Anticipation is building for the Anointed Women’s Conference on 27 September, particularly among the many women transformed by their experience at this year’s Women’s Lenten Retreat also organised by the Catholic Women’s Network (CWN) with the Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia.
For best mates Joanna McCulloch, Amanda Paton and Lisa Gonsalves, this year’s retreat was more than just a day of prayer and reflection – it was a turning point in their new roles as a new mum, new wife and the mother a young family; a profound encounter that has only strengthened their faith and friendship.
Lisa Gonsalves attended the retreat during what she describes as a “chaotic time”; six months after marrying her husband, Josh, “Life got really busy and I had been trying to find my bearings, not just in married life, but also in my faith and it was just I needed at that moment.”
Joanna McCulloch attended as a new mum and remembered: “feeling spiritually recharged afterwards and ready for the next chapter with my newborn, Lucia.”
Amanda Paton, a young mum of three, said the day was the rarest of opportunities to recharge and reflect, “I hadn’t had a break, so it was just so nice to have that time to just be in prayer, to take that time out, to refuel and centre yourself. I think, we all felt very reinvigorated.”
The message of the day, to pause and recalibrate, resonated throughout the day.
“The constant messaging that came through was to be calm, to be still, and to be in prayer and how taking that time in whatever capacity and space that you have reaps a lot of benefits,” said Amanda.
She continues, “It’s very rare that you kind of take that much time out. But it’s very fulfilling. It’s very energising and it just gave me a renewed focus and energy for life at home with the kids.”
One of the most meaningful aspects of the day, for Lisa, was the chance to bond with her new friends. “I’ve only known them for little more than a year, and so that really gave us an opportunity to bond during that time as well, and it was a really great way for us to connect with our faith. We were able to be quite vulnerable with each other, which was fantastic.”
“Even just the act of being there together, encouraging each other to go, knowing you’ve got those friends in your faith life, that you’re sharing that faith life with them, is really beautiful as well, and really motivating,” added Amanda.
The retreat also provided a rare space for vulnerability and prayer. Lisa recalls a moment where they were invited to pray on each other. “That was lovely. So that was one of the ways to build our trust with each other, in that vulnerability, and then to also give ourselves to God in that moment for each other.”
Joanna enjoyed the multi-generational nature of the event: “It wasn’t like; here were all the older ladies in one group and there were the ‘youngies’. It was everyone, everyone together in the one room. Age wasn’t a factor,” she recalled.
All three are excited for this year’s Anointed Women’s Conference on 27 September at Randwick Racecourse, organised by CWN within the Sydney Centre for Evangelisation. All are particularly excited to hear Sr Miriam Heidland SOLT.
“She has this wonderful sense of calmness and peace about her, and this beautiful energy. I’m sure it will be amazing and very life giving,” adds Amanda.
Lisa, Joanna and Amanda’s message to women considering attending is simple and heartfelt: “Go with an open mind and an open heart. I think you’ll be surprised with some things that you come back home with, the gifts you can receive, whether that’s time for yourself, or relationships that you make, or insights that you get,” said Lisa.
“Come in your brokenness, come with your vulnerability. It’s just a wonderful opportunity to stop and be nurtured and heard by other women,” advises Joanna.
“Seeing that kind of solidarity from women from all across Sydney, especially when we can all often feel so alone, is so special and so encouraging,” advised Amanda.
To register to attend the Anointed Women’s Conference on 27 September at Royal Randwick Racecourse, visit https://catholicwomensnetwork.org/conference/.
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