Ally Musike, a parishioner of Sacred Heart, Bethlehem, was intrigued by Bishop Alfred Schlert’s homily on the Parable of the Prodigal Son during Mass at the Women’s Lenten Conference, March 7 at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown.
Musike described the unique insights of Bishop’s reflection. “While the parable only mentions the father, son, and brother, [Bishop said that he] likes to ponder the role of the mother. He believes the mother's prayers and belief in her wayward son helped to soften the father's heart toward the son."
To Musike, this perspective highlighted “the important role of women and how we can use our gifts to help soften hearts around us.” The topic of women’s giftedness was a recurring theme at the conference.
“Love, Hope, Holiness: The Antidote for the Attack on Our Family and Faith” was the theme for the conference, sponsored by the Bishop’s Commission for Women (CFW) and attended by 300 women.
The Angelorum Choir provided music for the opening Mass, which was celebrated by Bishop Schlert.
Noelle Mering, the first presenter, spoke of women’s “superpower of relationality,” a gift that allows women to act on the foundational truth that “we all belong, in some way, to one another.”
Mering is a Fellow in the Ethics and Public Policy Center and the author of “Awake, Not Woke: A Christian Response to the Cult of Progressive Ideology.” Her talk, “Identity and Invitation,” explored the obfuscation of identity in today’s culture.
“Women, we are called to be daughters and then mothers – spiritual, biological, psychological, or otherwise,” she told the gathering. “We all have that calling.”
Mering shared a tale of three bricklayers at the site of a cathedral. The first said, “I’m laying bricks.” The second said, “I’m building a wall.” The third said, “I’m building a cathedral,” because he had the end in mind. He had the “why” that confirms one’s mission.
“So what is our mission?” asked Mering. “It's none other than the mission of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who tasked each of us to go out to the world and to bring Him to everyone we meet.”
Mering’s talk was followed by Eucharistic Adoration, which included a half-hour “guided adoration” segment. The Sacrament of Reconciliation was also offered.
The afternoon speaker was clinical psychologist, author, and TV show host Dr. Ray Guarendi, commonly referred to as “Dr. Ray.” His presentation was titled “Laughter: The Sanity of the Family.”
“There’s a huge factor,” said Dr. Ray, “that’s totally changed the way we raise kids. And that factor is me. It’s the shrinks, the experts. Their message is ‘You're just a mother. You can stumble your way along, and hopefully you won't foul it up too bad.’”
In his humor-laced presentation, Dr. Ray assured parents that they have the authority to fulfill their vocation.
Although it involves “fighting the culture every step of the way,” Dr. Ray said firm discipline is necessary to raise good kids. “We discipline because we love.
“I don't care how positive and affirming you are, I don't care how much active listening you do, I don't care how many win-win scenarios you set up. Without discipline, there are no morals and character.”
Dr. Ray challenged his listeners with this question: “If you want to look at your child at age 22 and say, ‘I’m not real objective, but I think he’s one in 100,’ are you prepared to be a one in 100 parent?
“The conference was wonderful!” said Jenn Strock, a parishioner of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Hellertown. “What I experienced was much more than I expected. There was such a clear, beautiful presence of authentic femininity.”
The next CFW event will be an Advent retreat on Saturday, Dec. 12 at St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown. For more information on the Commission, go to www.allentowndiocese.org/commissionforwomen.
Photos by Norm Steinruck.
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