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Slain journalist’s mother urges moral courage at Women’s Conference

Zoey Maraist | Catholic Herald Staff Writer

A woman prays during Mass. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Bishop Michael F. Burbidge greets a woman coming out of Mass at the Women’s Conference. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Diane Foley answers a question from the audience while Sister of Life Grace Dominic looks on. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Sister of Life Grace Dominic, a former Catholic Herald staff writer, spoke at the Women’s Conference. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Bishop Michael F. Burbidge says a few words before ending the Women’s Conference in prayer. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Diane Foley, mother of slain journalist James Foley, speaks about her son’s moral courage. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Women bring up the gifts to Bishop Michael F. Burbidge during Mass at St. Joseph Church in Herndon. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD

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A woman and her baby listen to speaker Sister Grace Dominic. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Women laugh at a joke told by Sister Grace Dominic during her talk. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD

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More than 700 women gathered at St. Joseph Church in Herndon for the Women’s Conference, “From Darkness into Light.” ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD

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This story has been updated.

After the brutal and public murder of her son, journalist James
Foley, Diane Foley was tempted to be bitter. But instead she clung to God,
something she encouraged all women to do, no matter their cross, when she spoke
at the 2018 women’s conference, “From Darkness into Light.” More than 700 women
attended the conference sponsored by the Office of Marriage, Family and Respect
Life and held at St. Joseph Church in Herndon March 10.  

In addition to the talks, the women had the opportunity to go to
confession, and attended morning Mass with Bishop Michael F. Burbidge. In his
homily, he spoke about the importance of humility, as seen in the wonderful
example of the tax collectors as well as Mary and Christ.

“Humility reminds us that in the end, the only thing that truly
matters is that we’re found pleasing in the sight of God,” he said. “May we
with all humility say, ‘Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.’ And may we go forth
in intimation of Jesus, and wash the feet of one another.”  

In her talk, Diane shared about her faith life, and the trials
she and her family endured when her son Jim was kidnapped. In 2011, Jim was taken
while covering the conflict in Libya, but was freed after 44 days. Diane, a
wife and mother of five, urged Jim to avoid reporting in dangerous areas, but
he was committed. “Mom, I have found my passion,” he told her. 

“Jim’s life challenges me as an American … to care about the
courageous journalists who bring up world news, and to inspire all of us to be
people of moral courage and compassion,” she said.

In March 2012, Jim vanished while working in Syria. “We didn’t
know if he was dead or alive for the next 10 months. We never heard his voice
again,” she said. Soon after, Diane quit her job to advocate of behalf of her
son’s release “to anyone who would listen,” she said.

In October 2013, two former Islamic State group prisoners let the
family know that Jim was alive in an Aleppo prison. Months later, the Foleys
received their first email from the captors asking for a hefty ransom. Diane
continued to petition government officials for help.  

In 2014, a young Danish photographer who spent time in prison
with Jim delivered a message to the Foleys. It would be the last thing they
heard from their son but the gift of his words was “an answer to prayer,” she
said. 

In July, during time in adoration, Diane decided to surrender her
desire for Jim’s freedom to God. “I felt a strange peace that God would take
care of him,” she said. Weeks later, to international shock and horror, a video
of Jim’s beheading appeared on YouTube. 

Diane and her family were devastated by the news, but overwhelmed
by the support they were shown by their community and strangers. “That was when
the legion of angels descended upon us,” she said. “Thousands of cards from all
over the world, buckets of mail, hand-painted portraits of Jim, hundreds of
Mass cards and children’s drawings. All this helped me feel God’s presence
again —  the same peace I felt when I
surrendered Jim. I knew God had freed him in the only way possible.”

Since her son’s death, Diane has prayed for the grace to stay
hopeful. “We have a choice when we suffer — we can grow bitter or we can choose
God’s loving mercy to teach us how to begin,” she said.  “It’s a process, but the choice is always
ours. Do we continue the cycle of vengeance and violence and hatred, or do we
pray for the grace to resist bitterness and seek mercy and forgiveness?”

Another speaker, Sister of Life Grace Dominic, spoke to the women
about the power of knowing their identity in Christ. She shared the story of
her fellow sister, who was asked one day by a kindergartener why she wore a
veil. The sister began to explain that the veil was like a wedding veil and
that she was a bride of Christ. With surprise and confusion, the little girl
asked, “He chose you?” 

“Isn’t this true for each of us?” asked Sister Grace, a former
Catholic Herald staff writer. Each person is called by God and those who
believe in Him are given a place in His family and a part of His inheritance.
“You are a beloved daughter, known and loved. There are two truths in life, and
I’m not talking about death and taxes,” she said. “You are loved and you have
the capacity (to love).” 

Hayres Albert, a parishioner of St. Joseph in Herndon, felt
enlightened by both speakers. “Sister Grace — I feel her love and she talked
about it very well, sharing how we should feel the love of Jesus. Mrs. Foley
somehow shared the same thing because of how she forgave the captors of her
son,” she said. “Most of us were mothers (or) grandmothers, and I think we all
feel her pain.”

Albert was also inspired by the sheer number of women in attendance. “I came here today because I find it special to be around other women
in this capacity,” she said. “I’m looking forward to going next year, God
willing.”

See more photos at catholicherald.smugmug.com.

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