The sixth annual Archdiocese of Atlanta Marian Conference entitled “Mary, Woman of the Eucharist” will be presented at St. Benedict’s Church during the weekend of Feb. 20.

Pope John Paul II replaced his customary letter to the priests on Holy Thursday 2003 with an encyclical letter on the Eucharist, “Ecclesia de Eucharistia,” which was addressed to the whole of the Catholic Church. In this most important encyclical, he emphasized the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of the church. He also states, “If we wish to rediscover in all its richness the profound relationship between the Church and the Eucharist, we cannot neglect Mary, mother and model of the church.” The conference will expound on that theme.

The speakers for the conference will be Patti Gallagher Mansfield and Father Bill Henry. Mansfield is a conference speaker, author of four books and well known among those familiar with the Catholic charismatic renewal. She was a participant in the now famous “Duquesne Weekend” in February 1967, which marked the revival of the charismatic renewal in the Catholic Church. Her testimony has been widely published, and she has been a frequent speaker at conferences and retreats for priests and laity throughout the United States and around the world. She and her husband Al are liaisons to the archbishop of New Orleans for the charismatic renewal and are recipients of the Papal medal “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” (For the Church and the Pope).

Father Henry is the pastor of St. Alphonsus Church in the Mississippi Diocese of Jackson. A priest for 19 years, he has been active in the charismatic renewal for many years and is currently the liaison for the renewal in his diocese. He is a graduate of the Marian Servants Cenacle, School of Spirituality for spiritual directors in Clearwater, Fla.

Elyse O’Kane and accompanying musicians will once again provide the music for the conference. O’Kane recently released her first CD, which will be available for purchase along with books and tapes of Mansfield and the Daughters of St. Paul.

Archbishop John F. Donoghue will open the conference with Mass at 7 p.m. on Friday evening, Feb. 20, followed by a reception with him and the speakers. On Saturday, Feb. 21, the program will open with a 9 a.m. Mass followed by three talks from Mansfield and one from Father Henry. Eucharistic adoration will be available, and the possibility of reconciliation is being arranged. The conference will conclude around 3:30 p.m. with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Tickets purchased before Feb. 10 are $25, which includes lunch. Tickets purchased at the door will be $30, and may or may not include lunch depending on availability at that time. For a registration form, directions and more details, visit the Marian Servants Web site at www.MarianServants-Atlanta.org or call Carolyn Mihalick at (770) 751-1754.