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Idaho Catholic Women’s Conference: feminine genius is not a trend
By Kathryn Pasker Ineck
ICR Assistant Editor
The feminine genius of women — describing their dignity and vocation, receptivity, sensitivity, generosity and maternity — was promulgated by Saint Pope John Paul II’s Mulieris Dignitatem in 1988. This concept is important for today’s climate in the face of shifting ideology surrounding the meaning of “woman” and was the focus of this year’s Idaho Catholic Women’s Conference on Sept. 19, attended by over 1,000 women via watch parties, online, and in-person at Holy Apostles Church, Meridian.
The conference, organized by Salt & Light Radio, began with Mass celebrated by Father Caleb Vogel, Diocese of Boise Vicar General and featured keynote speakers Lisa Cotter, the Sisters of Life, and Adrienne LeCoure. Adoration, Confession and a Catholic marketplace were available to attendees, and the day was structured around meals and a progressive rosary.
Carol Brown, Director of Marketing and Community Relations for Salt & Light Radio, attributes the great success of this — and previous conferences — to the fact that “We surrender to the Holy Spirit … We also have an amazing group of volunteers that help us make the day special.”
As one can imagine, organizing the Women’s Conference requires months of prayer and planning. “The date, venue, and speakers all have to align. We review every survey and use that feedback to try to make each conference better than the last. Through prayer and conversations with women’s groups, I knew the subject of Feminine Genius was needed. From there, I researched top speakers, listened to podcasts and sought guidance from others about whom to bring in. And when the same [suggested speakers’] names start coming up repeatedly, we pay attention,” explained Carol.
This careful planning paid off. Kelly Webb, Holy Apostles, Meridian, attended with her mom and noted that “Salt & Light [does] a fantastic job of finding speakers that speak to women of all types. I truly believe every person that attends finds something and someone that resonates with them.”
This year, the flow of the talks went very well. “We met in advance and discussed what each person would be speaking about, so we could build a natural progression. Even Father Vogel’s homily about Eve helped tie everything together and move the day forward,” Carol noted. Additional focus was on accessibility to Confession and Adoration as well as ease of attendance for women across the Diocese of Boise.
Cross-generational
“We really try to make the conference generational, something a daughter, mom, and grandmother can all attend together and I think it’s working. I’ve had keynote speakers tell me that our conference has one of the youngest audiences they’ve seen,” said Carol.
Many women who spoke with the ICR reported that they attended with their moms, sisters and friends. Rachel Gehring, Tri-Parish, Cottonwood, has participated at the Women’s Conference for the past three or four years, attending with her daughter-in-law, Kendra, and Kendra’s mother and two sisters. “It’s something we do [together] that’s faith-based ... It’s been quite beautiful and enriching,” Rachel said.
Pixie Bosch, Our Lady of the Rosary, Boise, has been a regular attendee over the years and attended this year with her daughter and two friends. “I think the messages were cross-generational. There was something there for everyone. I felt these ladies all had a relevant story. I’m sure women of all age groups attending were enriched by the messages given.”
Mistie Bauscher, Holy Apostles, Meridian, agreed. She was in attendance for the first time, bringing her sister and two cousins along for some much-needed faith encouragement as they process family sorrows.
Watch parties
While over 700 women attended in person at Holy Apostles, 200 women attended at 11 locations across Idaho. Carol related: “I was really moved by the watch parties. Watch parties aren’t new to us, but the amount of participation continues to grow. We work hard to make them feel like they’re part of the in-person conference, with similar decorations, swag, and other details.”
“At lunch, the watch party hostesses texted me pictures from their groups, and we were able to show them at the end of the conference,” Carol said. “I was deeply moved by the number of women, the joy on their faces, and seeing women coming together to share this experience across the Diocese. It was a beautiful reminder that the conference is about so much more than the women gathered in Meridian. It’s about bringing women together throughout the Diocese to learn more about their faith, laugh, and pray.”
In past years, Lyn Amos, St. Ann’s, Arco, and St. Barbara’s, Mackay, has attended the Women’s Conference in the Boise area. This year, she attended closer to home at the Business Incubation Center in Arco. She pointed out that it has wheelchair capability and ADA access, allowing local women to attend and feel included in the greater conference. “Our goal was to have Mass — Eucharist — and listen to the speakers. To open our minds and heart to what the Lord wanted us to hear and absorb. Also fellowship with each other also to feel part of the in person convention,” she said.
Lisa Cotter: Hallowed be thy day
Lisa Cotter, a leading Catholic speaker and author known for her practical insights on relationships, femininity, and living life with excellence, spoke first.
Rachel had known of Cotter as part of her own background in spiritual direction and says that she covered “Marriage, family, theology of the body and femininity … and had a magnificent way of covering the topic of the feminine genius and woman comprehensively … Her applications just hit home.”
“Everyone’s so polarized, but it’s also in Church, and that’s very sad,” Rachel continued. “So when Lisa was talking, she was cutting across history with the truth of what it means to be women and wrapping it all together through the work of John Paul II. We’re all called to be, God’s children, his daughters, right? We’re sisters, we’re brides, we’re mothers. But also we have a call to be a gift in the world, to pull the truth together across the unique lives that women live.”
“I’m a big Hallow fan,” Kelly said. “Lisa Cotter’s ‘Hollowed be thy day’ is a part of my morning routine. I’ve learned so much about the lives of saints and the liturgical calendar by listening to her. It was wonderful hearing her speak about the feminine genius. That God created woman with unique gifts and talents that are complementary to man. Everything that makes a woman was created with intentionality.”
Mistie said she “related to Lisa Cotter’s experience as a busy mother trying to do it all perfectly and the message that only God can fill the hole inside me and make me feel like I am enough.”
Sister Magnificat Rose: Spiritual motherhood
Motherhood expresses itself in many ways beyond raising children, as the Sisters of Life shared.
Bethany Calley, Our Lady of the Rosary, Boise, related that she “was reminded of the sacred creation of woman from the mortal body of man and that, as women, we are gifted with a spiritual and physical connectedness to all in our lives — whether physical children or, for someone like me, without my own physical children, [there is an] incredible role of spiritual motherhood to virtually anyone we come in contact with. “
“Sister shared a story of succumbing to the pleas of her nieces and nephews to jump into a bounce house with them, in her habit and adult size,” Bethany described, “she smiled and giggled as she relived the noticeable deflation of the bounce house around her.
“That felt somewhat like life can be at times but when we embrace our God given roles as a child and a mother, we can share the love of our Father through our presence and example to others.”
Adrienne LeCoure: The feminine genius is not a trend
Adrienne LeCoure, a recent revert to the Catholic faith, spoke during the third session about her life of trauma and radical transformation.
LeCoure “had a riveting, critical story … about how the Lord can take you away through the radical feminist movement, going down to rock bottom with her abortion. All the lies starting to unravel, and how she found [herself at a] Rachel’s Vineyard retreat, still a raging feminist, and came out a devout Catholic. Her story was so beautiful and well done,” Rachel reflected.
“At one point, she was talking about the different spiritualities she has tried and said that the one name that is not allowed anywhere is the name of Jesus. She quoted Philippians that God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave him the name above every name.” Rachel continued. “And at this point she said, ‘at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow and every tongue confess.’ And that truth, for me, hung over her whole talk — even the fact that in her darkness the Lord is searching her out, and he triumphs. I was just like: this is the truth.”
“LeCoure’s presentation was very powerful,” Pixie agreed. “She is an example of God working in us, sometimes without our cooperation or desire. She described herself as a Mary Magdelene and her life examples given showed this in her story. Her reconciliation with her father was a wonderful blessing for her. I couldn’t help but think of the Prodigal Son parable. I was amazed that in light of his very recent passing, that she could give this presentation without crying,” she says.
“Listening to Adrienne reflect on her life and how no matter how far she ran or how hard she pushed away from God he never stopped pursuing her and how he uses all our brokenness and mess to create something beautiful, healed and restored. All we have to do is say yes to his invitation,” Kelly commented.
“I felt every word LeCoure said deep inside my soul. I am so grateful for courage in sharing her story with us,” said Mistie.
Taking the conference with them
“Lisa’s humor and Adrienne’s presence really stood out to me. Adrienne captivated the audience from the moment she began speaking, and she received a standing ovation. It was beautiful to see how deeply her message resonated with the women in the room,” mentioned Carol.
“We lost our mom to ALS in October of 2024,” Mistie shared, “about a year after our grandma passed away. They were both the best Catholics. I try every day to love like they did, to have a heart like the Holy Mother. I have really struggled off and on with grief, anxiety, sadness, anger, fear, resentment … all the bad feelings! At some point during the day, those feelings were lifted and I was filled with peace and joy.”
Bethany also was deeply affected by the conference, saying, “Finally, I became a widow in my 40s and I’ve struggled in this path but to again be reminded of my beloved nature as a daughter of God and my ability to reach out and see Jesus’ hand in mine was like a warm hug from the Holy Spirit assuring me yet again of the joy I can grasp and enjoy.”
Mistie was able to make new connections with other women at the professionals’ small lunch group and is now participating in the Holy Apostles Challenge on the Hallow App. “It started the day after the conference, which felt like a sign to me. This is the path to love like Jesus, to have a heart like Mary,” she says.
Lyn left the conference with a list of new perspectives: “Look at a very wide picture, not each event. I am God’s masterpiece, in progress. [We have a] need for forgiveness and forgiving others. Learn your faith and lead with it. Be prepared each day as it might be your last. Let your family know you love them and show them, so they have no doubt.”
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