“The bigger the dreams God plants in our hearts, the more easily we can become discouraged.”
I recently heard that quote while listening to a Fr. Mike Schmitz’ podcast. He was paraphrasing St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and it immediately caught my attention because 1) as those who will attend the summer gathering on June 24 will soon learn, St. Thérèse’s heart is all over The Well this year; and 2) my discouragement-o-meter was at high levels given we had just been told The Tea Room would not be available to us on June 24 due to construction delays.
What do you do when you’re told three months out from your gathering that your venue is not available?
Cry.
Just kidding!
Well, sure, cry and get it out of your system if need be, but THEN in St. Thérèse of Lisieux fashion, you go big by being small. With lots of prayers for God’s holy will to be done and a willingness to submit and be led by the Holy Spirit, we found what might be the only space available on a Saturday in June within a 60-mile radius of Des Moines that accommodates our needs: Palmer Hall at St. Thomas Aquinas in Indianola.
Sure, we are disappointed The Tea Room won’t be available this summer, but we look forward to having our 2017 Advent at The Well event there in December. In the meantime, we’re making a mighty tasty lemonade out of lemons by focusing on the positives of Palmer Hall.
1. Onsite Jesus: To borrow from St. Thérèse of Lisieux, “Do you realize that Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you, for you alone? He burns with the desire to come into your heart.”
2. Onsite and free parking: Parking garages need not apply.
3. Sweat-free foreheads: Given we’ll walk maybe 50 steps along an air-conditioned hallway to attend Saturday Vigil Mass, we likely won’t work up a sweat on our way to Mass.
4. Room to roam: Palmer Hall is very spacious allowing for extra elbow room, dedicated space for an Adoration chapel, and plenty of women’s restroom stalls!
5. Finally, free branding: This one is pretty spectacular. The Well is inspired by the Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus as detailed in John 4:4-42. Imagine our delight when we spotted a portion of that Scripture inscribed around the baptismal font.
Talking Points:
- Tickets go on sale at 9:00AM Monday, April 24. The link to the ticket page will be visible on our homepage (www.thewelldesmoines.com) at that time.
- Our registration goal is 285 women – we’re going a bit smaller than last summer.
- The early bird registration rate is $60 through May 22. After, the price increases to $65.
- While the schedule is still being fine-tuned, plan on a full day on Saturday, June 24 at The Well once again this summer. Programming begins at 10:00AM and ends at 8:00PM that includes inspirational talks, uplifting praise and worship, fellowship, and individual prayer in our Adoration chapel as well as communal worship at Saturday evening Vigil Mass. A box lunch, afternoon snack break, and buffet dinner are all included with the registration fee.
- Last but not least, announcing our speakers! The Holy Spirit is lifting up these beautiful women to share “ideas worth spreading” at The Well this summer.
 | Ellen Kyhl is a re-emergent professional architect looking to make the most of the years ahead by doing meaningful work to “make better places” in her heart, her home, her family, her community, and possibly in her profession. She invests her time: Reading, Running, Baking, Cake Designing, Landscaping, and Treasure Hunting in her Faith. She and her husband Chris are passionate about keeping the gears turning smoothly in the right direction for their family of six, affectionately referred to as Team Kyhl. Their four sons, ages 14-21, have been nurtured through the years at St. Pius X Catholic Church and School along with Dowling Catholic High School, Johnston Community Schools, and the University of Notre Dame. |
 | Geneveve Loraditch is wife to Timothy and homeschool mom of 6. They live in Ankeny and have been members of All Saints Catholic Church for 13 years. There she is involved with the respect life group, marriage ministry, and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. She loves to read spiritual books and discuss the spiritual life. Between homeschooling and church life she keeps pretty busy but makes time to play board games with friends and focus on her other love - SPORTS. She is a convert to the Buffalo Bills and really enjoys fantasy football. Recently Geneveve reverted back to an old love, the Chicago Cubs, as did half of America! She is passionate about her faith and is so grateful to have a loving community in which to raise her family and find her rest. |
 | A true, small town Iowa love story, Julie Nelson and her husband Lynn met on a blind date their high school sophomore year. Married 35 years (woot!), they have four children and three babes in Heaven. A self-described ambient introvert and Catholic “passionista,” Julie loves a good glass of wine made extra special in the company of friends. Julie is a former nurse who now co-hosts Catholic Women Now, a weekly radio program on Iowa Catholic Radio. Her happy place is being surrounded with her family especially by a beach or lake. Julie’s nirvana is spending time in her sewing room while binging on Fashion Runway. Julie is a member of St. Francis of Assisi in West Des Moines. |
 | Katie Patrizio is the Director of Faith Formation at St. Cecilia Parish in Ames. She holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville and a master’s degree in Biblical theology from John Paul the Great Catholic University in San Diego. Katie frequently teaches popular studies of Scripture and also serves as an instructor for the Catechetical Institute of the Diocese of Des Moines. When she’s not working for Jesus she enjoys good beer, bike rides, and daydreaming about her home state of California. |
 | Kara Storey is proud wife to Adam and stay-at-home mama to a charming boy and two sweet girls. She has a bachelor's degree in Catholic studies and print journalism, and minor in philosophy, from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Kara is a contributing writer for Family Foundations magazine and IBelieveinLove.com, and together with her husband can often be found presenting “God’s Plan for a Joy-filled Marriage” to engaged couples throughout the diocese. A parishioner at the Basilica of St. John, Kara enjoys reading to her kids, hosting dinner parties, watching sports with her family, liturgical living, and meaningful conversations with girlfriends. |