Augustinian Identity

Founded in 1905, St. Rita High School has been operated by the Order of St. Augustine (Augustinians) for more than 120 years.

Through the Augustinian core values of Veritas (Truth), Unitas (Unity), and Caritas (Love), St. Rita aims to form each student as a whole person: spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, physically, and socially, and to provide its young men with the necessary skills to succeed in college and in life, leading to life-long learning and personal awareness.

In the spirit of our Father, St. Augustine, we will be of one mind and one heart on our way to God.

AUGUSTINIAN PRESENCE AT ST RITA

Since the founding in 1905 by the Very Rev. James F. Green, O.S.A., St. Rita of Cascia High School is a Catholic college preparatory school for young men, rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ and the tradition of St. Augustine, following the Augustinian philosophy of education.

Hundreds of Augustinians Friars have ministered on both the 63rd & Claremont campus and the currently campus located on 77th & Western

This includes Pope Leo XIV who contributed to St. Rita in various capacities, including:

  • Before his ordination in 1982, Pope Leo XIV — like all Augustinian seminarians — served in ministry roles that included visiting Augustinian parishes and schools, bringing him to the St. Rita campus where he would substitute in classrooms and shadow other friars.

  • Serving as Prior Provincial from 1999 to 2001. In that role, he oversaw all ministries of the Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel, commonly referred to as the Midwest Augustinians — including St. Rita and other Augustinian high schools. During his term, he appointed Fr. Tom McCarthy O.S.A. ’83 (currently Director of Community Relations) as President of St. Rita in 2000.

  • In 2001, Fr. Prevost was elected Prior General of the entire Augustinian Order, overseeing Augustinian communities worldwide for two six-year terms.

Read to full story about Pope Leo XIV’s connection to St. Rita High School here.

The St. Rita community is indebted to the friars who have continued to educate the young men of Chicagoland in the Augustinian tradition of teaching to the whole person.

Thank you to Augustinian Friars and ordained individuals who have come before and who continue to serve at St. Rita:

  • Deacon John Donahue, J.D., ED.D. — President

  • Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A. ‘83 — Director of Community Relations

  • Fr. Stephan Isley, O.S.A. — Theology Teacher

  • Bro. Joe Ruiz, O.S.A. (HON) — Theology Teacher & School Chaplain

  • Fr. Bernard Danber, O.S.A. ’68 — Alumni Relations & Athletic Chaplain

  • Bro. Paul Koscielniak, O.S.A. — Augustinian in Residence

  • Bro. Jerome Sysko, O.S.A. — Augustinian in Residence

Augustinian Core Values

Veritas | Truth

This is perhaps the most basic value of the three. First of all, St. Rita is a school, a center of learning, a journey ever closer toward knowledge, understanding, and respect for reality. That is the purpose of our coming together: no school, no Ritamen.

To know Him, who is Truth Incarnate, Jesus Christ, and His saving message.

Concretely, at St. Rita the framework for this venture is the study of the liberal arts. The school curriculum is both an end in itself and a platform for further studies.

Unitas | Unity

Whether it is the unity of our teams, the single-mindedness of common academic endeavor, or the shared identity of being a Ritaman for life, the call to community is insistent and demanding. St. Rita is a place where young men form friendships that last a lifetime.

Unitas shows itself dramatically in school Masses, in the daily rosary, in our athletic endeavors, and in organized events like homecoming.

Unitas seeks to find expression in the universality of the church and our awareness of being members of a global community.

Caritas | Love

More than any one word (love, concern, devotion, compassion, caring) can express caritas, is that impulse of the Spirit of Jesus that is expressed in hundreds of ways.

Caritas is “active friendship” that encompasses both love of God and neighbor. It is when the head and the heart move into action, often with sacrifice.