A day filled with joy

800 women attend the 2026 Syracuse Catholic Women’s Conference

On a beautiful, crisp autumn day in Central New York, the 2026 annual Syracuse Catholic Women’s Conference was held Oct. 24 at the Oncenter. The perfect weather was a particular blessing for the conference because, for the first time, the beloved event began at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. After Mass, attendees made the short walk or shuttle ride to the Oncenter for the remainder of the day. In honor of the Jubilee Year of St. Francis, the conference theme was “Make me an instrument of your peace.”

Bishop Douglas J. Lucia celebrated Mass, which was preceded and followed by another special highlight of the day — the veneration of St. Bernadette’s first-class relics. The relics are traveling throughout the United States over the next year and were scheduled to be in the Syracuse area just in time for the conference.

For conference public relations coordinator Jill Smith, the highlights of the day were nothing less than the offering of Mass at the Cathedral, paired with the veneration of St. Bernadette’s relics. “We could just feel the presence of our Blessed Mother throughout the day,” she said. “There were ladies that had never been to the Cathedral before, because we pull [attendees] from the entire diocese, and beyond. I feel it was a great way overall to celebrate all that we came to celebrate with the St. Francis Jubilee Year.”

Another change from past conferences was the interior setup at the OnCenter. Rather than rows of chairs lined up in front of the speaker’s stage, round tables filled the main event space, with vendors’ tables set up along the perimeter. This allowed guests to remain in fellowship with friends for both lunch and learning.

The day began with veneration of the St. Bernadette relics and Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse. Photo | Chuck Wainwright

“There was a different feeling overall in the room with ladies together at the round tables this year, experiencing the speakers from that kind of seating arrangement with lunch and everything else,” Smith said. “The room was really filled with a lot of joy. It was a very joyful day throughout, and I feel like the ladies really felt refreshed. We had great vendors this year, too.”

Although the space at the Oncenter is large, it was packed — approximately 800 attendees came to the event, not counting vendors. “We had a really great turnout this year. We’re really happy,” Smith shared.

Throughout the day, women enjoyed opportunities for Confession and Adoration, Brown Scapular enrollment, veneration of the relics of St. Francis and the Holy Face of Jesus, a statue raffle, and of course, shopping the many Catholic vendors around the room.

Dr. Robert D. Enright, author, speaker, and co-founder of the International Forgiveness Institute, was the first speaker of the day, followed by Mother Gabrielle Marie, who worked for 33 years under the guidance of Mother Angelica, foundress of EWTN. She also founded the Benedictine Daughters of the Divine Will. The keynote and last speaker was Father Chris Alar, provincial superior of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception in the United States, England, and Argentina. Anna Nuzzo, international Catholic singer, songwriter, pianist, recording artist, and speaker, provided music, including the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

First-time conference attendee Denise Ziemba, of Immaculate Conception Church in Fayetteville, said she was very impressed with everything the day had to offer. “I loved starting at the Cathedral because I love Mass in a church. And I love the Cathedral. It was standing-room only,” she said. “It was great to see so many women turn out for this event.”

Karen Martino, of St. Patrick’s in Otisco, has been coming to the women’s conference for about five years, and she said she looks forward to it every year. In her experience, this year’s turnout was the biggest she’s seen.

“I just love coming, and I really try to encourage more women to come. It’s such a great day,” said Martino, who also shared that she’s currently participating in the Genesis Mission, a method of accompaniment that fosters a deeper sense of discipleship. “I felt like the first two speakers really helped me grow … [and] made me realize things that I felt could help me with the Genesis Mission. A couple of the things that Father [Chris Alar] said I felt resonated for me as a spouse, as well.”

According to both Ziemba and Martino, the emphasis on forgiveness was a key takeaway from the speakers. “One of the recurring messages throughout today was forgiving people who have done wrong to you, and how forgiving people makes God happy, and that will reward you,” shared Martino. “In the end, you’re the one who’s rewarded by forgiving someone.”

“Forgiveness is so important,” added Ziemba.

Looking ahead to next year, Smith said she hopes the conference will continue to grow even more. “I don’t think there’s another conference like this one anywhere close by. We’re really [drawing] ladies from all over and really showcasing what our diocese has to offer.”

Martino’s experience over the past few years certainly reflects Smith’s sentiments. “[I] always just leave [the conference] so rejuvenated about [my] faith. I really do feel that, and I just love coming,” she said. “It’s a great way to grow in your faith and to be around like-minded women.”

A ‘special blessing’ to begin the day

Many women continue to venerate the St. Bernadette relics following Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Oct. 24. Photo | Chuck Wainwright

On Oct. 23, the day before the Syracuse Catholic Women’s Conference, the Saint Bernadette relics arrived in the Diocese of Syracuse, as part of the national tour organized by The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. Before and after Mass at the Cathedral, conference attendees lined up to venerate the relics and touch the Grotto rocks from Lourdes, France.

The national relics tour aims to bring the message of Lourdes to communities throughout the U.S., inviting the faithful into a deeper encounter with Jesus Christ through the witness of Saint Bernadette Soubirous. In 1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared 18 times to 14-year-old Bernadette in Lourdes, France. Since then, Lourdes has become one of the world’s most important pilgrimage destinations, welcoming millions of pilgrims seeking prayer, healing, hope, and spiritual renewal.

The day before the women’s conference, the St. Bernadette relics were located at Saints John and Andrew Church, Binghamton. In the afternoon of Oct. 24, the relics then traveled to Sacred Heart Parish in Cicero. The relics were also venerated at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish and Shrine in Oswego, Holy Family Parish in Fairmount, and Historic Old St. John’s Church in Utica in the days following.

“The ladies were just so excited about the fact that at our own conference Mass we were having this special blessing of the St. Bernadette relics on its U.S. tour from France,” said Jill Smith, public relations coordinator for the Syracuse Catholic Women’s Conference. “It was just incredible that that would coincide [with the conference]. It definitely was a blessing for the day that we literally had Saint Bernadette with us for the women’s conference of 2026.”