Women’s Conference to focus on Scripture as ‘Letters from Home’

For Stephanie Stovall, the 2026 Catholic Women’s Conference is professional. And personal.

Stovall, who serves as the conference chair, traces the growth in her faith journey to one of the three keynote speakers: Scott Hahn, renowned author, theologian and Catholic apologist, as well as the founder of the Saint Paul Center for Biblical Theology.

“Scott Hahn was the first one to form me in my Catholic faith,” Stovall said. “So this is a really big moment for me personally, being able to bring in such a great Catholic teacher to share all of his wisdom on Scripture.”

Hahn’s expertise on scripture speaks directly to this year’s conference theme: “Letters from Home,” taken from Saint Augustine’s famous description of the Holy Scriptures as “our letters from home.”

“The scriptures are God’s love letters to his people, calling us back home to himself,” said Father Alex Kroll, pastor of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Ponca City and conference chaplain.

“Jesus says, ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.’ Finding rest and peace in his sacred Scriptures is something that every Christian is called to, but something that we need especially in our busy lives today.

“When we pray, we speak to the Lord. As we read Scripture, he speaks to us, powerfully and really.”

The 18th annual conference is set for Feb. 21 at the Oklahoma City Convention Center. Tickets are available at okcatholicwomen.com at a cost of $79 for general admission and $59 for students. Registration closes Feb. 7.

Father Kroll considers the speaker lineup a powerhouse, with Monsignor James Shea and Mary Healy, STD, joining Hahn for the event, which will also feature time for adoration, confession and Mass.

Shea, president of the University of Mary and a priest in the Diocese of Bismarck, is deeply committed to the education and formation of young people. He has spoken at various conferences, including SEEK in 2024.

“Monsignor Shea is going to be focusing on the transformation at Jacob’s Well, which is one of the most powerful stories in the Gospel,” Stovall said. “I love that he chose this because it highlights authentic relationship between a woman and Jesus.

“I think there’s a lot of women who will be able to relate to the brokenness of the woman at the well, but also the hope in this really intimate encounter with Jesus.”

Healy is a professor of Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit and a bestselling author and international speaker.

“She is an incredible theologian,” Stovall said. “And she is just perfect for women, because she gets the feminine heart, seen in the way she speaks to the heart of women and encouraging them to go into the Scriptures as part of your daily life.”

John Helsley is editor of the Sooner Catholic.