DETROIT — Marcia Wright describes her experience with the Phenomenal Woman Conference as “a forum to build each other up and support each other.”

Formerly known as the Black Catholic Women’s Conference, the Phenomenal Woman Conference will be May 17 at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit.

Wright, who attends Sacred Heart Parish in Detroit, attended the 2012 and 2013 conferences as a participant, but this year is a member of the event committee.

“It helps to better their lives and improve their day-to-day life,” Wright said. “It tells you that need people have just for God.”

Even though the conference will be held within the Archdiocese of Detroit, women from outside the archdiocese’s boundaries — including several Canadian women — plan to attend as well, Wright said.

This year’s theme, “Bearers of HIStory,” will “focus on evangelism because that’s what Pope Francis has been discussing,” she said.

The Phenomenal Woman Conference will feature Mass, lunch, praise and worship, workshops and time to socialize with fellow attendees. Speakers include Julie Welborn, Timone Davis and many others, focusing on Our Lady as the model for all women throughout history.

But, it’s “not just a great time,” Wright added: the topics, from stories of black female saints to learning to have faith that conquers all trials, will inspire self-improvement as well.

Brendall Johnson, pastoral associate at St. Charles Lwanga Parish in Detroit, attended the previous two conferences and looks forward to attending this year.

Johnson was raised Catholic and raised her children Catholic, and “my lifetime experience has been in the Catholic faith,” she said. Though the conference plans to address women of all backgrounds and ages, it truly is “a conference for all women,” she added.

“For younger women, I believe it will help enrich their foundation,” Johnson said, adding that she expects the speakers’ stories “will resonate in the hearts of the women who are attending.”

Breakout workshops will offer fresh perspectives on issues affecting ordinary women’s lives, which can be shared with their friends and families, she said.

“The wider community will benefit from the insight received by the women attending the conference,” Johnson said. “It renews our spirituality and gives us an opportunity to meet women across the Metro Detroit area. The prayers that we share at the conference have been, and will be extremely powerful.”