By Susan Stevenor Sullivan

Women remain absolutely necessary in the life of the church, Archbishop John F. Donoghue told Catholic women attending a convention in Atlanta recently.

Repeating the words of the Holy Father, the archbishop stated emphatically, “The presence and role of women in the life and mission of the Church . . . remain absolutely necessary and irreplaceable.”

In his homily on Sunday, Sept. 25, at the 38th annual meeting of the Atlanta Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (AACCW), the archbishop spoke firmly to the congregation about the role of women in the Church.

“. . . We are here today to witness to one another, and to reaffirm for one another, the truth about women in the Church, and the truth about their importance to the Church.”

Quoting from the pope’s recent apostolic letter affirming the priesthood for men alone, the archbishop repeated the pope’s desire that women undertake an important mission for the Church.

“The Church desires that Christian women should become fully aware of the greatness of their mission: today their role is of capital importance both for the renewal and humanization of society and for the rediscovery by believers of the true face of the Church.”

The archbishop confirmed the pontiff’s statement that women have a divine gift to renew and transform the Church.

“In these words, I believe that the Holy Father has summed up, not only the expectations, but the most heartfelt desire of all people in the Church – that women have the character and the disposition to do these three most important things – to renew and humanize society, and to reawaken in those who have lost it, trust in the Church and her mission.”

Speaking before the 170 registered conference participants, Knights of Columbus, and other guests, the archbishop went on to connect the pope’s remarks with the day’s Scripture which challenged listeners to use their gifts in the manner that God intended.

“It is with this fundamental teaching of Our Lord at the base of everything,” the archbishop said, “that we consider anew the requests that Pope John Paul, and through his voice the entire Church, makes of Catholic women today – a request to renew the Church – to fill the Church with the same Spirit that James spoke of, the Spirit which makes of us all prophets and saints; a request to humanize the Church – to forget the dross of political empowerment and the movements that seek radical personal fulfillment and instead to fill the Church with the love of Mary – the love which gave Christ a home. . .”

Women can bring the light of faith to those in darkness, the archbishop said.

Women can “reveal anew to the supplications of those who struggle without the light of faith, the beautiful faith of Christ’s Church, his beloved and his bride, who with a mother’s love, guides the souls of all men and women as they seek true fulfillment in Christ and true liberation from anything that would turn us against him.”

“I encourage you, I entreat you to take these thoughts with you when you leave today – and to carry them back to those places where they will and must do the greatest good – in your homes and in your parishes, certainly – but also in the marketplace, and in the businesses which you control – in the schools, in clubs, in all public forums of debate. Wherever and whenever despair or disillusionment have found a foothold, and threaten to suffocate that hope which Jesus Christ has brought us and which has insured at the cost of his own death – there it is that I and the whole Church will look to find you, fervent in your labors, and joyfully shouting for the harvest of grace which is ours to bring in together,” he concluded.

Before the final blessing the archbishop installed the AACCW’s officers for 1994-95: Bertha Rucker, president; Deirdre Holler, executive vice-president; Louise Lynch; first vice president; Gloria Cole, second vice-president; Shirley Radican, third vice-president; Bessie Moore, secretary and Pat Dickson, treasurer.

The conference began Friday afternoon, Sept. 23, and ended at mid-day Sunday. Mass each day was preceded by the rosary. This year’s conference included adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during the entire event for the first time.

“The adoration went very well,” said Mary Wells, a past president of the organization. Ms. Wells commented that attendees traveled from LaGrange, Athens, Dahlonega, Cedartown and Thompson to participate in the weekend’s events.

Workshops on Saturday included an address by Susan Goodman from The Design & Training Team who spoke about how the family functions and how strategies can be used to meet challenges which families face.

Psychologist Jack Mirabile, founder of Holy Family Adoption and Relief Services, Inc., which is dedicated to helping children and families of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, spoke of his experiences and the need for help in his work.

At the closing brunch on Sunday, numerous women received thanks for their work during the year and during the convention.

After the meal, keynote speaker Monica Kaufman of WSB Channel 2 News addressed the convention theme “Peace, Love and Harmony.”

Ms. Kaufman spoke of the choice individuals make everyday about their own attitude.

“We are in charge of our attitudes,” she said. “I say we are in charge of our peace of mind.”

Forgiveness, she said, plays a major role in the maintenance of peace, love and harmony.

“Hate the sin but love the sinner,” Ms. Kaufman said. “Forgiveness brings peace, which is an expression of love.”

To promote harmony in daily life, Ms. Kaufman suggested keeping a journal of petitions placed before God so that answered prayers can be noted and appreciated.

“The world needs peace, love and harmony, she concluded, “but as the song we are about to sing says, ‘Let it begin with me.’”

Alan Brown, pianist, and Sam Hagan, soloist, later led the association members and their guests, including the Knights of Columbus’ Archbishop O’Hara Assembly Fourth Degree Honor guard, in the singing of “Let There Be Peace On Earth.”

Those assembled joined their hands and voices in music to close the conference.