Jesuit magazine (4-11).indd - The New Orleans Province of the ...
Jesuit magazine (4-11).indd - The New Orleans Province of the ...
Jesuit magazine (4-11).indd - The New Orleans Province of the ...
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Sacred Place<br />
me to be a good minister <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Gospel<br />
to those I will interact with each day.<br />
When you wake in <strong>the</strong> morning<br />
with this enormous task in front you,<br />
what is it that gets you going and<br />
keeps you focused?<br />
I wake up each morning knowing<br />
that I am going to learn much <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
evangeline m. Vavrick, Campaign Chair<br />
<strong>the</strong> chance to give back and to help<br />
Evangeline’s association<br />
with <strong>the</strong> <strong>Jesuit</strong>s has been a<br />
lifelong experience. When<br />
invited to take on <strong>the</strong><br />
leadership role as chair <strong>of</strong><br />
Renewing a Sacred Place,<br />
she graciously accepted<br />
without hesitation. “<strong>The</strong><br />
<strong>Jesuit</strong>s have always<br />
played a significant role<br />
in my life,” she says, “as<br />
educators, spiritual leaders,<br />
co-workers, friends and<br />
family.”<br />
This kinship began early on with her parents. Her mo<strong>the</strong>r,<br />
like Ignatius Loyola, was from Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Spain, and she<br />
enjoyed cooking meals for <strong>Jesuit</strong> friends. “<strong>The</strong>y were like<br />
family, and my fa<strong>the</strong>r took <strong>Jesuit</strong>s hunting and fishing on a<br />
regular basis.”<br />
Evangeline was also influenced by her Marianite<br />
educators but adds, “It was as if I attended a <strong>Jesuit</strong> school.<br />
Our principal was Sister Loyola, my Latin teacher was Sister<br />
Ignatius and mo<strong>the</strong>r superior was Sister Francis Xavier.”<br />
Many <strong>of</strong> her school celebrations were <strong>Jesuit</strong> feast days, and<br />
annual high school retreat masters were <strong>Jesuit</strong>s. Fr. John<br />
Curley, S.J. was a favorite.<br />
Her activism began during high school when <strong>the</strong><br />
Marianites encouraged students to become involved in <strong>the</strong><br />
Catholic Students Mission Crusade. Off-campus meetings<br />
were held at Immaculate Conception Church or <strong>Jesuit</strong> High<br />
School and moderated by Fr. Albert Levet, S.J. <strong>The</strong> sisters also<br />
reinforced <strong>the</strong> belief that Catholic girls should not jeopardize<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir souls by attending secular college, promoting Loyola<br />
University <strong>New</strong> <strong>Orleans</strong> as <strong>the</strong> college <strong>of</strong> choice.<br />
Evangeline went on to earn her Bachelor <strong>of</strong> Arts, Master<br />
<strong>of</strong> Education and Juris Doctor from Loyola. In between her<br />
education and law careers, she worked with <strong>Jesuit</strong>s as dean <strong>of</strong><br />
women, assistant to Fr. Anthony O’Flynn, S.J., who was <strong>the</strong>n<br />
dean <strong>of</strong> men and later Fr. Robert Boggs, S.J., who succeeded<br />
history <strong>of</strong> St. Charles College and have a<br />
part in preserving that history. Each day<br />
is an adventure as surprises await me<br />
and o<strong>the</strong>rs working on this project.<br />
Fr. O’Flynn. As a former student and colleague <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesuit</strong>s, she<br />
established lasting personal relationships with many <strong>Jesuit</strong>s<br />
who became like family.<br />
<strong>The</strong> lessons she learned along <strong>the</strong> way from <strong>Jesuit</strong> friends<br />
were greater than <strong>the</strong> academics needed for life’s successes.<br />
<strong>The</strong> way in which one approaches life – striving to be a person<br />
for o<strong>the</strong>rs, helping those who need an extra hand up to a better,<br />
more productive life – served as <strong>the</strong> greater lesson. Among her<br />
many <strong>Jesuit</strong> friends, counselors and advisors were Fr. Patrick<br />
Donnelley, S.J., former president <strong>of</strong> Loyola University <strong>of</strong> <strong>New</strong><br />
<strong>Orleans</strong>, and Frs. Joseph Butt, Joseph Walsh and John Keller,<br />
all <strong>of</strong> whom were incredible spiritual advisors and close<br />
personal friends, visiting her home for dinner and special<br />
occasions and participating in family celebrations, weddings,<br />
baptisms and funerals.<br />
Considering how she will honor her <strong>Jesuit</strong> friends with<br />
her service as chair <strong>of</strong> Renewing a Sacred Place she candidly<br />
reveals, “Some <strong>of</strong> my friends must think I am a bit crazy to<br />
take on such a challenge, a $5 million dollar campaign in my<br />
golden years. However, having an opportunity to give ra<strong>the</strong>r<br />
than to receive is a blessing and a lesson learned from my<br />
parents, <strong>the</strong> Marianites and <strong>the</strong> <strong>Jesuit</strong>s.”<br />
Of her commitment to <strong>the</strong> <strong>New</strong> <strong>Orleans</strong> <strong>Province</strong> and<br />
<strong>the</strong> renovations <strong>of</strong> St. Charles College, Provincial Mark<br />
Lewis says, “Mrs. Vavrick brings both an understanding <strong>of</strong><br />
service and a wealth <strong>of</strong> experience to her role as chair <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Renewing a Sacred Place campaign.” She has served on <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Jesuit</strong> Volunteer Corps board, <strong>the</strong> Loyola Law School Visiting<br />
Committee and on fundraising committees too numerous to<br />
mention – most notably as one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first women to serve on<br />
<strong>the</strong> Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. She has been on <strong>the</strong> <strong>New</strong><br />
<strong>Orleans</strong> <strong>Province</strong> Development Advisory Board and was on<br />
<strong>the</strong> committee for <strong>the</strong> successful Forging a Future Full <strong>of</strong><br />
Hope campaign.<br />
With her personal history with <strong>the</strong> <strong>Jesuit</strong>s as friends,<br />
teachers, colleagues and spiritual advisors, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Jesuit</strong>s <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>New</strong> <strong>Orleans</strong> <strong>Province</strong> are honored and excited to have<br />
Evangeline M. Vavrick serve as <strong>the</strong> chair <strong>of</strong> Renewing a<br />
Sacred Place.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Sou<strong>the</strong>rn <strong>Jesuit</strong> Spring 20<strong>11</strong> 21