Insider: This is What Happens at a Singles Conference.

It's Monday morning and my colleagues ask: "What did you do on the weekend?"

After a slight pause and a deep breath, "I went to the National Catholic Singles Conference," (NCSC), I reply.

In an instant, that starts the office buzzing with intrigue and awe at my confession. I had not told many people what I was doing before I left. I was embarrassed to admit where I was going, being a 30-something year old woman and still hoping to meet Mr Right for me!

Now that I've experienced the National Catholic Singles Conference, I have a new contentment with my decision to attend and confidence to share my experience with others.

Watch this short video to find out why other Catholic singles decided to attend the National Catholic Singles Conference:

Before I decided to attend the National Catholic Singles Conference, some of my friends suggested that this weekend would be a waste of time. Some even scoffed and laughed that what I would find would be simply loserville, a collection of misfits and leftovers still in a waiting hold for an uncertain destination. Those uncharitable comments however did not discourage me, I'm not a loser I thought, nor am I the only person in this state of life.

In preparing to attend the NCSC, I tried to enter into the experience with no expectations. I wanted to be open to possibilities of learning something new and meeting new people. I wanted to work on building my confidence engaging with men in a social setting.

What I found when I arrived and across the whole weekend was delightful. Looking around the room on the first evening and talking with people during the non-corny mix and mingle sessions, was simply a cross section of society. Different ages, cultures and professions just like you would expect at any "normal" gathering of people with a common interest.

It certainly wasn't a room full of no hopers looking for the left overs. The mood was one of respect and genuine interest across the weekend. It certainly wasn't a meat market but an opportunity to make and pursue connections if one wanted to.

I was impressed with the men, I felt like a real lady all weekend. Gentlemanly gestures of opening car doors, buying a drink and asking for a dance were all exterior manifestations of an authentic offering of being a gift of self to the other. A dynamic example of initiation and receptivity, which is the mark of complementarity and ultimately authentic nuptial love.

Single and still waiting

As singles our lives are in a transitory period. Sometimes it can feel like life has pushed the pause button or that we are simply treading water not getting anywhere.

For some of us the deepest longings of our hearts for communion with another presents us with a suffering that must be endured at this time. Suffering however that is not transformed in one's life, is simply transferred. It's easy to complain and look outside ourselves blaming our singleness on other things—the culture, the lack of good men or women—but if we do not transform that anguish or loneliness into something greater within ourselves we simply just perpetuate the negativity. It might sound cliche but it really is through growing in holiness, virtue and love for others that we can more perfectly become the best versions of ourselves—and who is not going to love that!

Many of those whom I met over the weekend were living out their state in life as a single person in a dynamic and full way. Many singles had accomplished careers and businesses, others were active in their local parishes and civil society with theology of the body groups and pro life work. Capable, intelligent people, building the Church and transforming their sufferings into positive works.

What the NCSC is doing is an important ministry in the Church. We are at a crisis point in society when we talk about the value of marriage. In the Archdiocese of Chicago for example, over the last 10 years the number of Sacramental marriages celebrated has dropped by over 10,000 per year. Urgent attention is needed in building a culture that values monogamy and fidelity as a good for a flourishing society.

How to prepare for marriage

In his encyclical on the family, Familiaris Consortio St. John Paul II outlined three stages of marriage preparation, remote, proximate and immediate preparation. We often focus on the immediate preparation where couples attend a course in their diocese in the weeks leading up the the wedding day.

Work on remote and proximate preparation is also of great value to prepare singles for their vocation. The formative talks and discussions across the weekend provided a practical application of this proximate stage of marriage preparation helping participants like myself to integrate the message of authentic love and spiritual growth in their own lives.

God's perfect timing

Meeting ones future spouse is all about God's perfect timing. Often, our frustrations come when we hope and anticipate our schedule for our lives rather that letting God's timing unfold. In the meantime, learning to become the fully integrated and holy person that God wants us to be is a much better preparation for marriage than spray tans and pumping iron.

So would I recommend singles to attend the NCSC in Texas this year? Absolutely.

I should say I look forward to meeting you there but I'm going to continue to work hard on becoming the best version of myself so that I might be ineligible to attend come September 2016!

For more information and to register for the National Catholic Singles Conference, visit NationalCatholicSingles.com.