Honoring Women’s Dignity

Maybe you are a student with a busy life of studying, volunteering, working, discerning.  In the midst of the busyness you have the task of figuring out your life.

Maybe you are a working woman with bills to pay, events to plan, decisions to make, and questions to answer.  Every day you learn more what trust in God is really all about.

Maybe you are a wife and mother with a shirt that never stays clean, rooms that never stay tidy, errands to run, and activities to coordinate.  You have been blessed with a husband and children, and you really look forward to a night out with the girls.

Sometimes in the midst of our beautiful, busy days we become worn down and we can lose focus.  God made woman with the heart of a servant and much of our most precious work is hidden, quiet, and unrecognized.  It is so important to remember that we can offer up to God all these hidden moments and that we can come together as women to support one another.

If any of this is speaking to you then I invite you to join us on March 10, 2012 at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria, Illinois for the third annual Behold Conference, a Catholic women’s conference on the dignity and vocation of women.  It exists to honor each woman’s dignity and to celebrate her vocation.  High school students and empty nesters come together to be challenged, encouraged, and better formed in their faith; they come together to sing, worship, laugh, confess, be healed, and grow.  The Behold Conference is a spiritual spa day and every little detail is planned so women will leave feeling refreshed and renewed.   Our keynote speakers, Kate Wicker and the Sisters of Life, will be discussing our theme “From the Heart of God” and looking at how we can use our bodies and lives – which have come from the Heart of God – to give back to God and to know, love, and serve Him.

Let me give you some more reasons why you should come:

– New Media superstars including: Danielle Bean, Hallie Lord, Betty Duffy, Sarah Reinhard, Amy Bonoccorso, Sr. Helena Burns, Mary Hasson, Celeste Behe, Arwen Mosher, Emily Stimpson, Lisa Schmidt, and Jennifer Fulwiler will be joining us.

– Catholic musician Marie Miller will be performing throughout the day.  (Her video is at the top of this post.)

– Professional image consultant Ginny Baldridge will be giving pointers on what to wear to look your best.

– Breakfast and lunch will be delicious.  Coffee and chocolate are both a part of the day.

– Confession and adoration will be available throughout the day and Mass will be celebrated.

– Lap babies are welcome to attend and a Mother’s Room with a live video feed will be available for moms who need to nurse or pump in private.

– The day is beautiful, orthodox, and welcoming of women who are not Catholic or have been away from the Church for a while.

– Nuns.  They’re awesome and they’ll be there.

The registration deadline is March 1st and the cost to attend is $60.  Scholarships are available so don’t let money be the reason you don’t come!  You can register online and find out more information at beholdconference.com.  I hope to see you on March 10th!

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://ignitumtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/BEngstrom-e1314017018199.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Bonnie Engstrom is a cradle Catholic and stay-at-home mom. She married her dashing husband in 2006 and they now have four children: one in Heaven and three wandering around their house, probably eating pretzels found under the couch. Bonnie lives in central Illinois and gets excited about baking, music, film adaptations of Jane Austen books, and the Chicago Bears. She is the Assistant Director for Behold: A Catholic Conference on the Dignity and Vocation of Women and she blogs atLearning to be a Newlywed.[/author_info] [/author]