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October 13, 2021On Wednesday nights, Rita Loughrin would run a batch of cards for her FORTRAN program, head up the hill to St. Al’s to attend Mass and Holy Hour, pray the program would work the first time, then head back to Fisher Hall to see if her prayers were answered.
Rita laughs saying this is just one of many memories from her time at St. Al’s as a student.
“My time at St. Al's opened my eyes to the idea that wherever I lived, whatever my career, God was present and my relationship with God was strengthened through parish life.”
Rita, who graduated in 1981 with a BS in Chemical Engineering, says her time at St. Al’s was made memorable by: “going to St. Cecilia’s Hall for the First Spiritual Renewal Retreat (SRR) with Don Giesen, Barb Van Ermen, Br. Ray Tetrault MM, Sr. Michael White CSJ, Fr. Jed Patrick, and Fr. Tom Wantland as team members; participating in Romans 8 with Sr. Michael White; “grouping” after the SRR in the choir loft each week; standing around the altar during Wednesday night Mass; making a visit in the chapel anytime; experiencing quiet time during the Holy Hour and feeling loved by God and so many others.”
After graduating from Michigan Tech, Rita worked in industry and as a catechist at her parish. She then returned to St. Al’s as a Pastoral Associate from 1987-1990, serving with Fr. Bill Callari, who was pastor at St. Al’s from 1984-1997.
“Fr. Bill taught me a lot about liturgy and the strong role lay people have in the Church. He made me laugh a lot and he had a great heart for the underdog. He took risks and was willing to reach out to help the marginalized. He served on MTU's AIDS taskforce when many people hesitated to help with the AIDS crisis. He opened St. Al's for 12-step group meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous. He was a very generous person.”
As Pastoral Associate, Rita enjoyed working with the college students and “helping them to see the Lord’s power and love in their lives.” She led Bible studies, helped with the bulletin, guided student leaders on Pastoral Council, trained lectors and Eucharistic ministers; attended Mass, Holy Hours, retreats and committee meetings, and participated in lots of social activities.
After St. Al’s, she served for 15 years as the Director of Catechetical Ministry at Queen of Angels, Alpine, CA. She now is a Chemistry, Physics and Environmental Science teacher at an all-girls Catholic high school in San Diego.
Rita says helping students to have a strong faith experience in college helps them to build a solid foundation for the rest of adulthood.
“More than any other time, current college and high school students will be faced with many challenging ethical decisions. MTU students will be on the frontlines of decision-making in so many of these areas. By having a strong personal experience with Christ, a solid foundation of Catholic morality and social teaching, and friendships with people who live their faith "in the real world" on a daily basis, young people will be far better equipped to deal with future technological and ethical challenges.”
