By Rita McInerney

An active member of St. Anthony's parish, Connie Sambrone, has been named as one of five women advisers to the U.S. bishops' Committee on Women in Society and in the Church.

Mrs. Sambrone, wife of Dr. Fred J. Sambrone, a permanent deacon, and a member of the archdiocesan task force on women, and four others from around the country will meet with the committee headed by Bishop Matthew Clark, of Rochester, NY. She was nominated for the advisory position by Archbishop Eugene A. Marino, SSJ, last March.

The advisory group will attend a symposium, "The Wisdom of Women," sponsored by the bishops' committee Nov. 29 to Dec. 2 in Arlington, VA. This symposium will be attended by about 200 people from approximately 100 dioceses. Then the advisory group will meet with the committee Dec. 2.

As a member of the archdiocesan task force on women, Mrs. Sambrone assisted with the session held Nov. 5, 1988, at St. Jude's in Sandy Springs. Attended by about 132 people, Religious laywomen and handful of men, participants discussed and responded to the first draft of the bishops' letter on women's concerns in church and society. She also attended a national meeting on the subject held in Philadelphia in 1989.

Mrs. Sambrone said she was surprised and honored at her selection as one of five advisers. The subject is "something I have a lot of concern for. Because of the times, women are becoming more involved. People are finding out we're capable of doing more."

"Now we want more of a voice, not necessarily to be the head of everything, but to have what we think is needed. We have ideas, the experience, the vision and the energy to do ... We would like to have some input ... We would like to have a meaningful voice."

Asked her viewpoint on women's ordination, she said while she is not concerned about this from a personal point of view, she is concerned that people be heard on the subject, although she is "not sure how many people want to go that far."

In attending local and national sessions, she said primarily what she heard women saying was "Let me have some input. Let me be heard. Let us not always focus in on the male factor."

Mrs. Sambrone studied along with her husband for the entire three years of diaconate preparation. She attended all sessions, took the examinations and received her master catechist certificate. Dr. Sambrone, an Atlanta dentist, was ordained in May, 1987.

At St. Anthony's she began the youth ministry and coordinated it for five years, works with the hospital and the infant baptism ministries, is a lector and worship leader and coordinates the ushers.

She serves as a core member for the outreach ministry, an ecumenical effort begun earlier this year at St. Anthony's to reach out to senior citizens, the homeless, especially mothers and children, and other hurting segments of the West End community.

"We do firmly believe," Connie Sambrone said of the faith she shares with her husband. They are "real proud" that some elements of their African-American heritage are being incorporated into the Roman Catholic rite. "We don't believe in separation."

She is involved with the annual African-American Heritage Conference held each year by the Office of Black Catholic Concerns and received the Christian Service award from St. Anthony's in 1986.

This July 4th, Mrs. Sambrone collected a fourth Peachtree Road Race T-shirt for running her fourth straight race. "I ran my first race at 40 because I thought that was a major statement. I'm the kind of person who likes challenges." She believes her new assignment as adviser to the bishops' committee will be a challenge.

She also has run in a nine-mile race and hopes to enter a "half marathon." Running "breaks the stress" for her.

She focused on attitude in helping the youth of St. Anthony's develop their spirituality. She tried to get them to think about what they want to do with their lives while "trying to keep them in the fold, keep them Catholic-oriented."

Along with her work as office administrator for her husband's dental practice, she works with him in FRECON Associates, a company committed to dealing with people's attitudes toward themselves, their peers and their work environment.

They formed FRECON about three years ago after presenting such sessions with their own staff. They help people realize "how attitude affects everything in your life." They have given seminars on positive imaging for the Atlanta Youth Development Center, and for youth and dental groups.

Mrs. Sambrone was born in Atlanta and grew up in Augusta. She attended Bennett College in Greensboro, NC, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Augusta College, Augusta. After moving to Atlanta she worked for about 15 years with Economic Opportunity Atlanta.

The Sambrones live in Peachtree City and have three adult daughters.

Other advisers named are: Poi Buenaventura, San Jose, CA; Maria Guaracino, NY; Sister Catherine McNamee, National Catholic Educational Association; and Phyllis Willerscheidt, St. Paul, MN.