By Dorothy K. LaMantia | Correspondent

While many Christmas shoppers descended on malls and stores, more than 200 women from around the diocese dedicated Dec. 12 to prayer, reflection, and healing at St. Mary Church, Middletown.

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Sponsored by the Diocesan Charismatic Renewal, the full-day Women’s Conference kicked off the Jubilee Year of Mercy with the theme “Return to the Father.” Attendees celebrated a day of peace-filled preparation in the season of Advent, which included celebration of the Eucharist, Holy Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and healing prayer. 

“Mary chose the better portion, and you chose the better portion by coming here today,” said Father Jeffery Kegley, St. Mary pastor and the Bishop’s liaison to the Charismatic Renewal in his address welcoming the women.  

A licensed psychologist practicing in Red Bank, Dr. Adriane Gullotta-Gsell, a member of Holy Cross Parish, Rumson, was the day’s keynote speaker. She is a Third Order Carmelite and commissioned lay ecclesial minister, and integrated her professional expertise and spiritual insights to focus on the spiritual and emotional needs of her audience.

She set the tone with a prayer based on a quote from the Diary of St. Faustina, “Give us the grace to snuggle close to Your merciful heart.” Dr. Adriane Gullotta-Gsell told attendees to “Be attentive to how the Father is calling you personally to snuggle…and to come to a deeper place in his complete mercy.” Throughout her talk, she wove personal anecdotes, Scripture, slideshow images,  and insights gained from her practice to teach strategies for communicating through personal conflicts and also for forgiving not only others but ourselves.

“How do you live mercy?” she asked. “Who around you needs mercy? Which work of mercy do you need?...A smile is a mercy, so is presence, just being there is a mercy, so is eye contact and the gift of time.”

The concept of mercy in this extraordinary jubilee was front and center.

Karen Colter of St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton, said, “I need to be with my sisters in Christ.  We are not alone in the journey of faith.  This group setting is a powerful witness that we are not alone.  It redirects me from the chaos and stress of the world to what is really important.”

“As messengers of the Gospel of joy,” Father Kegley said in a homily, “we’re the ones who bring it to those who are suffering. Pope Francis wants everyone to encounter this joy and bring it to others.  It is a great feeling, but we must do more than feel great.  We must proclaim it and bring it to others.”  

Music for the Mass was provided by Pilgrims Headed Home, a ensemble of vocalists and instrumentalists headed by Kait Mayer, youth minister in St. Paul Church, Princeton.

The afternoon session featured Dr. Gullotta-Gsell ‘s second teaching on the themes of forgiveness and healing from injuries of the past and also a personal testimony from Caroline Gambale-Dirkes of 2TIM4 Ministries, a program she and her husband established in response to St. Pope John Paul II’s call for a new evangelization. 

“I was looking to fulfill Advent and to feel Jesus’ presence more deeply,” said Kathy Pickler, who attends St. Mary Parish.  “Dr. Gsell’s image of the little girl wrapped in Jesus’ arms resonated with me, reminding me that our merciful Father is always there.  We must only be receptive.”

Vanessa Arroyo, another St. Mary parishioner, attended with her mom, Ceil Rubino. She said, “I came to deepen my relationship with God, Jesus, and Mary and to spend the day with my mom.   Advent is time to experience God’s love more and to spread it to those who need it.  If you find God, you find peace.”