Women of Grace® Event Details
"Be Virtuous! Be Hopeful! Be Happy!" Young Women of Grace Retreat Day
"Be Virtuous! Be Hopeful! Be Happy!"
Young Women of Grace Retreat Day
A fun, faith-filled retreat day for girls ages 12-17!
Family Life Center, Malvern Retreat House
Malvern, Pennsylvania
Saturday, July 25th, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Fun Activities
Inspiring Speakers
Including: Cindy Westbrook, Johnnette Williams, Fr. Hans Chamorro, and Vivian Akel
Discussion and Fellowship
Confession, Music, and Prayer
Spend the day with friends and learn all about the virtues, how to practice them, and why virtuous living gives you hope and leads to your ultimate happiness! Have fun and grow in knowledge of your faith!
Event Date/Time(s)
Event Information
Helpful Tools
Event Speakers
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Vivian Akel LCSW
Vivian M. Akel LCSW is a Clinical Social Worker and Ignatian Spiritual Director. She is a lifetime Maronite Catholic and serves the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn as the Safe Environment Coordinator for the Protection of Children and Youth, Pre-Cana facilitator and seminary formator. Ms. Akel serves on the USCCB’s National Review Board serving as secretary. She has been in private practice for over 30 years combining her therapeutic clinical skills and Ignatian spirituality to foster insight into the movements of the heart, healing and prayer. She is a regular contributor to the Maronite Voice on topics of spirituality and prayer. Ms. Akel has been married for 40 years and has two adult children.
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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. -
Fr. Hans Chamorro
Father Hans Paul Chamorro is a priest of the Archdiocese of Miami in Florida. He currently serves as the Parochial Vicar of St. David Catholic Parish in Davie, FL. He assists with Catholic Campus Ministry at nearby Nova Southeastern University, and is also helping to grow the young adult community at the parish. He is fully bilingual in English and Spanish. Prior to entering the seminary, he studied English Literature and worked for 2 years in the advertising field. One of his joys is helping others to know the healing mercy of God. He recently celebrated his fifth anniversary of ordination and is grateful for the gift of the Priesthood. He looks forward to meeting you soon at the Benedicta Enrichment Seminar and the Women of Grace Retreat.
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Cindy Westbrook
Cindy is a native of Birmingham, and the proud mother of two amazing sons, two beautiful daughters-in-law, and four precious granddaughters.
Recently retired after 43 years in the classroom, Cindy taught in both public and parochial schools including Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School. Passionate about Catholic education, she continues to work with students at OLS in a variety of capacities. Cindy currently serves on the Advisory Council for Birmingham Diocesan Catholic Schools. She is also a Third Order Franciscan Lay Missionary of the Eternal Word.
In 2019, she and a colleague began Young Women of Grace at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School. This incredible program is a vital part of the middle school with thirty girls participating currently. Through her ongoing involvement with Young Women of Grace, she presented at the 2023 Malvern Women of Grace Retreat in Pennsylvania and appeared on the Women of Grace Television program with Johnnette Williams and other national facilitators in June of 2023. Thereafter, Cindy began facilitating the Women of Grace Foundational Study. It is with great joy that Cindy and a team of amazing and very dedicated women facilitate Women of Grace and Young Women of Grace in the Diocese of Birmingham for a time such as this.
