Patricia Reif

Reif, Patricia (Sr. Richard)
IHM A member of the ImmaculateHeart Community for 56 years, died on March 24,at Pilgrim Place in Claremont where she lived for the last seven years. Reif was known widely not only in Southern California but nationally because of her long involvement in ecumenical issues, in the field of feminist spirituality, and in her leadership in the Women's Ordination Conference. She was an outstanding leader in the Immaculate Heart Community as well as on the faculty of Immaculate Heart College. As founder-director of the M.A. Feminist Spirituality Program at Immaculate Heart College Center in 1984, she brought to the Center preeminent feminist theologians and advanced the discipline of feminist spirituality. Reif combined academic rigor with focused activism. Hers was a prophetic voice; with an uncompromising critique of social ills, she advocated for the poor and organized action against militarism and against sexism in church and society. As founding member of the Los Angeles Interfaith Hunger Coalition and of the So. California Interfaith Task Force on Central America, she educated her students and her community on global and local issues and lived out her conviction that nonviolent civil disobedience can change society. Prior to earning her Ph.D. in philosophy at St. Louis University, Pat taught at St. Bernardine's school in San Bernardino and Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles. At Immaculate Heart College she taught philosophy and chaired the graduate department of religious studies. During the `60s and `70s she was responsible for bringing to Immaculate Heart College internationally renowned theologians whose insights into currents in the church added to the life of her community and of the college. She is survived by her sisters, Marian Pullara, Jean Robinson, CarolResco, her brother David Reif, nieces and nephews; members of the Immaculate Heart Community and the community of Pilgrim Place as well as her many colleagues, friends and students. Memorial Mass at Mother of Good Counsel Church, Los Angeles April 6, 10:30 a.m. and Memorial Service at Pilgrim Place, Claremont, 4:00 p.m. In honor of Pat Reif's legacy of scholarship, spirituality, and action for social justice, contributions may be made to the Pat Reif Memorial Lectureship at Immaculate Heart Community, 5515 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90028.