First Annual NH Women's Conferencetaking place on May 1st

NH Catholic Women’s Conference 2010
"Being an Authentic Woman of God
in Today’s World"

Saturday, May 1st
St. Theresa Church, Rye Beach, NH
9 am to 3:30 pm

What does it mean to be a Catholic woman today?

Come for a day of spiritual refreshment and inspiration as you are guided through Mary’s words to find the answers to this and many more questions.

Seating is limited so make sure to register early! $30 per person includes lunch.

Speakers:

Genevieve Kineke
A convert to the faith
who has written extensively about the vocation
of woman and her role in the Church.

Dottie DeGrandis Sudol
A member of the Charismatic Renewal, author,
speaker and leader of her own Inner Healing Ministy.

sister deborah, osf
A member of the Little
Sisters of Saint Francis will speak on Mary's Words.

Virginia Carmody
A cradle Catholic, school
teacher, mother of two and a St. Michael's parishioner,
will give her inspiring talk on the rosary.

Sponsored by
the Women to Women ministry,
St. Michael Parish, Exeter, NH

Event Praise band includes
Debbie Ambrose, Lauren Barrett, Lorie Bromley, Vi Richter, and Susan Bailey. Susan will also lead her Sung Rosary during the day.

Registration form available on www.stmichaelparish.org or call Brian Harrison, St. Michael Parish, 772-3916

Spiritual Zest for January by Joyce Rupp

We prayed this prayer at our last meeting and loved it so much that we wanted to share it with you. Joyce Rupp was kind enough to give us permission to reprint it. Her website is at the bottom of this post. Treat yourself by paying a visit to it.

Each new year extends an invitation to re-enter the process of transformation, for self and for our world. This valuable process involves both a deliberate letting go of the past and an intentional welcoming of what is possible for the future. We stand at the threshold, looking back and looking ahead. We will make choices and decisions in 2010 of how we create our reality. We live on a wounded planet. We share life in a world where there is great suffering of humanity. But we do not despair. The Holy One continues to awaken us. We have what we need to bring peace to our world. This is my prayer for each and all of us:

To let go of the idea that I am separate from the rest of creation.

To welcome the countless ways that unite me with all that exists.

To let go of whatever keeps me indifferent to the suffering of others.

To welcome and act on the compassion and kindness stored within me.

To let go of past woundedness and hurts that I carry.

To welcome my ability to forgive and be healed.

To let go of aversion and avoidance of the unwanted.

To welcome people and events disturbing my comfort zone.

To let go of my inattentiveness to the beauty dwelling in existence.

To welcome the little joys and great wonders that are always present.

To let go of the pull of consumerism on my desires.

To welcome simple living and the bounty to be shared.

To let go of being imprisoned by self-centeredness.

To welcome the ways that life draws my gifts outward.

To let go of what stalls my spiritual growth.

To welcome quiet times to be with the Beloved.

To let go of worry about that which I fret and stew.

To welcome a stronger trust that all shall be well.

To let go of the desire to have a perfect life.

To welcome the taken-for-granted life that I have.

To let go of those who have departed this sphere of life.

To welcome the love and good memories they leave behind.

To let go of the old year’s troubles and burdens.

To welcome the new year with its wide open hope.

© Joyce Rupp www.joycerupp.com

Announcing dates for broadcast of Gather Us In Concert Highlights on Worcester Cable TV

February is the month! All month long, Worcester Cable TV, found on Channel 13 in Worcester, and on the web at http://www.wccatv.com/ will air specials covering the 2009 Gather Us In Conference. Here is the schedule:

"Close to Home" Special Part One - Paula D'Arcy
Monday, February 1, 8 pm
Tuesday, February 2, 1pm

"Close to Home" Special Part Two - Immaculee Ilibagiza
Monday, February 8, 8pm
Tuesday, February 9, 1pm

Other highlights from the conference will be shown throughout the month of February during "Close to Home's" regular broadcast hours:

Wednesdays, 9pm
Thursdays, 12:30 pm
Fridays, 1pm

Remember that if you don't live in Worcester, you can still watch the shows online at http://www.wccatv.com/ - it is streamed live right on the website.

The Commission is deeply grateful to Maureen Schwab, host of "Close to Home" and all of Worcester Cable TV for their support of the Gather Us In conference. They have graciously offered us all the DVDs from the conference which we will post on the Commission website at a later date. Stay tuned!