R.I.P. Sr. Irene McGrath ASC, former diocesan director of spiritual renewal of the laity

Sister Irene (formerly Sister Mary Luke) McGrath, 95, of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, died peacefully on April 19 at the Benedictine Living Community at the Shrine in Belleville, Illinois.

Her varied ministries included teaching at Visitation Inter-parish School in Vienna, directing the former Jerusalem House of Prayer in Sedalia, and serving as director of Renewal of the Laity for the Diocese of Jefferson City.

She had been a professed sister for 78 years.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on April 25 at Benedictine Living Community at the Shrine.

Sr. Irene was one of seven children born to the late Thomas and Clara (Begnel) McGrath in Woodson, Illinois; her home parish was St. Bartholomew in Murrayville, Illinois. She made her first profession on July 1, 1944, in Ruma, Illinois, and professed final vows on July 1, 1949.

Sister Irene’s ministries were many and diverse. She served as both an elementary and secondary teacher and organist; as director of parish religious education, renewal of the laity and house of prayer; as librarian, religious leader of the Ruma Center; as formation director of young candidates for religious life, on-going spiritual education of the sisters of the former Ruma Province, and also as the Provincial Superior of the province.

She completed bachelor’s degree in Religion, with minors in Education and Philosophy, from Saint Louis University in St. Louis, in 1955. She earned her master’s in Library Science and Theology from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1965.

She held certificates in Limited Elementary Supervision and Secondary Teaching in the state of Illinois. She became certified in Spiritual Direction through the Jesuit School of Theology in Chicago, Illinois, in 1979.

Her elementary teaching included St. Elizabeth School in East St. Louis, Sacred Heart School in Dupo, St. Albert the Great School in Fairview Heights, St. Joseph School in Olney, all in Illinois, as well as Visitation in Vienna.

She taught at St. Teresa Academy in East St. Louis and at Precious Blood Institute, a high school for girls on the grounds of the Province Center in Ruma, Illinois.

She was the parish religion coordinator for St. Francis Xavier Parish in Carbondale and St. Andrew in Murphysboro, both in Illinois.

Following her certification in Spiritual Direction, she provided that service in St. Louis.

Sr. Irene was named the Provincial Superior of the former Ruma Province in 1972.

She was known as a woman of prayer, but also in touch with the reality of the times. In the early 70s, she was keenly aware that the “experience of ourselves and of our world tells us all too clearly that there is a crying need of reconciliation” within each person, between persons, and between the person and God.

She planned a Summer of Reconciliation in 1974 for the Province of Ruma. A variety of types of retreats was scheduled at the King’s House of Retreats in Belleville, Illinois; 30-day retreats, individually-directed and small-group retreats, and preached retreats. Each sister was invited to choose one of these.

Sr. Irene was a lifelong learner, a teacher comfortable with her subject, including a program designed to help the person understand herself and her neighbors in a deeper, more compassionate way.

Her enjoyments included reading, walking, music, the beauty of nature and quiet time. She was always open to a thoughtful conversation about spiritual journeys and newly-discovered insights. She gave any visitor a warm welcome, letting them know she was grateful for a time to chat. Small kindnesses touched her deeply.

Sr. Irene looked for the best in others and expressed her joy when one of the sisters or the staff at Ruma had some success.

She loved her family and had a strong relationship with each of them, delighting in the time they could visit or even talk on the phone. She maintained close relationships with nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her sisters Marie (Harold) Drainer and Helen (Coy) Graham; her brothers Leonard (Teresa), Vincent (Leona), Thomas, and Leo McGrath.

She is survived by her sister-in-law Leeanne, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and members of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ.

Burial was in the ASC Cemetery in Ruma, Illinois.