In November 2024, St. Vincent Parish in Wildwood, Florida hosted an Advent retreat with Jonnette Benkovic Williams as their speaker. Many volunteers and staff members worked together to make this retreat a success. A special thank you goes out to Pastor Fr. Kenny, new parish Director of Faith Formation Maria Luz, and Nancy Elhajj (Regional Coordinator with Women of Grace).
Nancy Elhajj says, “A number of our volunteers have taken the Women of Grace Foundational Study and feel a bond of sacred sisterhood as a result. They know that service must always be rooted in prayer.
Key to the success of the retreat was that as early as August, we began to offer prayers, fasting, and sacrifices for Johnnette, our clergy, and all the participants. In the nine days leading up to the event, we offered a novena to Our Lady Undoer of Knots asking her to remove all obstacles.
The retreat opened with Mass celebrated by Fr. Kenny in honor of Our Lady. The more than 200 men and women participants were warmly greeted by the volunteers who escorted them to the church for Mass and then to the Family Life Center for the retreat. Several participants remarked to me that during each of Johnnette’s talks, “you could hear a pin drop.”
We pray that participants have come to know St. Vincent’s parish as a friendly, vibrant faith community and that God will bless us all abundantly as we await the coming of Our Savior at Christmas.”
-Nancy Elhajj
Johnnette Benkovic Williams and the Women of Grace® team are bringing the transforming message of authentic femininity to women around the world through life changing events. Women leave inspired and filled with holy zeal for their mission to “ aid humanity in not falling.” Find an event near you!
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