More than 1,000 women gathered at Mary, Mother of the Church in Burnsville Feb. 6 for the second annual WINE (Women in the New Evangelization) Catholic Women’s Conference.
The theme, “Mercy: Encountering Boundless Love,” tied in with the Year of Mercy, and was central to presentations from three keynote speakers: Barbara Heil, a convert and founder of From His Heart Ministries; Laura Sobiech, a parishioner of St. Michael in Stillwater and author of “Fly a Little Higher”; and Teresa Tomeo, an author and Catholic talk radio host.
“WINE is about coming together to do the will of God” with “a charism of unity,” Kelly Wahlquist, WINE’s founder, said as she opened the conference.
Mercy and redemptive suffering were also at the core of surprise presentations from Deb Hadley, a mother from Sleepy Eye whose two adult children died suddenly in separate instances nine months apart, and Rhonda Zweber, who has made it her mission to make connections with fellow cancer patients.
In addition to speakers, the day included opportunities for confession, prayer and eucharistic adoration; shopping from Catholic vendors; the Divine Mercy chaplet; Mass; and lunch.
The 2017 WINE conference is Feb. 25.
