Annual SCCCW convention March 31-April 2 in Myrtle Beach

MYRTLE BEACH — The annual South Carolina Council of Catholic Women will sponsor its annual convention March 31-April 2 at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel.

The 76th annual event, “I Have Called You By Name, You Are Mine (Is 43:1),” is designed to help improve affiliates on a functional level and provide participants with spiritual nourishment. This year’s convention is dedicated to Penelope “Penny” Clements, a 50-year member of the women’s organization and an active member in St. Paul the Apostle Church Women’s Club in Spartanburg.

The convention includes Mass, workshops, and a banquet. Bishop Robert J. Baker will speak on stewardship and consciously recognizing the presence of Christ in daily life. He will also sign copies of his new book, “When Did We See You Lord?”

Workshop topics will focus on ways to encourage Catholic women to be involved in their local councils and encourage new members. Anita Geigley, publicity chairperson, Judi McLane, Web site coordinator, and Chris Segars, a representative from “Catholic Woman,” the National Council of Catholic Women magazine, will cover ways to craft meeting agendas, write minutes, create press releases, and publicize affiliate activities. They will premiere the new SCCCW Web site and how information can be shared in the organization.

Sister Kathleen Kane, pastoral associate of St. Francis by the Sea on Hilton Head Island, will present a workshop on “Mary Living in a Martha World.” Sister Kathleen, a Sister of St. Mary Namur, will talk about how Catholic women can incorporate Martha’s action and Mary’s devotion in their daily lives (Lk 10:38-42). Each affiliate is asked to make a donation to a general state project, and this year’s project is the Monastery of St. Clare in Greenville. The Catholic women would like to give the sisters a meditation garden or area similar to Mary’s Garden in Washington, D.C. This is a project that will start small, but can be added to. This is also a project that some of the clubs could support in the years to come.