Challenged to evangelize: About 370 women attend Catholic conference

By Tanya Connor
The Catholic Free Press

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WEBSTER – Attendees of the Worcester Catholic Women’s conference were challenged to evangelize – and given suggestions for ways to do that.

“I thirst for the salvation of souls” (expanding on Jesus’ words from the cross), was the theme of the conference, held Saturday at St. Joseph School.  

About 370 participants came from Massachusetts and neighboring states for worship, talks, fellowship, and visiting of exhibitors’ tables, according to organizer Corinn Dahm.

The conference’s patroness was Our Lady of Guadalupe. Details about her apparitions in 1531 to St. Juan Diego in Mexico, and scientific discoveries about his tilma on which her image is still present, were shared in a talk and the program booklet.  

Dr. Madeline Colón-Usowicz, a family physician active in Oxford and Webster parishes, dedicated her talk about the Blessed Mother to Father Michael J. Roy, former pastor of St. Roch’s in Oxford, who died last February. She said Father Roy consecrated his parishes to Our Lady of Guadalupe. The mural of her and St. Juan Diego that he commissioned for the chapel at Sacred Heart of Jesus in Webster helped bring her back to more active practice of the faith and devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, she said.

Dr. Colón-Usowicz also touched on other images of Mary. She showed an artist’s rendition of St. Luke the Evangelist painting the Theotokos Hodegetria – the Mother of God who shows the Way – pointing to the Christ Child. That image is the prototype for the images of Our Lady of Czestochowa and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the doctor said.

She also told about Santa Maria de Guadalupe, a carving attributed to St. Luke, buried during troubled times in Spain. It was later unearthed near the Guadalupe River where Mary appeared, she said. She said Spaniards had a devotion to the Blessed Mother with this title, which Mary used when appearing to St. Juan Diego’s uncle.      

“As Divinity would have it ... Mary brought them together,” Dr. Colón-Usowicz told The Catholic Free Press. Indigenous Indians were slow to convert to the Christianity of the Spaniards, some of whom were cruel to them, but could connect with the faith through familiar symbols on the image on St. Juan Diego’s tilma.

“She continues to convert hearts today,” the doctor said of Our Lady of Guadalupe. She is patroness of the Americas and we must give her to the world. She said she considers herself a Guadalupana (one devoted to Our Lady of Guadalupe) to evangelize through Mary, who shows the way to Jesus.

Conference speaker Tim Francis shared evangelization suggestions that he has presented at other conferences in the diocese. They included showing loved ones information about scientific testing of what are called eucharistic miracles and wounds of a stigmatist. This woman was featured in a videotape of the 1999 FOX Network program “Signs from God – Science Tests Faith” that his praying mother gave him, which helped bring him back to the faith. (His website is sciencetestsfaith.com.) Happenings in the program were featured in the book “Reason to Believe” by Ron Tesoriero.

“I want you to have great hope,” Mr. Francis told listeners. “If you read my book, you’ll have massive hope.” After his talk, attendees lined up for autographs of his personal story, “From the Crack House to God’s House: The Power of a Mother’s Prayer.”

Mr. Francis had also spoken about the importance of going to confession.  

So did speaker Father Matthew Norwood, pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Westwood, who said, “The world needs friends of God reconciled to him.”  

Preaching at the closing Mass, Bishop McManus said the rich man in the day’s Gospel (Lk 16:19-31) committed a sin of omission; he ignored the beggar Lazarus, whom he could have helped. Tying this to evangelization, the bishop said we should reflect on when we failed to share the gift of faith.    

Adam Janke, chief operating officer of St. Paul Street Evangelization, suggested ways to bring people back to Jesus and the Church, including: living a holy life and praying like St. Monica, helping them discover Jesus before placing Christian life obligations on them, asking how things are really going for them and truly listening, asking forgiveness for one’s own or others’ offences, loving in radical ways, telling stories that pique curiosity, giving timely resources and invitations, and not giving up hope.  

Speaker Noelle Mering, author of “Awake, Not Woke: A Christian Response to the Cult of Progressive Ideology,” said people are deeply seeking God, and conference attendees need to deepen and direct this spiritual revival.

She spoke of adult children cutting off their parents because of ideological disagreements and thinking, “I don’t owe my parents anything because I didn’t choose to be born.” That idea says, “It is not good that you are here,” she maintained.

The point of the family is to communicate: “It is good that you are here,” she said. She told how a Christian invited a suicidal co-worker with a “dysfunctional background” to church, then dinner at someone’s home. There he experienced something new to him – healthy, happy family life. He returned to church the next week – to go to that home again. Now he’s a practicing Catholic.  

“There’s a deeper ‘why’ behind each of the things we do,” Mrs. Mering said. She said the early Christians evangelized through charity, chastity, cheerfulness and courage, which attract others.  

 “I want you to proudly wear your Our Lady of Guadalupe pin” (included in goody bags), to spark conversations and evangelize, Mrs. Dahm told attendees.  

She said next year’s conference is scheduled for Nov. 7.


Women impressed by speakers and learn about the faith

The Worcester Catholic Women’s conference – overall and specific parts - impressed attendees. 

“I love that we begin with adoration,” said Donna Gates, of St. Patrick Parish in Rutland. “I love the speakers and I love the focus on the Eucharist this year. This is a big deal this year; it’s a Jubilee Year.” She noted that St. Joseph Basilica (next to St. Joseph School where the conference was held) is one of the diocesan pilgrimage parishes for the Jubilee Year.  

“I just hope through this conference that the eucharistic heart of the Lord is known by all ... the greatest healing gift that he has given us – to receive the Eucharist in Holy Mass,” said her fellow parishioner Diane McNutt. 

Martha Greene, of Immaculate Conception Parish in Worcester, called Tim Francis “an exceptional speaker, down-to-earth, very relatable.”   

“All of the topics are very timely,” said Carolyn Pacek, of Christ the King Parish in Worcester, who attends Mass at the Southgate at Shrewsbury retirement community. She said she would prefer that speakers speak more slowly – but she wouldn’t want any talks eliminated.    
“The vendors – you wish you had more money,” she said.  

When seeking another ticket, she contacted organizer Corinn Dahm, and learned she was in Rome. She said Mrs. Dahm called her promptly upon returning home. 

“It’s always good to come,” said Patricia Faron, of St. Peter Parish in Worcester, who also goes to St. Aloysius-St. Jude Parish in Leicester. “It kind of brings to mind what you believe in but haven’t thought about for awhile ... about God’s love, and his acceptance of each person. ... The talks are always good, no matter what the subject is. ... I think we learned quite a bit about the way God persists in bringing us to him ... the power of praying for someone.” 

Betty Whittaker, of Mary Queen of Martyrs Parish in Plymouth, said the conference brought “an incredible message of hope. ... The speakers, they all poured out their hearts.” 

“I can’t imagine it being any better” - because people want to be here, said Mary Walczak, of Our Lady of the Angels Parish in Worcester. “The speakers are knowledgeable. ... You want to listen to them. Nothing boring about it. And the age range is amazing – from young people to grandmas.” 

“I’m 81, and every year I say, ‘This will probably be [my last conference],’” commented Donna Griffin, of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Grafton. Then she hears the speakers, and finds them so good she wants to return. 

She said she always finds connections with Our Lady of Guadalupe, conference patroness this year. Upon arriving, she found in the goody bag the pin depicting her, and put it on. Through presenter Dr. Madeline Colón-Usowicz she learned more about Our Lady of Guadalupe. 

“I’m feeling very uplifted,” Mrs. Griffin said. 

Christine Davenport, of St. Pius X Parish in South Yarmouth, had another idea. 

“You want to go out and evangelize in your own way, because we all have our niche,” she said. “We have to expand it. We don’t realize who we can touch. The biggest message was for our children who aren’t practicing their faith ... for us to help them.”