Women walk in the ‘light’ of Christ

Themed “Let Her Be Light,” the Lux Summit – lux is Latin for light – featured female speakers, including local Catholic evangelist Mary Bielski. All touched on the theme of women embracing Christ’s light in themselves and leading others in times of crisis, especially the recent coronavirus, which stopped life as we knew it.
    

She noted that everyone is experiencing some type of crisis, whether that is adapting to job losses, teaching children at home or having family together 24/7.
    

Bielski considered the conference to be distinct from other virtual events in which she has been a speaker. The Lux Summit had 12 live keynote speakers who fielded questions, in addition to approximately 15 pre-recorded breakout sessions.  
    

“Women could tune in while playing with the kids, in their PJs or while sitting on their couch to let God work on their lives and speak a message of hope,” Bielski said.
 

Slow down and reflect 
    

Bielski said the crisis has taught her to trust in something bigger than herself and to slow down. She encouraged everyone to remember St. John Paul II’s words – “evangelize the church through new methods, ardor and expressions” – and how it could be used for good instead of evil.
    

Through her talk, “Risen and Redeemed: Rewriting Your Story,” Bielski wanted women – many whom she sees as broken – to think about the individual stories they believe about themselves beyond being a mom, an employee, a tax payer, a volunteer. 
    

“That is not the story I am talking about,” Bielski told those watching. “What do you tell yourself at night when you lie in bed? What are the fearful voices, the criticism that plagues you? Because the story we believe about who we are and whose we are has the power to change the whole trajectory of your life. Christ came to give you a new story.”
    

Bielski shared her struggle that God could love her, and said her life changed after she met the Lord at the age of 19. She used the fourth chapter of John’s Gospel, the story of the woman at the well, to show how God meets us in our everyday story. Even as women go about their daily tasks, God invites them – the unworthy and broken – into his “waters of new life.”
    

“The problem is sometimes we believe the story about our past, our brokenness, fears, our failures more than we believe the greater story of redemption and love,” she said. “God has a greater story.” 
 

Dynamic speakers 
    

Organizer Leah Darrow, a former model who is now a Catholic speaker and writer, discussed how women “have a role to play in healing our Church and world” and how the conference equips participants to be a light by preaching the Gospel. Darrow wrote “The Other Side of Beauty,” hosts the “Do Something Beautiful” podcast and founded the digital Lux University and Lux Network.
    

“Our goal was simple: to provide an opportunity to encounter Jesus Christ through prayer, formative presentations and sincere community with other Catholic women,” Darrow said. 
    

Darrow said the Lux Summit and Lux apostolate, founded in 2019, is rooted in the Samaritan woman’s encounter with Christ and how women can pray together for strength and guidance. The ministry is not about “good feelings or snarky memes. Our hope is in the light of Christ and his light in us.” 
    

“He healed and transformed (the woman at the well), and she went on mission with him,” Darrow said. “Our theme, ‘Let Her Be Light,’ is based on the Samaritan woman becoming a light of Christ, just as we are called to do so.” 
    

The lineup of conference speakers included Jackie Francois Angel, New York Lifestyle blogger Nicole Caruso, EWTN host Catherine Hadro and others who shared faith-filled stories of hope and encouragement, even amid crises, such as the pandemic, that might bring doubt. All led to the theme of women having a role with God at their side.
    

Bielski said she was touched hearing author and speaker Mary Lenaberg’s testimony about finding hope through her crosses and suffering – mainly losing a daughter with a disability. She reassured participants that no matter what their cross was, “God can redeem all things.”
    

Speaker Chika Anyanwu shared her experience as a Black Catholic and drew women to “the sacredness of racial tension.” 
    

Latina speaker Patricia Sandoval shared “a mind-blowing personal testimony of her walk from working at Planned Parenthood, having three abortions and coming home to Christ,” Bielski said, that proved how God’s “mercy and love are abundant.”
    

“We have everything because we have Christ,” Bielski said. “And we can hold onto his promise and become his light in a world that needs it. “
    

Visit theluxuniversity.com. Mary Bielski contributed to this story.

 

Christine Bordelon can be reached at [email protected].