Contact: Malvern Retreat House, 610-644-0400

MALVERN, Penn., June 4, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- Peggy Hartshorn, President of Heartbeat International, an affiliation of over 1400 crisis pregnancy centers internationally, will be presenting Johnnette Benkovic's Women of Grace Benedicta Leadership Institute at Malvern Retreat House July 11th - 12th. She will train all attendees in her highly successful method for communication and leadership called the L.O.V.E. Approach. The theme of the Institute is "The L.O.V.E. Approach...For Such A Time As This (Esther 4:14)."

Called to transform the world one woman at a time, Women of Grace exercise the charism of authentic femininity through the gift of spiritual motherhood. With the Blessed Virgin Mary as their exemplar, Women of Grace seek to do for the beleaguered Body of Christ in our day what Our Lady did for the infant Church in hers. Empathy, self-donation, compassion, and the faithful witness to truth characterize this apostolate of love, and build a strong dynamic for a profoundly Catholic women's leadership. The Women of Grace® 2013 Benedicta Leadership Institute for Women® will train women in a proven approach that develops these four virtues, and is applicable to all professions, vocations, states in life, and life situations. Women of Grace® Regional Coordinators and Facilitators will find this approach particularly valuable in their interaction with each other and in the work God has entrusted to them with their study group participants.

The L.O.V.E. APPROACH™ is:

• Completely consistent with Sacred Scripture and Catholic Teaching
   
• A catalyst for achieving a "civilization of love" according to the vision of Blessed John Paul II
   
• A jump start for the "New Evangelization"
   
• Proven efficacious and effective with women via 1400 international crisis pregnancy centers

Attendees will come away with skill development in:

• Listening with empathy and understanding
   
• Opening options with loving concern and compassion
   
• Imparting a new vision of life and relationships with values and virtues faithful to God's desire for us
   
• Extending hope others by helping them constructing a new plan for their life through goal-setting and strategy development

Margaret "Peggy" Hartshorn, Ph.D., is the developer of The L.O.V.E. Approach which has been used with great success in over 1400 crisis pregnancy centers internationally. Since 1993, Dr. Hartshorn has been president of Heartbeat International, the most expansive network of Christ-centered, life-affirming, pregnancy help ministries in the world, with over 1,400 affiliated pregnancy help centers, medical clinics, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and abortion recovery programs, located in forty-eight countries. She has been a guest on the Women of Grace® Television Program, seen on EWTN and hosted by Johnnette Benkovic, and is one of the guest contributors via video to the new Women of Grace® Study, Feminine Genius..." For Such A Time as This (Esther 4:14):" Blessed John Paul II and Authentic Femininity.

Immediately following the Benedicta Leadership Institute is the 7th Annual Women of Grace Retreat July 12-14, directed by Johnnette Benkovic, with guest presenter Fr. Philip Scott, F.J., Founder of Family of Jesus the Healer. The theme is Entering the Heart of the Father: Healing Through Divine Love "For Such a Time as This."

"I am so eager to be with you for a time I know will be rich in love, rich in mercy, rich in healing as God the Father opens His heart for you to enter in and experience His divine love," said Johnnette. She and Fr. Scott will share how God manifests His love for us in so many ways, how he heals the wounds in our hearts, the scars of our souls, and the pain of our memories. Fr. Scott, originally from Peru, has brought healing love to people all over the world, and he joins Johnnette in inviting us to come and discover the heart of the Father "for such a time as this!"

For more information or to register online, please visit www.MalvernRetreat.com or call 610-644-0400.

Cost:
Benedicta Leadership Institute, July 11-12 -- $175 per person
Women of Grace Retreat, July 12-14 -- $250

Location:
Malvern Retreat House
315 S. Warren Ave.
Malvern, PA 19355
www.MalvernRetreat.com
610-644-0400

About Malvern Retreat House
Owned and operated by Catholic lay leadership since 1912, Malvern is the oldest and largest Catholic retreat house in the country -- hosting 20,000 people annually at 250 retreats on 125 acres in beautiful Chester County, PA. We invite you to come to Malvern to reflect, refresh and rejoice in your faith. To find an evening, weekday or weekend spiritual retreat that's right for you, call 610-644-0400 or visit us online at MalvernRetreat.com.