Last Saturday, our Mothers Who Pray for Their Children movement had the privilege of attending and supporting the Shalom “TOGETHER” Conference, a day dedicated to strengthening Catholic identity in our homes and in our schools. As mothers, educators, and women of prayer, we were deeply moved by the unity, conviction, and faith shared in that room.
Our movement was present in full force—with a beautiful stall, resources, and evangelization materials—joyfully collaborating with Shalom World in their mission of renewing Catholic media and forming families in the faith. Many mothers approached our stall throughout the day, seeking prayer, encouragement, or simply a reminder that they are not alone.
The conference offered more than talks; it offered encounter—with God, with each other, and with the deepest questions of identity, mission, and family life. Below are some of the moments that touched us most profoundly.
Dr. Jill Gowdie invited us into a moment of interior honesty by posing three powerful questions:
Who do your parents say you are?
Who do your peers say you are?
What messages are reflected back to you about who you are—from friends, family, society, and even the media?
These questions struck the heart of every person in the room. How often do we absorb messages about ourselves that are far from God’s truth? Dr. Gowdie reminded us:
“Go and grow into who God needs you to be—and that is enough.”
As mothers who pray, we hold this close to our charism. We come together weekly, not only to pray for our children, but to rediscover our own identity as beloved daughters of God. Her message echoed the very foundation of our movement: mothers who walk one another back to God, strengthening each other to stand firm in truth.
Marsella Blanco Luna’s testimony brought many of us to tears. Her children asked her a simple faith question—one she was unable to answer. That moment awakened a holy restlessness in her, drawing her into the RCIA program, where she rediscovered the richness of the faith she desired to pass on.
Her words resounded deeply:
“I put my life into Your hands, Lord.”
Her journey mirrors the story of so many mothers in our movement—women who desire to live their faith more deeply so their children can witness the Gospel not only in words, but through the authenticity of their mother’s heart.
Principal and mother, Rachel Holdsworth, shared a childhood memory that has stayed with her throughout her life. Each evening at the dinner table, her parents would ask:
“Where did you see God today?”
Such a simple question—yet it forms grateful, attentive hearts. She introduced the phrase,
“Io sono perché noi siamo” — “I am because we are.”
She explained that our “I am” is grounded in God. When we use negative self-talk, we wound the very Spirit of God living in us.
Rachel offered a powerful reflection using the Cross:
The horizontal beam represents the past and the future—everything behind and before us. The vertical centre is the present moment, the sacred “here and now.” It is in this present moment—where God meets us—that we mothers are invited to respond with love, patience, and faithful witness.
Her message fits beautifully with the Mothers Who Pray mission: to live the present moment with faith, to create homes where gratitude, prayer, and spiritual attentiveness shape our children.
Fr. Mahir electrified the room with his conviction and passion. His message was clear and challenging:
Be bold in your faith. Live it. Speak it. Show it.
He reminded us that children learn far more from what they see than from what they are told. A home where prayer, forgiveness, and faith are lived becomes the first and most powerful catechism.
Fr. Mahir also spoke beautifully of the unity of the Church—Roman and Eastern rites standing together as one family. For many of us, this underscored the global nature of our own movement, present in many countries yet united in one mission: to pray for our children and strengthen families in Christ.
For many mothers in the room, Kevin Bailey’s testimony was among the most unforgettable. Raised in an Australian battler family of nine children in a commission home—poor in material things but rich in love and faith—he spoke with honesty and humility.
He shared the painful moment when he realised his eldest son valued success and money more than God…and the even more painful truth that his son was simply imitating the priorities he had witnessed.
In prayer, God made clear what Kevin needed to do. So - he sold everything!
He took his entire family on pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Jeff Cavins.
And when Charbel Raish invited him to serve, he said yes.
Sixteen years later, he continues to live that yes with conviction. His testimony reminded us mothers of the profound impact of our daily choices. We, too, shape the spiritual direction of our homes.
Throughout the conference, one theme rang strongly in our hearts:
Catholic identity begins at home.
This is where our movement lives.
This is where our prayer grows.
This is where children first see God.
Being present at the conference—with our stall, resources, smiles, and conversations—felt like a natural extension of our mission. Mothers shared stories of struggles and joys; some asked for prayers; others left with rosaries, chaplets, and materials to help them deepen their spiritual motherhood.
The day reminded us that we are not journeying alone. We are mothers walking each other back to God. We are mothers learning, growing, and becoming who God needs us to be. We are mothers who pray—boldly, faithfully, and with hearts rooted in hope.
May the seeds planted at the TOGETHER Conference continue to bear fruit in our homes, our schools, and our movement. And may every mother who prays for her children know that God sees her, loves her, and is with her—today and always.
Written by: Felise D'Costa and Mary Krotwaar
Photos by: Lori Cotacte