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ENDOW women's conference to explore female saints
By Julie Filby
All women are invited to the fifth annual Catholic Women’s Conference: “Called to be Saints: Living in the World but not of the World,” set for Oct. 15-16.
“It’s for all women, everywhere, period,” said Mary Sue Kenny, national facilitator coordinator for ENDOW, the conference sponsor. ENDOW, an acronym for Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women, is a Catholic education-based ministry that brings women together through study groups, conferences and retreats.
To help women realize how to live in the world, not of it, this year’s conference will highlight the lives of three holy women: Servant of God Dorothy Day, St. Catherine of Siena and St. Edith Stein.
“As women begin to learn the richness of our faith (through ENDOW), they’re searching for holy examples of how to live out the precious faith we share,” Kenny said. “Women saints are great examples for us, because they’re true examples of living holy lives outside the trend at the time.”
The conference will feature prominent Catholic speakers including Archbishop José H. Gomez, coadjutor archbishop for the Los Angeles Archdiocese and former auxiliary bishop in Denver.
“The mission of ENDOW is so important—I’m honored to have the chance to come back to Denver and speak about the vocation of women in God’s plan,” said Archbishop Gomez, one of ministry’s founding board members.
Archbishop Gomez will deliver the keynote address “Strong Women and Holy Mother: Lessons from Scripture and the Lives of the Saints.”
“My talk will be about the holy women in American Church history and in the Gospel,” Archbishop Gomez told the Denver Catholic Register. “The lesson they teach is beautiful and profound: that we must love with the heart of Jesus, and do everything we can to bring others to the heart of Jesus.”
Additional speakers include Dominican Sister of St. Cecilia Catherine Joseph Droste, O.P, author of an upcoming study guide on St. Catherine of Siena, who will speak on the saint’s doctrine of Christ as the bridge between heaven and earth; Elizabeth Mitchell, Ph.D., director of development and dean of students at Trinity Academy, and author of Edith Stein works, sharing how Stein serves as a model for women; and Terrence C. Wright, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary and author of ENDOW’s future study guide on Dorothy Day presenting how the activist’s example can influence one’s pursuit for sanctity in everyday life.
“I’ll introduce Dorothy Day to those who might not be familiar with her,” Wright said. “I also hope to clear up some misconceptions about her.”
Day, co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement, experienced challenges in her life including an abortion when she was young, followed by struggling as a single mother.
“She (Day) experienced a number of traumas and had to find a way to work through them,” Wright said. “Ultimately she came to know and embrace God’s mercy and love in all that she did.
“She challenges all of us to reflect on Christ’s call to take up our crosses, to serve the poor, and promote a more just and peaceful society,” he said.
Weekend events also include a teen retreat: “True Freedom: A Weekend Adventure Exploring the Big Questions” led by ENDOW’s Kate and Brigid Sweeney. It is designed for Catholic teens ninth through 12th grade, and costs $99.
A pre-conference day retreat, “Behold, I am with You Always: Daily Life in Christ,” will be offered Friday, hosted by spiritual director Father Scott Traynor, J.C.L., from the Diocese of Sioux Falls, S.D. The cost is $30, or free for current ENDOW facilitators.
In addition to the group presentations, the women’s conference will include cocktails, dinner, Mass, breakfast, small group discussions, lunch, confession and an opportunity to become an ENDOW facilitator. It will be held at St. Thomas More Parish, 8035 S. Quebec St. in Centennial. The fee of $135 includes all meals.
Participants can register online at www.EndowOnline.com. For questions, call 303-715-3224 or e-mail marysue.kenny@archden.org.
MORE INFORMATION
The conference is open to all women!
When: Oct. 15-16
Where: St. Thomas More Parish, 8035 S. Quebec St., Centennial
Register: www.EndowOnline.com
Fee: $135
Questions: Call 303-715-3224 or e-mail marysue.kenny@archden.org
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