In her first short story collection "Living with Saints," Irish-American Mary O'Connell brings the likes of Saint Therese of Lisieux into the hectic lives and confused times of young American women. Suffice to say, this is not a faithful update of "The Lives of the Saints." In "Saint Dymphna," a girl decides to have an abortion, while in "Saint Therese of Lisieux," a girl is forced to deal with an ill mother, her unkempt younger sister, and a sexually abusive father. This all may sound intentionally blasphemous, but O'Connell's stories are suffused with faith and sensitivity. In presenting 21st century versions of saints' lives (which weren't exactly prim and proper centuries ago), O'Connell is able to explore the often-ignored topic of religion and faith in modern life. Not all of these 10 stories are executed with success; some feel like mere sketches. In others, the girls seem too quick with "Bridget Jones"-ish cynicism. But in exploring how faith endures (or crumbles) under the stress of adversity, O'Connell (who teaches at the Lawrence Arts Center, Kansas) has written a challenging debut story collection.