Catholic women’s conference fosters deeper faith

By Sylvia L. White, The Catholic Sun
May 17, 2007

SCOTTSDALE — Hearing about God’s love brought women to tears and laughter at the second Heart of a Woman  conference.

The Catholic conference, which seeks to bring women closer to Christ by recognizing their human dignity, drew nearly 200 women from across the diocese May 4-5 at the Scottsdale Resort and Conference Center.

“We have a shallow understanding of women in our society,” said Mary Beth Bonacci, one of the keynote speakers.

Bonacci, who speaks nationally on Pope John Paul’s Theology of the Body, said that ignoring the differences between men and women encumbers women’s faith lives.

“We find fulfillment by giving ourselves in love,” she said, referring to the unique gifts of women.

Fr. Leo Patalinghug spoke on Novo Millennio Ineunte, an apostolic letter in which Pope John Paul II tells how God calls us to “go out into the deep” with our faith.

“Holiness is not for wimps,” he said. “Holiness will challenge every aspect of our being.”

The conference also offered time for reconciliation and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Janice Connell, who spoke of Marian devotion, told the women to hold onto their value by holding onto the value of Christ.

“Without the Church, we would die of spiritual starvation,” she said.

“This type of outreach ministry is a lot of work,” said Sheri Donaldson, conference chair.

The event took roughly two years of prayer and planning, but Donaldson remarked that “all the women there were really scooping up the blessings.”