For Sister Rita Smith, the last 50 years have been a challenging blast.
Smith is one of three Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth who recently celebrated their 50th anniversaries.
The three sisters commemorated the occasion with a special ceremony at the Mother House in Leavenworth earlier this summer.
Sister Ann McGuire and Sister Mary Julianne O’Flannigan also celebrated their golden jubilees.
The daughter of two Irish parents, Smith said many of her childhood activities in Kansas City, Mo., revolved around the church.
After coming in contact with several SCL in high school, she said she felt drawn to religious life.
“I knew all along that I really wanted to be a sister,” she said.
Though she said she looked at four other religious orders, Smith said she eventually decided to join the SCL.
“The SCL were fun, just good to be around,” she said.
After joining the order at age 17, Smith said she taught art classes in the Kansas City area.
Elementary and high school education encompassed 32 years of Smith’s teaching ministry.
She spent four years in elementary schools and 28 years in high school.
Since then, she said she has served in administrative positions at St. Pius X, Bishop Hogan, Bishop Ward and Immaculata High School.
For the past 10 years, she has been serving as the administrator of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Mother House.
Also originally from Kansas City, Mo., McGuire began her teaching career as a Sister of Charity in Laramie, Wyo.
In subsequent years, she has taught in Helena, Mont.; Joplin, Mo., Kansas City, Kan.; Chicago and Kansas City, Mo.
She served as the principal at a school in Grand Junction, Colo., and as an administrator for Leavenworth schools.
Following 31 years in the educational ministry, McGuire became administrator of Duchesne Clinic in Kansas City, Kan., and the St. Vincent Clinic in Leavenworth.
She currently works as the plant manager of Our Lady and Saint Rose, Blessed Sacrament and Christ the King parishes in Kansas City, Kan.
O’Flannigan taught high school business and religion courses at Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kan.; St. Pius X in Kansas City, Mo.; Hayden in Topeka, Kan.; and Butte Central in Butte, Mont.
She later applied her business skills as a secretary to the president of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health Services Corporation and subsequently as secretary to the treasurer of the religious community. O’Flannigan is originally from Wyoming.
Smith said she has always known that the decision to follow the religious life was right for her.
“Once I became a sister, I knew that’s exactly what I wanted to do,” she said. “Every day was a new challenge.”
The encouragement and support of her family was also crucial to her success.
“They were there for me all the time,” she said.
Through the years, Smith said she is still optimistic.
“It’s been a great 50 years,” she said. “I look forward to the next 50.”
Leavenworth, Kan. —
