ring to Propson on Nov. 22 during a ceremony.

Tay was impressed with Propson’s faith when the Men of the Sacred Heart visited to enthrone the Propson home.

“I’m very flattered, I don’t feel I deserved this,” Propson said. “I felt there were a lot of other people out there more deserving, but Mr. Tay thought I was deserving of the ring.

“If I wear the ring often, people will ask about it, and I can explain it resembles me living out my faith the best I can.”

Propson is a home-schooled sophomore who participants in the Oakland Home School Music choir group and aspires to study either law or journalism in college.

“I like talking about my faith, and I’m ready to defend it,” Propson said. “Some people might be offended and say, ‘Oh, you’re a Catholic, you’re so biased; all you talk about is abortion or gay marriage.’ So I want to use the ring to show people what we really are about, that I’m a Catholic because I was raised that way and it makes sense that there is a God who loves us. It gives me a sense of worth.”

While Propson won’t go as far to say being a Catholic is counter-cultural in today’s society, she recognizes the challenges young women have being accepted and sticking with their faith.

“I feel this really is something young girls need, it’s nice to have reminders that you’re not alone,” Propson said. “I think the ring will help with that; being Catholic is something you should be proud of.”