“If you really know Jesus, it will change your life,” said Sister Briege McKenna, OSC, Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Clare, during her keynote presentation at the St. Petersburg Diocesan Council of Catholic Women’s 54th Annual Convention.

More than 100 women from across the Diocese of St. Petersburg gathered May 12-15th, for the convention themed, “Courageously Living the Gospel with a Thankful Heart.”

The Convention sought to inspire the women to live out the group’s mission to act through its members to support, empower and educate all Catholic women spirituality, in leadership and service. Their programs respond with Gospel values to the needs of the Church and society in the modern world.

For Sister McKenna, that means making Jesus known to others, so they too can encounter the power of Christ’s love.

“We have such an urgency to do the work of the Gospel and as Catholic women we should not to be afraid of the truth,” she said. “The priesthood of the laity is mediating the faith through all these beautiful women from the Diocese. When they’re completely committed to the Sacraments, to the beauty of Our Lady, and to all the gifts of the Catholic faith, they can spread it like the first Disciples did.”

Sister McKenna knows God can do the impossible and became a firm believer in miracles after she was healed of crippling arthritis in 1970. She now works with bishops, priests, and community leaders from different parts of the world through her healing ministry and has seen God intervene in the most remarkable way. As part of her healing ministry, she prayed with many women at the convention, offering prayers for those afflicted and in need of healing.

Messila Garrett, the organization president, said the theme chosen this year serves as a reminder to live life with a thankful heart and not take things for granted, especially being able to participate in the celebration of Mass.

 “We have been through a time of suffering and separation, and we need to remember to be thankful not just for big things, but for the little things,” she said

To find out more about how you or your parish can become members of the St. Petersburg Diocesan Council of Catholic Women visit: http://www.spdccw.org/. To learn more about Sister McKenna’s healing ministry visit: http://www.sisterbriege.com