By Mary Lackie

“We need to become involved,’ said Mrs. James Hickey, cochairman of the Community Affairs Commission workshop at the recent Atlanta Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women leadership conference.

“I was surprised,” Mrs. Hickey said, “when one woman said ‘We are involved—we need to become more involved.’”

The ACCW conference gave the 130 members attending the meetings an opportunity to study and discuss areas of involvement through five workshop commissions: Organization Services, Church Communities, Family Affairs, Community Affairs and International Affairs.

“When I first came to Atlanta 25 years ago, I felt ‘lost’,” said one member, “I was amazed at the ramifications of this organization—the spread of projects—and that there are so many people, mothers with small children, working women, all willing to give their time and talents—even planning the reports for this meeting was a big job.”

In the Church Communities workshop, Mrs. Joseph Meyer and Mrs. Walter Hesse outlined three areas of study: ecumenism, scriptures, liturgy. “Take part in ecumenical dialogues on the ‘grass roots” level, study the changes in the liturgy—renewal and reform,” they urged the members, adding, the phrase “People of God” sums up beautifully the areas of Church Community activities.’

Among projects suggested within the parish was the Flower Commission. Why was this mentioned? one woman was asked. She said, “Because, unfortunately, there are still some priests who think all that women in the parish should do is arrange flowers for the altar.’

The Family Affairs commission emphasized the role of the family “as the first and vital cell of society,” said Miss Mary Wells, chairman of the Northwest Deanery. “How can parents, or one-parent families apply Christian principles to daily life?”

International affairs commission speakers covered international relief programs to local programs--working with foreign students through the international visitors organizations.

“We hear so much about what we can do in an international level,” said one woman, “we could also find needs in our own community. You could throw a stone out your back door and find someone in need,” she said. “As far as I am concerned, the big problem is one of apathy.”

“We’re inspired,” said Mrs. Joseph Nolan, St. Thomas the Apostle parish, Smyrna. ‘We have the women in our parish—now all we need is a place to meet.” The six delegates from Smyrna represented three guilds—one of their projects is remembering the ‘forgotten patients’ at Milledgeville, Mrs. Nolan said.

At least 90 per cent of the women attending the conference are officers in the parish organizations, said Mrs. Murphy Faust, chairman. AACCW members represented parishes in the greater Atlanta area, Carrollton, and Newnan.

Father John McDonough, pastor of Holy Spirit parish, offered Mass and congratulated the women for the work they are doing “both in the parish and on an archdiocesan level. You are giving of yourselves for the well-being and edification of others,’ the priest said. “Even if the task is a small one, you are bringing happiness to others, and to yourselves.”

Mrs. William Dennon, AACCW president, welcomed the record number of women attending the conference and introduced Father Eusebius Beltran pastor of Holy Cross parish. Father Beltran addressed the session on the two newly formed bishops’ organizations, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) and the United States Catholic Conference (USCC).

The annual meeting of the AACCW will be held in September at the Marriott Hotel, Atlanta, with a business meeting, luncheon, and dinner. Paul Shields, news director of WAGA-TV, will be the speaker.