By Marie Mulvenna

Sister Valentina Sheridan, RSM, associate superintendent of Catholic schools for the archdiocese, has been elected president of the Atlanta Conference of Sisters. Other officers chosen by the 165-member conference are: Sister Mary Margaret O'Hara, GNSH, vice-president; Sister Mary Frances Bruns, CSJ, secretary; and Sister Kate Regan, CSJ, treasurer. The new officers will be installed at a prayer service and outdoor supper on June 3 at the residence of Sister Madeline Roddenbery, RSM, outgoing president of the group.

Sister Valentina, a native of Macon, is a former principal of Our Lady of the Assumption school, where she served for six years. Sister has been an active member and has served as chairman of numerous visiting committees involving the accreditation of Catholic schools through the Southern Association. She is presently serving as coordinator of schools in Georgia, staffed by the Sisters of Mercy.

Sister Valentina received her degree from Mount St. Agnes College in Baltimore, MD, and completed her M.A. degree in elementary administration at St. Louis University.

Former principal of Sacred Heart in Augusta, Sister Valentina recently celebrated her 25^th anniversary. She is coordinator of the Emergency School Aid Act for the Catholic Schools in Atlanta and has supervised the continuing education and staff development of teachers and principals in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Sister Valentina took part in an educational summer tour of Europe and also participated in an exchange program for "Better Partners of American," with Brazil, visiting schools and institutions of higher learning in Pernambuco. She has also worked closely with heads of universities and public and private schools in the metro Atlanta area.

Sister Mary Margaret O'Hara of the Gray Nuns of the Sacred Heart is principal of Christ the King parish school and has been an active member of the conference, serving this past year as a member of the executive committee and chairman of membership.

Sister Mary Frances Bruns, CSJ, is a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondolet and is program director of Exceptional Children's Services of Catholic Social Services, Inc., of the archdiocese.

The new treasurer, Sister Kate Regan, CSJ, is elementary and family religious education consultant for the Archdiocesan Office of Religious Education.

Sister Madeline said she thoroughly enjoyed her year at the helm of the conference, stating that the sisters who have been active as officers and members of the executive board "have been inspirational and actively concerned with the business of the conference." Sister noted that the conference was one organization that never had to worry about attendance at meetings.

Sister said the aims of the group, which is open to all the 200 sisters working in the archdiocese in varying capacities, were to provide a variety of programs covering the spiritual, social and educational needs that would be appropriate and meaningful to the variety of sisters making up the group.

Sister cited the desire of the conference to become more involved in the different local needs of the civic community and their sponsorship of programs such as Day at the Legislature, Farm Workers Day program, Peace and Justice program and a day on Women in Leadership Roles in Government.

The Atlanta Conference grew out of a Senate of Sisters which was a by-product of the Synod held in Atlanta in the mid-60s. In 1973, sisters of the archdiocese voted to have the Senate made into a conference, with membership open to all, rather than elected. The work of the conference was described as geared for the spiritual, educational and social benefit of the sisters who in turn put their efforts and interests into social services, tutoring students, working with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, visiting prisons and ministering in hospitals and nursing homes. They have also been actively engaged with programs related to world hunger, peace and justice and pro-life programs. Recently, the sisters collaborated on a joint program with the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (ACCW) an effort Sister Madeline said was but an indication of future work together.

Sister Madeline said she was grateful to the Knights of Columbus Council 660 which helped financially support efforts of the Sisters' Conference.