Jesuit magazine (4-11).indd - The New Orleans Province of the ...

Sacred Place
me to be a good minister of the Gospel
to those I will interact with each day.
When you wake in the morning
with this enormous task in front you,
what is it that gets you going and
keeps you focused?
I wake up each morning knowing
that I am going to learn much of the
evangeline m. Vavrick, Campaign Chair
the chance to give back and to help
Evangeline’s association
with the Jesuits has been a
lifelong experience. When
invited to take on the
leadership role as chair of
Renewing a Sacred Place,
she graciously accepted
without hesitation. “The
Jesuits have always
played a significant role
in my life,” she says, “as
educators, spiritual leaders,
co-workers, friends and
family.”
This kinship began early on with her parents. Her mother,
like Ignatius Loyola, was from Northern Spain, and she
enjoyed cooking meals for Jesuit friends. “They were like
family, and my father took Jesuits hunting and fishing on a
regular basis.”
Evangeline was also influenced by her Marianite
educators but adds, “It was as if I attended a Jesuit school.
Our principal was Sister Loyola, my Latin teacher was Sister
Ignatius and mother superior was Sister Francis Xavier.”
Many of her school celebrations were Jesuit feast days, and
annual high school retreat masters were Jesuits. Fr. John
Curley, S.J. was a favorite.
Her activism began during high school when the
Marianites encouraged students to become involved in the
Catholic Students Mission Crusade. Off-campus meetings
were held at Immaculate Conception Church or Jesuit High
School and moderated by Fr. Albert Levet, S.J. The sisters also
reinforced the belief that Catholic girls should not jeopardize
their souls by attending secular college, promoting Loyola
University New Orleans as the college of choice.
Evangeline went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts, Master
of Education and Juris Doctor from Loyola. In between her
education and law careers, she worked with Jesuits as dean of
women, assistant to Fr. Anthony O’Flynn, S.J., who was then
dean of men and later Fr. Robert Boggs, S.J., who succeeded
history of St. Charles College and have a
part in preserving that history. Each day
is an adventure as surprises await me
and others working on this project.
Fr. O’Flynn. As a former student and colleague of Jesuits, she
established lasting personal relationships with many Jesuits
who became like family.
The lessons she learned along the way from Jesuit friends
were greater than the academics needed for life’s successes.
The way in which one approaches life – striving to be a person
for others, helping those who need an extra hand up to a better,
more productive life – served as the greater lesson. Among her
many Jesuit friends, counselors and advisors were Fr. Patrick
Donnelley, S.J., former president of Loyola University of New
Orleans, and Frs. Joseph Butt, Joseph Walsh and John Keller,
all of whom were incredible spiritual advisors and close
personal friends, visiting her home for dinner and special
occasions and participating in family celebrations, weddings,
baptisms and funerals.
Considering how she will honor her Jesuit friends with
her service as chair of Renewing a Sacred Place she candidly
reveals, “Some of my friends must think I am a bit crazy to
take on such a challenge, a $5 million dollar campaign in my
golden years. However, having an opportunity to give rather
than to receive is a blessing and a lesson learned from my
parents, the Marianites and the Jesuits.”
Of her commitment to the New Orleans Province and
the renovations of St. Charles College, Provincial Mark
Lewis says, “Mrs. Vavrick brings both an understanding of
service and a wealth of experience to her role as chair of the
Renewing a Sacred Place campaign.” She has served on the
Jesuit Volunteer Corps board, the Loyola Law School Visiting
Committee and on fundraising committees too numerous to
mention – most notably as one of the first women to serve on
the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. She has been on the New
Orleans Province Development Advisory Board and was on
the committee for the successful Forging a Future Full of
Hope campaign.
With her personal history with the Jesuits as friends,
teachers, colleagues and spiritual advisors, the Jesuits of
the New Orleans Province are honored and excited to have
Evangeline M. Vavrick serve as the chair of Renewing a
Sacred Place.
The Southern Jesuit Spring 2011 21