April 2, 2010
People We Care About
Following is a feature in the Message, designed to help draw together the People of God in southwestern Indiana. Readers are invited to submit information about people who may benefit by some extra prayers and attention.
Daughter of Charity Sister Ignatia O’Rourke died March 20.
She was born in 1915, in New Orleans, La., one of three children of Robert and Mary O’Shaughnessy O’Rourke.
She joined the Daughters of Charity in 1938, and after a period of formation, Sister Ignatia was sent to St. Patrick’s High School, Chicago, Ill. She received a degree in library science from Rosary College, River Forest, Ill. This began a series of educational experiences as a high school teacher at Laboure High School in St. Louis; St. Vincent’s High School, San Francisco, Calif.; Immaculate Conception Academy in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico; and Providence School, St. Louis.
Sister Ignatia began her administrative role as secondary principal at St. Joseph High School in New Orleans and Laboure High School in St. Louis. In 1968, 1969 and 1979 Sister served as an official translator at the Daughters of Charity General Assemblies in Rome. This experience also brought her to Madrid, Spain, where she served as a delegate to the Provincial Assemblies several times.
From 1972 to 1993, Sister Ignatia taught at many of the Community’s schools in Texas, Louisiana, and Missouri. In 1994, Sister Ignatia was the Provincial archivist and, later, was the librarian at Marillac Provincial House in St. Louis.
In 1999, Sister Ignatia ministered in pastoral care at St. Paul’s Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. In 1999, Sister Ignatia tutored children at the Fisk Howard Elementary School, while residing at Malta Square in New Orleans. Sister Ignatia moved to Seton Residence in 2007 and, until her death, served as a minister of prayer.
Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated March 22 in the Chapel at Seton Residence.
Please send information for PEOPLE WE CARE ABOUT to Mary Ann Hughes, The Message, P.O. Box 4169, Evansville, IN 47724. The e-mail address is mhughes@evansville-diocese.org.