Holy Women, Living Faith: A Weekend of Grace at the WholeHearted Retreat

Spokane, WA — Feb 7, 2026

More than 300 women gathered in Spokane with one shared desire: to draw closer to Jesus. This year’s annual WholeHearted Women’s Retreat became not only a space of prayer and renewal, but also a profound encounter with the saints and their enduring witness of faith.

The Relic Project was honored to collaborate and take part in the retreat, bringing relics of female saints whose lives continue to inspire the Church today. For many participants, this marked their first encounter with the saints through their relics—an experience that offered a tangible, prayerful connection to holy women who faithfully walked the path before them.

One retreat participant, Emily Braxton, shared her experience encountering The Relic Project for the first time:

“Today I had my first experience with The Relic Project. I met Emily, and she showed me the relics that were brought to St. Joseph’s. It was the first time I had ever experienced anything like this. I’m a new Catholic and still have so much to learn about the faith. Emily brought me up and touched the relics to my scapular while I read the prayer. As we went down the list, the last relic was St. Gianna—who happens to be my patron saint. I burst into tears. It was incredibly special to be that close to her, and I’ll never forget it.”

This moment was made possible through the generosity of Emily Bacon, who donated her second-class relic of St. Gianna Beretta Molla to The Relic Project. Without that act of stewardship and trust, this deeply personal encounter would not have taken place. If you have relics that you would like to donate to the ministry, please reach out.

Throughout the retreat, the presence of the relics invited reflection on perseverance, humility, and holiness lived both in the quiet of ordinary life and in moments of extraordinary sacrifice. Women were encouraged to slow down, pray, and consider how the stories of the saints continue to echo in their own journeys with Christ.

Those who felt touched by this experience are invited to share their testimonies, so that others, too, may be drawn closer to Christ through the example of the saints.

The Relic Project is also actively seeking volunteers, relic hunters, and helpers who feel called to support and grow this mission of bringing the saints to the people.

To learn more or get involved, visit therelicproject.org.