Women of Grace® Event Details
"Emotional Balance in an Upside Down World" Women of Grace Retreat Malvern, Pennsylvania
Emotional Balance in an Upside Down World
Women of Grace Retreat
Malvern Retreat House, Malvern, Pennsylvania
July 24-26, 2026
Our presenters include:
Johnnette Williams
Fr. Hans Chamorro
Dr. Robert Enright
Gary Zimak
and
Vivian Akel, LCSW
These days our lives are so busy, our families have varying demands, and the stress of work and even our social lives can leave things feeling topsy turvy and overwhelming! Have you ever struggled with anxiety, fear, worry, depression, or something more challenging? Have you ever wondered causes it or if God is working in your life? Have you ever questioned how all of this is affecting your spiritual life? Our speakers will address these concerns, while giving us insight and practical tools to establish emotional balance so that we can live free in Christ Jesus!
Event Date/Time(s)
Event Information
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Event Speakers
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Vivian Akel LCSW
Vivian M. Akel LCSW is a Clinical Social Worker and Ignatian Spiritual Director. She is a lifetime Maronite Catholic and serves the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn as the Safe Environment Coordinator for the Protection of Children and Youth, Pre-Cana facilitator and seminary formator. Ms. Akel serves on the USCCB’s National Review Board serving as secretary. She has been in private practice for over 30 years combining her therapeutic clinical skills and Ignatian spirituality to foster insight into the movements of the heart, healing and prayer. She is a regular contributor to the Maronite Voice on topics of spirituality and prayer. Ms. Akel has been married for 40 years and has two adult children.
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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. -
Dr. Robert Enright
Dr. Robert Enright is a member of the Catholic Church. He is a Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States, a licensed psychologist, and the founder of the International Forgiveness Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to disseminating knowledge about forgiveness and community renewal through forgiveness. His International Forgiveness Institute organized the Jerusalem Conference on Forgiveness for the Renewal of Individuals, Families, and Communities at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center, 2017; the Rome Conference on Forgiveness at the University of Santa Croce, 2018; and the International Educational Conference on Love and Forgiveness in Madison, Wisconsin, 2022. For his innovative research on forgiveness, he received the American Psychological Association's Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology. (Photo courtesy of University of Wisconsin-Madison.)
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Gary Zimak
Gary Zimak is the author of fourteen books, including the best-selling Give Up Worry For Lent. After a 30 year career as a software developer, he has spent the last 15 years as a full time Catholic speaker and author. Gary is a frequent speaker at parishes and conferences across the country and is recognized as the leading Catholic speaker on the topic of overcoming anxiety. In addition, he is a regular guest on Catholic radio and hosts a weekly podcast. He lives in Southern New Jersey with his wife Eileen and daughters Mary and Elizabeth.
