September 1, 1923 - September 24, 2011
Sister Rita Anne Houlihan passed away peacefully early in the morning of Sept. 24, 2011, at Rainbow Hospice in Park Ridge, IL. She was 88 years old and had been a Cenacle Sister for 63 years.
A member of the Warrenville Cenacle community for a number of years before the retreat house was sold in 2008; she resided at the Chicago Cenacle on Fullerton Parkway until she needed more care recently. She suffered from a virulent form of Reynaud’s disease. Her symptoms began with cold hands and feet, and as the circulation of blood to her toes and fingers diminished, the tips of her fingers and toes became dark. Gradually, they had to be amputated. She bravely agreed to the amputation of her left leg below the knee and learned to walk with a prosthesis using a walker. Her strong faith radiated from her during her final days. She said she was at peace, and her last words were, “I feel filled with love.”
Sister was born in Scranton, PA, and grew up in the Bronx and New Rochelle, NY. She was the third child of Rita and Joseph Houlihan, preceded by twin brothers, Dan and Joe, and followed by her sister, Janet.
She graduated from a high school run by the Ursuline Sisters and from the College of New Rochelle, majoring in psychology. She worked part-time in department stores while earning a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Fordham University.
She worked as a vocational counselor, directing people toward executive training programs after World War II. She engaged in a lot of volunteer work as well at the Catholic Evidence Guild and the Catholic Young Women’s Club. Although she was helping other young people to find their own vocations, she said she never thought of having a religious vocation except to be afraid she had one!
She shared her fears with Fr. Larry Wilson, SJ. That’s it, isn’t it, Father?” she commented. He replied, “That’s it, dear.” He suggested that he talk to a sister with common sense named Mother Judge at the Cenacle of St. Regis in New York. After making a directed retreat with the sister at the Cenacle, the decision was made. She entered the Cenacle novitiate at Ronkonkoma, NY, in March 1948. At the time she entered, Cenacle Sisters were semi-cloistered and rarely left the house except to move to another location. Ironically, during her 63 years as a Cenacle Sister, she traveled around the world, leading The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and working with the formation of religious not only in the Cenacle, but many other religious congregations from the United States for Europe, Asia and Africa. She led graduate seminars on spirituality at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, and the General Theological Seminary in New York.
In 1990, in her late 70s, Sr. Rita Anne was asked to join the staff of the Center for Spiritual Renewal run by the diocese of Kumasi in Ghana, West Africa. There she preached retreats to multi-cultural groups of laity and religious congregations, gave spiritual direction to individuals and groups, and facilitate programs of discernment, human development and formation for indigenous religious from all over Africa. She also gave a variety of retreats and spiritual programs in Cameroon, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
After five years in Africa, she returned, not to retire, but to continue her ministry in Flushing, NY, and Warrenville. While her family, her Cenacle sisters, her friends and retreatants miss Rita Anne deeply, they are filled with gratitude for having known her and been loved by her.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at the Chicago Cenacle on Tuesday, Sept. 27. Interment was at noon on Sept. 28 in Hillside. Memorials can be sent to the Cenacle Sisters, 513 Fullerton Pkwy., Chicago 60614.
