 |
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
August
7, 2006
VOL.
44, NO. 14Oakland,
CA
Sister Barbara
Flannery honored
with diocesan Medal of Merit
Carondelet
Sister Barbara Flannery, who led groundbreaking outreach ministry to survivors
of clergy sexual abuse in the Oakland Diocese, has been awarded the diocesan
Medal of Merit.
Sister Flannery, who stepped down as diocesan chancellor last month after
a 12-year tenure, was responsible for supervising the diocesan Sensitive
Issues Committee which deals with abuse claims. She created procedures
for handling allegations, dealt with accused priests, and reported charges
to local law enforcement.
After meeting with and listening to survivors of abuse, she led the push
for reconciliation and healing services specifically for survivors. The
first service with Bishop John Cummins was held in March 2000. Subsequent
prayer services with Bishop Allen Vigneron took place last year in parishes
where abuse occurred.
She also set up an executive committee that oversees the diocesan outreach
to abuse survivors, including ongoing support groups.
Prior to her work in the Oakland Diocese, Sister Flannery, an Oakland
native, taught in elementary schools in Arizona and southern California.
She returned to the diocese in 1971 as a first grade teacher at Oakland’s
St. Patrick Elementary School. In 1973 she was named principal there,
a position she held until 1981 when she joined the diocesan school department
as associate superintendent.
Her duties included serving as executive director of FACE (Family Aid-Catholic
Education) and as the school department’s coordinator for research,
planning and federal programs.
Sister Flannery earned a place in diocesan history when Bishop John Cummins,
the diocese’s second bishop, appointed her as chancellor in 1994.
She became the first woman to serve in that role in the diocese. She also
became director of the newly created Office of the Bishop. She continued
those roles under Bishop Cummins’ successor, Bishop Allen Vigneron.
Sister Barbara Flannery, CSJ
GREG TARCZYNSKI PHOTO
