McGrath to head sisters' council

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

The member of the Sisters of the Child Jesus congregation was elected to the position May 13 at the council's annual assembly. She replaces Grey Nun Sister Rose-Anne Gauvin, the chair for the past two years.

Also elected to the CWR's 14-member executive were Sisters Rita Gleason, a Sister of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul (Kingston), and Nancy Conboy, a member of the Sisters of Providence of Montreal.

"I feel honoured but I feel it's a big responsibility," McGrath said after her election. "I know I couldn't do it alone."

As CWR chair, McGrath will provide leadership to close to 35 religious congregations in the Edmonton Archdiocese for the next two years.

The CWR is an advisory council to the archbishop and works in collaboration with the Council of Priests. It was established by Archbishop Joseph MacNeil 26 years ago to give women religious a more prominent voice in the Church.

The CWR plans to continue to work in collaboration with the archbishop and the priests of the archdiocese in the ongoing transformation of parishes. One of its major roles is to help religious women and the laity to deepen their spiritual life.

"I see my role as one of service to the women religious in the archdiocese," McGrath told the WCR. One of her goals is to encourage sisters to take their rightful place in the Church and to support one another.

A sister for 52 years, the Saskatchewan-born McGrath was a teacher for 32 years and has served as superior in a number of Child of Jesus' houses. She has been a member of her congregation's council in Saskatoon and Vancouver.

She moved to Edmonton from North Vancouver two years ago and was recently elected to Sisters of Child Jesus' permanent council. She will be a delegate to the congregation's general chapter in France this summer.

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