PORT ST. LUCIE | The largest turnout ever of women throughout the diocese and beyond attended this year’s 2025 Called by Name Women’s Encounter Aug. 23 at St. Lucie Parish in Port St. Lucie.
With a theme of “Radiant Joy,” the day was filled with spirituality, fellowship, praise and worship. There were opportunities for the sacrament of reconciliation, Eucharistic adoration, praying of the rosary and Mass. A continental breakfast and lunch were provided.
Before the event began, the Florida Catholic asked two women from St. Peter Parish in Jupiter, Marti Paterson and Toni Worley, “Why did you come here today?” Paterson said she came “to spend the day with Jesus because we loved it last year.” Expounding further, she said, “There wasn’t any doubt. As soon as it came out, we registered.” Worley agreed: “I am here for the same reason and this is our second year.”
Maria Carlton, family life specialist for the Diocese of Palm Beach, said, “We have women here from all over the diocese, all the way from Emmanuel (in Delray Beach) and all the way to the northern deanery.” Further expressing her joy, she said, “It is really beautiful to see that they will travel to come together to fill their spirit and to celebrate the Lord and their sisterhood.”
The women filled the parish hall to recharge their spiritual life, and many left with a “radiant joy” of encountering Christ in some fashion. Rachel Sparks, emcee for the event, welcomed them all.
“Today, our prayer is that you encounter Christ in some way, whether it be through a talk, whether it be through conversations with each other, whether it be through adoration or through Mass,” she said. “We pray that your life is transformed today because of who you met here.”
Sunny Payne and her daughter, Madison, led the praise and worship music. Sunny is the praise and worship leader at St. Anastasia Parish in Fort Pierce. She said, “I feel it brings the Holy Spirit into all the places that we need healing by praising the Lord.” Madison added, “The church is alive. There is definitely a call back to tradition that people are seeking.”
The keynote speaker was Noelle Garcia McHugh, a Catholic recording artist and mother of six who travels the country proclaiming her faith and sharing it with others — not in a forceful way, but as a living witness of Christ’s love radiating joy through Scripture, catechesis and music.
“All of our expectations for today, we’re just going to throw them out the window,” she said. “Let God do what he wants to do and not what we want him to do.”
Reflecting her own life stories, Garcia encouraged the women to have a real “encounter with Christ” and to look to his mother, Mary, for guidance in overcoming any pain and suffering or pitfalls in life. The rosary is a beautiful way to turn to Mary, she said.
Garcia encouraged the women to find joy in suffering by giving it a purpose. Although fasting can be difficult for some people, offering it for your child or someone else that can help overcome the difficulty. Everyone has been given different graces by God, she said.
The speaker explained that it is important to forgive in order to experience healing. “One of the biggest things to building this community and building relationships back together is through mercy and through forgiveness,” she said. “How many of us are holding onto things for a week, years, things that people said to us or about us that hurt us?” However, “forgiveness is freedom from the pain” that otherwise continually affects our lives, Garcia added.
For more information on the Called by Name Women’s Encounter and the diocesan Family Life ministry, visit www.diocesepb.org/ministriesoffices/ministries/marriage-family-life-faith-formation-youth-ministry/family-life-ministry/. Contact Maria Carlton at family@diocesepb.org or 561-775-9553.
