Women Reminded of Unique Mission at Conference

“Mary …” 

When Jesus said St. Mary Magdalene’s name, her grief at finding his tomb empty turned to joy as she saw he had risen from the dead.

Christ then sent her out to announce he had risen, making her the first to proclaim the good news.  

Hundreds of women were urged to listen to the voice of God calling them into their unique mission at the Women in the New Evangelization (WINE) conference July 24 at St. Aloysius Church in Baton Rouge. 

The conference, “Called by Name,” opened with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael G. Duca. Following praise and worship, Kelly Wahlquist, founder of WINE, told the women that God wants to commune with them and give them their mission. 

She noted God revealed himself directly to the prophets of the Bible. God spoke out of the burning bush to Moses and sent him to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt, instructing him to tell them “I AM” sent him. Other prophets such as Moses, Samuel and Jacob had direct encounters with God, said Wahlquist. 

Scriptures emphasize the “power of the name,” Wahl-quist said. When an angel appeared to Zechariah in the temple and said his wife, Elizabeth, would bear a son, the angel told Zechariah to name him John.

Likewise, Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter because he would be the “rock” upon which the church is built. When God converted Saul by blinding him as he was heading to Damascus to persecute Christians, God changed his name to Paul.  

Women, likewise, have been called by name into discipleship, according to Wahlquist. She highlighted the fact that the Gospel of St. Luke states that as Jesus and the 12 Apostles traveled and proclaimed the good news they were accompanied by women, who “provided for them out of their resources.” They included St. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna and others. 

“What does this mean to me today? Ask!” Wahlquist urged the attendees. 

In searching for answers, they will hear Jesus calling them to discipleship.

“Mary was so excited to share the good news, we should too,” said Wahlquist. 

Sonja Corbitt, Catholic radio and television personality, expanded on God’s revelation of his name as “I AM.” She said reading Scriptures and “coming face to face with the I AM” in eucharistic adoration is a way discover God’s mission for people’s lives.

She assured the women they are holy because God created them and breathed his spirit into them. 

“I am who I am because of the true I AM,” Corbitt said.  

God’s love is transparent and God wants “you to be you” by being real – by “letting your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no,’ ” Corbitt said.

“God calls us to be who we are to the world, not who we wish we should be,” said Corbitt.

Humility and forgiveness are among the steps people should take to become all God called them to be, emphasized Corbitt.

And most important is to remember they are never alone in their journey of faith.

“You are held in love all of the time,” said Corbitt.

Erin Franco of Baton Rouge, a mother of five, Catholic blogger and host of “Catholic Mom
Minute” on Catholic Community Radio, spoke about healing from anxiety.  

Franco, who with her husband Mike serves on the national level for The Domestic Church lay movement, shared her own journey with anxiety.

“Beating herself up” as she compared her own life to others’ that seemed so “picture perfect,”  Franco was conflicted as she struggled to keep up. She then received important advice: “Don’t compare yourself to others and never go into your head alone, always take Jesus with you.” 

This set her on a walk with Jesus that helped her find healing.

Gratitude and reading the Scriptures are the best ways to deal with anxiety, according to Franco. One of her favorite passages is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians in which he tells them that “God dwells with you in the Holy Spirit.”

To find peace, Franco urged the women to “let Jesus back into the classroom” of their minds and rest in his Sacred Heart. There they will find that they cannot do anything to make Jesus love them more or less.

“As you (do so) you will better understand yourself and each of these problems,” Franco said.

At the conclusion of the event ValLimar Jansen gave a presentation that drew a standing ovation and thunderous applause. Themed, “Hush, hush. Somebody’s Calling My Name,” it featured songs, inspirational messages and changes of wardrobe accessories.  

Starting with the Book of Genesis, in which “God looked at everything he created and said ‘It is good,’ ” Jansen made an artistic journey through the stories of the prominent women of the Bible.

 Jansen reminded the women that to hear the still, small voice of God people must “turn off the TV” and other distractions. And, “it’s not just in the church that we proclaim God but everywhere.”