March 1, 2024

My dear friends in Christ,

It is a joy for me to invite you to the Diocese of Worcester and to St. Joseph School in Webster, MA for the 2024 Worcester Catholic Women's Conference. The conference will offer you the privileged opportunity to learn more about your Catholic faith and the teachings of our beloved Church in the company of other Catholic women who in many ways and in different life- circumstances try to put their faith into action. I trust that you will find the conference to be a source of inspiration and a welcomed occasion to spend time with other women from all walks of life who are enthusiastically dedicated to the Catholic Church and to maturing in their faith and commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This year's conference speakers have contributed to the life of the Catholic Church in important ways and who are uniquely suited for this year's theme "Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart". Fr. Carlos Martins, also known as "The Relic Guy", is the director of Treasures of the Church whose purpose is to give people an experience of the living God through an encounter with the relics of saints. Last year, his podcast "The Exorcist Files" was one of the most popular podcasts of the year. A former atheist, he answered the call to be a priest and joined the Companions of the Cross after achieving a M.A. in philosophy and a B.A. in education. Currently, he serves as the regional coordinator for evangelization for the Archdiocese of Detroit. Pamela Acker, a medical researcher and science teacher with a master's degree in biology, is a devout Catholic working with the Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation. She understands that faith and reason cannot be contradictory, as both are in the pursuit of truth. She spreads this message by utilizing her knowledge of science and applying it to her studies of God's marvelous creations. Ester Munt Brooks hosts the website "Learning to Live Our Faith with Joy" where she explains the theological principles that inform our Catholic faith and offers practical ideas to incorporate it into our everyday lives to help us grow closer to God. She is currently pursuing her graduate degree in Theology at the Augustine Institute.

Each of these distinguished speakers will provide an opportunity to grow in your knowledge and commitment to Christ and his Church. I look forward to greeting you at the Worcester Catholic Women's Conference on Saturday, October 5, 2024.

With every prayerful best wish, I remain

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Robert J. McManus
Bishop of Worcester