When Catherine Liberatore and Stephanie Clancy attended the Catholic Women’s Conference two years ago, they left inspired. So, when they learned that the founder, Jeanne Link, was stepping down from her role coordinating the conference, they volunteered to serve as co-chairs for the next conference, scheduled for October 2020.
As Catherine and Stephanie formed a committee and threw themselves into the planning, they could never have anticipated the challenges and obstacles that would arise thanks to a global pandemic. But though the committee had to do some rethinking and practical planning, they stayed the course.
“It would have been easy to say we’re doing something virtual,” Catherine told me when we chatted about the conference the other night.
Instead, they have planned a half-day, in-person, outdoor event—with an alternate virtual option for people to purchase recordings of the day (and two bonus talks) to watch later. They have worked to make sure the experience is accessible to people of varying comfort levels with public gatherings.
Women from around Maryland will gather from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, at St. Joseph Fullerton Catholic Church in Nottingham, Md., for “Maryland Catholic Women’s Conference: Made for JOY!” The conference will be held rain or shine under tents as attendees wear face coverings while socially distancing.
“There are a couple of words I’ve learned to dislike during this time: One of them is ‘unprecedented,’ and another one is ‘pivot,’” Catherine said. “The one word we could all stand to hear more of is joy. This is what we’re hoping this day brings, the joy of coming together in faith again and joy in our church again. Even through all that’s going on, there is still joy to be had.”
Joy has been the theme from the earliest days of planning the conference.
“We feel really strongly that the goal of the day is to uplift women. Whatever we’re going through, we’ve got sisterhood in the faith, we’ve got community, we’ve got fellowship, we’ve got the comfort of knowing that God is with us through it all,” Catherine said. “This is really a day to take for yourself for renewal—the renewal that we need as women to rejuvenate ourselves and be fed a little bit.”
In addition to a Mass celebrated by Archbishop William Lori, confessions, and adoration, the event will feature speakers Kelly Wahlquist, founder of Women in the New Evangelization, Jeanne Link, and Annie McHugh. The Sisters of Life and Dr. Heidi Schreiber-Pan will be recording talks to be available afterward online.
The Catholic Women’s Conference was first held in 2009 at St. John’s in Westminster, Md., and was held most recently in Emmitsburg, Md. This year’s conference found its way to St. Joseph Fullerton, where Fr. Jesse Bolger, pastor, Rev. Francis Ouma, the associate pastor, the staff, and the strong volunteer base have been warm, welcoming, and determined to help the 2020 event succeed.
“In one of the last emails Fr. Jesse sent me, he said that our Lord and our Lady want this to happen, and it will,” said Catherine.
Registration is open, and tickets are still available for in-person or online. You can find more details on the event’s Facebook page or the Maryland Catholic Women’s Conference website.
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