DePaul University Women's Center will sponsor a conference titled "Women and Spirituality: Embracing Self and Community Through Diverse Perspectives" on May 22 and 23 on the Lincoln Park Campus.

Registration and continental breakfast will be from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. May 22 at the Cortelyou Commons, 2324 N. Fremont St. A welcome and blessing will follow in Recital Hall, in the lower level of the Music Building, 804 W. Belden Ave.

The conference will feature prominent guest speakers from different ethnic and religious backgrounds. It is open to the public.

"The purpose is to gather women together to talk about spirituality, being a woman and how spirituality works for them across boundaries of race, class and culture," said Harvette Grey, director of the Women's Center. "We wanted to get together with diverse races and classes and get them to discuss among themselves issues that are normally very private."

Initial response to this conference has been positive, according to Grey, who said that if the conference is a success it could become an annual event.

Conference participants will attend a one-woman performance, "Promises to Keep--Louise de Marillac," starring Judit-Helen D'Andreis at 7 p.m., May 22, in Recital Hall.

"Promises to Keep" is about the hardships and triumphs of Louise de Marillac, who was a follower of St. Vincent de Paul and founded the Daughters of Charity.

Among those speaking at the two-day conference and their topics are Inka Alasade of Chicago, "Religion/Divination Systems in Yoruba & Santeria"; Carolyn Ann Goosby of Chicago, "The African American Women's Spiritual Perspective"; Sister Jose Hobday, O.S.F., of Oakland, Calif., "The Native American Spiritual Perspective", and Zakiyyah Muhammad, of Sacramento, Calif., "The Islamic Perspective."

Also appearing will be Rokell Lerner, of St. Paul, Minn., who is the author of "Living in the Comfort Zone"; Sister Mary Ellen O'Dea, O.P., of Palos Hills, who will speak on "The Feminist Face of God"; Susan Skog of Fort Collins, Colo., author of "Embracing our Essence" and Elizabeth-Anne Vanek, spiritual director for DePaul's University Ministry department, who will discuss spirituality and will present original poetry. Vanek is the author of several books on spirituality.

All the plenary speakers will appear in Courteyou Commons. On May 22: Skog from 9:15 a.m. until 10 a.m.; Elicit from 10:15 a.m. until 11 a.m.; Hobday from 11:15 a.m. until noon; Vanek from 12:15 p.m. until 1:20 p.m., with workshops to follow. On May 23, Muhammad will speak from 9:15 a.m. until 10 a.m.; O'Dea from 10:15 a.m. until 11 a.m.; Goosby from 11:15 a.m. until 12 noon; and Lerner from 12:15 p.m. until 1 p.m. and workshops follow.

There is a registration fee. Those registering before May 3 will be charged $25, which will increase to $40 after that date. Students registering before May 3 will be charged $10, and $20 afterwards. Senior citizens will be charged $5.

For more information call the Women's Center at 773/325-7558.