Summary of 2008 Benedicta Leadership Institute for Women: 

“What is it all about?!”

Purpose of the Leadership Institute:

The purpose of the Benedicta Leadership Institute is to give Catholic women of all walks of life and ages the tools to help put their authentic femininity into action as a true daughter of God.  (Please note it is helpful if you’ve gone through the Full of Grace Foundational study series but it is not necessary to have done so before going through the Institute.) 

 What will a person learn by attending the Institute?

You will learn how to communicate your Catholic faith that informs, persuades and convinces others about our essential crusade for the culture of life.  Come, and be set on fire as a leader for our Catholic faith!

 Who is presenting at the Leadership Institute:

1.   Mary Jo Anderson - Mary Jo Anderson is a contributing editor for Crisis Magazine and serves on the editorial board for VOICES, the journal of Women for Faith and Family.  She has published articles in many periodicals, newspapers and journals, including WorldNetDaily.com.  Mary Jo is a popular speaker at Catholic and secular conferences and a frequent guest on talk radio programs nationwide.

2.   Camille E. De Blasi Pauley, M.A.  - Camille is co-founder and President of Healing the Culture, and serves as Vice-chair of the Board. She is the founder of Being With and Compatior Institute. In 1993, she co-founded the Center for Life Principles and served as its Director until 2003. She was Director of Education for Human Life of Washington from 1993 to 2003. Mrs. De Blasi Pauley has trained hundreds of speakers for the pro-life movement, spoken for thousands of audiences, designed several retreat programs for adults and teenagers, guest-hosted several radio and television programs, co-produced five video series, and published dozens of articles.

3.   Johnnette Benkovic - Johnnette is founder and president of Living His Life Abundantly International, Inc. a Catholic apostolate with outreaches in television, radio, print and internet communications.  Johnnette is also the Founder of Women of Grace, an apostolate for Christian women. 

Generally, what will the speakers talk about?

 1.       Mary Jo Anderson will speak about her experiences making a difference as a Catholic woman by expressing her points of view through print, live presentations, radio and TV interviews, and testimony before decision groups such as the United Nations.  She will speak about the importance of style and technique using the guidance of Pope John Paul who advised women to use “our sweetness” to communicate our points of view.

More specifically, Mary Jo will speak to:

 ·          WHY THE WORLD NEEDS YOU - This is an overview of why our informed Catholic worldview is so crucial to our world at this moment in human history--illustrated by the threat to our religious freedoms and lives at the international levels, plus our great opportunities to impact policy at local, state, national and international levels.

 ·          LEADERSHIP FOR THE CULTURE WAR - This addresses the nuts and bolts and the specific how-to: how to locate your own skills/interests, openings, how to present your messages so that you will be heard and not rejected, how to combat unhealthy initiatives, how to get "average" citizens on board for increased impact and effect, how to build alliances with other Christians and other organizations.  Illustrations from real life will include everyday encounters (school PTA's, grocery, doctor's office, to the international level). 

2.       Camille E. De Blasi Pauley  will be the keynote speaker.  She will be speaking about the meaning of happiness, love and suffering and leading a leadership skills-building session. 

        More specifically, Camille’s talks will be about the 3 keys to inspired leadership:

 ·          UNDERSTANDING HAPPINESS

A good leader knows how to move people toward a common goal.  But a great leader can accomplish this while inspiring others to find deeper meaning and happiness in life.  This dynamic talk is based on the "Four Levels of Happiness" by Father Robert Spitzer, S.J., President of Gonzaga University.  It's an hour packed with real learning content and practical strategies that will personally transform you, and show you how to help your family, team, or colleagues find fulfillment in working together.

 ·          UNDERSTANDING LOVE

We Christians know that love is the whole purpose of human existence -- so why do we tend to dismiss love as "weak," "wimpy," or "soft" when we are called to be true leaders?  Learn how this shortsighted attitude is responsible for everything from broken families to disgraced politicians, and even scandals like Enron.  Be prepared for an incredibly powerful journey into the real meaning of love (you'll be surprised!) and how much courage, strength, vision, and faith it takes to be a loving leader. 

·          UNDERSTANDING SUFFERING

As leaders, not only do we have to deal with our own personal suffering, but most of us will also experience some form of team suffering -- failed projects, misunderstandings, unfair accusations, flaring tempers, hurt feelings, etc.  Unfortunately, most people don't understand suffering or why God allows it, and are at a loss for what to do when it happens.  We believe that "If God really loved me, he wouldn't do this to me," and so we miss incredible opportunities for growth, healing, forgiveness, and love.  This talk will answer some of the toughest questions about suffering, and will help you find meaning and purpose in the midst of suffering.

·          ALSO, Camille will be conducting a leadership skills-building session as follows:

 This session will involve all the participants in table-top exercises.  It will be enjoyable and a valuable learning experience.   The participants will work on a specific challenge as teams and learn from each other as well as Camille about how to bring about the changes we want to see, whether it be in our families, our neighborhood or our society.

 3.  Johnnette Benkovic will be the moderator for the Institute and will be in attendance throughout the entire Institute.

 Time of the Retreat

The Leadership Institute is one day of events, this year spread over a 2 day period of time due to scheduling considerations. 

The Leadership Institute starts at 1:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon September 18 and goes until 7 p.m. Thursday night. The second half of the Institute starts the next morning, Friday morning at 8 a.m. and ends at 1:30 p.m. Friday afternoon September 19. 

 If a person is then staying for the Women of Grace Conference, a person would have Friday afternoon for reflection before the Women of Grace Conference starts at 6 p.m. Friday night.

 Where will the Institute be held

The Institute will be held at the downtown Sacramento Hyatt Hotel.  This is also the location for the Women of Grace conference that starts Friday evening at 6 p.m., September 19, a few hours after the Institute ends.

 To Register for the Benedicta Leadership Institute for Women:

Call Living His Life Abundantly Int’l Inc. 1-800-558-5452.  Contact the Sacramento Hyatt to reserve a room at special conference rates 1-916-443-1234 or www.sacramento.hyatt.com.

Institute Registration Cost

$125.00 per person and does not include any meals or room costs.