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Sr. Maureena Fritz's
Canadian Book Tour
Julien Fradette

In May and June of 2024 Sr. Maureena Fritz travelled across Canada to share her experiences with her faith and her church throughout her life, particularly over 30 years spent in Jerusalem and the Holy Land.


Since 1944, she has lived as a member of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, a congregation of religious women who describe themselves by a three-fold commitment: to the Church, to the Jewish people, and to a world of justice, peace and love.


She has lived over 30 years in Jerusalem, becoming a citizen of Israel in 1992. In living amongst the Jewish people, she has learned to love and learn from them, and through them to learn a truth that she has laboured to understand and correct until her last days.

This truth, this misunderstanding has led her to recognize, to repent and to repair a virus that has existed in her beloved church, the Roman Catholic Church. This is the virus of supersessionism and the belief that the Catholic Church (Christianity) has replaced the Jewish people as the chosen people.


Sr. Maureena explored this understanding as she shared her most recent book, Redeeming Jesus' Name; Reflections of a 90-year-old nun living in Jerusalem. In Canada she has presented her book to audiences in Toronto, Winnipeg and Saskatoon. At each location she offered the central thoughts of her book, which was followed by commentaries, in Toronto and Saskatoon, from a rabbi, a priest, and a theologian. In Winnipeg, the commentaries were offered by a member of the Jewish community, the Catholic community and a theologian.


To view a recording of the book launch in Toronto, Winnipeg or Saskatoon, please click on the city at the top of this page.


  • About Sr. Maureena Fritz, NDS

    Born in Melfort, SK in 1926. Joined the Sisters of Sion as a novice September 7, 1944, and made first vows as a Sister of Sion on February 3, 1947  

     

    1972-86 Professor in the Faculty of Theology at the University of St. Michael’s College, U of T

    1978-80 in Jerusalem, Israel, on sabbatical at the Hebrew University and the Ratisbonne Center for her doctoral studies on the subject of "The Historical Jesus."

     

    1980s Director of the Master of Arts program in Religious Education, then Director of the University of Saint Michael's College summer program of Jewish studies, described as a study of the Word of God within its Jewish milieu. 

     

    Co-foundress of the Bat Kol Institute of Jewish Studies for Christians in 1983 in collaboration with Sr. Anne Anderson of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph.

     

    Received Israeli citizenship in 2000 which is very rare amongst Christians in Israel. 

     

    Her book, Redeeming Jesus' Name, considered to be her last testament as well as a book of repentance.

     

    The purpose of the book is to foster dialogue and to challenge us in various aspects of our faith.