15th Annual Prayer for Peace Marian Conference

November 7 - 8, 2009

Theme:  "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Phil 4:13

The conference was a weekend of praying together, re-committing our lives to Jesus Christ through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We were uplifted by our outstanding speakers, the music and God’s amazing grace!

Speakers included:

Jan Connell is an internationally renowned author of Queen of the Cosmos.  She is bringing her new book, "The Secrets of Mary" to the conference.  Jan is an attorney and the author of 10 books on the Mother of God, including Queen of the Cosmos, her first book, that includes interviews with the Medjugorje visionaries.

Fr. Jude Duffy, OFM, from NY is a highly sought after spiritual director to bishops, priests, and laity.  He's so popular that the Capuchins changed their Rule so they could elect him their Provincial for a third term! His down-to-earth approach to faith, family, and fun will touch your heart. 

Father Bill Swengros is the pastor of St. Stephen Church in Valrico, FL.  He credits his first trip to Medjugorje with saving his vocation to the Priesthood.  He holds graduate degrees in Scripture, Divinity, and music.  He earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. An outstanding speaker, he is well known for his devotion to the Blessed Mother. Fr. Bill is back by popular request.  

Kathleen Beckman is a widely acclaimed author of four spiritual books including Praying the Passion of Christ, and Rekindle Eucharistic Amazement.  Kathleen has addressed numerous national and international conferences sharing the podium with Sister Briege McKenna, Mother Nadine Brown, and George Weigel.  She is the Western USA Representative for Magnificat, a ministry to Catholic women, and was voted "Catholic Woman of the Year" for Orange County, CA.   

Plus Fr. Joseph Amalfitano, a healing priest; Msgr. Joseph Hart, founder of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe, Msgr. Michael Devine, Mike & Sandy Tobin , Judy McDonald, Lucy Eagleson, and more!

We’ve taken a huge leap of faith this year. Due to the economic situation that most of us are struggling with, we reduced the price of admission to this year’s conference by $10. (We’d like everyone to be able to participate!) Multiply that by the number of attendees and you’ll understand what we mean by a leap of faith! We’re depending on the collections to make up the difference.

Facilitating this conference is a tremendous amount of work, not to mention a big financial risk. For the past few years, we’ve barely broken even. But the physical, emotional and spiritual healings that take place every year, along with all of the other positive feedback we continue to receive, has compelled us to continue for another year. It has always been our belief that, if even one life is touched, or one soul comes closer to the Lord, that, alone, is worth more than all of the time, effort and resources that it takes to put on this two-day even. Practically speaking, however, the conference MUST pay for itself.

But we need to do more than just cover our costs. There are children whose very lives are dependent on revenue from this conference. We need funds to bring critically ill children to this country for life-saving surgery. Money is also needed for surgery and related expenses, prosthetic limbs, diagnostic testing and treatment for epilepsy, physical therapy, diabetic test strips, help for specific children with special needs, food, bus money for school, medical equipment, building materials, and the list goes on.