By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Thanks to the efforts of the Iowa Catholic Conference, voters in Iowa will be able to voice their opinion about marriage on a November 2 ballot after being shut out of the decision by the state’s Supreme Court that legalized same-sex marriage last year.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Late Friday evening, a jury of six Dearborn, Michigan residents returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of breach of the peace charges, which were brought against four Christian evangelists who were peacefully proselytizing to Muslim youths during the Arab International Festival on June 18, 2010.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
A small group of citizen watchdogs uncovered evidence of massive voter fraud in Texas during the 2008 election, and their findings are now in the hands of the Texas Secretary of State.
Singer Lynn Cooper
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!
Opening Mass with Bishop Jaime Soto
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.
Fr. Ed Sylvia, CSC & Fr. Dwight Longenecker
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.
Audience full of beautiful Women of Grace
Women of Grace Staff: Joanne, Jean and Thea
Praise
More praise
The Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Lynn Cooper leading us in praise
Kathleen Beckman signing books
Me and Fr. Philip Scott
Closing Mass
Closing Mass
Thank you to Karin Boston who provided us with these lovely pictures!
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Citing the fact that American students attend school about a month less than children in other advanced nations, President Obama suggested today that one way of improving education in America will be to lengthen the school year.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
While speaking at the Religion Newswriters Association this weekend, Denver’s Archbishop Charles J. Chaput chastised the press for its ill-informed coverage of Christianity and defended his reasons for refusing all interview requests from the New York Times.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
A new and disturbing report by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has found that 56,300 Americans become infected with HIV every year and that one in five people living with the lethal virus are unaware of their infection.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
A Malaysian astrophysicist is set to be appointed by the United Nations as the Earth’s “first contact” should any aliens from outer space decide to pay us a visit.
JH asks: “A friend of mine has about 30-50 supplements she got at a health store that she is taking along with teas that are from India and I suspect are new age because of the description about “spiritual powers” on the label. I have suggested that she throw them out. Not all of the supplements may be new age, but her dependence on them is not showing trust in God. She has money and can afford to toss them. Do you think she should throw them away or is it permissible to use them up and not repurchase them? My thinking is that if you have holistic products in your home, you also have demons connected to them. Should we renounce our attachments to holistic products by getting rid of them and offering up any monetary loss as reparation? My own motto, is “When in doubt, throw it out!” What’s more important…trusting in supplements or trusting in God? Should anything stand in the way of our relationship with God, particularly supplements?”
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
In response to recent events involving a surprise investigation of what the media is reporting as the Vatican bank, Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi has issued a letter clarifying certain facts about the institution, known as the Institute for Religious Works (IOR), that are being misreported.
