Rev. P. Gerard O’Rourke, a native of Ireland, was educated there and at Fordham University before being ordained in 1950. He has served as a diocesan priest in Wisconsin, New Jersey, California, Ireland, and Brazil. As a citizen diplomat during the Cold War, he raised funds to fly medical supplies to victims of the Chernobyl meltdown. He was appointed director of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 1990, serving more than a dozen years before named emeritus. He played a critical role in creating and promoting interfaith opportunities in San Francisco and beyond, always a champion of inclusivity and forgiveness. His insight, passion, and commitment were critical to groups he helped found and develop – the San Francisco Interfaith Council, Interfaith Center at the Presidio, United Religions Initiative, and Mastery Foundation, on whose behalf he has led annual peacemaking workshops in Ireland and Northern Ireland for the past 13 years.