‘Treasuring Womanhood’: Catholic women acquire ‘spiritual weapons’ at conference

Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel celebrates Mass during the “Treasuring Womanhood” conference on April 18 at the Indianapolis Convention Center. Also pictured, from left, are Msgr. Harold Knueven, administrator of St. Mary Parish in Greensburg; altar server Timothy DeCrane, a member of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Indianapolis; and Father Luca Amandua, a priest visiting from the Diocese of Arua, Uganda. (Photo by Ann Margaret Lewis)

By Ann Margaret Lewis (Special to The Criterion)

About 500 Catholic women came seeking “spiritual weapons” at the sixth annual “Treasuring Womanhood” conference on April 18 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.

This year’s event was focused on helping women build spiritual strength to combat a culture that is often bent on the destruction of souls, especially the souls of a woman and her family.

A highlight of the daylong conference, which featured a recitation of the rosary as well as opportunities for confession and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, was a Mass celebrated by Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel, vicar general.

“[The term] ‘Spiritual weapons’ … does not conjure up gentle feminine images,” Msgr. Schaedel said in his homily. “Nor does ‘weapons’ seem to fit with the Christian message. … But because we are Christians, we have a spiritual fight on our hands.”

And for that fight, he said, “we must be united, … we must pray Mary’s own strategy—the rosary, … and we must participate in Divine Mercy, particularly the seven spiritual works of mercy.”

Keynote speaker Johnette Benkovic shared a similar message.

“God is calling an army of women, an army of holy women, to convert this culture through your femininity,” she told conference participants.

Later, quoting Pope Paul VI’s address to women from the Second Vatican Council, Benkovic added, “ ‘It is for you to save the peace of the world.’ ”

Benkovic, who lives in Oldsmar, Fla., and is the founder and president of Living His Life Abundantly and host of the show The Abundant Life on EWTN, was the first speaker to address the conference.

In her dynamic and often poignant presentation, she reflected on Ephesians (Eph 1:3-4), which says that we are given every grace and blessing to surmount the challenges we face in life.

Speaking of St. Louis de Montfort’s prediction that great saints will come in the latter days wielding the powerful tools of Scripture and the rosary to bolster their spiritual fortitude, she told her audience, “You have been chosen by God, you have been equipped by God, you have been named by God, and I say, ‘Go get ’em!’ ”

Another keynote speaker, author Elizabeth Ficocelli of St. Pius X Parish in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, offered a presentation on Marian apparitions throughout the last two centuries as well as the spiritual weapons that the Blessed Mother has given to her children through them, including the rosary, the Miraculous Medal and the brown scapular.

Ficocelli reminded conference attendees that Mary continues to care for her daughters, providing them with numerous ways to receive divine grace, the key to combating spiritual decay.

Keynote presenter Mercy Father Christopher J. Crotty of Auburn, Ky., a frequent speaker about the Church’s teachings of the Holy Spirit and a leader of healing missions, delivered an energetic talk that explored personal healing through the sacraments and frequent prayer as a means of growing in sanctity.

He shared several personal stories of his healing ministry in the prison system in Kentucky, and how such deep spiritual healing among inmates resulted in conversions and the growth of an almost monastic holy brotherhood within prison walls.

“When we speak of spiritual warfare,” Father Crotty said, “this is the first step—to surrender to our Lord Jesus Christ as we are. Because when we surrender everything over to Christ, we’re taking any territory that was in the devil’s hands.”

Father Crotty concluded the conference with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and a healing service in which he blessed and prayed over attendees with a reliquary crucifix. He ended the prayers with solemn Benediction.

The “Treasuring Womanhood” conference was attended by women from parishes throughout the archdiocese.

Violinist Teresa Fletcher, a member of Our Lady of the Greenwood Parish in Greenwood and a junior at the University of Indianapolis, was part of the music ministry for the event. She spoke eagerly about this program, which was her second conference, and said her enthusiasm from last year’s program convinced her mother and sister to attend “Treasuring Womanhood” with her this year.

“It just helps me have a greater appreciation for my faith,” Fletcher said. “And it helps me to know that I’m not the only female out there who believes these things.”

Servants of the Gospel of Life Sister Diane Carollo, director of the archdiocesan Office of Pro-Life Ministry and emcee of the program, agreed.

“The call to holiness is a constant theme at all the ‘Treasuring Womanhood’ conferences,” Sister Diane said. “The speakers offer the best in authentic Catholic spirituality and theology.”

Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary parishioner Kathy Denney of Indianapolis, a conference organizer, said the success of “Treasuring Womanhood” is due to its dedicated volunteer staff and the priests who come every year to hear confessions.

“And to have each year Sister Diane as emcee and Msgr. Schaedel as our homilist probably does as much to make the conference a success as the wonderful speakers do,” Denney said. “I say that in truth, and it comes from the women themselves.”

(Ann Margaret Lewis is a member of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Indianapolis.) †