Thought I'ld post this article on an event my wife has been envolved with over the last three weeks. This took place April 16, 23 & 30 at Church of the Risen Christ in Denver.
Looking Good Inside and Out
During the month of April Denver broke ground on a fun and exciting new program for girls ages 10 to 14. “Looking Good inside & Out, Models for Life Fashion Workshop,” brought forth the teachings of John Paul II on the beauty and dignity of being created a woman to girls throughout the Archdiocese of Denver. The co-directors of the program, Sallie Hurley and Michelle Dowling, felt called to bring forth a program designed to promote modesty, chastity and purity.
“The initial idea of the program was to promote modest fashions,” stated Sallie Hurley. “But soon after God had another plan, He brought me together with Michelle Dowling who has a passion and zeal for the real truth about beauty and being created a woman.”
The program consists of a series of talks with interactive activities. Talks range in nature from understanding the female person, in pre-teen language, to basic etiquette and social manners. Girls learned how to plan a party, and be a gracious hostess at the same time. Also included in these three full Saturdays are constant reminders on ways we strengthen our wills by practicing virtue in our families, with our friends, and in our surrounding communities.
One Mother, Tessie Meyer commented, “How grateful I am to all the effort that was put into three FULL days. It was a blessing for my daughter to be surrounded by other young girls where they were given the truth about the beauty of a woman in many, many fun and interactive ways.”
Not only did the daughters receive instruction on the beauty of being a girl, but Mothers also came together to hear talks. Mothers went away with practical common sense advice on how to combat this age of immodesty, relativism, and impurity, with virtue and a true commitment to the sacraments. One primary message of the talk “Protecting the Purity of Your Children,” focused on the necessity of frequent Confession for Families. “If you want to protect the purity of your family, start by going to the Sacrament of Confession frequently. Through this we as mothers can then see through the lies that our world so frequently tells us,” said Michelle Dowling mother of eight.
The third Saturday consisted of a true spring fashion show with a high tea at noon. This year we had a special guest, Laura Tobey, Miss Colorado 2004/2005. She was the master of ceremonies for the fashion show. Over 170 attended. Lastly, Models for Life Fashion Workshop is a fun formative experience. For more information please contact Sallie Hurley at 303-741-3355.
