Sister Rita McGurk

Reflecting on her 75th jubilee as a religious, Mercy Sister Rita McGurk said, “Gratitude is the first thing that comes to my mind.”

Elaborating, she talked first about her relationship with God saying she has had numerous opportunities to grow in that relationship through education, workshops, retreats and different assignments. She added that her later years in life have allowed her to feel God’s presence more strongly and often. She said she is also grateful for the Sisters of Mercy. “The sisters I live with are my companions on life’s journey. They are gifts with whom I share my life.”

Sister Rita’s vocation to religious life began when she was in the second grade. As a student at Holy Spirit Elementary School, Atlantic City, Sister Rita would go across the street to the Sisters of Mercy convent where she would take piano lessons with Mercy Sister Mary Robert.

“When I would take lessons, I saw tranquility in her life,” Sister Rita recalled, “and I wanted to be like her.” She noted that moments such as hearing the Mercy Sisters praying as they passed her door on the way to the chapel, also helped draw her to the religious community.

Raised in Atlantic City, Sister Rita was the fourth of nine children born to the late Joseph and Kathleen McGurk. “My family was supportive of me my whole life. They visited me wherever I was assigned,” she recalled.

After graduating from Holy Spirt High School, Atlantic City, in 1946, Sister Rita entered the Mercy novitiate in Watchung. Within two years, she received the religious habit and the name Sister Mary Christian. Her teaching assignments included Holy Cross School, Rumson; Our Lady of Victories School, Sayreville; St. Paul School, Princeton, and St. Mary Academy, Lakewood. For 10 years after completing her novitiate, she also taught piano.

During the summers, Sister Rita continued her education. She earned degrees in elementary education at Georgian Court College (now University), Lakewood, and Seton Hall University, South Orange. She then enrolled at LaSalle College (now University), Philadelphia, where she earned a master’s degree in theology.

In 1971, Sister Rita was assigned to St. Mary School, South Amboy, where she taught and also chaired the sub-committee of worship. Two years later, she returned to Atlantic City as principal of Star of the Sea Academy, where she served for three years. From 1976 to 1980, Sister Rita was assigned to Holy Spirit High School, Absecon. For the next six years, she served at Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill.

While Sister Rita was teaching primarily religion at this time, she was gradually being drawn to the religious education ministry in a parish setting. In 1986, she accepted her first position in the field as director of religious education at St. Pius X Parish, Cherry Hill. She then assumed a similar position at Saints Simon and Jude Parish, West Chester, Pa., where she served for eight years. As pastoral assistant at St. Ann Parish, Raritan Borough, Sister Rita completed 48 years of full-time ministry.

During her time ministering in parishes, Sister Rita served on parish liturgical committees and coordinated the religious education programs for children who attended public schools. She was responsible for adult faith development programs and at St. Pius X Parish introduced the Little Rock Scripture Study program that flourished. At St. Simon and Jude Parish she conducted the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults ministry. At various times in her ministry, Sister Rita also served as an advocate on the Marriage Tribunal in the Diocese of Camden and volunteered at St. Joseph School, North Plainfield.

Since 2003, Sister Rita has continued to volunteer at Mount Saint Mary Academy, Watchung, where she lives. She helps sort the mail in the Communications Center as well as for the Mount’s Finance Office.

Sister Rita said she has been blessed in each of her ministries, and added, she was “gifted to choose religious life.”

Joanne Ward