ABOUT ABIDE

G A T H E R  •  C O N N E C T  •  R E S T  •  R E N E W

This conference was born out of the desire for all women in Acadiana, regardless of their age or season in life, to come together under one roof to experience true, Catholic community.

In 2017, the Holy Spirit authored the idea for the first-ever Abide Catholic Women’s Conference, which was held in February of 2019 for over 600 women in Acadiana. With widespread community support and numerous volunteers, the first Conference was incredibly successful.

In 2021, we were picked up by Catholic Charities of Acadiana, and we served as their spiritual work of mercy for the next two conferences. In February of 2022, following the worldwide COVID pandemic, we gathered with 400 women to learn, pray, listen, worship, laugh, and so much more! And, in 2024, we held another successful Abide Women’s Conference for 500 women. We are grateful for their commitment to serving us in that capacity for those incredible experiences.

In 2024, Deacon Coby and Kessie Thomas felt it was time to serve the Acadiana area together as a couple by adding more opportunities to the Abide family of ministries. It was here that Abide Catholic Ministries, a 501(C)(3) non-profit, was born. Together with Abide, they seek to guide others into a deeper relationship with Christ. The Abide Women’s Conference is now hosted by Abide Catholic Ministries, under the direction of Deacon Coby and Kessie Thomas. Since 2019, the Conference has served over 2,000 women in the Lafayette area and beyond. Kessie and a team of very dedicated women have spent years investing in the experience of the Women’s Conference.

One of the most beautiful facets of the Conference is that it is a conference that feels like a retreat.

THE ABIDE IMPACT

  • "The team behind the Abide Conference created such a beautiful, warm, and spiritual space for the retreatants. In my experience, I have not seen such intentioned care for the retreat environment, prayer experiences, spiritual care, and fellowship times at a conference. It was a transformative weekend facilitated by a team of humble, faith-filled women. I myself was greatly blessed by being part of it."

    — Fr. Justin Brady, Pastor of St. Paul's Parish Nampa, Idaho

  • “The Abide conference was one of the best experiences I could have given myself. After being separated from friends and family due to the pandemic, it was my first outing back into the world. To be surrounded by so many like minded women, all with a common goal to be renewed and rejuvenated by the love of Christ was amazing. It filled my soul with love and friendships I never knew I needed.”

    – Kayla Weber, Lake Charles, LA

  • "A Holy Rest – that is the best phrase to describe my experience with Abide Catholic Women's Conference. This conference is exceptional and it is clear from the moment I enter that every detail is discerned by the team – the beautiful aesthetics, the comfort, the vendors, the volunteers, but most importantly the agenda that is filled with amazing speakers, Mass, Adoration….. Jesus. The agenda is filled with Jesus. I am so grateful!"

    – Catherine Desormeaux, New Orleans, LA

  • "As women of faith, we go to conferences in hopes of being inspired, challenged and encouraged. It is a special thing when a weekend does all that, and more. Abide not only speaks, deeply, into the feminine genius, but they love on you so well. It's been well over a year since I participated in Abide and I am STILL reflecting upon the deep love, the radical hospitality, the extreme fun and the real women I encountered. If I only had to choose one conference to attend, it would be this one, again and again."

    – Kathryn Whitaker, Texas • Speaker, Author, Podcaster

  • "The Abide Conferences I've attended have blessed me tremendously! Setting aside the time to grow closer to the Lord alongside other women has yielded much fruit in my life. I am so very grateful!"

    – Gretchen George, Lafayette, LA

  • "You cannot pour from an empty cup! Being an Abide volunteer allowed me to be present at the conference, filling my own cup and pouring from that cup by serving the women at the same time! Knowing that my service to the ladies attending Abide made some of their experiences even better put a huge smile on my face. It was a great opportunity to meet beautiful new friends and connect with old ones. I would totally do it again in a heartbeat!"

    – Heidi Norman, Lafayette, LA • Volunteer

  • "My favorite part was all of the topics that were discussed and how they all linked up. I’ve been dealing with a lot of self unforgiveness and shame and lack of self worth. Every word Jill said pierced my heart in an amazing way."

    – 2024 Conference Attendee

  • "I LOVE that you drew us in with so much beauty (from the beautiful backdrop, to all the decor, candles, flowers, stage setup, dancer, etc). It was evident that everything was intentional and it made the space feel welcoming and warm."

    – 2024 Conference Attendee