Based on a high number of advance registrations, organizers of the 33rd annual Southern California Renewal Communities' Catholic Renewal Convention scheduled for Sept. 3-5 at the Anaheim Convention Center expect another large turnout for the event, which drew approximately 12,000 participants last year.

Centered on the theme, "My Grace Is All You Need," the SCRC convention will offer a slate of 48 workshops, four arena Masses, a Saturday evening healing service and special children's, teen and young adult programs. Debuting at the event this year will be a Young Family Ministry Recreation Room with a fellowship area for parents and a play section for kids ages five and under.

Clergy, religious and lay evangelists are scheduled to speak on a variety of topics, including "How to live in a pressure cooker without blowing your top" (Claretian Father John Hampsch), "Finding your place in the Body of Christ" (Pauline Sister Helena Raphael Burns) and "Marriage on the Rock" (Deacon Scotty & Joi Bourne, MS, MFCC).

Among the arena speakers will be Divine Word Father Michael Manning, television evangelist and pastor of St. Anthony Church in San Bernardino, who will speak on attitudes among Christians that cause division and fighting in his talk entitled, "I'm better than you are!" taking place on Sept. 3 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. At 4 p.m. that day in room 207, first-time convention speaker, Father George Reynolds, administrator pro-tem at St. Barnabas Church in Long Beach, will share his personal journey from the Jehovah's Witness community to the Catholic Church.

The Daughters of St. Paul Choir, soon to appear in the upcoming major motion picture, "Noel" this Christmas season, will open Saturday's General Assembly with their song ministry from 9-10:30 a.m. Holy Names of Jesus and Mary Sister Linda Koontz, from Spirit of the Lord International Mission in El Paso, Texas, is tentatively scheduled to speak at Friday's General Assembly at 10 a.m., replacing Franciscan Father Benedict Groeschel, who is recuperating from a serious accident.

The Hilton Hotel next to the Anaheim Convention Center will be the site for the SCRC convention's Young Adult workshops and "Jesus and Java" socials on Friday and Saturday nights. Topics to be addressed include "Intimacy and relationships: Jesus, You and Me" by Father Jim Clarke, spiritual director at St. John's Seminary, and "Discernment: How the heart's yearning finds its home in single, married or religious life" by Religious Sister of Charity Kathy Bryant, sisters vocations director for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Alex Jones, a Pentecostal minister for 27 years prior to his conversion to Catholicism, will open the Young Adult track at 11 a.m. Sept. 4 with a talk reminding everyone that "all Catholics" should be on fire with God's Spirit.

"We try to focus on lay involvement and practical spirituality with topics that appeal to a broad range of Catholics," said SCRC president Dominic Berardino. He estimated that 4,000 participants last year were under the age of 40, including nearly 2,000 teenagers. With Young Adult registrations doubled from last year and increased general pre-registrations, Berardino expects a large turnout.

As in previous years, all arena liturgies will be open to the public with non-registered attendees admitted after 6:45 p.m. for the evening Masses. Saturday night's popular Mass and healing service will be held from 7:30-10 p.m. with lay evangelist Bob Canton conducting the healing prayer service. Orange Auxiliary Bishop Dominic Luong will preside at the final convention liturgy held Sept. 5 from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Fees are $62 per person for the entire weekend or $42 for one day. To receive further information, call the SCRC office, (818) 771-1361, by noon on Aug. 31. Walk-in registration is available beginning Sept. 3, 8 a.m. at the Anaheim Convention Center.