Students of Immaculate Heart Academy recently attended our BELIEVE. conference at Kalahari Resort in Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania. This year's theme was inspired by St. Catherine of Siena — Girl, Arise! "Be who God made you to be and you will set the world on fire."

 

At this year's conference, eighty-five students celebrated their sisterhood and participated in prayerful reflection, inspiring discussions, and so much more! Over the course of three days, students strengthened their relationship with God through prayer and thought-provoking workshops, and at the same time built on the strong bonds of their sisterhood. Our students were also able to attend Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, listen to touching guest speakers, and of course take advantage of the beautiful facilities at Kalahari Resort.

Part of the BELIEVE. conference also included a special dinner that focused on the gifts of community and sisterhood. Students decorated their own gift bag with their name on it so that their fellow sisters could write a note describing the amazing gifts and talents they see in their sister. By the end of the night, everyone had a bag full of affirmations!

Another favorite activity at the conference was the Sisterhood Circle which is meant to provide the students with a space to verbally affirm each other. Students volunteer to enter the center of a circle to call out the good that they see in a specific sister. According to Ms. Emily Ash '19, theology teacher and service coordinator, “The girls would have kept the Sisterhood Circle going all day if we let them! We emphasized that the circle is not the only chance they get to do this, they can do it everyday in the halls of IHA. We do not have to be in the Poconos for the girls to treasure the sisterhood and friendships God has given them.” 

Another captivating part of the conference was the keynote speeches from Miss Kerry Carroll '04, principal; Ms. Lauren Rhein '09, director of admissions; Ms. Emily Ash '19; Samantha Povlock, founder and CEO of FemCatholic; and Ms. Lauren Meyers, former teacher at IHA.

Ms. Meyer shared with students what it means to believe in the love that God has for each one of us and to then live that out in the world each day. She highlighted different stories from women in Scripture who believed in God's love for them and used that love to become the women they were created to be with courage, compassion, and service.

Thank you to the IHA administration and Ms. Emily Ash '19, for this inspiring Gospel-centered weekend! We are also grateful for the many chaperones, and keynote speakers who devoted their time to help foster this amazing community of sisters.

Click here for photos of the weekend courtesy of Mike Hamlett Photography; Mrs. Kruk, theology teacher; and students!