Detroit — Archbishop Allen Vigneron will headline the speakers’ roster for the ninth annual Catholic Woman’s Conference Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28-29, in Sterling Heights.

The theme for the conference is “Embraced by Mercy, Transformed by Love.”

To register This year's Catholic Women's Conference is Oct. 28-29 at the Best Western Sterling Inn Banquet & Conference Center, Van Dyke at 15 Mile Road, Sterling Heights. Register on-line at aodonline.org/womensministry or send mail-in registrations by Oct. 20 to get special rates. Walk-ins also accepted, but at a higher price. Call (313) 237-4683 for more information.

The archbishop says his talk, “’Yes’ to the Incarnation, ‘Yes’ to God’s mercy,” will explore the question: “What is there about the feminine genius that has made women God’s privileged agents for sharing the good news of Divine Mercy?”

He will deliver his address at 9:30 on the Saturday morning after celebrating an 8 a.m. Mass for the gathering, which will be at the Best Western Sterling Inn Banquet & Conference Center at Van Dyke and 15 Mile roads.

Judy Maten, director of the archdiocesan Office of Evangelization, said the organizers of the conference are “thrilled to have Archbishop Vigneron as a speaker.”

She said the archbishop, in discussing women and the Divine Mercy will  will make reference not only the St. Faustina, but to other others such as St. Edith Stein (St. Theresa Benedicta), St. Theresa of Avila, St. Cathererine of Siena, St. Gianna Berretta Molla and others, “who understood how through mercy we are transformed by love.” 

The conference will begin the previous evening, Friday, Oct. 28, at 6:30 p.m., with dinner, followed by a praise and worship service, with music provided by Noriko Ernst, associate director of music ministry at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Farmington Hills.

Sr. Mary Finn, HVM, assistant professor of theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, will speak at 8 p.m. on “The Face of Divine Mercy.”

On Oct. 29, Archbishop Vigneron’s talk will be followed by the first of two Scripture dramatizations created by Kelly Nieto, whose “Living Stations of the Cross” production played to enthusiastic audiences at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament back in Lent.

Then, Catherine Lanni, who founded the Servants of Jesus of the Divine Mercy and of the Divine Mercy Center in Eastpointe, will speak on “A Call to Trust, the Time is Now.”

After lunch comes the second Scripture dramatization, followed by Marjorie Gabriel-Burrow, director of music at St. Augustine & St. Monica Parish in Detroit, giving a reflection and leading the Metro Catholic Gospel Choir in song.

Fr. Joe Horn, pastor of Holy Family Parish, Memphis, and chaplain to the Divine Mercy Center, will give the afternoon’s final presentation, taking the conference’s theme, “Embraced by Mercy, Transformed by Love,” as his title.