By Kathi Stearns

Archbishop John F. Donoghue said Mass for the Atlanta Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women as they celebrated "The Wisdom of Women" at the 37th annual convention Sept. 24-26.

The convention was based on the Scripture passage in Wisdom 7:24: "For wisdom is mobile beyond all motion, and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity."

During Mass Sept. 26 Archbishop Donoghue challenged the new officers to make their attitude the attitude of Christ: "As we begin our friendship today, on behalf of the whole Catholic Church in North Georgia, let us make our attitude that of Christ. Let us find our meaning by studying His life and actions, and let us put that meaning into action by our faithful service to his church on earth. For our faith in action is what Jesus Christ expects."

Father Richard Lopez was the keynote speaker at the brunch following the closing Mass celebrated by the archbishop. Father Lopez drew upon the works of St. Gilbert of Semprigham as he spoke with gentle humor of the wisdom of women.

"He (St. Gilbert) wrote that women were especially blessed by God, more so perhaps than man, because they were born with the power of four hearts. Each women has the heart of a girl, the heart of a bride, the heart of a mother and the heart of a sister."

"Even though a woman might never be a bride in relationship to a husband, a mother to a child, she still has the capacity to love in and through all four hearts," he stated.

Father Lopez explained that "we all must be women before God," receiving the Word, nurturing the Word and giving birth to the Word.

"I beg you as priest, as man, as brother, be equal to us, but please don't be just like us! ... Be the sister who calls us back to sweetness, to compassion by your cultivation of his spirit ... show us by your wisdom that like Mary, woman is to man and to live our life, our sweetness and our hope...'"

Five workshops were held Sept. 25, all of which were well attended and enthusiastically received. The high quality of the speakers added an educational dimension to the social, spiritual and business meetings which took place throughout the weekend at the Ramada Hotel, 1850 Cotillion Drive, Atlanta.

In a well-attended workshop, Kathleen Powers, a religious educator and teacher, examined women in the Old and New Testaments. She centered on aspects of their relationship with God and their struggle for dignity. Mrs. Powers used Scripture to demonstrate how women become empowered. Mrs. Powers used Scripture to demonstrate how women become empowered. Mrs. Powers noted that she has heard people say that if women were allowed greater roles in the church they could then demonstrate what women can do. She explained that even though this may be the current message of the world, it is not the message of Scripture. Using the examples of Sarah, Deborah, Judith and Mary, the Mother of God, she explained how these women faced impasse. These women were powerless until God empowered them. By disempowering themselves, they transcended themselves to a place that is God's.

"Let go, let God," Mrs. Powers informed the women. To 'let go, let God' means to "transcend the limits of your humanity and immerse yourself in the Godhead that dwells within you." She explained that the struggle to 'let God' is the ultimate risk. Yet these women were able to take this risk because they were empowered by God.

During another workshop Father Bruce J. Krause, CM, spoke on theological and ethical considerations of the Georgia welfare reform legislation proposed and enacted during the 1992 session of the Georgia General assembly.

In another seminar, Marti Wilson, RN, explained that breast cancer is the most common cancer in America. Statistics show that one in nine women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. She explained that he best protection against breast cancer is to detect it at its earliest stage and to treat it promptly.

During the second session, two workshops were conducted. A panel discussion was led by Carol Woods, co-director of Villa International, with women of Middle Eastern heritage as they discussed their customs, daily living, family values and religious beliefs.

In an adjoining room, Dona Anderson hosted a workshop on parish networking. Ann Cowgill of St. Francis of Assisi, Blairsville; Betsy Rieke from St. Augustine, Covington; Donita Landino from St. John Vianney, Lithia Springs, and Beverly Durkin from St. Andrew's, Roswell, shared successful fund-raising ideas with a group of 67 women. International dinners, road rallies, bakeless bake sales and parish vigil lights were all discussed as possible fundraising endeavors. Mrs. Landino who has planned an international dinner for her parish, explained, "There is a lot of trial and error the first year you try something, but each year you try it you learn."

The banquet Saturday evening included entertainment by Sam Hagen, tenor soloist, accompanied by Alan Brown. Hagen has been a soloist with several symphonies, including the Atlanta, Cleveland, and Cincinnati orchestras. He has sung principal roles with several Atlanta companies and has performed in Europe, Canada and Mexico, as well as throughout the Southeast.

In the business meeting, Dee Flanagan, who has served as president of the AACCW since 1991, turned the gavel over to Bertha Rucker. Deirdre Holler was elected executive vice president. Other officers include Marie Doyle, treasurer, Margaret Norris, parliamentarian, Bessie Moore, secretary, Joan Lucas, historian and Grace Sanders, corresponding secretary.

At the national convention held previously this month in Chicago, Mary Wells was elected to the nominating committee for the National Council of Catholic Women. The AACCW was also recognized for its environmental stewardship program at the Chicago convention.

During the business meeting, numerous resolutions were passed in support of the health of the family, universal access to health care, immunization programs in the state of Georgia, and preservation of America's natural resources. A special resolution was passed by the board offering prayers for their spiritual moderator, Father Joseph Beltran, during his time of illness. Father John Adamski has assisted the AACCW as a spiritual advisor since Father Beltran suffered a stroke.

Reflecting on the convention, Ms. Rucker urged members to follow Archbishop Donoghue's guidance.

"I hope that throughout the next year we are able to increase our membership and meet Archbishop Donoghue's challenge, to live our daily lives with a Christ-like attitude," she said.