Soultending with Mary Magdalene
March 4th - 7th, 2026
Join us for a Magdalene Gathering — an immersive experience exploring Mary Magdalene’s wisdom, art, and ritual.
Elizabeth “Libbie” Schrader Polczer, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of New Testament at Villanova University. She holds a doctorate in Early Christianity from Duke University, with a focus on textual criticism, Mary Magdalene, and the Gospel of John. Elizabeth has been invited to present her peer-reviewed research at Duke University, Princeton University, Vanderbilt Divinity School, Pepperdine University, Elon University, Wheaton College, Perkins School of Theology, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and the University of Regensburg and the University of Leipzig, Germany, along with dozens of churches across the U.S. and Canada.
Elizabeth transitioned to religious scholarship after a long career as a singer/songwriter. She was the first winner of the Pantene Pro-Voice competition in 2001, after a performance opening for Jewel at SummerStage in New York’s Central Park. Prizes included a nationwide club tour with Poe, as well as a demo deal with Atlantic Records. Her band also participated in Jewel’s “Soul City Cafe” program for independent artists, opening three shows on Jewel’s “This Way” tour. She has opened for other artists as diverse as India. Arie, Michelle Branch, Ray LeMontagne, and Rusted Root, and played her music on an episode of “The Gilmore Girls.”
After writing a song about Mary Magdalene, Elizabeth enrolled in the M.A. program at General Theological Seminary. Her interest in the text of John’s Gospel culminated in the publication of her Master’s thesis in the Harvard Theological Review. She has published additional peer-reviewed papers in the Journal of Biblical Literature, T.C.: A Journal of Biblical Textual Criticism, and the Comparative Oriental Manuscript Studies Bulletin.
Beth graduated from Vanderbilt Divinity School in 2023 with a Master of Theological Studies. She received awards for her Master’s Thesis and New Testament scholarship.
A long-term former resident of Asheville, NC, Beth served several nonprofits, most recently as the CEO of the YWCA of Asheville from 2012 until 2019.
More recently, Beth’s interest in the Divine Feminine led her on two two-month research pilgrimages in Europe to explore the power of images of women in Early Christian and Medieval Art. She welcomes opportunities to share images from her travels and research through lectures, retreats, and guest sermons. See Beth@BethMaczka.com
Beth presented two papers at the Society of Biblical Literature Conference in November 2024; both papers are under consideration for publication by peer-reviewed journals.
– Mary Magdalene as Orante: A Study of Three Sarcophagi
– The Absence of the Anointing of Jesus’ Head in Church-Commissioned Art
Beth resides in Nashville, TN, where she continues her studies and research at Vanderbilt Divinity School.
The Rev. Judith Whelchel is an Episcopal priest, teacher, and seeker grounded in contemplative practice, embodied ritual, and the Divine Feminine. Judith nurtures an experience of Mary Magdalene as an ancient presence cultivating a collective spiritual wholeness within the modern soul.
Ordained in 1996, Judith holds an MSW, an M.Div, and an MFA. She serves as Rector at St. James Episcopal Church in
Black Mountain, North Carolina.
Schedule: (subject to change)
Wednesday, March 4th
4pm – Registration/Check-In
4:30pm – Newcomer Welcome to Kanuga (Fireplace Lounge)
5:30pm – 7pm – Dinner
7:15pm – Welcome & Introduction
8:30pm – Silence, Meditation, Chant
Thursday, March 5th
7:30am – 8:30am – Breakfast
9am – Silence, Meditation, Chant
9:30am – Plenary I: Exploring the Anointing Stories in Scripture and Art
11:45am – Silence, Meditation, Chant
12pm – 1pm – Lunch
1:30pm – The Gospel of Mary & Material Reality
3pm – Free Time – Optional Activities/Focused Conversations
5:30pm – 6:30pm – Dinner
7:15pm – Plenary II: Was the Gospel of John Changed to Suppress Mary Magdalene
8:30pm – Silence, Meditation, Chant
Friday, March 6th
7:30am – 8:30am – Breakfast
9am – Silence, Meditation, Chant
9:30am – Plenary III: Finding Mary Magdalene in Early Christian and Contemporary Art
11:45am – Silence, Meditation, Chant
12pm – 1pm – Lunch
1:30pm – The Gospel of Mary & Sacred Mysteries
3pm – Free Time – Optional Activities/Focused Conversations
5:30pm – 6:30pm – Dinner
7:15pm – Plenary IV: Has a New Section of the Gospel of Mary been Discovered?
8:30pm – Silence, Meditation, Chant
Saturday, March 7th
7:30am – 9am – Breakfast & Check-out
9am – Silence, Meditation, Chant
9:30am – Plenary V: In Conversation (Celebrating Mary Magdalene in Scripture, Art and Ritual)
11am – Soul Tending/Soul Bearing – A Ritual of Anointing
12pm – Lunch & Departure
All Inclusive Rates (Arrive March 4 – Depart March 7)
Rates are per person and include accommodations, meals, and program fee. Check-in time is after 4 p.m. Check-out time is no later than 10 a.m. Meals include opening night supper through closing day breakfast.
Adult Double – Guest House (Shared Room) – $777 / $250 Deposit
Adult Single – Guest House (Private Room) – $625 / $250 Deposit
Adult Double – Inn (Shared Room) – $660 / $250 Deposit
Adult Single – Inn (Private Room – $820 / $250 Deposit
Non – Participant Guest (Shared Room) – $508 / $250 Deposit
Commuter Rate (Arrive March 4 – Depart March 7)
Rates are per person and include meals and program fee. Check-in time is
after 4 p.m. Meals include opening night supper through closing day breakfast.
Commuter including meals – $399 – $150 Deposit
Commuter no meals – $275 / $ Deposit
Early Arrival – Arrive March 3 (Includes accommodation and meals)
Double (Inn or Guest House – Shared) – $176
Single (Inn or Guest House – Private) – $184
Late Departure – Depart March 8 (Includes accommodation and meals)
Double (Inn or Guest House – Shared) – $176
Single (Inn or Guest House – Private) – $184