Women of Grace® Event Details
Benedicta Institute Fall 2024 Week-Long Immersive: The Dignity of Dust: Contemplating our Humanity
Benedicta Institute for Women Week-Long Immersive:
The Dignity of Dust: Contemplating our Humanity
Theme: God and the Human Person
Instructor: Dr. Donald Wallenfang, OCDS
(3 equivalency credits)
According to the timeless ancient axiom, agere sequitur esse – “doing follows being.” In order to know how to act, we first must know who we are. This course asks the question, “Who is the human being?” Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross and Caryll Houselander are two prominent twentieth-century Catholic women who offer sustained reflection on this vital question. By exploring their enlightening lives and writings, students will encounter the truth, goodness and beauty of the meaning of being human.
Location:
St. Bernard Abbey
1600 St Bernard Drive Cullman, AL 35055
This beautiful monastery, located in Cullman, Alabama, is surrounded by 100-year-old trees and rolling countryside. The peaceful grounds are perfect for study, prayer, and spiritual growth! Stroll around the lake, visit the historic Ave Maria Grotto, or sit before the Blessed Sacrament. There are many opportunities to meet Our Lord through His creation or in prayerful solitude!
*On-site accommodations; rooms with two, twin beds and private bath
*Daily Mass in the Abbey Church
*Meals included
*Community of Benedictine Monks
Special Visit:
Spend a day at Mother Angelica’s Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville! Pray the Rosary with the Sisters, attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, spend time in Adoration, tour the St. John Paul II Center, visit the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, browse the gift shop in The Castle of San Miguel where classes will be held, and enjoy the countryside!
(Course will be offered in-person in conjunction with the Canvas platform.)
We will also be joined by Program Leader, Johnnette Benkovic Williams, Founder and President of Women of Grace and the Benedicta Institute for Women.
Required Texts to purchase:
Caryll Houselander, The Passion of the Infant Jesus, Critical Edition
John Paul II, Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body
Donald Wallenfang, OCDS, Human and Divine Being
Donald Wallenfang, OCDS, Metaphysics
Donald Wallenfang, OCDS, Phenomenology
Students are responsible for providing their own writing supplies. In addition, it is required that you bring your laptop, iPad, or tablet and all the necessary power cords and chargers.
Limited financial aid is available. To Inquire, please call 800-885-5452.
(The pre-requisite for registering for the Benedicta Institute for Women is graduation from the Full of Grace Foundational Study Program.)
The mission of the Women of Grace® Benedicta Institute for Women® is to educate, develop, and train Catholic women to be leaders and mentors of the day by way of the Feminine Genius and their gift of spiritual maternity.
The purpose of Certification in Catholic Women’s Leadership through the Benedicta Institute for Women® is found in the Institute’s motto, agere sequitur esse (doing follows being). The woman who receives the Certification in Catholic Women’s Leadership will be formed and shaped according to the heart and mind of Holy Mother Church in the fullness of the Feminine Genius, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Through the spiritual and leadership formation provided, she will be imbued with the Marian character, confidence, and skill to bring Jesus Christ to the world and the world to Jesus Christ, no matter her position or state in life. In so doing, she will do much to “aid humanity in not falling” and to create a civilization of love.
Benedicta Institute for Women Cancellation Policy
- All cancellation requests must be made in writing, and you must send it via email to this
address, Benedicta@womenofgrace.com, and receive confirmation your email has been
received. - Registration Fee- The registration fee is not refundable, as it is an administrative cost for
record creation and management of your account. - Tuition- Tuition for the Benedicta Institute for Women is non-refundable but is
transferrable for upcoming offerings. A credit will be placed on your Benedicta Institute
participant account, and you may use that credit towards another week-long immersive or
any of the other online or in-person opportunities that will be available. - Room and Board- If applicable, pre-paid room and board costs will be refunded if
cancellation occurs no later than 45 days prior to the event date. - Exceptions may be made to this cancellation policy and will be reviewed and negotiated
on a case-by-case basis.
Event Date/Time(s)
Event Information
Helpful Tools
Event Speakers
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Johnnette Benkovic Williams
Johnnette Benkovic Williams is Founder and President of Women of Grace®, a Catholic apostolate for women featuring a number of outreaches including conferences, media, study groups and more.
After years of being a non-practicing Catholic, Johnnette experienced a deep conversion back to her Catholic faith in 1981. Her conversion sparked a new vocation: sharing the Gospel message through the utilization of media. She has been an inspiring and consistent presence on EWTN Catholic radio and EWTN Catholic television for over 30 years. -
Donald Wallenfang, OCDS, PhD
Donald Wallenfang, OCDS, PhD is a Secular Discalced Carmelite, Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, and Academic Advisor for the Benedicta Institute. He received his MTS from St Norbert College and his PhD in systematic theology from Loyola University Chicago. He has published twelve books as well as numerous articles and book chapters on a variety of topics in Catholic theology and philosophy. His areas of expertise merge at the intersection of Carmelite spirituality, phenomenology, metaphysics, and sacramental theology. Wallenfang served in full-time Catholic youth and young adult ministry for nine years. He has been married to his wife, Megan, for twenty-three years and has six children.
