A holistic way to be restored

The first Catholic Women’s Evening of Wellness & Beauty took place on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at St. Pius X Youth Center. The organizers had felt a call to put together an event that would focus on the female body as a gift from God to be adorned and nourished in a holistic way. The team included Siobhan O’Connor, Angie Windnagle, Chelsea Nye, and Jessica Rohr. The “Restore” event attracted over fifty women of all ages and stages of life. They came from parishes in Corpus Christi to as far as St. George in George West. 
 
Participants socialized, enjoyed treats from the expansive charcuterie and beverage tables and interacted with keynote speakers Margaret Kobel and Ann Marie Powell before the presentations. Kobel and Powell had vendor tables displaying the goods and services they offer through their small businesses. Once all the guests were seated, Angie Windnagle, the Family Life Director of St. John the Baptist Church, gave an opening talk to tie in the theme of our Christian faith, the feminine body, and beauty. 
 
The first talk was given by Margaret Kobel, a young Catholic wife and mother who is a certified specialist in body, color, facial, and style analysis. Her home-based business, Radiance, aims to provide “gentle advice on revealing a unique beauty.” Kobel explained how understanding color, season, and style makes clothes shopping and getting dressed more affordable and efficient. These tools help build confidence in recognizing and enhancing one’s natural beauty.
 
The second presenter, Ann Marie Powell, shared her personal story of how finding a naturopathic doctor helped her to address her chronic illness and stop the symptoms that were damaging her skin and hurting her gut. Her improved health led her to leave her career as a teacher and become a licensed esthetician and acne specialist. She owns and operates St. Ann’s Skin Studio on Padre Island and is working on her certification as a Nutritional Therapist Practitioner (NTP). Powell’s mission is to “focus on healing from the inside out by addressing the connection between gut health, hormones, and skin wellness, using natural treatments and products safe for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and oncology care.” 
   
Wrapping up the evening, Audrey Charba and Chelsea Nye were brought to the stage to briefly share what they offer through their small businesses and how their faith inspires them to serve women’s needs from a uniquely Christian perspective. Nye owns and operates ChelsMarie Boutique on Chapparal Street, and Charba specializes in essential oils. 
 
As the unique event ended, several attendees remarked on how beautiful the table settings were, how much they had learned, and how a Catholic focus on feminine beauty and holistic health was needed. Some guests expressed that the topics Restore addressed were areas of concern extensively featured in secular media and marketing, which can lead to women feeling as though these interests don’t go hand-in-hand with their faith and identity in Christ. 
 
The evening closed with a message from Windnagle on the dignity of each woman, made in God’s image and likeness, and an encouragement to continue integrating our faith with health and beauty and, therefore, “Restore” all things in Christ.
 
Contact Ann Marie Powell at mysite.vagaro.com/stannskinstudio
Contact Margaret Kobel at [email protected]
Learn more about ChelsMarie Boutique at chelsmarieboutique.com
Contact Audrey Charba at [email protected]