Women ‘come to the living waters’ at WINE Conference

The campus of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Baton Rouge was an oasis providing spiritual rejuvenation for hundreds of women attending the Women in the New Evangelization (WINE) Conference in July. The theme of the event was “A Spiritual Spa: Come to the Living Waters.”

Maria Vargo testified about how God’s merciful love led to a powerful conversion and gave her a new career dedicated to God in her talk, “Heavenly Hydrotherapy: Opening the Floodgates of Mercy."

Vargo, who is president and artistic director of G.K. Chesterton Entertainment, grew up in a Catholic home and went to church, was named in honor of Mary and knew the Lord, yet was strong willed and wanted to do things her way.

The Blessed Mother, however, drew her into a deep conversion over the years through a visit to Fatima, then Lourdes. Vargo discovered what it was to fall in love with Jesus and the Catholic faith.

“I said, ‘I am going to give my life to the Lord," Vargo said. 

God also gave her a new direction in life and answered her questions about what he wanted her to do with the gifts he had given to her.

She was eventually connected with St. Luke Productions, and she played the role of St. Faustina in a one-woman show that toured the United States and Canada.

Flooded with the message of God’s mercy through her work, Vargo emphasized nothing can keep people from God’s love.

“The message of mercy is a game changer,” said Vargo, 

Musical artist and author Kitty Cleveland shared her stories of facing stormy seas and river rapids in her talk, “Cryotherapy: Turning Sorrow into Joy.”

Cleveland was in Dulac Louisiana with family and friends, which included Father Mitch Pacwa SJ, when they went on a fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico. One of the husband’s wives, Sandra, advised them it was not a good idea to go out an hour out into the Gulf, where there is a potential for storms. The group went anyway, while Sandra stayed home. While the group was fishing, Sandra called them and said, “It’s storming here like I haven’t seen it storm in years and it’s headed your way.”

“We pulled up the GPS on our phones, and there is this giant red dragon of a storm. But it’s still a distance away. So (we) decided we could outrun the storm, we would go west and then north as it was heading southeast.  As we headed west, the storm kept growing … Finally, we had this moment, we looked at each other, and I said, “We have to go forward.”

Lightning flashed all around their small boat as they went into the storm. They were drenched with water and those who shielded others from the storm were battered by the wind. This continued for some time, while Cleveland “rebuked the storm in the name of Jesus.”

Cleveland also talked about her whitewater rafting trip adventure with a group of women in Snake River. 

While most of the group were in a large raft, Cleveland was placed in a “little rubber ducky raft” with a small woman whom she estimated “must have weighed 60 pounds.”

When Cleveland was told the woman would be steering and captaining their raft, she thought, “No, this is not how it works. I have to steer. I am going to be in control.”

But the group leader said Cleveland needed to be up front to “power for the dangers ahead.”

From that Cleveland learned the spiritual lesson: “Before you start your day, pray first.”

Cleveland and her tiny captain were ordered, “Whatever you do. Don’t stop.”

When they hit the first rapids the two panicked and stopped paddling, which caused them to almost flip over. They finally righted the boat with their paddles.

From that experience, Cleveland realized that “When we have our battles, we realize that we have stopped paddling. So, the next step is don’t panic, but if you do panic, keep moving ahead. Take the next right step.”

Realizing that everything within her wanted to take control by being the captain and steering, she realized, “When you stop paddling, you cancel progress.”

“Eventually, I learned to trust this woman that God placed in the rapids behind me and just enjoy the ride,” said Cleveland, who reminded the women that God is with them during the storms and rapids of life.

The final speaker of the day, Anne Trufant, founder of Mission on the Mountain, talked about the importance of spending time in prayer with God, and when he indicates “it’s time,” to take the next step. And, fortified by God, when they stand, they do it “with both feet in.”

Trufant urged the women to believe every word of Scriptures is inspired by God and that it is to be spoken.

Referring to the Psalms, Trufant said attendees should do so joyfully and know it’s God who heals them and crowns them with gladness.

“We need to let God work on our situation,” said Trufant. “We need to thank him ahead of time for what we do not have yet received.”

The women were sent out with an encouraging message from Kelly Wahlquist, founder of WINE and director of the Catechetical Institute at the St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.In her talk, “A well Spring of Water … and Wine,” 

Wahlquist pointed out that in the parable of the woman at the well, the woman was changed after she encountered Jesus. Before their meeting she felt rejected as an outcast, but afterward she was delighted by being chosen to evangelize the Good News.

Wahlquist assured the attendees that, likewise, Jesus has chosen them for a special mission.

“You are loved,” said Wahlquist.