Women’s Conference rejoices in the Eucharist

Father Chris Alar stood before a record crowd of Oklahoma Catholic Women’s Conference attendees and emphasized the necessity of a heart transplant.

One only found, through Jesus and the Eucharist.

“At each Holy Eucharist Jesus literally gives you a new heart,” said Father Alar, who serves the provincial superior of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy Province of the Marian Fathers of Immaculate Conception in the United States and Argentina, at the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Mass. “Take your stony, hardened, burdened, sinful, unforgiving heart and lift it to the Lord. He is about to give you a heart transplant – he is giving you the actual heart of his. 

“His precious blood is universally receptive of everyone who wants to be a part of him. With Holy Communion, we use to think that Jesus is becoming a part of us, but it is really that we are becoming a part of him and a part of the Body of Christ – the Church.” 

Father Alar delivered the opening keynote talk at the March 2 conference inside the Embassy Suites in Norman, welcomed by a crowd of 1,200, the most ever in the event’s 17 years.

The theme – “That nothing may be lost” – invited participants to a greater appreciation for the Eucharistic Christ. 

Sister Mary Bethany, O.P. with the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in Minnesota, encouraged the women to search for the Lord both in the Eucharist and in the details of personal life histories.

“Each moment of our past, present and future, God wants to reveal his tender love for you, so that nothing can be lost, no moment in your life,” the sister said.

She discussed four areas leading to a deeper Eucharistic appreciation and amazement: “awaiting” (turning to Jesus as the first resort with daily struggles and waiting patiently for him to act) and “abandonment” (letting go of control and risking everything for the love of Christ), which ultimately lead to “abundance” (recognizing God’s extravagant love and goodness in each detail of life) and “amazement” (realization that the Eucharist is the pinnacle of amazement and that each person is a part of his abundance of love).

Father Joseph Irwin, pastor of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Norman, Father Rusty Hewes from Saint James the Greater Catholic Church in Oklahoma City and Father Alexander Kroll from Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond shared their testimonies of faith and encounter with the Eucharistic Christ. 

“Every Mass is the eternal banquet in Heaven with Jesus and the Church triumphant,” Father Irwin said. “The Lord chooses to come to us perfectly, humbly and totally in the Eucharist.

“For me, this realization came during Holy Hour when I was a college student. I experienced a moment of his pure love and truly got to understand that Jesus Christ loves me through the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the physical manifestation of God’s love for us.”

Said Father Hewes: “When I started to search for truth in my life, and attending the daily Mass and Holy Hour, I had this incredible hunger to know more and more. I realized that Jesus has all the answers to my questions in the Eucharist.” 

He emphasized the need for Catholics to become more reverent at Mass.

“When we embrace reverence, holiness and love for Christ, we will be able to experience the powerful encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist.”

Attendees spoke of being moved and renewed.

“The conference enkindles my desire to love Jesus more and it invigorates my faith,” said Teresa Tharp, a parishioner at Saint Monica Catholic Church in Edmond. “I normally come with friends to foster our Catholic friendships and support each other on our journey of faith. The conference offers everything: the Eucharist, adoration, reconciliation, Rosary … and the speakers inspire me to live a holy life.” 

Said Catrina Smith, from Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Norman: “This conference is an opportunity to get renewed in faith. For all women with so many family obligations it is easy to say ‘I can’t attend,’ but we deserve a day for ourselves and the environment to listen to God and to be reminded that God loves us and sees all our struggles.

“God is grateful that you made the sacrifice to come and learn more about him even though you might still be worrying about your laundry.” 

The conference committee declared the event a success, while also announcing a change in venue for 2025, with the conference moving to the Oklahoma City Convention Center to accommodate the growing crowd numbers. They were also thankful for their spiritual direction.

“Father Alexander Kroll (chaplain for the conference) has been a huge blessing for us,” said Natalie Mollman, the promotion chairwoman for the conference. “He brought the team together. He prays for us, meets with us and really wants the faith of Catholic women in Oklahoma to grow and deepen.

“I don’t think the conference would see such a tremendous growth if it wasn’t for his support for these past four years.”

Jad Ziolkowska is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.

Photos Chris Porter/Sooner Catholic.