By Gretchen Keiser

The role of women Religious in the history of the Catholic Church in the U.S. and the archdiocese received thanks and attention Dec. 2 at a special dinner of appreciation hosted by Atlanta's two Serra Clubs, groups that foster and support priestly and Religious vocations.

Sister Margaret McAnoy, IHM, president of the Atlanta Sisters Conference, was asked to introduce the Religious who attended the dinner, 58 of the approximately 150 women Religious who serve the archdiocese of Atlanta. Over 20 religious orders serve here including cloistered Sisters of the Visitation, Hawthorne Dominicans who care for cancer patients who are terminally ill, teaching sisters at schools in Decatur, Rome and Athens, sisters who work with the Hispanic and Korean communities, sisters who are nurses, religious educators, ministers to the elderly, and parish staff members.

The sisters were thanked for their witness to Christ as well as for their work. Father Don Kenny, vocations director for the archdiocese, said many priests trace their decision to consider that vocation to the inspiration given by a Catholic sister who taught them in grade school or high school.

Sisters also work with him, he said, in promoting vocations in the archdiocese, particularly in the Hispanic community, and in team presentations being made to Catholic college students and singles' groups about all vocations, from marriage, to priesthood or Religious life.

He said he needed additional volunteers from among religious women to join him in making presentations to youth groups on vocations.

Sister Valentina Sheridan, RSM, has accepted a three-year term on the Vocations Board screening seminary applicants for the archdiocese, he said, and Sister Margarita Martin, ACJ, works with him on vocations programs.

Noting that a formal history of sisters' work in the archdiocese is lacking, Father Edward Dillon, vicar general, said, "We owe all of these communities and all of you a great debt of gratitude."

Expressing the "thanks of the people of north Georgia" to the sisters, Bishop James P. Lyke noted that their consecrated life was a significant force for good. He also called women "the greatest untapped resource" in the Catholic Church, saying, "I want very much to be present on the day when Catholic women are given, or take by storm, their rightful place in the Church."

Serran Harry Sholota was master of ceremonies for the evening, which included dinner at the Floyd Building in Atlanta. Approximately 160 people attended the dinner, hosted by the downtown Atlanta Serra Club and the North Metro Atlanta Serra Club.