The Roman Catholic church began a profound transformation in the 
     
     1960s. The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, better known 
     
     as Vatican II, was opened under Pope John XXIII in October of 1962 
     
     and closed under Pope Paul VI in November of 1965. Major changes 
     
     were made in the liturgy and in the nature of revelation, along with 
     
     reconciliation with other religious faiths. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Vatican II did not change the basic doctrines of the Roman Catholic 
     
     church. “It is not that the gospel has changed; it is that we now have 
     
     begun to understand it better,” said Pope John XXIII on his deathbed. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Vatican II had enormous impact. In Prince Edward Island, parishioners 
     
     heard the mass in English for the first time. Priests took on a more 
     
     human face, nuns shed their habits and the church became more attuned 
     
     to the world around it. Vatican II also laid the groundwork for increased 
     
     participation of the laity in the affairs of the church. That would lead, at 
     
     the parish level, to Bible study groups, social action organizations and 
     
     increased dialogue with other denominations. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Kathleen was receptive to the sweeping changes that were taking place 
     
     within the Roman Catholic church. The reverberations of Vatican II were 
     
     widely discussed by Kathleen and her two sisters, the members of the 
     
     Congregation of Saint Martha. Kathleen was also friends with a number 
     
     of priests, and the sweeping changes resulting from Vatican II were the 
     
     subject of long conversations. She recognized that the old order of the 
     
     church was being eroded, and welcomed the new era of openness and 
     
     ecumenism. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Kathleen’s faith is both simple and profound. She strongly believes 
     
    

    
     in the power of prayer, and the acceptance that comes with faith in a 
     
     higher power. Her religious beliefs and convictions were passed down 
     
     to her family, just as they had been passed down to her. Yet, her faith is 
     
     not blind and unquestioning. Mary Jane was surprised one day when 
     
     her mother made a somewhat critical comment on some aspects of the 
     
     church’s practices. 
     
    
   
   
    
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