- Opening Talk
It has been a week since the Women of Grace National Conference in Sacramento, California. What a blessed time and what a blessed event! Through the grace of God, those who attended experienced the paternal love of the Father, the redemptive life of the Son, the power of the Holy Spirit and the maternal beatitude of Our Blessed Lady. I was filled with joy as I witnessed the transformation and hope experienced by the women (and the men) who joined us at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Sacramento.
The Conference was preceded by the Women of Grace Leadership Institute whose theme was
Leading with Virtue. A capacity group of thirty-seven women joined us for the two day Institute which discussed the call and mission of women today, the role that virtue plays in this call, and the way in which the Blessed Virgin Mary demonstrates for us the means by which we can fulfill all that God has entrusted to us. By the Institute’s end, the women had written and developed their own “Magnanimity Statement©,” along with their vision, goals, and strategies to accomplish the call God has entrusted to each one of them. If not completed during the Institute, it was their homework assignment to
get it done!
Bishop Jaime Soto, ordinary of the Diocese of Sacramento opened our Conference with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, celebrated in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. What a beautiful and glorious cathedral! Newly renovated, this grace-filled structure helps to lift our minds and hearts to God and to the mysteries re-presented for us during the Sacred Liturgy. Should you ever get to Sacramento, make certain your visit there includes a tour of the Cathedral. Bishop Soto’s homily encouraged the attendees to live their call as women of grace, exemplified for us by the holy women who accompanied Our Lord.
Our conference presenters were Father Philip Scott, Family of Jesus Healer, Father Dwight Longenecker, Kathleen Beckman, Father Edmund Sylvia, C.S.C., and myself. The theme, “Healed for Holiness,” was discussed through the love of God and the light of faith as each presenter developed a different aspect of how we can find healing and hope for the various wounds of our heart. Saturday evening presented conference participants to enter into the Heart of Jesus through a healing service which included adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a healing Rosary, and a Eucharistic procession through the conference hall. Many women testified to an interior release, and healing of memories and sufferings some of which had been held since childhood.
The Conference ended as it had begun – with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Sunday liturgy was a Mass of gratitude and thanksgiving for the abundant blessings all had received.
My personal thanks to all of our speakers and participants. God is doing great thrings through each of you! Let’s continue together to fight the good fight and reclaim this culture for the Kingdom of God! A special thank you to the staff of Living His Life Abundantly®, both those at home and those on site for the conference. What a grace you are to me and to so many! To Thea, my daughter, who served as MC for the weekend – your receptivity to the movement of the Holy Spirit was awesome, just like you!
Our IT guys will be putting together some video “snippits” from the conference for you to view. In the mean time, please enjoy the pictures below that were sent to us by conference attendee and photographer in the making Karin Boston. Thank you, Karin! There are more of Karin's pictures posted on my Facebook page.
I do hope you can plan on being with us for the next Women of Grace event. Keep checking our site for upcoming information.
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