The international women's ministry Endow (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women) is coming to the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois in late summer. Over the last weekend in August, the Office for Marriage and Family Life, led by director Carlos Tejeda, will be hosting Endow for three events.
Endow is a an educational apostolate started in 2003 and created for the purpose of educating women in the truths of the Catholic faith. Endow produces study guides on a variety of spiritual themes. It is an international ministry that has served over 30,000 women and girls.
In the Springfield diocese, the Endow events will be featured in three different locations, so that people from various parts of the diocese will be able to attend.
"Catholics and the New Evangelization" is a presentation for all (men included) on Friday night, Aug. 28 at Christ the King Parish Hall, 1930 Barberry Drive in Springfield. In that presentation Eileen Love, senior manager and trainer for Endow, will give a presentation on the women's ministry, Endow, and the invitation to all to spread the Catholic faith with joy and conviction. There is no charge for this event, which runs from 7-8:30 p.m. and refreshments will be served.
Love will be leading two mini-retreats for women on St. Pope John Paul's famous Letter to Women. These will be held on Saturday, Aug. 29 at the Chiara Center, 4875 LaVerna Road in Springfield, and on Sunday, Aug. 30 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, 442 S. DeMazenod Drive in Belleville.
Retreats will be held from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. with training running from 1:45-3:45 p.m. As an extra bonus following the retreats, Endow facilitator training will be offered at no additional charge for those who wish to learn how to lead their own study groups. Cost for the retreat day is $35.
Endow study materials are aimed to reach "the women in the pew" and each study is led by a trained facilitator and takes place over the course of eight to 12 weeks. Women gather in small groups and bond in sisterly friendships as they read together, unpack the content of the material, discuss, share and pray. There is no homework and the cost is $25 per study.
According to Love, the effects of catechetical study are far-reaching. Through Endow, a number of young women have discovered a vocation to religious life. Marriages have been mended and a new openness to life is common.
"Endow provides an exciting and real venue for women to gather together in small groups and discover the richness of our Catholic faith. It is not about book knowledge or memorization, rather encountering Jesus in community and in the shepherding guidance of Holy Mother Church," Tejeda said. "Endow truly has the potential to change lives for the better."
Those who plan to attend the Aug. 28 event at Christ the King should RSVP to or to (217) 321-1139. To attend the Aug. 29 event go https://store.endowonline.org/eileen-love-p2403.aspx or to attend the Aug. 30 event go to https://store.endowonline.org/eileen-love-p2402.aspx. Or for more information visit www.EndowGroups.org or contact Carlos Tejeda at .