Above: The first Rosary procession takes place after Mass during the annual Women’s Conference on Oct. 25. Sun photo | Rick Mossatti
(Editor’s note: Bishop Lucia’s homily from the Women’s Conference can be read on page 3)
By Tami S. Scott
Editor
For the first time in the history of the Syracuse Catholic Women’s Conference, a Rosary procession with hundreds of faithful walking side-by-side in prayer was held following a Marian Mass celebrated by Bishop Douglas J. Lucia. Bishop also led the very reverent and sacred procession. Attended by about 630 women of all ages, the annual event took place Oct. 25 at the OnCenter in downtown Syracuse. This year’s theme: “Mother of Divine Hope.”
“The effect of Bishop’s recent trip to Lourdes, with the famous Rosary processions that take place there, carried through not only to the Syracuse Conference’s Rosary procession, but also in the beautiful homily he gave, which tied together Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady Queen of Palestine, and our theme, ‘Mother of Divine Hope,’” said Jill Smith, chair of the Diocese of Syracuse Commission on Women in Church and in Society. “This was our first Marian conference, so it was particularly appropriate to teach us about the Blessed Virgin Mary through her different titles.”
The day’s agenda included four inspiring Catholic speakers, veneration of a Vatican-sanctioned relic of the Holy Face of Jesus (touched to the instruments of the Passion and St. Veronica’s veil), the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Adoration and Benediction, Brown Scapular enrollment, Catholic vendors, and a raffle for a statue of the Immaculate Conception.
“The conference is beautiful,” said Lorrie Polly, a vendor representing the Flame of Love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Polly said she especially enjoyed the Marian procession and the recitation of the Rosary. “I think a lot of the women here just loved it. We’re very touched by Mary and Mary’s love, and I think it would be a wonderful tradition if we could have that every year.”
Rosie Trevail, a 28-year-old parishioner of St. James in Cadyville, enjoyed guest speaker Father Jacinto Mary’s presentation titled, “The Rosary: Beads of Hope.” “What really stood out to me was [when] he was talking about how the Rosary is kind of like a direct lifeline to Mary, like a direct chain,” she said. Father also spoke of when St. Bernadette of Lourdes would pray the Rosary. “Our Lady would also be fingering the beads along with her, and then Our Lady would pray the Glory Be along with St. Bernadette,” Trevail said. “I just thought that was very beautiful.”
Trevail’s friend, 26-year-old Emily Long, of the Nativity at St. Joseph’s in LaFayette, was moved by Sister Pia Jude’s talk, titled “Blessed is She Who Believed: Becoming a Living Vessel of Hope Like Mary.” Long, an administrative assistant for the diocese’s Foundation office and circulation coordinator for The Catholic Sun, said she always enjoys listening to the Sisters of Life speak. “They are so joyful and sincere in their love of Christ. Sister Pia Jude’s talk really stuck with me. She had us visualize a beautiful banquet table, and sitting across from you was Jesus. Amidst all the excitement, Jesus only wants to hear from you; that’s how much He loves you. That was a really impactful illustration to have in our heads as we headed into Adoration.”
And just as Adoration was about to begin, the Conference experienced yet another first: The OnCenter fire alarm sounded.
“We were required to exit the building, so we processed outside with Jesus while ladies followed Him, praying and singing,” Smith said. “We formed a circle around Jesus in the monstrance outside, and many ladies knelt on the sidewalk in Adoration. It was a beautiful, public witness, and we were blessed with not just one, but two processions.
“We could not have imagined a better way to end the Conference,” Smith added. “Jesus wanted to go outside! When we returned inside the OnCenter, we continued Adoration in silence, and amazingly concluded on schedule with the candle blessing.”
Perhaps no one captured the spirit of the day better than Doris Rovente of Most Holy Rosary Parish in Maine, New York, who said, “I hope [the conferences] keep going because I love them.”
