Ministries

Sr. Myra McPartland

Sr. Rita McCormack

                                    Meet Sr. Michele Harnett  

 818-883-1678     michelessl@netzero.net

During the years I have been a Sister of Saint Louis, I have frequently been asked two questions: “Did you always want to be a nun?” and “When did you know you had a vocation to religious life?” The answer to the first question was easy since it was a definite “No”! Like many children, I wanted to be a nurse, a teacher, an airline pilot, and a movie director, though not all at the same time! 

The second question posed a greater challenge to answer. The truth is that in 1960 at age 17, I didn’t know for sure that I had a vocation to religious life. All I knew was that I was being drawn to enter the convent while at the same time I hoped that my parents would say, “No, you can’t go”. They didn’t and as the saying goes, “the rest is history”. There have been moments of doubt but I don’t regret the decision I made almost 50 years ago in Ireland. 

My life as a Sister of St. Louis, like any other calling, has had its challenges as well as its blessings. For most of my years in religious life I have been in the field of education as an elementary school teacher, principal, and counselor. From that first day in 1963 when I walked into the third grade classroom in Nativity School, El Monte and saw 56 bright-eyed children looking at me, I have been blessed and enriched by the students I’ve taught in different schools and cities in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Whether the children were in Nativity, El Monte, Corpus Christi, Pacific Palisades, St. Joseph, Long Beach, Our Lady of Malibu, Malibu, St. Mel, Woodland Hills, Our Lady of Grace, Encino, Holy Name of Mary, San Dimas, St. Dorothy, Glendora, Sacred Heart, Covina or St. Louise de Marillac, Covina, I have learned more life lessons from them, their parents, and my fellow faculty members than I ever taught.

To top it all, that desire as a child and preteen to be a movie/play director was realized in the many plays and musicals I directed as a teacher and a principal. Who could ask for a more rewarding ministry – a ministry that gave you the joy of seeing a child’s face light up when he or she finally understood a concept or that magic moment on the stage when a “star was born” even if it was just one line in a play! To all of those students who touched my life, I say “thank you”.

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                                 Meet Sr. Myra McPartland         

818-346-4765     mmcpartland@louisvillehs.org 

What drew you to be a Sister of St. Louis?     My faith-filled family, reading the Autobiography of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, and coming in contact with the Sisters of St. Louis in St. Louis Convent Secondary School, Monaghan, Ireland.

Where do you come from originally?      Ireland 

What is your favorite Scripture quote?     “I have called you by name. You are mine.”

What ministry is or was most rewarding for you?     Being in administration at Louisville High School in a position to see that the philosophy, mission and traditions of Louisville High School are continued into the future

Where did you minister as a Sister of St. Louis?     All of these places are in California. I taught at St. Cyprian, Long Beach; Corpus Christi, Pacific Palisades; St. Mel, Woodland Hills; St. Joseph, Long Beach; and at St. Anthony Claret, Anaheim.

I was principal at St. Anthony Claret, Anaheim; St. Bede, La Cañada; St. Louis of France, La Puente; and finally at Louisville High School, Woodland Hills from 1998 to 2002.

As of 2002 I have been and am President of Louisville High School.

Were you known by another name other than Sr. Myra?     Yes, I was Sr. Mary Visitatio.

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                              Meet Sr. Rita McCormack

818-883-5148     srrita@dslextreme.com 

What drew you to be a Sister of St. Louis?     I went to high school with the Sisters of St. Louis, and they always seemed very prayerful, happy, and friendly. I felt called to go to Africa as a missionary sister, and I joined the St. Louis Congregation hoping to go to Nigeria or Ghana.

What does it mean for you to be a Sisters of St. Louis?     As a Sisters of St. Louis, I have the opportunity to live out my commitment as a vowed religious, and in cooperation with my Sisters in community, to pray, live and work to bring about a “world healed, unified and transformed.”

Where do you come from originally?     I was born in Northern Ireland.

What is your favorite Scripture quote?     Micah 6:8 “This is what Yahweh asks of you, only this, to act justly, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Tell me about a time you felt God really active or present in your life.     I felt God was very present to me during my thirty-day retreat in 1982. At that time I was discerning a change of ministry, and the Spirit gently led me in making the right decision.

Tell me about an amusing incident from your ministry.     On one occasion my 7^th grade students did a skit, “A Day in the Life of Sr. Rita,” for my birthday. One of the boys began the day with Sr. Rita leaving Our Lady of Malibu Convent, driving to Pacific Palisades on Pacific Coast Highway. He rode around the gym on his bicycle. Then they taught an English class, using many of my expressions. It was hilarious!

Is there a fond memory you cherish?     In 1981 I had the great privilege of taking care of my mother during the last six months of her illness with cancer.

What ministry is or was most rewarding for you?     I have fond memories of my years as a teacher. It was a ministry of love. I also spent seven years as a parish Sister, and I felt very privileged to be able to serve the people of God in that ministry. It has been a rewarding experience to have had the privilege of touching the lives of so many students and people in my ministries, and to have had the freedom and opportunity to spread God’s love and the Gospel values.

Where did you minister as a Sister of St. Louis?     I taught in St. Bede, La Cañada; Corpus Christi, Pacific Palisades; Our Lady of Malibu, Malibu; Nativity, El Monte; and Our Lady of Refuge, Long Beach.

I served in parish ministry in St. Angela Parish, Brea; Nativity Parish, El Monte; and at Louisville High School, Woodland Hills. All of these are in California.

Were you known by another name other than Sr. Rita?     Yes, I was Sr. Mary Virginia.

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