In Memoriam


Sister Mary Rita McSweeney, OP

Sister Mary Rita (Michael Sean) McSweeney

(1939-2017)

In her homily at Sister Mary Rita McSweeney’s funeral on September 15, 2017, Sister Attracta Kelly remembered Sister Mary Rita as a woman who – true to what Jesus asks in the selected Gospel reading  – had been deeply committed to helping “the least” in society.

Sister Attracta related a story that Sister Mary Rita had shared with one of their crowd about a homeless man whom she saw every day on her way to work. Rather than passing him by, she would stop to talk with him, and eventually she found him housing and hired him in her ministry.

“As in Mary Rita’s example, it starts by opening our eyes and hearts to the suffering of other human beings,” Sister Attracta said. “The key is to resist the temptation to look the other way or to take refuge in apathy rather than to journey with the open eye and the open heart.”

Read more about Sister Mary Rita (pdf)

make a memorial gift

Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan, 49221. 

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Avatar  John Carron 4 years agoReply

Very sorry to hear that Sister Mary Rita has passed. She was my 8th grade science teacher, and IJP TV studio counselor too,
.(That's right, 1971, IJP had a TV studio! ..... I was a studio engineer)
Sister Mary Rita was awesome!!!
I remember trick or treating as a 4th or 5th grader (1967) at the IJP Convent. Ringing the door bell and Sister Mary Rita was in the back ground playing a guitar and singing and everyone was eating pizza. My thought was, WOW! These Nuns rock!!!!!,
These are real people and they are partying with pizza and I really wanted to join their party!!
Of course at the time , I was a young person and just wanted to get the heck out of there!
So what happens, 50 years later , I have been thinking what an influence Sister Mary Rita has been to me, and how blessed I am to have been teached and tutored by her. Of course, back then I had no idea what a blessing she was. Now I do!
God Bless you Sister Mary ! You were such an inspiration. I just wish I could have told you before now.
You will always be in my dreams and my prayers.
John Carron

Avatar  anne lee mikulich 6 years agoReply

Sister was principal at IJP when i was a student. i have nothing but fond memories of sister, she was truly a kind woman who cared about all of her students! I know she is at peace with God!

Avatar  Stephen Barker 7 years agoReply

I had the tremendous pleasure of working with Sister Mary Rita at Marillac St. Vincent Family Services (the remembrance misstates the organization name as "Marillac House Social Center" - it's a confusing name!). It would be impossible to overstate how important she was to the seniors she worked with. She literally changed people's lives and treated everyone with dignity and love. I loved talking with her and laughing with her. She was so generous with compliments and affection, she just made you feel like a million bucks. She was also one of the hardest working people I've ever met - she just wouldn't stop! Everyone joked about how hard she was to keep up with! There is a huge hole at Marillac right now, and in our hearts. We loved her so dearly. May she rest in peace.

Avatar  Burt Yeo 7 years agoReply

Sister Mary Rita was a fabulous leader and principal at Infant Jesus of Prague in Flossmoor, IL. I had many an opportunity to visit her in her office while a student there! She was a remark woman; a bona fife servant and a true example for all. She will be sorely missed.
She is at rest in paradise with our Father,

My sympathies,
Burt Yeo
IJP 1979

Avatar  Tom Brady 7 years agoReply

Sr. Mary Rita' s deep commitment to the senior citizens at Marillac was enormous. Her friendship and concern for my mother and her health was very much appreciated.



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