Women of Grace® Event Details

SAVE THE DATE: Benedicta Institute Fall Week-Long Immersive: The Dignity of Dust: Contemplating our Humanity

Benedicta Institute for Women Week-Long Immersive:

The Dignity of Dust: Contemplating our Humanity

Theme: God and the Human Person

Instructor: Dr. Donald Wallenfang, OCDS

(3 equivalency credits)

According to the timeless ancient axiom, agere sequitur esse – “doing follows being.” In order to know how to act, we first must know who we are. This course asks the question, “Who is the human being?” Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross and Caryll Houselander are two prominent twentieth-century Catholic women who offer sustained reflection on this vital question. By exploring their enlightening lives and writings, students will encounter the truth, goodness and beauty of the meaning of being human.

Special Visit: Spend a day at the Shrine! Courses in the Castle, Rosary with the Nuns, Mass, Adoration, Stations of the Cross, JPII Center Tour, and Gift Shop Visit

(Course will be offered in-person in conjunction with the Canvas platform.)

We will also be joined by Program Leader, Johnnette Benkovic Williams, Founder and President of Women of Grace and the Benedicta Institute for Women.

Required Texts to purchase:

Caryll Houselander, The Passion of the Infant Jesus, Critical Edition

John Paul II, Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body

Donald Wallenfang, OCDS, Human and Divine Being

Donald Wallenfang, OCDS, Metaphysics

Donald Wallenfang, OCDS, Phenomenology

Students are responsible for providing their own writing supplies. In addition, it is required that you bring your laptop, iPad, or tablet and all the necessary power cords and chargers.


Limited financial aid is available. To Inquire, please call 800-885-5452.

(The pre-requisite for registering for the Benedicta Institute for Women is graduation from the Full of Grace Foundational Study Program.)

The mission of the Women of Grace® Benedicta Institute for Women® is to educate, develop, and train Catholic women to be leaders and mentors of the day by way of the Feminine Genius and their gift of spiritual maternity.

The purpose of Certification in Catholic Women’s Leadership through the Benedicta Institute for Women® is found in the Institute’s motto, agere sequitur esse (doing follows being). The woman who receives the Certification in Catholic Women’s Leadership will be formed and shaped according to the heart and mind of Holy Mother Church in the fullness of the Feminine Genius, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Through the spiritual and leadership formation provided, she will be imbued with the Marian character, confidence, and skill to bring Jesus Christ to the world and the world to Jesus Christ, no matter her position or state in life. In so doing, she will do much to “aid humanity in not falling” and to create a civilization of love.

Benedicta Institute for Women Cancellation Policy

  • All cancellation requests must be made in writing, and you must send it via email to this
    address, Benedicta@womenofgrace.com, and receive confirmation your email has been
    received.
  • Registration Fee- The registration fee is not refundable, as it is an administrative cost for
    record creation and management of your account.
  • Tuition- Tuition for the Benedicta Institute for Women is non-refundable but is
    transferrable for upcoming offerings. A credit will be placed on your Benedicta Institute
    participant account, and you may use that credit towards another week-long immersive or
    any of the other online or in-person opportunities that will be available.
  • Room and Board- If applicable, pre-paid room and board costs will be refunded if
    cancellation occurs no later than 45 days prior to the event date.
  • Exceptions may be made to this cancellation policy and will be reviewed and negotiated
    on a case-by-case basis.

Event Date/Time(s)

START: Monday, October 14 at 8:00 AM US/Eastern
END: Sunday, October 20 at 12:00 PM US/Eastern

Event Information

LOCATION:
St. Bernard Abbey
1600 St Bernard Dr
Cullman, AL 35055

Helpful Tools

Event Speakers

  • Johnnette Benkovic Williams

    Johnnette Benkovic Williams is Founder and President of Women of Grace®, a Catholic apostolate for women featuring a number of outreaches including conferences, media, study groups and more.

    After years of being a non-practicing Catholic, Johnnette experienced a deep conversion back to her Catholic faith in 1981. Her conversion sparked a new vocation: sharing the Gospel message through the utilization of media. She has been an inspiring and consistent presence on EWTN Catholic radio and EWTN Catholic television for over 30 years.
  • Donald Wallenfang, OCDS, PhD

    Donald Wallenfang, OCDS, PhD is a Secular Discalced Carmelite, Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, and Academic Advisor for the Benedicta Institute. He received his MTS from St Norbert College and his PhD in systematic theology from Loyola University Chicago. He has published twelve books as well as numerous articles and book chapters on a variety of topics in Catholic theology and philosophy. His areas of expertise merge at the intersection of Carmelite spirituality, phenomenology, metaphysics, and sacramental theology. Wallenfang served in full-time Catholic youth and young adult ministry for nine years. He has been married to his wife, Megan, for twenty-three years and has six children.