By Clyde Noel

Within the last month, St. Simon Parish has seen the arrival of five new nuns from the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose. Nuns from the mission are committed to community both in shared living and in serving the people.

“We are absolutely delighted that the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose have agreed to answer God’s call at St. Simon Parish,” said the Rev. Anthony Mancuso, pastor of St. Simon Church.

Mancuso contacted Sister Rose Marie Hennessy, OP (Order of Preachers), prioress general of the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, and invited the order to become part of the parish and the school. They have been busy since they arrived.

“We have 20 parishioners involved, from the ages of 21 to 80. Half are men and half women,” said Sister Rebecca Shinas, OP. “We have an adult spiritual formation program started to provide a cohesive program for prayer, study and worship.”

The program has three areas of concentration: empowering lay leadership, offering Catholic social teachings, and calling forth youth and young adults.

“The programs are in subcommittee, and a two-year plan is under development,” Sister Shinas said. “We want to start the program; then after two years, the program keeps running without our help.”

The other four nuns include Sister Gloria Marie Jones, OP, who works with campus ministry at the Newman Center at Stanford University.

Sister Eileen Hinsberger, OP, is a receptionist at St. Simon Parish and does the parish scheduling.

Sister Joan Prohaska, OP, acts as a masseuse and healer in the retreat house and works with the older sisters in the care center at the Fremont motherhouse.

Sister Rose Martin, OP, teaches third grade at the school.

“St. Simon is a wonderful place to be because of the welcoming spirit and friendliness,” Sister Shinas said. “Everyone seems to be interested in nurturing their spiritual growth.”

Sundays at 5 p.m., Sister Shinas plays an amplified guitar in the band at the “Rockin’ Youth Mass.” Families are invited. “Jesus is the rock in my roll,” she said.

The nuns want to be in contact with the children, so they have tours of the school. At the end of the tour, the children receive chocolate chip cookies home-baked by the nuns.

There are 19 tours scheduled for 875 children, That will keep the oven warm for a while.

Alisanne Allen, parishioner and member of the parent advisory group, said, “We are excited to have the sisters because they make excellent role models for our children.”

St. Simon Church is located at 1860 Grant Road, Los Altos. For more information, logon to www.stsimon.org.