Born out of the desire for all women of Acadiana, no matter their season in life, to come together under one roof to experience true Catholic community to last a lifetime.

2022 Conference Details

Dates

Friday, February 4 — Sunday, February 6, 2022 at The Double Tree by Hilton located at 1521 W Pinhook Rd, Lafayette, LA 70503.

Headline Speaker: Kathryn Whitaker

Author of Live Big, Love Bigger, an award-winning book about living an intentional life. She's a sixth-generation Texan who was raised as an evangelical Protestant and then converted to Catholicism on the eve of her wedding. On social media and her blog, Kathryn shares her honest take on family life and living the Gospel. She has appeared in USA Today, EWTN, radio and TV stations around the country and is a frequent guest/sometimes host on The Catholic Channel on SiriusXM. Kathryn and her husband, Scott, live with their six children in Austin, Texas. More information here: https://kathrynwhitaker.net/

CONFERENCE PRIEST: Fr. Justin Brady

Fr. Justin Brady is an Idaho priest and exorcist born and raised in Boise. Ordained to the priesthood in 2005, he is currently the pastor of Our Lady of the Snows in Sun Valley. Fr. Justin has had extensive training through the Theology of the Body Institute and passionately shares his love for Christ to all.

Fr. Justin has been featured speaker and contributor in many renowned Catholic experiences including numerous episodes in the Abide Together Podcast.

Breakout Speaker: Rachel Balducci

Rachel Balducci is the author of Overcommitted: Cut Chaos and Find Balance, Make My Life Simple: Bringing Peace to Heart and Home, and How Do You Tuck In A Superhero and other delightful mysteries of raising boys. She is a co-host of The Gist, a talk show for women on Catholic TV and teaches journalism at Augusta University. 

 Rachel and her husband Paul live in Georgia and have five strapping sons and one precious daughter. In a former life, Rachel was a newspaper reporter, and she has a Masters in Journalism from the University of Georgia. These days she writes about faith and family, and how keeping her bathroom clean will make her a saint.

Breakout Speaker: katie prejean

Katie Prejean is an international speaker, educator, & author. Since 2007, Katie has been traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada sharing a unique blend of humor & storytelling, coupled with teaching theological truth, to engage audiences of all ages. Katie has spoken at events large & small, including Steubenville Youth Conferences, the National Conference for Catholic Youth Ministry, the National Catholic Youth Conference, Los Angeles Religious Education Congress & Youth Day, in dioceses & parishes from coast to coast, and has appeared on EWTN, Catholic TV, Radio Maria, & shows on The Catholic Channel on Sirius XM. Katie has written extensively, publishing two books – Room 24: Adventures of a New Evangelist and Follow: Your Lifelong Adventure with Jesus – with Ave Maria Press. She has published with Life Teen International, written for the USCCB “For Your Marriage” website, writes weekly for Epicpew.com, and maintains a blog here at katieprejean.com and curlyweds.com.

Katie has her degree in Theology from the University of Dallas, loves to watch NBA Basketball, has no dance skills whatsoever, considers herself an ice cream connoisseur, and loves to read. She considers herself neither “liberal” nor “conservative,” but much prefers to be classified as “seeking Truth, straight down the middle.”

Katie is married to Tommy McGrady & lives in Louisiana with their daughter, Rose, & dog, Barney.

Kelly Pease Lombardi

Kelly Pease Lombardi is a wife to Joey Lombardi and mother of their six children. She is a music minister and teacher at Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Alexandria. Kelly has written and recorded several albums of original music. She is deeply in love with the Lord and humbled by the opportunity to serve the Church. Kelly join us as worship leader for the conference.

Missy Polozola

Missy is a native of Lafayette, Louisiana. She is wife to Deacon Kyle Polozola and mother to four beautiful, lively girls. Missy is passionate about her Catholic faith and living it, and can’t help sharing it with her world. Missy had the privilege of spending two years in formation with the Dominican Sisters in Nashville, Tennessee.  She counts those years as some of the most important in her life. Missy is currently pursuing a Spiritual Direction certification and is author of the Silent Seeds daily prayer blog (www.silentseeds.net).  Missy loves to travel, paint with her kids (and without!), go on dates with her husband, open her home, be a friend to many, and just enjoy people.  Missy was one of the original founders of the Abide Women’s Conference and is so excited to be there this weekend!