More than 600 members of the Los Angeles Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women gathered at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles Nov. 5 for ACCW's 60th annual conference based on the theme, "Facing Our Future, While Remembering Our Past."

"It warms my heart greatly that we gather a bunch of Catholic women together. It doesn't get better than that," said Catholic keynote speaker Renée Bondi. Confined to a wheelchair since falling from bed in the middle of the night and breaking her neck almost 20 years ago, Bondi is an internationally known inspirational Christian singer and speaker who has crisscrossed the U.S. with her message of hope in the face of adversity.

"What battles are you facing? What army is coming at you full force? Define what that is this morning and realize truly that it's only in God that we find our true rest, our power and our strength," said Bondi, a former music teacher who interspersed her talk with uplifting songs that she sang accompanied by pre-recorded music.

"I can look back now and see God's faithfulness not only in Old Testament and New Testament times, but in the short life I've had here on this planet," said Bondi. Left a quadriplegic by the accident two months before she was to marry her fiancé Mike --- now her husband of 18 years --- Bondi surpassed her doctors' expectations by regaining her angelic singing voice. Then, six years into her marriage, she gave birth to a son.

"Although I have not received what most people would call the ultimate miracle of walking again, I can look back now and see how many miracles my God has laid here right in my lap. So today, I invite every one of you sitting here to blow the lid off the box that you might have God shoved into and allow him to start working in your life and look ahead to the future with much excitement," said Bondi, who then sang the words, "This is no time for fear, but faith."

Following Bondi's talk, Cardinal Roger Mahony presided at a concelebrated liturgy with 28 clergy, including ACCW moderator Msgr. James Gehl, and priest district moderators from throughout the archdiocesan regions. Cardinal Mahony stressed in his homily that the kingdom of heaven is all-inclusive and parishes need to be fully welcoming places to everyone.

"We have to be, as Jesus said, open to all people longing for the kingdom," said the cardinal. "You in your leadership roles have that opportunity to continue that wonderful invitation of Jesus to make the kingdom all-inclusive. As disciples of Jesus, we have got to be welcoming and reconcilers as well."

After the liturgy, Cardinal Mahony installed ACCW's new officers: Connie Perales, president; Carol Carlyle, first vice president; Marianna Jarnot, second vice president; Patricia Granja, third vice president; June Myles, secretary; Ilegra Evans, treasurer; and Grace Rinaldi, parliamentarian. ACCW past president Judie Perez received a special medallion from the cardinal for her years of volunteer service.

Iva May Carrico, 90, a longtime ACCW volunteer from Incarnation Church in Glendale, received the 2007 Moderator's Award during the event for her "hard work and dedication" to the archdiocesan women's group, to church and community.

Christina Haines, Perales' daughter who attended the conference along with her two brothers and extended family relatives, said her mother is well-suited to leading the ACCW into the future. "She flourishes in taking care of people and leading them in a right way," said Haines. "She's helped all of us to become, I think, good model citizens and to love the Lord, our God, with all our hearts."