Our mission is to foster an appreciation for the personal dignity of women, to encourage women to know and love God, and to inspire them to use their feminine gifts for the transformation of family and society.
The CWC is an event for healing, for spiritual direction, for receiving tools for everyday living and resources for education. CWC is presented by Pilgrim Center of Hope’s Ministry of Conferences.
All women are welcome. You don’t have to be perfect to begin anew in Christ!
We especially thank the following for their support toward the costs of CWC.
September 20 & 21, 2019
Activity Center @ St. Margaret Mary Church
1314 Fair Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78223
American Sign Language Interpretation will be available for the Deaf Community.
April 12 & 13, 2019
Thank you to all who joined us at the Event Center @ St. Mark the Evangelist Church for a transformative event!
2019 Signature Tee Shirt
This year’s shirt is a tribute to Our Lady of Hope, who appeared to little children in Pontmain, France wearing a beautiful blue robe covered with stars. The design also features our conference theme; Jesus’ invitation to you and every person, from the Gospel according to Matthew… “Come to me, all who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Royal blue. Spun cotton.
You can reserve your Signature Shirt when you register. Before clicking “Checkout,” also be sure to select how many shirts you want to order.
Experience Healing.
Unload your heavy baggage at Jesus’ feet. Encounter Him in our Adoration & Healing Service. Receive his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Spend quiet time in our Prayer Room. Enjoy the medicine of sisterhood and laughter!
Find Direction.
Speakers at this conference speak to all women. Come and gain an appreciation for your personal dignity, receive encouragement to know and love God, and inspiration to use your unique gifts for the transformation of your family and society.
Fr. Daniel Villarreal
Celebrating Mass & Presenting at CWC:
"Mother of Mercy: How the Virgin Mary Brings Us to Healing" - From the moment of her yes to be the Mother of God, Mary had to learn how to integrate God‘s promise that her Son would be King of all, with the reality of Jesus’ journey to the Cross. Father Daniel will share with u how our Blessed Mother has been specially prepared to help each of us find our unique dignity as daughters of God through the seemingly contradictory reality of our lives.
About Father Daniel:
Father Daniel Villarreal was born in Monterrey, México. He holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry, and completed graduate studies in bioethics in Mexico. His background includes work as a chemist in Switzerland and as a high school and college professor in his native country.
Father Daniel’s vocation call originated through experiences he had while serving in a vibrant evangelization ministry for many years. After a long discernment process, he came to San Antonio in 2012, joining Assumption Seminary. He pursued graduate studies in spirituality at Oblate School of Theology, where he researched the areas of charismatic spirituality and inner healing.
He is the founder of a lay ministry that works in Mexico and the United States dedicated to the evangelization of the youth and young adults. He coordinates a family catechesis program present in several parishes of our Archdiocese, and is also the director of Dosis, a ministry of inner healing and deliverance.
Fr. Daniel was very recently ordained to the priesthood on May 20, 2017, and serves as parochial vicar for Holy Trinity parish. We love the presence and energy he brings, and we believe you will, too!
Shannon Ochoa
Presenting at CWC:
"Am I Good?: Life, Love, & our Desires" - What makes a woman “good”? Is it her choices, her internal dispositions, her seamless integration into the feminine status quo? Shannon will share her winding road of self-discovery in the midst of same-sex desires. Journey from lost to found; called by name and invited into the very Heart of God.
&
"Fellow Travelers: Accompaniment Beyond the LGBT+ Paradigm" - As culture’s ship of sexual identity sails for open waters, many well-meaning Christians watch in confusion and dismay. In our increasingly open society, what is a Christian to make of the changing attitudes towards gender, sex, and love? How do we balance truth with love, or accompaniment with our heavenly destination? Are we even going the same direction? This presentation explores a relevant, Christ-centered pastoral response to persons on the LGBT+ spectrum. Discover how to respond to those who invite you into their journey by coming out.
About Shannon:
As a young girl, Shannon spent Sunday mornings in the pew eating contraband pretzels out of her dress pockets. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in Social Welfare and Gender & Women’s Studies. She has fallen for men and for women, but ultimately she fell for the beauty of Christ and His Church.
Shannon is the co-founder of Eden Invitation, celebrating personal integration and promoting solidarity beyond the LGBT+ paradigm. Prior to founding Eden Invitation, Shannon worked in college campus ministry with The Evangelical Catholic and Brew City Catholic. Her current roles include relationship nurturer, community developer, and social media quote-finder.
We‘re excited to welcome Shannon to CWC to share with us about God’s beautiful and freeing invitation for us!
Renee Polka
Presenting at CWC:
"The Waiting Game: Finding Joy in our Seasons of Impatience" - Is it possible to live joyfully and intentionally in our seemingly endless waiting for what we want? Whether it is the heartache of waiting for a baby, a spouse, or a new career, we often find ourselves frustrated and lost in these seasons of life. Renee will share with us how the gift of prayer can help us turn the wait into a journey of joy.
About Renee:
Renee is a member of the Pilgrim Center of Hope Speaker Team; a young professional with a background in education, linguistics, and fundraising. She currently works for University Health System Foundation raising funds for community health and wellness initiatives.
In 2015, Renee attended the Theology of the Body Institute for the Head and Heart Immersion course with Christopher West and has taken continuing education courses in theology with Father Nathan Cromly of the St. John Institute. She teaches CCD for St. Brigid’s parish in San Antonio, and considers praying novenas her primary love language.
When she is not planning weekend trips with friends, you can find her reading overdue library books, bargain hunting at garage sales with her parents, or endlessly listening to podcasts.
Alexandra Kubebatu
Presenting at CWC: "Finding the Lord’s Peace Within the Busy-ness of Life" Finding peace within the daily grind may seem impossible to attain. As women, having to juggle many different roles can leave us feeling defeated and too physically and emotionally exhausted to discover real peace. We know prayer is needed to acquire peace but how do we balance?
In this talk, Alexandra will discuss the fallacy of striving for perfect “balance” in our lives, reveal how the saints acquired supernatural peace, and identify ways to begin acquiring the Lord’s peace within our own lives.
About Alexandra:
Alexandra Kubebatu is a parishioner at St. Matthew Catholic Church in San Antonio and a member of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites. She conducts workshops addressing faith and family issues, as well as the art and science of Catholic journal writing. Alexandra authored and designed five books including the 40 Days of Greater Peace and 40 Days of Greater Love series of Catholic journals and coloring book companions.
Alexandra serves as a member of Pilgrim Center of Hope’s Speaker Team. Her greatest honor and joy is being a wife and mother of three lovely children.
Mary Jane Fox
Presenting at CWC:
"A Journey of Healing with Jesus" - What is your deepest yearning? Do you long for peace and healing? Our surrender to Christ implies a readiness to let him fully transform us, without setting any limit to the modification of our nature under his influence. Mary Jane will guide us so you may place yourself anew in God’s hands, again and again to experience his healing.
About Mary Jane:
After an extraordinary encounter with Christ, Mary Jane and her husband, Deacon Tom Fox, left their careers to work full-time for their local parish. In 1993, they founded Pilgrim Center of Hope as a response to the Church’s call for a new evangelization.
In 2001, Mary Jane founded the Catholic Women’s Conference to help women discover their dignity and vocation as daughters of God.
| FRI., SEPT. 20, 2019 | |
| 3:00 PM | Doors Open |
| Music Begins | |
| Exhibitors Open | |
| 5:00 PM | Event Begins |
| Rosary Meditation | |
| Shannon Ochoa – “Am I Good? Life, Love, & Our Desires” | |
| Break | |
| Alexandra Kubebatu speaks on healing & joy (Title TBA) | |
| Benediction & Healing Service | |
| 9:00 PM | Departure in silence |
| SAT., SEPT. 21, 2019 | |
| 7:00 AM | Doors Open |
| Music for Meditation | |
| 8:00 AM | Mass with Fr. Daniel Villarreal |
| Break | |
| Fr. Daniel Villarreal – “Mother of Mercy: How the Virgin Mary Brings Us to Healing” | |
| Women On A Mission | |
| Renee Polka – “The Waiting Game: Finding Joy In Our Seasons of Impatience” | |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch |
| Raffle Drawing & Return Song | |
| Shannon Ochoa – “Fellow Travelers: Accompaniment Beyond the LGBT+ Paradigm” | |
| Break with Praise & Worship | |
| Mary Jane Fox – “A Journey of Healing with Jesus” | |
| Meditation on God’s Mercy | |
| 4:00 PM | Departure |
Schedule subject to change
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Prepare Your Heart
The CWC Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for the constant love you have for me. Thank you for the gift of life and the gift of faith.
Today, take me into your Sacred Heart and renew my life. I open my heart to your grace, to be healed where healing is needed. Replace any wounds or worries with your peace and joy. Send your Holy Spirit into my life. Guide me to be the woman you have created me to be: your beloved daughter, disciple, and friend. Make me a woman of faith, hope and charity. Please remove any obstacles which keep me from living this way.
Lord, pour out your grace upon this year’s Catholic Women’s Conference, upon the planning efforts, and upon many women – that they may hear your invitation and respond. May the Conference be a time of spiritual renewal, healing, reconciliation and joy for all who attend.
Thank you, Lord Jesus. For all this, I pray in your sweet Name.
Mary, Mother of God, Our Lady of Hope, pray for us.
Amen.
Hail, Mary…
Catholic Women’s Conference – Prayer Brunch Table Sponsor
Show your support for the Catholic Women’s Conference. Sponsor this ministry table at the Prayer Brunch, and help us continue!
Your generous gift will help provide…
- Speaker stipends, lodging
- Printing of event programs, flyers, prayer cards
- Rosary bracelet for each woman
- Interpreters for the Deaf
- Audio-visual costs
- Catering
- Venue rental
Our Thanks to You
Priority seating for 10 at your Prayer Brunch table
Blessed item from Holy Land
Listing in Prayer Brunch program
How can I bring a CWC to my local area?
We encourage you to build up and strengthen the women’s conferences already taking place in your area or local diocese. Contact your diocesan office to see what is available.
If your area does not yet offer a CWC, we are here to help! Contact us!
Having offered the Catholic Women’s Conference for 17 years, and having mentored rural communities and other dioceses to begin their own event, we at Pilgrim Center of Hope are confident that many women are ready to bring a CWC closer to their own community.
How can my parish host a mini CWC for our local women?
So glad you asked! Pilgrim Center of Hope will soon be formally announcing its Speaker Team, enabling you to call on PCH for a mini-CWC at your parish, or other parish-based events; like Evenings/Mornings with Mary, Socials with the Saints, and Spiritual Pilgrimages.
Plus, PCH will be offering a new “Meet the Master” Saturday morning reflection series at our peaceful Center in 2019, and continuing the beloved monthly Socials with the Saints.
Yes, this all means more opportunities to encounter Jesus! And still more is on the horizon!
