McAllister retiring after a life of faith-filled service
Rita McAllister recently retired as director of religious education at St. Agnes Parish in Orrville, concluding over four decades of service in teaching and parish life.
For Rita McAllister, her recent retirement as director of religious education at St. Agnes Parish in Orrville follows a life of serving others and a life filled with faith. McAllister was born and raised in Elyria, and her parish in Elyria also was a St. Agnes Parish.
“I was raised in a devout Catholic home,” McAllister said. “I was the youngest of six children and went to St. Agnes School in Elyria from first through eighth grade. My parents and siblings and I began each meal with prayer and prayed together nightly. We had a rosary rack hanging in our hallway.”
McAllister attended Elyria Catholic High School, where she met her husband Jim. She went on to Notre Dame College in South Euclid, which closed last year. McAllister made wonderful memories during her time at Notre Dame, including making lifelong friends and meeting Bishop Fulton Sheen, who was a well-known Catholic television personality from the 1960s.
McAllister ended up in Orrville in 1977.
“My husband Jim and I moved to Orrville in 1977 because Jim was hired at the J.M. Smucker Co.,” she said. “We became members of St. Agnes Parish at that time. There were a few moves over the years — one to Clarion, Pennsylvania and then to Shepparton, Australia — and always there was a Catholic Parish that was part of our life.”
Wherever she went, McAllister was involved in parish life. McAllister has taught every grade level of Parish School of Religion classes. In total she has taught religious classes for 42 years.
McAllister was a special education teacher by profession. She taught early childhood special education and was an intake coordinator for Wayne County through the Tri-County Education Service Center for 12 years.
“After moving to Heartland Point in Orrville as the program coordinator for four years, the director of religious education position became available, and through prayerful discernment, I accepted the position in August 2012.”
McAllister said serving as director of education was a blessing.
“I loved greeting the children at the door to welcome them,” she said. “Watching the children work together to create placements for nursing home residents, watching the children act in the nativity play at Christmas, praying the Stations of the Cross with the children and so many other moments have truly warmed my heart. I will miss the devoted catechists (teachers) who have been so supportive over the years. I love the children, the families, the catechists and all the helpers. What a truly lucky woman I am.”
McAllister was celebrated with a retirement party at the church hall and will be remembered for sharing her faith so warmly. When asked how she plans to spend her retirement, she said, “I plan to spend more time with my husband and my family. I hope to do some traveling including a trip to Italy in the fall. Deepening my faith is another goal.”
McAllister has had her own trials and tribulations through life and credits her faith as a lifeline for her.
“Trust in the Lord” is the mantra she has learned to lean on in both the peaks and valleys of life.