By Elena Perri • Posted September 9, 2016

If you know a woman who needs a day of rest and spiritual renewal then you need to suggest that she register for the Catholic Women’s Conference, which will be held Saturday, Oct. 29 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown.

But time is running out because more than 600 women have already registered, and the maximum capacity is 1,200.

“I expected registrations to slow down, but they’ve been rolling in all summer,” said Meghan Cokelely, director of the archdiocesan Office for the New Evangelization. “Once we hit the fall, it’s really going to pick up. I can tell interest is very high.”

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The registration deadline is Oct. 18, but it could end sooner if the conference sells out before that date, according to Cokeley. “I’ve heard from a number of parishes that are planning to send buses and large groups, so ladies, you need to register and not wait to the last minute,” she added.

The theme of the conference, co-hosted by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Endow, is “Mother of Mercy, Make Our Hearts Like Yours!” The theme is inspired by Pope Francis’ declaration of a Jubilee Year of Mercy, which ends Nov. 20.

“One of the reasons we chose the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa is because it’s also the location of one of the Holy Doors of Mercy,” Cokeley said. “We want women to look at this day as a pilgrimage for the jubilee because they can pass through the holy door and receive a plenary indulgence during the jubilee year.”

Women will have the opportunity to experience spiritual renewal throughout the day which begins with Archbishop Charles Chaput celebrating Mass at 8:30 a.m. In addition, there will be priests available to hear confessions and a space for eucharistic adoration. The day will end with a Divine Mercy prayer service.

Keynote presentations will feature Mary Rice Hasson from the Catholic Women’s Forum of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, and Dominican Father Jordan Kelly.

In addition, Lucía Luzondo, co-founder of Renovación Familiar Ministries, will give a keynote presentation for Spanish-speaking women. Jeannine Adkins, a pastoral worker for the deaf from Most Pure Heart of Mary Church in Topeka, Kan., and a Catholic deaf vlogger, will provide a keynote presentation in American Sign Language.

Breakout session speakers include Matt and Jenn Lozano from Heart of the Father Ministries; Jessica Murdoch, associate professor of fundamental and dogmatic theology at Villanova University; Dr. Anne Nolte, founder and medical director of the National Gianna Center for Women’s Health and Fertility, a pro-life Catholic women’s medical center in New York City; and Sister Mary Elizabeth Wusinich, S.V., vicar general of the Sisters of Life.

Admission is $50 per person; $15 for vowed religious and consecrated women; and $20 for high school and college students. For groups of five or more, admission is $40 per person.

For more information and to register, go to www.CatholicWomensConference.org. Registration includes breakfast, lunch and hospitality bag.

One elective or annual update credit for catechetical certification will be granted to catechists and school teachers of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for full-day attendance.