Lisa Brenninkmeyer, founder, Walking with Purpose Women’s Catholic Bible Study, spoke to over 400 Catholic women and pastors from throughout the Diocese of Bridgeport on November 16th at the Italian Center in Stamford.
Brenninkmeyer’s talk, Brave and Beloved: Overcoming Fear, empowered women of the diocese to make choices that release us from the grip of anxiety and move us towards inner peace. “Fears can hold us back, keeping us from our true purpose,” said Brenninkmeyer at the event. “They can also paralyze us and fill us with feelings of dread and panic. God wants us to be free from that way of living. We are God’s beloved, and He wants us to be brave.” Brenninkmeyer shared practical steps women can take when emotions and circumstances feel out of control.
Walking with Purpose has been enthusiastically welcomed in the Diocese of Bridgeport. After speaking in September 2015 to Walking with Purpose participants in Stamford, Bishop Caggiano said, “Since its arrival in the Diocese of Bridgeport, Walking with Purpose has deepened the faith of thousands of women who have attended its courses. Through its authentic catechesis and by its commitment to accompany women in their daily lives, Walking with Purpose has helped its participants to deepen their personal relationship with the Lord and their commitment to the Church and has also brought new energy and hope throughout the Diocese.” Over 800 women in the diocese currently participate in Walking with Purpose Catholic Bible study programs at the following parishes: Basilica of St. John the Evangelist, Stamford; Church of the Holy Spirit, Stamford; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Danbury; St. Aloysius, New Canaan; St. Catherine of Siena, Riverside; St. Catherine of Siena, Trumbull; St. Gabriel, Stamford; St. Joseph Brookfield; St. Leo, Stamford; St. Mary, Greenwich; St Mary, Ridgefield; St. Maurice, Stamford; St. Michael, Greenwich, St. Rose of Lima, Newtown; and St. Thomas More, Darien.
Brenninkmeyer began Walking with Purpose in 2008 out of a desire to see women come to know Christ personally. Her first book, Walking with Purpose: Seven Priorities that Make Life Work, was published by Beacon Publishing for the Dynamic Catholic Institute with over 50,000 copies sold to-date. In 2012, Brenninkmeyer was recognized by the Catholic Leadership Institute as a National Catholic Leader. In 2014 and 2015, she was invited to be a presenter at the Amazing Parish Program’s national conference and spoke as a national leader on effective small group ministry. Brenninkmeyer has written seven Walking with Purpose Bible study courses; all studies have received the Imprimatur through Archbishop Lori of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Over 12,000 women now participate in Walking with Purpose studies in 34 states, Canada and Switzerland. For more information about Walking with Purpose, visit the organization’s website: www.walkingwithpurpose.com.
Contact: Laurie Baschwitz
914-588-8763
laurie.baschwitz@walkingwithpurpose.com
