Southern Nebraska Register
The Office of Family Life & Discipleship and the St. Benedict Prayer Team of the Diocese of Lincoln will present a conference April 28-29, entitled “Spiritual Warfare in the Family.”
The event will be presented by Kathleen Beckman L.H.S., an evangelist, best-selling author, and retreat leader. She has served the Church for 25 years.
In her book “A Family Guide to Spiritual Warfare,” Beckman explains that families are the domestic Church, where Jesus grows.
“He grows in the love of spouses, he grows in the lives of children,” she writes. “That is why the enemy so often attacks the family. The devil does not want the family; he tries to destroy it, to make sure that there is no love there…. May the Lord bless families and strengthen them in this time of crisis when the devil is seeking to destroy them.”
The conference will begin Friday, April 28 in the John XXIII Diocesan Center, 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and “Winning the Battle for the Soul of the Family: Putting on God’s Armor” will be held from 7 to 9 p.m.
Events resume Saturday, April 29. Mass will be celebrated at 8:15 a.m., with a continental breakfast to follow. The conference will be held from 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m., including four conferences and a boxed lunch from Premiere Catering. The conference topics are “Be Empowered by God’s Word: Spiritual Warfare in Scripture and Discernment of Spirits,” “Built up in Faith: Know Your Enemy and Demonic Tactics,” “When Problems Arise: How to be Liberated and Healed by the Sacraments and Sacramentals,” and a question-and-answer period, with approved prayers for the laity.
Father Christopher Barak, chaplain to the Carmelite Sisters in Agnew, said during the conference, Beckman “will give Bible quotes that are very helpful for families in combating evil spirits, overcoming sin, and keeping close to God.”
“She will offer ways of praying for protection and doing battle in spiritual warfare. And she will show how powerful the grace of God coming through the sacraments is for overcoming the temptations and oppressions from the devil,” he continued. “People who practice what she teaches will experience fewer troubles. Her conference… will be a great blessing to all who attend. They will find the ways to be victors with Christ in spiritual warfare.”
Julia Placzek will be married at the St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center in Lincoln next month.
“As I approach my new vocation of marriage,” she said, “I find a great need to become more aware of the realities of spiritual warfare, and my response to it. Satan wants to attack the most precious pieces of our lives – our marriages, families, and relationships. We need an understanding of this warfare so that we can better prepare for these attacks.
“It’s a normal experience that we all go through, and need not be afraid, or ashamed, but rather grow in knowledge of how to respond with the help of God,” she continued. “I have found working through Ignatius’ Discernment of Spirits to be incredibly fruitful in my life, as it has brought more clarity of how to engage with the battle around me. This foundation has been very helpful in preparing me to become the wife and mother God is calling me to be, so that I can be aware and understand the pitfalls of the Enemy and take appropriate action.”
Cindy Kudron of St. Peter Parish in Lincoln agreed.
“As parents and grandparents,” she said, “my husband and I strongly believe in spiritual warfare. The world has become a darker place in recent years, so asking for protection for ourselves and our children daily is a must. When our kids were young, we started our day with the St. Michael prayer and we are encouraged that our adult children and grandchildren are continuing this practice. St Michael helps our family a lot. Kathleen Beckman will give us hands-on suggestions for fighting the enemy successfully. Don’t we all need a bit of extra help these days?”
Beckman said she is “honored to address God’s people in Lincoln” regarding the protection of loved ones from the three-fold enemy of souls: the world, the flesh, and the devil.”
“The Church has an arsenal of spiritual weapons that are effective for victory over sin and evil,” she added. “The goal of the conferences that I will give is to encourage and empower people of all ages to fearlessly proclaim Christ’s victory.”
Registration, which includes continental breakfast and a boxed lunch on Saturday, is due by Monday, April 24. The rate is $35 ($25 for clergy, religious and students). Sign up at: https://lincolndiocese.regfox.com/spiritual-warfare-in-the-family-conference.
