National Communicators Network for Women Religious [NCNWR]

Tomorrow I'm headed to the annual conference of the National Communicators Network for Women Religious [NCNWR]. We are celebrating our 15th anniversary this year. It hardly seems possible. When I joined NCNWR it was about six years old and the 10th anniversary seems like yesterday. I've never been to San Francisco so an leaving a day early and plan to visit Muir Woods, home of the giant redwoods just outside San Francisco, the day before the conference begins.

There is much to do before I leave for California. Today I'll be walking in "Terry's Walk" to benefit the Melanoma Foundation of New England. You can read all about it at this site: http://www.firstgiving.com/joannegallagher . I'm quite happy that I've actually exceeded my fundraising goal for this walk. The family who created this walk were very supportive to Archbishop Williams High School during my time there as Campus Minister. Most of my sponsors are either connected to "Archies" in some way or have been touched by Melanoma in their personal lives. Their generosity is a real tribute to the O'Neill Family. It's pouring out at the moment so I'm praying that this walk does not become a swim or a wade as we gather at the Cape Cod Canal for this walk.

I was Campus Minister at Archbishop Williams High School for 15 years. Brother Bill Drinan, CFX, who hired me to begin the Campus Ministry Department, passed away this week. It was somewhat sudden. He was a man of deep faith, gentle strength, and tireless commitment to the

service of Catholic education. He served on the Board of the Corporation for Sponsored Ministries of the Sisters of St. Joseph and our Mount St. Joseph Academy board for many years. Archbishop Williams High School, Xavarian High, and St. John's Prep, the three schools where he spent most of his years in ministry, were well represented at the funeral. The Boston Globe carried an article about him on the day of his funeral. Just click the link. I wish I had a picture of the 1000+ Prep students who formed an honor guard as the funeral procession drove into The Prep. It was impressive.

I have just returned to the Board of Trustees for Fontbonne Academy. This Sunday is Fontbonne's open house. I wish I could be there but will be in the air headed for California. I stopped there the other day to pick up some trustee materials and was delighted at what I saw. It was about 3:30 p.m. and all around the spacious lawns were circles of students. When I asked the Campus Minister what was going on, she explained it was part of the Little Sister/Big Sister program. The life and energy that permeated the picture perfect autumn afternoon was invigorating. As an alumna of Fontbonne, I am proud to be able to serve on the board again.