Bishop Conducts Day of Recollection on the Dignity of Women

News Release
Women for Faith & Family
Contact: 314 863-8385
(attached photos: Women for Faith & Family)

Bishop Conducts Day of Recollection on the Dignity of Women

“If you knew the gift of God” was the title of a day of recollection conducted by Bishop Robert Hermann held at the Cardinal Rigali Center on Saturday, June 28, 2008. More than 100 people attended the event, sponsored by Women for Faith and Family.

The event's title comes from the words of Christ to the Samaritan woman in the Gospel of John (4:4-10), and from Pope John Paul II’s 1988 apostolic letter On the Dignity of Women (Mulieris Dignitatem), issued in 1988.

The day’s events included Mass and choral recitation of morning and evening prayer, in addition to three presentations by Bishop Hermann. Bishop Hermann is the administrator of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, chosen only the day before this event, after Archbishop Raymond Burke, who has served in St. Louis since 2005, was appointed prefect, or head, of the Vatican’s highest court, the Apostolic Signatura.

In observance of the 20th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s letter On the Dignity of Women, Bishop Hermann’s first talk focused on the Church’s teaching on the true nature of man and woman, created in the image of God. He stressed the “original unity of the two” before the fall, and the distortion of the relationship between men and women as a consequence of sin. His second and third presentations were on the forgiveness necessary to overcome the results of sin, on God’s mercy to help us overcome past hurts, and on the profound effects of the “indwelling of the Holy Spirit”, the great spiritual gift freely offered to all believers.

The Mass and the choral prayer of “Liturgy of the Hours”, Lauds (morning) and Vespers (evening), were held in the beautiful gothic-style chapel of St. Vincent de Paul in the Cardinal Rigali Center.

Father Samuel Weber, OSB, director of the new archdiocesan Institute for Sacred Music, composed chants for the English texts, and led the group in singing. The chapel is ideally suited to chanting, as it was originally built for Kenrick Seminary with antiphonal seating, or choir stalls, common to religious or monastic churches and chapels.

The day’s main events were recorded, and are available as a set of 3 CDs. The set may be purchased ($20 + 3.50 shipping) from St. Joseph Radio, 3895 Cambridge Crossing Drive, St. Charles, MO 63304, or phone 636 244-0089.

For information about Women for Faith & Family, contact 314 863-8385; or visit the WFF web site: http://www.wf-f.org.

Helen Hull Hitchcock, Director
Women for Faith & Family
PO Box 300411, St. Louis, MO 63130
Ph: 314-863-8385; Fax: 314-863-5858
WFF web site: http://www.wf-f.org

	Bishop Robert Herman - at Lauds Saturday Morning, St Vincent de Paul Chapel, Rigali Center. © 2008 WFF (courtesy Lu Cortese)
	Bishop Robert Herman addressing the Day of Recollection, Fleur de Lis Room, Rigali Center © 2008 WFF
	Helen Hull Hitchcock, Director of Women for Faith and Family Reading at Mass, St Vincent de Paul Chapel, Rigali Center. © 2008 WFF (courtesy Lu Cortese)
	Father Samuel Weber rehearses the group in chanting St Vincent de Paul Chapel, Rigali Center. © 2008 WFF (courtesy Lu Cortese)
	Father Samuel Weber leads chant at Lauds, St Vincent de Paul Chapel, Rigali Center. © 2008 WFF (courtesy Lu Cortese)
	Participants listening to Bishop Herman's meditation at the Day of Recollection, Fleur de Lis room, Rigali Center © 2008 WFF

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Women for Faith & Family
PO Box 300411 - St. Louis, MO 63130
Phone: 314-863-8385 | Fax: 314-863-5858 | Email