October 4, 2026

Close to 200 women gathered for the Women’s Day of Reflection

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Carolee McGrath

Two-hundred gathered for the Women’s Day of Reflection Saturday, Oct. 3, at St. Catherine of Siena in Springfield.

SPRINGFIELD —  Close to 200 women gathered at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Springfield, Saturday, Oct. 3 for the Women’s Day of Reflection. The event, entitled “Everlasting,” featured talks by Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist John Mary Sullivan and Conventual Franciscan Father Brad Milunski, the pastor of the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr in Chicopee. Both religious Franciscans shared their thoughts on the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi and focused on the three themes of “Everlasting Joy,” “Everlasting Hope,” and “Everlasting Peace.”

Pope Leo XIV declared 2026 a Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan order who was born in 1182 in Assisi, Italy. St. Francis of Assisi’s feast day is October 4.

The day began inside the church with Mass, celebrated by Bishop William D. Byrne.

“I think it’s always better to be with peers,” the bishop commented when asked why men’s and women’s retreat days are important.

“There is a saying in Proverbs, ‘iron sharpens iron,’ and that’s the likeness that makes us better, to have people who know what we’re going through the same experiences and call for their wisdom, their advice, their love,” said Bishop Byrne.

Sister Sullivan is the executive director of the Franciscan Life Center in Meriden, Conn.. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist and spoke on what everlasting peace means.

“It takes great humility to live a life of peace, the peace of Christ,” said Sister Sullivan, referencing when Jesus said in John 14:27, “My peace I give to you, not as the world gives.”

“The peace of Christ is doing the will of God in order to bring right order into our lives,” she said.

Father Brad Milunski spoke on everlasting joy, but prefaced his talk by saying it’s the not joy people might think of. He described how St. Francis of Assisi embraced poverty, and encouraged people to embrace and find joy in the cross.

“Joy is a gift of the Holy Spirit. It’s not something we manufacture. We in our culture are overly focused on how we feel. Joy is more than a mere feeling or emotion. It’s a deep abiding sense, a fruit of the Holy Spirit,” he said.

At the break in the day, women went back inside the church for Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction. There was also an opportunity for confession.

“Last year’s women’s conference you could tell the women were really hungry to grow in relationship with the Lord, to gather in community and to have an opportunity for fellowship and continue this opportunity for them to have encounters with each other and with God. That’s why we wanted to bring back the women’s day of reflection this fall,” said Samantha Austin, who helped organize the event. Her husband Joe Austin is the director of the Office of Missionary Discipleship, which put on the event for the Diocese of Springfield.

The day included ice breaker games, raffle prizes, breakfast and a hot buffet lunch. Several vendors were also there.

This story will be featured on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel,” which temporarily airs Sunday mornings at 6:30 a.m.  on WWLP-22NEWS.