By ROB HERBST The Catholic Week MOBILE – The Archdiocese of Mobile’s “Called to Love” women’s conference returns next month and it will celebrate all aspects of what it means to be a Catholic woman.
“In our society right now, there are a lot of questions about what it means to be a woman,” said Janet Masline, associate director of the Archdiocese of Mobile Office for Evangelization and Family Life. “We’re just trying to bring it down to the basics of what it means to be a woman physically, to our place in society and to our places as daughters of God.”
This year’s conference is set for Saturday, Oct. 8 at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School with the theme being “Freedom of the Feminine Genius.” It starts with 8:15 a.m. Mass celebrated by Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi at neighboring St. Mary Parish before moving to the high school. The conference will conclude at 3:30 p.m.
Three keynote speakers will highlight the day and focus on specific areas of womanhood.
Said Masline: “We’re going to be looking at the beauty of women physically, psychologically/sociologically and spiritually.”
nCoastal Alabama Community College adjunct nursing instructor and registered nurse Victoria Mullek Maynard will delve into the beauty of the physical woman.
nDr. Bridget Hannahan, a clinical member of the Catholic Psychotherapy Association, will discuss the psychological/sociological aspect of being a woman.
nLauren Alley of Vagabond Missions, which serves inner city and urban teens, will highlight what it means to be a woman spiritually.
nChelsea Lipford Wolf, host of the television show “Today’s Homeowner,” will serve as emcee. (deleted vendors)
Called to Love is held every two years. The conference in 2020 was a hybrid in-person/virtual model because of COVID-19. This year will be special because everyone can attend in person.
“The conference gives us opportunities to learn and worship, but most of us enjoy just having time to be with other women,” Masline said. It’s just a fun day away from our normal responsibilities.”
Masline said the conference is geared for all women from high-school age to “seasoned-citizens.”
“There will be some table talk after each of the speakers so it’s great to be able to bring so many different-aged women with so many different experiences together to learn from each other,” she said.
Tickets are $40 for adults and $10 for students and can be purchased at mobarch.org/called-to-love. Masline added she recommends attendees buy tickets early because space is limited.