“Living in the Presence of God” was the theme of the 21st convention of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women held in Rome, Georgia, September 23 and 24 at the Holiday Inn and Floyd Jr. College. Mass at St. Mary’s Church followed registration on Friday afternoon. Monsignor John McDonough, the celebrant, spoke of the need for self-discipline and spiritual growth.

Principal speaker at dinner was Father Patrick Mulhern, pastor of St. Mary’s, who gave a brief history of the Church in Rome, Georgia.

At the business meeting, presided over by outgoing president Genevieve Jones, the resolutions were read and the delegates pledged themselves to work actively in the ACCW, to be informed on legislative issues affecting us as Catholics, to work for passage of the Human Life Amendment, to promote respect for life, to increase the fight against pornography, child abuse, drugs and alcoholism, to welcome visitors and students from other countries and to pray that we might develop that quality of kindness and compassion for each other that Christ asked of us.

The program at the breakfast Saturday morning consisted of Sister Jean Cassidy and Ms. Mimi Hutchison, explaining their service to the rural poor in North Georgia, while working out of Good Shepherd Church in Cumming. They told delegates they could help meet the needs of those people through prayers and donations.

Dr. Walter Kahnle, Youth Ministry Consultant, of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, shared his experiences and insights in a positive vein. “We must get rid of certain myths,” he stated. “One of them is that youth are the church of tomorrow.” “That’s wrong,” he said, “youth are the church of today.”

After Dr. Kahnle’s talk, Outstanding Catholic Youth for 1977 was named. Bernadine Williams, Blessed Sacrament Parish, received this honor and was given a $100 savings bond. Bernie, one of 12 children, is active in Search, is a member of the folk group, an elected member of the parish council, belongs to Adopt a Grandmother, and teaches religion education. She was nominated by her pastor, Father James Noonan, who spoke highly of her following the presentation.

Delegates then attended one of four simultaneous workshops.

Dorita Moore, St. Thomas Aquinas, outgoing International Affairs Chairman, addressed the International Workshop, suggesting ways to express care and concern to people of different nations. Showing hospitality to foreign students and visitors, particularly by working through the Villa International program, was one of the ways cited. Others were contributing to International Relief and Development Programs. The Madonna Plan, helping Mother Teresa in Calcutta and Catholic Relief Services were other ways suggested.

In the Organizational Affairs Workshop, Cheatham Hodges, executive director of the Georgia Catholic Conference, explained his position of building rapport with the senators and representatives at the Georgia General Assembly. He said the Catholic Conference is not working for legislation that would be beneficial only to Catholics but for legislation that would benefit the whole community. He stressed watching out for “threshold legislation,” when only one word in a bill can be changed and the door is opened to a different type of legislation.

In the Family Affairs Workshop, Father James Kelly, Office of Religious Education, was principal speaker. He explained that ministry means to develop the gospel message. “Parents are the prime educators of their children,” he stated. Organizations such as Cana Conference, Marriage Encounter and now the Pro-Life Office have come into existence to assist family life, he said.

Betty Smith, Christ the King parish, then spoke on Better Infant Births, which is an umbrella organization of March of Dimes. Their purpose, she said, is to help mothers put into practice what is known of good nutrition before and after pregnancy in order to prevent birth defects.

In the Church Communities Workshop, Father Richard Kieran spoke on evangelization, which he stated is comprised of three areas: to go and make disciples, to initiate into the Christian Community; to teach the Gospel or the ways of Christ.

He said evangelization is the process whereby the Gospel is proclaimed and explained; living faith is awakened in non-believers and fostered in believers and the existing structure of society is transformed by the Gospel. With 12 million estranged Catholics in the U.S., he stressed that evangelization is not only for non-believers but for believers who have become lax.

The workshop was concluded with reports given by representatives of the Legion of Mary, Cursillo Movement and Charismatic Community.

The Community Affairs Program was open to everyone after lunch and an informative colored slide presentation was given by Dean David Collins, St. Philip’s Cathedral. Dean Collins, president of the Christian Council of Metropolitan Atlanta, captured the audience with his anecdotes of ecumenical progress in recent years. The slides were of the 1975 Charismatic Conference in Rome, Italy and the one held recently in Kansas City.

The second portion of this program was presented by Ms. Helen Shall who explained the newly formed “We Care, Inc.,” an organization to help fight pornography. Petitions were signed and she invited anyone wishing further information to write: We Care, P.O. Box 13777, Atlanta, 30324.

A Concelebrated Mass with Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan as homilist took place at 6:30 p.m. in St. Mary’s with music provided by their elegant choir. In his homily the archbishop encouraged continued respect for life efforts in our environment.

At the banquet, poet Kay Magenheimer, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Carrollton, read her poem, “Is Man To Dominate Heaven, Too?”

Highlight of the convention was keynote banquet speaker the Honorable Ben W. Fortson, Jr., Secretary of State for 30 years. Mr. Forston, using the theme of the convention, “Living in the Presence of God,” gave an inspiring witness when he attributed his existence today to the goodness of God. He told of his terrible accident in 1929 while driving alone in his Model T, after which the doctors gave him only five to eight years to live.

“I’m as close to you as your breath,” were the scriptural words he carried in his heart constantly after the accident. Mr. Fortson’s testimony of faith and acceptance will long be remembered by the women and guests of ACCW.

The convention came to a close with the installation of the new officers by the archbishop: Pat Morin, president, St. Johns, Hapeville; Gerry Disney, executive vice president, St. Thoams More: Jean Berding, president of N.W. Deanery, St. Jude’s; Gerry Disney, president of N.E. Deanery; Pat Dickson, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Carrollton; May Trammell, treasurer, St. Thomas More and Martha Fox, secretary, Blessed Sacrament.