Leading Catholic speaker, author to keynote 'A Pattern of Hope'

Lisa Cotter

HOUSTON — “A Pattern of Hope,” an event that supports tuition assistance for primary Catholic schools to help students excel in their academic journey, will be held Friday, March 1, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The luncheon will be at the Junior League of Houston, located at 1811 Briar Oaks Ln.

Lisa Cotter is a leading Catholic speaker and author known for her practical insights on relationships, femininity and living life with excellence. After serving as a FOCUS missionary family for over 10 years, she authored “Dating Detox: 40 Days of Perfecting Love in an Imperfect World” and “Reveal the Gift: Living the Feminine Genius.”

Her work has been featured on Ascension Presents, the Hallow App, EWTN, Formed.org, Steubenville Youth Conferences, the SEEK Conference and numerous other outlets. Cotter spoke with the Texas Catholic Herald and shared a preview of her presentation and experiences:

Q: Could you give us a brief synopsis of your talk for Pattern of Hope?
A: Firstly, as a graduate of Catholic schools, I am so excited to be joining everyone for the luncheon. I know it is going to be a blessed event. With the Eucharistic Revival going on, my hope for our time together is to remind everyone of our need for the Eucharist and then tie it back to Catholic schools. It’s going to be a great message for the start of this Lenten season!

Q: Do your children attend Catholic school? What do you feel is the value of a Catholic education?
A: Yes! We have kids in both Catholic grade school and high school, and we absolutely love our schools. Knowing that they are learning in a place where they are not only receiving a first-class education but also receiving the faith is a gift.

Having opportunities to encounter our Lord daily through the Sacraments, times of prayer and classes that bring Jesus into any subject is forming them into men and women who know the love of their Father in heaven. I really can’t imagine a better place for them to grow in virtue and discover God’s call in their lives.

Q: What do you hope attendees walk away with after your keynote?
A: After my talk, I hope attendees will feel a sense of hope and a renewal in their relationship with the Lord. During this season of Lent, we have a unique opportunity to slow down, connect with Jesus, and reflect on what He did for us on the cross. My message is simple but powerful, just like the Gospel, and I hope that it will be a great moment of encouragement as we hit the mid-way point of Lent.

Q: How can femininity enhance one’s faith?
A: Great question. I think the secret to femininity enhancing one’s faith is found in what St. John Paul II called the “feminine genius,” which is women’s unique person-oriented disposition. Part of this includes her receptive nature, which is visible in the make-up of her body.

As St. John Paul II points out in his Theology of the Body, this visible reality points to an invisible reality. Women are not only receptive physically, but spiritually as well. This helps them to be able to receive from the Lord the graces he desires to pour out to them if they know how to lean into this gift!

Q: In the secular environment we are currently living in, what should women who want to feel empowered focus on when it comes to being a faithful Catholic?
A: Receptivity is only one of the gifts that flow from a woman’s feminine genius. Others that St. John Paul II spoke of include maternity, sensitivity, interior strength, generosity and more. I know at face value that not every woman may initially connect with some of the words on that list, but that’s because St. John Paul II’s definitions of these words are not always the same as the world’s.

For example, when St. John Paul II speaks of a woman’s unique sensitivity, he is not saying that all women are overly emotional and cry too often. For him, sensitivity lies in a woman’s unique ability to be sensitive to the needs of those around her. He speaks of how women see people with their hearts. They tend to notice when someone is feeling uncomfortable or left out or needs to be celebrated and their sensitivity moves them to act in ways that meet those needs.

I have found that when women dive into the true meanings of these gifts, they find unique ways that they can live from them, and that is empowering.

Cotter holds a master’s degree in theology and resides in Denver, Colorado, with her husband Kevin and their four children. 

To learn more and to register for "A Pattern of Hope," visit the website.