Homily delivered by Rev. Patrick Brennan, CP
St. Elizabeth Church, Altadena, California

My dear members of the Rinek family, dear Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary community, beloved Associates in ministry, friends and retreatants of Sr. Judy Rinek, how eagerly I welcome you this evening as we celebrate the holy Eucharist thanking Almighty God for the life and ministry of our beloved Sr. Judy. How good that we are here at St. Elizabeth parish community in this very special and profound moment. We hear echoing in our hearts the words spoken just moments ago:

Sister Judy Rinek, SNJM
Sister Judith Miriam
Southern California

September 5, 1943 — March 23, 2010

"Waters that are living do not stay contained
in stony wells of our own making;
but rather are far flung by Spirit and seep deep in Truth
to parched places and unquenchable thirsts."
J UDITH A. R INEK , SNJM

Judith Ayers Rinek was born on September 5, 1943, in Hartford, Connecticut, to John Ayers Rinek and Rita Coulomb Rinek. She was the first child and was followed by her siblings John, Larry, Steve and Marilyn. Her father's birthplace was Eaton, Pennsylvania, and her mother's was Gorham, New Hampshire.

Judy completed her elementary education at Sedgwick School in West Hartford, Connecticut. When she was fourteen years of age, and in the ninth grade, the family moved from Connecticut to California. Judy describes this move as her earliest trauma as it meant being cut off from childhood friends and from the culture and expectations that were second nature to her. In California she attended and graduated from Arcadia High School. During this time she developed her intellectual skills and, upon graduation, was awarded a four-year college scholarship to Holy Names College in Oakland.

Because Judy's parents differed in their religious backgrounds, their home did not provide much in the way of religious practice or discussion, although Mrs. Rinek took the children to Mass on Sundays. Each summer Judy's grandmother took the children for one month, and she was the one who shared with them her love for Jesus, Bible stories and the worship and fellowship of her Congregational Church. Of this experience Judy wrote, "I grew to appreciate the Bible and a human relationship with Jesus long before the Catholic tradition re-discovered that as their heritage."

Judy referenced two times of darkness in her family life — the first experience was her sister's drug addiction, running away from home and getting lost in the hippie sub-culture. The second was the divorce of her parents. Fortunately, Judy's prayers were answered when her sister returned to the family and when Judy felt the freedom to remain faithful and loving toward both parents. One of Judy's brothers stated that through all the ups and downs of their family life, Judy was always the strength that held together the family ties.

After high school, Judy attended Holy Names College in Oakland to pursue her degree in
biology. This was her first introduction to the Sisters of the Holy Names. Two Sisters who recognized Judy's potential and helped to channel her academic career were Sister Baptista Dean and Sister Denise Madeleine Ploux.

On April 17, 1963, Judy wrote to Mother William Marie, Provincial Superior, "Although I have known the Holy Names Community for only two years, I love the spirit manifested in the ideals of Mother Marie Rose and in the dedicated life of the Holy Names Sisters. In the Sisters I perceive the 'active contemplative' that I strive to be — a dedicated teacher motivated and sustained by the love of God. Particularly distinctive is their genuine love that enables all they do." In this letter Judy requested admission to the Congregation, and on August 30, 1963, she entered the Novitiate in Los Gatos.

After completing her period of religious formation, Judy pronounced her first vows on
February 22, 1966, and was given the name Sister Judith Miriam. After one year teaching and supervising the residents at Ramona Convent Secondary School in Alhambra, Sister Judith Miriam was assigned to study at Holy Names College and teaching at Holy Names High School in Oakland. On August 2, 1970, Sister Judith was part of the group who pronounced final vows at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Oakland.

For ten years, Sister's teaching in the fields of mathematics, science and religion, plus
moderating the yearbook, gave her ample scope for her creativity and use of her skills to keep her students interested and challenged. Sister became the first Campus Minister at Holy Names High School and introduced new programs for student involvement in a variety of areas, particularly in liturgy and hospitality.

As the founder of Campus Ministry at Holy Names College, she served in this capacity from 1977 to 1982. Sister Judith was well known for her relationships with students, meeting with them frequently, sharing their concerns and experiences. Under the guidance and enthusiasm of Sister Judith, students tutored, visited convalescent homes, taught CCD, recreated with the mentally or physically handicapped, assisted in youth programs, became involved in contemporary peace and justice issues and raised funds to meet the needs of the poor. Later Sister brought her enthusiasm for campus life to St. Mary's College, San Gabriel Valley Community College and the University of La Verne. For several years she also served as a residence hall counselor.

In addition to her degree in biology from Holy Names College, Sister Judy obtained a Master of Science in Biology from Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, a Master of Divinity from the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley, California, and a Master of Arts in Theology from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley.

The cancelling of Sister Judy's summer apostolic volunteer program in 1981 precipitated the onset of what she referred to as "my own midlife crisis". While trying to complete her fifth year as Director of Campus Ministry, she was debilitated with emotional exhaustion and depression. Following psychological counseling, Sister Judy took a sabbatical year in an effort to discover the cause of such a void in her life. During 1982-83, she spent time in personal renewal at the Province House of Prayer, Emmanuel House, in Los Gatos. An intuition led her to the Desert House of Prayer in Arizona where in solitude she met a new part of herself and God. "God led me to images of barrenness that produced the magnificent spring bloom, of smelly manure that transformed into potent fertilizer, of danger (rattlesnakes and javelinas)
that would not harm me. It was there I learned more resources for healing and wholeness on the spiritual journey in Jungian psychology and dream work."

On September 1, 1993, Sister Judy became the first program director and first woman
member of the retreat team at Manresa Jesuit Retreat Center in Azusa. The team of three priests, a brother and Sister Judy served over 6,000 people yearly in a variety of
weekend/weekday retreats. She was energized by the opportunity to give retreats and
function as a spiritual director, and she made a great impact on women by becoming a
spiritual companion to ordained women, those living with dysfunctional families and those experiencing midlife issues. The experience at Manresa reaffirmed her bias that the hope of the future Church is men and women working in collaboration with each other to meet the needs of God's people.

Following the close of Manresa Jesuit Retreat Center, Sister Judy began her ministry at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center in Sierra Madre. She arrived at the Center in September of 1994 and joined the team to preach weekend retreats and be available for spiritual direction. As the years went on, Judy's talents were utilized and welcomed in the areas of retreat planning, preaching, spiritual direction, forming women's retreat groups and directing special events. She spent eleven years at Mater Dolorosa. In 2009 the Passionist Community dedicated the summer issue of the publication "Mountain Pieta" to Sister Judy, thanking her and God for her years of service and ministry at Mater Dolorosa. Father Pat Brennan, C.P., wrote, "She has taught us what it means to have faith and to love the Lord with every ounce of everything that is in us. It seems to me that Judy's greatest 'sermon' her greatest witness of all, has been her own living example in facing breast cancer. Judy will not face this alone. We will all be with her through prayer and encouragement. Remember, with me, dear friend, our beloved Sr. Judy and as you do, say a prayer of special thanksgiving for having been
touched by this great woman."

In the fall of 2000, Sister Judy spent three months from September to December participating in a program at Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Israel. Islamic, Hebrew and Christian scholars guided the program through the various holy places and historical moments. A special challenge was the formation of small communities among the participants for prayer and conversation. In February 2001, Sister Judy was interviewed by a staff writer for "The Tidings", Southern California Catholic Weekly. Of her experience, she wrote, "People ask me if there is any hope for peace in Israel. With them I share the seeds of hope and co-existence projects that have taken root in Israel and the courageous and holy people I have met."

In 2005 Sister Judy authored "Conversation and Conversion by the Well", a handbook for the directors of the Samaritan Woman Directed Retreat, created by Almita Bey-Carrion. With the publication of this handbook, Sister Judy succeeded in promoting this customized retreat and making it more appealing to a broader audience.

In the fall of 2002, Sister Judy became chronically ill with respiratory distress and coughing. In 2005 Sister Judy wrote that she "dealt with a cough that would not quit, a tired, weakened and feverish body, difficulty in breathing and the scare of a biopsy."
 
After many tests, this condition was diagnosed as lung cancer, which spread to stage-4 breast cancer and later to her bones. She received experimental chemotherapy treatments at the City of Hope in Duarte. While there she helped support fellow cancer survivors and also wrote a newsletter column for the patients. A private benefactor funded a trip for Sister Judy and her sister-inlaw, Susan Rinek, to take a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, to seek its healing powers. During the early part of her treatment, Sister Judy continued her ministry at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center. For over four years she waged a valiant battle against the dreaded disease. Finally in mid April of 2009, her declining health necessitated assisted living, and she moved to Regina
Residence of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. Throughout her last months, when she received visits from her Sisters, family and friends, she always demonstrated more concern for others than for herself, always being the listener and the encourager.
A few days before her death, Sister Judy's condition deteriorated and she was taken to St. Joseph Hospital for a short time, but was then returned to Regina Residence to be attended by hospice care. When her internal systems shut down, she suffered a stroke on March 21 and entered into a coma, from which she never awoke. Surrounded by Sister Mary Ann Connell, Southern California SNJM Care Coordinator, her sister Marilyn (Sakti), and her sister-in-law, Susan Rinek, she died peacefully about 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 23, 2010.

On Friday, March 26, Mass was offered at 11:00 a.m. at Regina Residence, where Sister Judy resided for the last eleven months of her life. Special thanks should be given to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange for the care provided by them and their staff. Sister Judy endeared herself to the Sisters and residents when she arrived at Regina Residence. In the early months when she felt well enough, she joined the Sisters� choir and participated in their community events and celebrations. In the end, the Sisters of St. Joseph kept vigil day and night, as is their custom that no one dies alone.

Mass was offered at St. Elizabeth's Church in Altadena, California, on Monday, March 29. Celebrating the liturgy were Reverend Patrick Brennan, C.P., six Passionists from the Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center, and the Pastor of St. Elizabeth's, Reverend Edwin Duyshart. Father Brennan gave the homily; Sister Kathleen McDonough was the lector and Sister Mary Ann Connell read the Prayers of the Faithful. Paul Puccinelli was the cantor for the service. The church was filled for this service, a testimony to Sister Judy's impact on the community and in particular to the many people who experienced her spiritual direction at the retreat center.

The Mass of Resurrection was offered on March 31, 2010, in the Holy Names Convent Chapel in Los Gatos. Reverend Robert McDevitt, S.J., and Reverend Patrick Brennan, C.P., presided and gave reflections on their years of knowing and working with Sister Judy. Sister Cheryl Milner, with whom Sister Judy lived in Pasadena, welcomed the congregation. Sister Kathleen McDonough read from Colossians 3:12-17 and Sister Mary Ann Connell read the Prayers of the Faithful. The Rinek Family presented the gifts at the Offertory and gave reflections of their beloved sister.

The Rite of Committal took place on April 1, 2010, at Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery in Hayward, California. The Sisters gathered to share their many remembrances of Sister Judy as educator, biologist, writer, campus minister, spiritual guide, preacher, and retreat director and to recall her gentle and wise ways that enriched the many whose lives she touched.

The Hand of God Shall Hold You!
The hand of God shall hold you; the peace of God enfold you;
The love that dreamed and formed you shall surround you here today;
The light of God beside you, above, beneath, in side you...
The light that shines to guide you home to the loving hand of God.
C ONCLUDING REFRAIN AT THE M ASS OF R ESURRECTION