[1][2] She was a founding member and leader of the ecumenical Immaculate Heart of Mary Community established in 1970 in Los Angeles as a result of irreconcilable differences between Cardinal James F. McIntyre over the implementation of Vatican II reforms.
[3][4][5] Most notably, in 1984, as chair of the religious studies department at Immaculate Heart College Center, she founded the nation's first graduate program in Feminist Spirituality.
[3] In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary became embroiled in a controversy with Cardinal James F. McIntyre over Vatican II recommendations.
Given her background in theology and philosophy, Reif (known as Sister Richard at the time), played an integral role in the discussions that reformed the order of the Immaculate Heart of Mary from a Catholic canonical institution into an ecumenical community that included lay women and men of different Christian traditions.
Even the professors who lectured in this first ever Master's program in Feminist Spirituality "learned a great deal from Pat… about adult education models and respectful co-learning".
The Pat Reif, IHM, Memorial Lecture was established by the Immaculate Heart Community in honor of her significance as a feminist scholar, professorial leader and her legacy as a social justice and human rights activist.