2019 St. Louis Catholic Women for Christ Conference
March 9, 2019
10th Annual Conference
Touhill Performing Arts Center, UMSL
Theme: "For nothing is impossible with God" Luke 1: 37
Leah Darrow
Fr. Brian Fallon
Fr. Brian Fallon is a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Ordained in 2012, Fr. Fallon now serves as Vocation Director for the Archdiocese and as Pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in Crestwood.
Obianuju Ekeocha
Obianuju Ekeocha is an internationally acclaimed speaker, author and social activist.
She was born and raised in southeastern Nigeria.She is the founder and president of Culture of Life Africa , an organization dedicated to the promotion of an authentic Culture of Life in Africa and beyond. She is the author of Target Africa:
Ideological Neocolonialism of the Twenty-First Century (published by Ignatius Press) and the Executive Producer of the 2018 documentary Strings Attached.
Obianuju has advised many African, European and North American legislators and political influencers on issues concerning African women’s health, youth, families, healthcare, foreign aid, education, and culture. She has also worked closely with religious leaders across the African continent and has co-authored a number of pro-life declarations with different African Catholic episcopal conferences.
She has planned, organized and facilitated many major pro-life conferences, strategic seminars and March for Life rallies in various African countries. Obianuju has traveled the world extensively speaking in more than 50 cities across 17 countries. She has been welcomed as a guest speaker at many high profile meetings and events including policy briefings at the White House, the US State Department and a number of Parliaments around the world. She also frequently addresses her concerns at various United Nations conferences and events.
She has been featured by numerous broadcast networks, including BBC television and radio, EWTN television and radio, Ave Maria Radio, and Relevant Radio. Consistent with her love for the wonder of life, Obianuju also works presently as a Specialist Biomedical Scientist in the United Kingdom. Prior to her current position, she was a Medical Laboratory Scientist at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital. She holds a Master's degree in Biomedical Science from the University of East London and a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from the University of Nigeria.
Elizabeth Westhoff
Elizabeth has been with the Archdiocese of St. Louis since 2005.
She is a recipient of the 2017 Catholic Press Association Awards: First Place, Best
coverage of the Year of Mercy, the 2017 Catholic Press Association Award: First Place, Best newspaper story and photo package, the 2017 Catholic Press Association Award: Honorable Mention, Best in-depth news/special reporting in a diocesan newspaper, the 2017 Catholic Academy of Communications Professionals: Gabriel Award for New Media Campaign of the Year, the 2009 Archdiocese of St. Louis Women’s Visionary Award, the 2004 St. Louis Business Journal’s Thirty Under 30 Award, host of the radio program, The Tuesday Morning Show on Covenant Network, author of the column, Pop Culture Catholic, a regular guest and guest host on various Catholic radio networks, guest speaker for various Catholic and secular organizations, former President and Vice-President of the National Communications and Development Section for Catholic Charities USA, and a Daughter of St. Francis de Sales in the Association of St. Francis de Sales--a lay association of the faithful.
A self-described “Social Media Catholic,” Elizabeth is a strong believer that the Church should use every communications tool available in order to evangelize and share the beauty and truth of the Catholic faith.