Blog | ncbwl

Behind the Smoke:

What Every Catholic Woman Should Know about the Conclave

As Catholic women navigating midlife, faith isn’t just a quiet part of our lives. For most of us, it's the compass that guides us through family, work, community and leadership. With the Church currently in a papal interregnum, now is the perfect time to better understand what’s happening behind the scenes in Rome. The conclave isn’t just a historic ritual but a deeply spiritual process rooted in prayer, discernment, and silence as the College of Cardinals prepares to elect the next pope.

I recently had the privilege of sitting down with Father Justin Raines, pastor of St. Matthew in Franklin, TN, for my podcast and radio show Catholic Moms in the Middle. Father Raines was in Rome during the last conclave and offered firsthand insight into the mystery and meaning behind it all—from the sacred symbolism of the white smoke to the solemn oaths cardinals make beneath Michelangelo’s Last Judgment. He

described it not as a political moment, but as a spiritual retreat where silence and the Holy Spirit guide every decision.

For Catholic women who lead—in their homes, in their communities, or in their businesses, this is a powerful reminder that the most important leadership choices are rooted in listening to God. As the world awaits the next Holy Father, our role is clear, we are to pray, stay informed, and trust in the Holy Spirit to guide our steps. Here is the truth, the Church isn’t just run from Rome, but it’s carried every day by women like you and I, as members of the Nashville Catholic Business Women's League, who are the face of Christ for everyone we encounter.
Link for podcast!

The Holy Doors:
Walking Through the Doors of Your Parish and Into a Deeper Faith

In 2008, I was blessed to travel to Paris and visit the Notre Dame Cathedral. It was an experience that has remained with me all of these years. I remember walking through the Holy Doors into the church. It wasn’t just the beauty of the door that struck me, but what it represented—entering into a church with so much history. A place where people from all over the world had come to Mass and to visit the Blessed Sacrament for centuries. I have the same experience as I walk through the doors to my parish now. As I walk through the holy doors into the sanctuary, I am reminded of the generations of my family who have prayed in the same pews at Mass. I find so much comfort knowing that their prayers are at this moment being united with mine.
Walking through the holy doors of your church is an opportunity to leave behind the noise and chaos of the world. It is an opportunity to quiet your heart and so that you can find mercy, healing and grace. This is an invitation that you are given each time you walk through those doors.
Lent is a journey, and every step you take through the doors of your parish brings you closer to Christ.
Every time you walk into Confession, you are stepping through a door of mercy.
Every time you enter Mass, you are stepping through a door of a sacred encounter with Christ..
Every time you sit in Adoration, you are stepping through a door of trust and surrender.
You don’t have to travel to Rome to walk through a Holy Door to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope. You simply have to step through the doors God has already placed before you with intention knowing that God wants to give you everything you need in this life so that you can grow in holiness on your journey to Heaven.
This Lent, I encourage you to be intentional every time you enter your parish. Whisper a prayer as you walk through the doors. Let go of distractions. Open your heart and expect God to be present.
Because this season is not just about sacrifice—it’s about transformation.
And the door to that transformation? It’s always open and welcoming you with open arms.

Click here to hear my podcast with author Joan Watson on her book, Opening the Holy Doors.

Jennie Guinn is a Catholic speaker, Life Coach, Podcaster, Weekly Radio Show Host on Nashville Catholic Radio and Radio Maria USA, and the founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. After 26 years of working in Catholic education, Jennie felt God calling her "to step out of the boat" to serve in a new way. In her new ministry, she equips and encourages middle-life women to encounter the love of the Father and to be transformed and healed by the power of the Holy Spirit so they can MAGNIFY Christ in their corner of the world.