“Renew and Rejoice, Your Light Must Shine Before Others … Matthew 5:16” is the theme for the 56th annual convention of the Atlanta Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (AACCW). The convention will be held Friday to Sunday, Sept. 7-9, at the Atlanta Marriott Northwest at Galleria, 200 Interstate North Parkway, Atlanta. The Northeast and Northwest districts will host the event.

All Catholic women of the Atlanta Archdiocese, ages 18 and up, are members of the AACCW, per archdiocesan decree. The convention provides an opportunity for women to come together to pray, share and grow in their faith, and open their hearts and minds to hear God’s call to serve.

This year, the Service Commission is asking participants to bring baby layette items to donate, which will go to both Better Infant Births (BIB) or Catholic Charities Atlanta (CCA). Items should be labeled either BIB or CCA. The layettes will be brought up at the offertory at the convention Mass on Sunday. BIB has an incentive program for mothers-to-be in their clinics and the layettes are part of this program. Catholic Charities works with individuals, families and communities to help them meet their needs, address their issues, eliminate oppression, and build a just and compassionate society.

Also, each parish women’s council is asked to donate a check for the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org), which helps injured service members and provides direct programs and services to meet their needs.

The convention is to open Friday evening, with registration from 2:30-7 p.m. The rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m., followed by the president’s open reception.

Saturday will begin with Mass at 7:30 a.m., followed by a business meeting and two workshops.

The Service Commission workshop speakers will be Anno Hardage, chief development and marketing officer for Catholic Charities Atlanta, and Stephanie Ungashick, senior director of marketing and communications for Catholic Charities. The topic, “Social Impact of Catholic Charities,” will address how Catholic Charities Atlanta provides therapeutic and community services that help individuals move to self-sufficiency and wholeness.

Frank Mulcahy, executive director of the Georgia Catholic Conference, which presents Catholic issues to the state legislature, representing the bishops of Georgia, will present the Spirituality Commission workshop. His topic will be on religious liberty and other current political issues important to Catholic teaching.

A third workshop by the Leadership Commission will also be presented, with a focus on the three new commissions: spirituality, leadership and service. The speaker for this workshop will be announced later.

Marian Monahan, spiritual director and religious educator, will be the luncheon speaker. She has a continuing education certificate in pastoral studies from Loyola University, New Orleans, and received training for the ministry of spiritual direction in Atlanta by completing the RUAH program in May 2002. She continues her formation at Spring Hill College’s Atlanta extension.

The banquet, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will feature entertainment by Marvin Lewis Howard.

The convention concludes on Sunday with morning Mass at

8:30 a.m., celebrated by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, followed by a brunch.

Registration for the complete convention package is $150 per person by Aug. 25. After that, the cost is $170. Participants may register to attend only the luncheon, banquet and brunch. More information about registering and special hotel rates is available at the archdiocesan website at www.archatl.com/clife/aaccw or at the AACCW’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AtlantaArchdioceseCCW.