Funeral services were held August 4 at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Los Angeles, for Rabbi Alfred Wolf, a pioneering leader in interfaith relations, who died Aug. 1 at age 88 after suffering several strokes.

Msgr. Royale Vadakin, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, was the main speaker at the service. The two religious leaders, both recognized for their ecumenical and community outreach activities, met in 1969 when faced with an instance of racial unrest and turmoil.

For the past 35 years they have contributed to numerous religious exchanges and dialogue and forged a lasting and unique friendship. "Rabbi Wolf was a man of honor in the realm of world religions," Msgr. Vadakin said in remembering the Jewish leader who was known for his integrity and leadership throughout his 36 years at the Wilshire Reform Temple.

"Often we would call each other brother," Msgr. Vadakin recalled. "He was the older brother I never had and I was the younger one Alfred didn't have."

Alfred Wolf was born in Germany but completed his religious studies at Hebrew Union College in Ohio. In 1941 he became a U.S. citizen and moved to Los Angeles in 1946. He came to the Wilshire Reform Temple in 1949, and became senior rabbi in 1984 after the death of Rabbi Edgar Magnin.

After his retirement from the Wilshire Temple, he founded the Skirball Institute on American Values. He is also well known for the remarkable summer camps he started for youth in Malibu, and was the first president of the Inter-Religious Council of Southern California. (Msgr. Vadakin was the third leader of that group.)

"I was privileged to know him and be a witness to all his human concerns," Msgr. Vadakin said. "There are three main contributions, among others, that Alfred accomplished. First, he created multiple dialogues on all levels, particularly in secondary education. Secondly, he was extremely influential in establishing a relationship between St. John's Seminary and Hebrew College. And thirdly, he was a strong advocate of including women in ecumenical dialogue."

In 1978 the two men established the Jewish/Catholic Women's Dialogue that continues today. They viewed their contribution as "a match that lighted the fire and as a pebble cast on the water." In 1987 Msgr. Vadakin invited Rabbi Wolf to be one of the main speakers during the visit of Pope John Paul II at the Nostra Aetate event at the Japan Theatre. They also co-authored the book "Journey of Discovery: A Resource Manual for Catholic-Jewish Dialogue" in 1989.

Summing up the ideals of Rabbi Wolf, Msgr. Vadakin referred to a Corita Kent print the rabbi had in his house: "To be fully alive is to work for the common good." That, he said, was the goal and way of life for Rabbi Wolf.

Sr. Nancy O'Connor, CSJ
Funeral Mass will be celebrated Aug. 6 at Holy Family Cathedral, Orange, for St. Joseph of Orange Sister Nancy O'Connor, religious educator and advocate, who died Aug. 1. She was 70.

Bishop Tod Brown will preside at the Mass for Sister O'Connor, whose ministry included education, health services and social justice. She twice served as an associate with Network, a lobbying organization devoted to justice issues, and was formerly chair of the St. Joseph Health System board of trustees in Orange, and had for the past two years been working on issues of healthcare reform.

"She was a tireless advocate for the poor, for children and for the underserved," said Rich Statuto, president and CEO of St. Joseph Health System. "Because of her advocacy for the homeless, we invited Mercy Housing to partner with us to provide affordable housing in Orange County and have recently opened new facilities dedicated to assisting the elderly and persons with HIV/AIDS."

St. Joseph Sister Catherine Pinkwerton of Network called Sister O'Connor "a truly prophetic woman who, until her last breath, walked humbly with God. Like Habakuk, the old Testament prophet, she challenged everyone to work toward a world of justice and peace."

Born in San Francisco, Sister O'Connor entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange in 1952, and served at schools in Compton, Lynwood and Fullerton. She also served as assistant dean of women at Loyola Marymount University.

Within the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, she served as a leadership team member (1977-82), assistant general superior (1982-86) and general superior (1991-2001). Her fellow sisters regarded her with deep affection as a mentor, said Sister Katherine Gray, current superior general. "The beauty of Nancy was that she made each of us feel that we were her best friend," she said.

Jack Glaser, co-director with Sister O'Connor of the Center for Healthcare Reform, said his colleague "had the courage to take on challenges that she knew would last longer than her life." At the same time, he said, "For someone so attuned to the spiritual and transcendent, she had a deeper respect for the realities of human life."

Surviving family members include five sisters and numerous nieces and nephews. Donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, designated for the Fund for Uninsured Children.