Women's conference

Women's conference
POLAND -- New Life Assembly of God's 2002 women's conference, "Desperate For You," is at 10 a.m. Feb. 9.
Kathy Scataglini will discuss how God is moved when people become desperate for more of his presence. She will speak on her life-changing experience during a 40-day fast and how God strengthened and equipped her to minister.
The doors will open at 8:30 a.m. for prayer and registration. The $15 cost includes lunch. Registrations are due by Feb. 3.
Call (330) 757-0727 or visit www.NewLifePoland.com to print a registration form.
Celebrating life
YOUNGSTOWN -- Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown will preside at the diocese's fourth annual Mass aimed at celebrating life at noon Jan. 26 at St. Dominic Church.
Before the Mass, there will be a prayer vigil from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. across from the Mahoning Women's Center. The mass is an opportunity to gather in celebration of, and intercession for, the gift of human life.
During the liturgy, Bishop Tobin will commission individuals to serve as parish coordinators in the six-county diocese. Coordinators assist pastors in fostering awareness and understanding of Catholic teaching on the sanctity of human life. After Mass, the Knights of Columbus Council 274 will provide a free luncheon.
For more information, call (330) 744-8451.
FamilyLife conferences
CLEVELAND -- Two FamilyLife Marriage Conferences will be offered in Northeast Ohio: March 22 to 24 at the Marion Key Center in Cleveland and April 5 to 7 at Crown Plaza in Akron.
Subjects at each conference include: Clarifying roles in marriage, resolving conflict, expressing forgiveness and increasing commitment.
The registration rate is $120 per couple before Jan. 20. The rate does not include meals and lodging. Call (800) 358-6329 or visit http://www.familylife.com.
Special speaker
YOUNGSTOWN -- Feminist and church member Ginny Shorten will speak on "A Groundbreaking Speech on Women's Rights: Thirty Years Later" at the First Unitarian Church at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Shorten will give her address, "A Second Look at the Second Sex," which she first gave in 1971. Also at the service, Nan O'Malley, who has performed in Northeast Ohio for 15 years, will perform music that combines folk, blues and jazz to validate women.
Bioethics discussion
YOUNGSTOWN -- A theologian, the Rev. John Breck, will lecture on bioethical considerations during "The Orthodox Understanding of the Human Person" at 5 p.m. Friday at St. John Greek Orthodox Church.
There will also be a discussion period. The Rev. Mr. Breck authored the book "The Sacred Gift of Life" in 1998.
Relief drive under way
YOUNGSTOWN -- Catholic Relief Services, the official overseas relief and development agency of the United States Catholic Bishops, is trying to raising $50 million to aid people in Afghanistan and Pakistan. To date, the Diocese of Youngstown has raised more than $3,300.
Donations can be sent to: Afghanistan Fund/CRS, c/o Office of Social Action, Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, 144 W. Wood St., Youngstown. Call (330) 744-8451, Ext. 320.
Week of Prayerfor Christian Unity
YOUNGSTOWN -- St. Columba Cathedral will observe the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with a concert at 6:30 p.m. and ecumenical Vespers service at 7 p.m. Jan. 20.
The week is celebrated nationally Friday through Jan. 25.
The free concert and prayer service will feature the Tsar Lazar Male Choir, directed by Mark Doncic. The singers are from Serbian Orthodox Church choirs in greater Pittsburgh.
Choir program
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Community Church Choirs, the second annual program of music and entertainment presented by church organizations in Lawrence County, is at 7 p.m. Jan. 19 at New Castle Playhouse.
Tickets are $10 each. A reception will follow. Call (724) 658-3735.
Dialogue meeting
BOARDMAN -- Richard Mattiussi will speak when the Youngstown-Warren Chapter of the Society of St. John Chrysostom Catholic-Orthodox dialogue group meets at 7 p.m. Monday at Infant Jesus of Prague Byzantine Catholic Church. Call (330) 755-5635
Teleconference set
SHARON, Pa. -- "The Church in the Contemporary World" is the topic of a satellite teleconference to be offered in Sharon, Erie and DuBois Jan. 26.
The Rev. Father Michael Baxter, assistant professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame, will conduct the program from 11 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Teleconference sites are Room 100 of the Book Store Building at Penn State Shenango, St. Mark Catholic Center in Erie and St. Camillus Hall at DuBois Regional Medical Center.
The cost is $10 per person. Register by calling (814) 824-1210 by Jan. 25.
Bus trips planned
WARREN -- The Olive Branch Ministry is offering bus trips to the play "Men Cry In the Dark" at 3 p.m. Jan. 25 to 27 at the State Theatre in Cleveland.
The cost is $40. Make reservations by Tuesday. Call (330) 394-5637.