Women religious, archbishop and bishop meet for prayer
San Francisco Archbishop George Niederauer and Auxiliary Bishop William Justice met with 131 women religious representing 27 congregations for an afternoon of prayer and conversation March 30 at St. Paul Parish in San Francisco. Set in the context of prayer the afternoon included reflections given by Bishop Justice on the first reading of the Palm Sunday liturgy and reflections on that same Sunday’s gospel by Archbishop Niederauer. Both presentations were followed by small group sharing among the women religious and a time when comments and questions were directed to both Archbishop Niederauer and Bishop Justice.
The event was planned by Presentation Sister Rosina Conrotto, Director of the Office for Women Religious, and the Sisters’ Council. “The purpose of the day was two-fold” said Sister Conrotto, “to have an opportunity for Archbishop Niederauer and Bishop Justice to meet the women religious of the Archdiocese and to prayerfully reflect with them on the Scriptures and to provide an opportunity for Sisters to renew acquaintances, meet new Sisters and be in conversation with one another. Happily, the afternoon achieved both goals,” she said.
Up-coming events planned by the Office for Women Religious and the Sisters’ Council are area meetings. These meetings will take place in Marin County at the San Rafael Dominican Sisters’ Center on May 1; in San Francisco County at Mercy High School in San Francisco on May 2; and in San Mateo County at Vallombrosa Retreat Center on May 9. These gatherings will provide an opportunity for women religious to suggest events and gatherings they would like throughout the year as well as provide an opportunity to share the hopes, concerns and challenges they face as women religious today.
From April 23, 2010 issue of Catholic San Francisco.
