This
year's Women's Night of Spirituality in Toowong has again drawn a capacity
crowd for a night of storytelling and connecting.
Blogger
Erika Bartle, one of the night's presenters, likened the evening to a ‘Catholic
version of an Oprah show, orchestrated by a hilarious, excitable septuagenarian
priest named Fr Peter [Quin]... and three glamorous mums from St Ignatius Parish
in Brisbane.'
Bartle,
27, is editor of the ‘Girl with a Satchel' media blog and was one of three
guest speakers at the event at Stuartholme Girls' College on 8 September.
The
other guest speakers were Julie Kelly, Australian founder of Project Rachel,
and Trish Wilson, the coordinator of Mater Mother's Bereavement Support
Program.
Project
Rachel is an organisation for those whose lives have been touched by abortion.
Kelly moved many in the 700-strong gathering with her personal story of having
an abortion in the 1950s, while Wilson shared stories of life as a midwife.
Journalist
Geraldine Doogue hosted the evening, providing space for the women to share
their stories before fielding questions from the audience. The presentations
were interspersed with performances by music students at Stuartholme. The
evening was capped off with tea, coffee and cupcakes.
First
conceived by parish priest Fr Peter Quin SJ, this year was the fourth Women's
Spirituality Evening in Toowong Parish. Organiser Christine Poole says it keeps
growing in popularity.
‘Every
year we've filled the venue', she said. ‘It's just amazing. Everyone that has
been to it doesn't fail to come back.'
Erika's
description of the night can be found here.