Trad Women’s Conference Transcends Generations

We need more of this sort of thing, intergenerational gatherings bringing Traditionalists together, men, women, young people and all of them together.

From One Peter Five

By Lisa Bourne

A recent traditional women’s conference effectively blended generations in bringing the Catholic faith to women, reaching young women who came to the event.

A Return to Tradition Catholic Women’s Conference was held in late August at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, a parish of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) in Littleton, Colo.

It was the third such event, which continues to grow each year, drawing women from ten or more U.S. states and Canada this year, and serving many via livestream with multiple watch parties across the world.

The conference offers speakers, vendors, fellowship, Mass, the rosary, Confession, and a procession with Our Lady. Speakers and presenters can address various aspects of tradition, spiritual guidance or growth, or how to live authentically as a woman of faith.

Organized and conducted mainly by lay women at the parish, the Return to Tradition conference is offering what many are looking for a simple, unadulterated look at the Catholic faith, and a haven to grow in that faith.

The core group conference organizers is comprised of women in middle adulthood but also includes younger adult women and young women came as attendees to be fed with the Catholic faith as well.

The lived example provided by “grandmothers” of the organizing group is having marked impact, according to Jennifer, a young adult and mother who is part of the core team.

“The holy grandmothers that run the conference wanted to be able to expand the audience of the conference to include more young mothers, like me, as we are the future of the Church,” she said. “It’s been a fun process to be able to give feedback and provide ideas to help accomplish that goal.”

Jennifer came to tradition as a young adult, with the Church’s teaching on marriage, modesty, suffering, deepening her faith in a way she previously did not know existed.

She said a significant source of strengthening her faith has come from the other women on the conference team.

“Many groups form at parishes that are based on the commonality of age,” she said. “This group is different.”

Being surrounded by women working to present the conference who are now grandmothers has given her the opportunity to learn more about their lives and the many trials they have faced.

“I am often in awe of how they have persevered through these challenges in life and clung to Christ and Our Sorrowful Mother even in the lowest of moments,” said Jennifer. “They have much wisdom to share, and a perspective that brings me out of the temporary woes of raising little ones and reminds me of the larger picture ahead.”

Beauty was the conference theme this year. Speakers included Catholic author Leila Lawler, Roman Catholic priest Father David Nix, writer, publisher, and editor Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, Kevin Roerty, founder of Souls of the Christian Apostolate, Mrs. Tricia Nolan, and her son, Father Daniel Nolan, FSSP, Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and LifeSiteNews co-founder, CEO, and Editor-in-Chief John-Henry Westen.

Contributing editor Dr. Peter Kwasniewski addresses the Conference

Our Lady of Mount Carmel parishioner and artist Helen Kish gave a demonstration on The Art of Flower Arranging, speaking of how this form of crafting beauty can bless the altar for Mass and one’s home. Our Lady of Mount Carmel parishioner and “Mass of the Ages” subject Jody Lacroix introduced episode three of the documentary series and facilitated a Q&A after the viewing.

Mei and her twin sister Melanie are young adult women in their mid-thirties who traveled from California for the conference.

The Our Lady of Sorrows prayer group at the parish, with crossover from the conference core team of women, ministered to the sisters and Mei in particular when Mei came to stay in Colorado for a period to accompany a friend who was terminally ill. The ladies walked and prayed with her and her friend through the poignant and challenging process, developing an ongoing relationship that led to Mei and Melanie returning for the conference.

Both women were interested in the speakers and other conference content.

“Restoring tradition was also a draw for us,” Melanie said.

She said she has grown tired of modernism back home in California.

“I’m getting more and more impatient with people doing what they want during Holy Mass,” said Melanie.

Both women said they were eager to see the Holy Mass restored to what it was, more authentic.

Mei was also interested in hearing about traditional roles of men and women at the conference.

The sisters are single, and Melanie said they have hope of marrying, raising a family, and “living in a virtuous way.”

Mei was interested in seeing the role of motherhood for women reaffirmed at the conference, and Melanie found positive validation in coming to the conference and being around strong women.

“I also wanted to know how to glorify God in the little things of life,” said Mei.

Coby came to the women’s conference from Wyoming with her mother-in-law who had attended last year. A young adult mother of five children, she had not seen the program before arriving and had taken her mother-in-law’s word that it would be good. Coby was excited, and later said she enjoyed the talks and thought there was something for everyone.

Coby was hungry for substance, and when debates on Traditionalism arose during Q&A periods, her interest was piqued. She said she loved the discussion and debate even in a community that is like-minded.

“I want to know more,” she said.

Ceclia, in her early twenties, attended the women’s conference as a parishioner at Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

“The conference is about the traditional woman, and that’s what I want to do with my life,” Cecelia said.

“I think that tradition is something that everyone should have,” she said. “I think it’s important to have events like this and to expose people to it.”

There is a lot more to tradition than just liturgy though that’s important, said Cecelia, who sang with the schola for Mass.

She was drawn to the conference theme of beauty, and also the role of women as nurturer, being the heart of the home.

“This conference is a combination of those,” Cecelia said.

Jennifer was excited for the Return to Tradition conference to be reaching women across the U.S. and the world.

“It has been wonderful to see the growth of the conference expand from a conference for mostly women at our parish and local area, to a conference that now reaches throughout the country and even to other countries and continents,” she said. “I’ve been to plenty of Catholic conferences, but this is the only Catholic traditional women’s conference, and that niche truly separates it from all other conferences.

“The conference spreads hope to an entire population of the Church that has been pushed to the margins and has been repeatedly told that their voices don’t matter,” said Jennifer.

She also noted the significance of the conference’s impact on young women.

“I believe this conference is particularly important for younger women such as myself,” Jennfer said.

“We’re inundated by depravity everywhere we go,” she said. “The Church is our respite. Our hospital. Our home.”

That some of the depravity has reached the Church makes the question of what it means to be a good Catholic even more pertinent, Jennifer pointed out.

“The traditions of the Church provide wisdom and clarity,” she said. “They provide a solid roadmap to attaining sanctity.”

Next year’s conference dates are August 22-23, 2025. With the event’s growth the in-person registration is expected to sell out even more quickly. Registration information is available HERE.

Marian procession