In this year of Eucharistic revival across the nation, the theme of the 16th annual Columbus Catholic Women’s Conference – “This Wondrous Gift” – will center on the Eucharist.
The event will take place on Saturday, Feb. 17 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Kasich Hall of the Ohio Expo Center (state fairgrounds), with the closing Mass to be celebrated by Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services USA and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The National Centre for Padre Pio will make St. Padre Pio’s glove, a second-class relic, available for veneration throughout the conference.
Talks will be presented by Heather Khym, Father John Burns, Claire Dwyer and Father Timothy Anastos.
Khym is a co-host of the “Abiding Together” podcast. She and her husband, Jake, are the co-founders of Life Restoration Ministries. Heather Khym is passionate about evangelization, discipleship and creating an environment that leads people to a personal encounter with God. She is a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville and lives with her husband and three children in the Canadian province of British Columbia.
Father Burns is a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He is the author of the books “Adore: A Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation,” “Return: A Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation” and “Lift Up Your Heart: A 10-Day Personal Retreat with St. Francis de Sales.”
Dwyer, a Phoenix resident, is the author of “This Present Paradise: A Spiritual Journey with St. Elizabeth of the Trinity.” For the past three years, she has given talks and retreats on the life and teachings of this relatively unknown saint. Dwyer is also a contributor to the “New Wine” devotional and writes and edits for the Avila Foundation.
Father Anastos, of Chicago, is one of 50 National Eucharistic Preachers, a diverse group of priests who have been commissioned to enkindle the flame of Eucharistic faith and devotion in the U.S. through preaching about the Eucharist. He is the author of the book “One Hour at a Time: How to Find Jesus When You Need Him.”
Archbishop Broglio, originally from the Diocese of Cleveland, has been archbishop for the military services since 2007. He was ordained as an archbishop in 2001 and has served in many critical positions in Central America, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
The emcee for the conference will be Jennifer Rice, director of missionary discipleship for Hilliard St. Brendan the Navigator Church. Music will be provided by Curb records singer, songwriter and instrumentalist Marie Miller, who performed in front of 750,000 people at the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.
Breakfast pastries and lunch will be available. During the lunch break, about 20 priests will be hearing confessions. There also will be a period of Eucharistic Adoration, and throughout the day, vendors from nearly 100 Catholic-related organizations will be available at tables to answer questions and offer merchandise.
To register, go to www.columbuscatholicwomen.com. Registration is $50, with a $35 rate for students. There is no charge for religious sisters, priests and deacons. Scholarships are available for those who cannot otherwise afford to attend.