The adventures of a Franciscan sister continue

By Brandon A. Evans

Last year, the generous gifts of friends and alumni of Cardinal Ritter Jr./Sr. High School in Indianapolis paid for Franciscan Sister Rita Vukovic to ride four laps around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with racecar driver Sarah Fisher.

This year, the adventure of the long-time Cardinal Ritter teacher will continue with a stunt ride in a T-6 Texan Warbird airplane.

The new experience for Sister Rita will garner donations at the school’s annual Race Party on May 26 at Primo West in Indianapolis.

The annual event, which includes dinner and both a silent and live auction, will raise funds to support student scholarships and financial aid. Tickets are $60 per person.

Even though Sister Rita isn’t fond of flying, she said that she’s looking forward to her ride in the plane.

Last year, in her trip around the track, everything was carefully prepared and she was able to enjoy herself and feel safe, she said—and being a big racing fan helped.

When she came back to school in the fall, Sister Rita had stories to tell her students about her big day.

“They thought it was awesome,” she said.

Sister Rita has been teaching for 55 years. She started in elementary education then moved on to high school, and ended up at Cardinal Ritter in 1970, where she has taught ever since.

Though she occasionally teaches senior theology and English in the higher grades, she mostly teaches freshman English.

“I just like to get them off to a good start in their high school years,” she said.

Catholic education—a venue for her not only to educate but also to share her love of God and the Eucharist—is important to Sister Rita.

“To teach is to touch a life, and the number of students that I’ve touched in my lifetime is incredible,” she said.

And teaching is a two-way street, she added, saying that she has gained a lot from those under her care.

It is a particular pleasure, she said, to encounter former students and see what they have done with their lives. It is an opportunity that comes up especially at events like the Race Party.

“She’s an institution within the institution,” said Paul Lockard, president of the school. “She’s a real asset to the community.

“Now she’s going to be a fighter pilot of sorts.”

Sister Rita said that she has full confidence that the school will continue to come up with creative ways for her to help raise money for Catholic education through her “adventures.”

“I have some ideas, but I’m not going to tell anybody,” she said. “Whatever’s for the good of the school, I’ll pitch in to do.”

(For more information, call 317-927-7920 or e-mail raceparty@cardinalritter.org or log on to www.cardinalritter.org.) †