The greatest woman who ever walked the earth – that is how Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio described the Blessed Mother as he addressed nearly 300 women at the Immaculate Conception Pastoral Center in Douglaston, March 22.
“Mary, a role model for all women” was the theme of the diocese’s second bilingual women’s conference, conducted in English and Spanish and sponsored in part by the Catholic Foundation of Brooklyn and Queens. The inaugural gathering, held last March for the Year of Faith, was so well received that the diocese decided to make it an annual event.
Building upon last year, Annmarie McLaughlin, a parishioner of Sacred Heart, Bayside, who headed the conference-planning committee, felt Mary, a model of perfect faith, was an ideal focus for this year’s gathering.
Activities of the day included Mass, speaker presentations, a concert by New Name music ministry, lunch and a Holy Hour, conducted by Msgr. Joseph Malagreca, pastor of Holy Cross Church, Flatbush.
Enthusiastic women of all ages and walks of life poured into the chapel for the opening Mass, celebrated by Bishop DiMarzio. Father James Massa, moderator of the diocesan curia, concelebrated.
Welcoming the assembly, the bishop praised the Blessed Mother as the “greatest woman who ever lived” and lauded her life witness, noting the strength in her character and spirit.
Looking into the faces of modern women who strive to walk in Mary’s footsteps every day, he told them that they are “indispensable” in their families and in the life of the Church.
He hoped the day would give attendees a chance to celebrate their womanhood by mingling with peers, reflecting on Mary’s essential role in the Church and considering their own roles in the world.
“The hand that rocks the cradle rocks the Church,” the bishop said, tweaking the popular expression. He explained that women can be a force for positive change in their families, parishes and communities.
Following Mass, women separated into English and Spanish tracks to consider Mary as a model for women and as a model for eucharistic faith and life.
Born Catholic but having drifted in her young adult years, Mladinich began by sharing her story of conversion back “to Christ, to healing and sacramental life” through the intercession of the Blessed Mother.
“A lot of the world thinks our image of Mary … is this overly pious, passive girl with her hands out just limply giving into the will of God,” she said. “And she is no such thing.”
Incredible Grit
Mladinich offered examples of how Mary lived from the Annunciation to her Assumption with “incredible grit … that ability to persevere, be passionate, be disciplined and go forward no matter what it takes.”
In modeling themselves after Mary, she encouraged attendees to own their role as “children of Mary,” and strive to live the virtues of purity, humility and total trust in God. 
Living those virtues in this day and age is a struggle for many young Catholics, shared Linda Starace, a young adult from Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament parish, Bayside.
But Mladinich’s talk reminded her of “the courage it took to say ‘yes’ to God and to have such an amazingly strong belief in Him.”
Starace said her faith has been strengthened by the experiences she’s had at World Youth Day. In fact, she attended the Douglaston event with Angela DiLalla from Blessed Trinity parish, Breezy Point, whom she met at World Youth Day 2008 in Australia.
While they enjoyed the conference, both Starace and DiLalla were disappointed there weren’t more young adults participating in the day.
Ministering to Each Other
In between scheduled events, attendees could be seen turning to their neighbors – sometimes a fellow parishioner and other times a total stranger – to share thoughts, questions and even their struggles.
They talked; they listened; and in ministering to each other, they modeled Mary’s example of eucharistic living – another aspect of the day.
“Everyone has such wonderful experiences to share, and I’m privileged to be part of the sharing,” said Lisa Ferreira Alsadi, a catechist from Our Lady of Solace Church, Coney Island.
Alsadi said she’s “always looking for ways to refresh and replenish” her faith and find new ways to pass it onto her students as well as her daughter.
“It’s rejuvenating,” shared Lisa Sampson, religious education director at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, Bayside. “With Mary as our role model, who couldn’t be inspired?”
“Today was affirmation for me that I’m on the right path,” shared Sabrina Chan from St. Vincent Ferrer parish, East Flatbush, who attended with fellow parishioner Charmaine Knight.
“This (conference) was a reminder that she (Mary) is truly working through us, quietly and powerfully,” Knight added.