We invite readers to send short stories about the ways in which their lives have been personally blessed by the life and work of priests and religious in our diocese.

By Karina Fabian

Sometimes faith is taking a blind step forward and hoping you’ll land on something solid. For Sister Rita McGinnis, that solid ground is here in Montana.

Sister McGinnis graduated from Washburn University in Topeka, Kan., in 1965, the same year she became a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth. She taught English, speech and drama in Kansas City, Mo., (1966-1975), Billings, Mont. (1975-1978), and at Butte Central High in Butte (1978-1979).

She also got her master’s degree in Catholic secondary school administration from the University of San Francisco in 1980, and moved on to become the associate administrator at Bishop Hogan High School in Kansas City, Mo., and principal at Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kan.

It was a job she initially wasn’t certain she wanted to do, but as she grew in the position, she learned how valuable the teacher/administrator relationship was and how she could strengthen that relationship for the good of the students.

“I had a sense that there were parallel universes between the classes and admin. As I got more involved in teaching, I became aware that there were exciting things that could be facilitated by the administration that would make huge differences in education. You could strengthen the whole fabric of education when you had the exchange of ideas (between teachers and administration). It was a good thing for me.”

The financial and money-raising part of the job wore on her, however, and after 10 years in administration (with a one-year sabbatical for Focus on Leadership), she was ready to move on. “I think you know when it’s time: there’s an internal clock that tells you. When I realized that, I e-mailed some of my sisters who knew me really well and told them I was ready for a new challenge and if they knew anything that would work, let me know.”

What came back was the suggestion she apply for the director of the Pastoral Division position at the Helena Diocese. She said she didn’t know exactly what that was, so the diocese sent her eight pages of explanation!

“I was amazed and intimidated, but I realized I had most of the skills, though it was nothing I’d ever done before. It was the most fun I’d ever had in an interview. Two hours gone like seconds. I had taught in Butte and it was a pivotal year for me. I was delighted. It was one of those situations where you step out and hope you have a solid place to land.”

Sister McGinnis spent five fulfilling years as director, managing programs from family life, peace and justice, to Cursillo and retreat outreach. She was a member of the Deacon Formation Committee, chairperson of the committee to prepare for the Third Millennium and worked with the director of the Montana Catholic Conference to develop a retreat on Catholic Social teaching.

In 1998, she returned to her motherhouse in Leavenworth to serve as community councilor for her community, but returned to Helena as director of the Pastoral Planning Division in 2005, where she is today.

“Working with Bishop Thomas, the priests and the people of this diocese is a deep joy for me,” she said. “I’m again doing something I’ve never done before, yet I have a sense that this is where I’m supposed to be.”


Published in the Montana Catholic, Vol. 22, No. 9, September 18, 2006.