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Saint Rita's Catholic Church

Saint Ritas Catholic Church was founded in 1941, the church erected in 1942. It is located in San Diego, California. The former pastor is Rev. Armando P. Escurel. Right across the street from the church is located a Catholic school. The church is very diverse. there's a Filipino, Mexican, Samoan and African-American Community surrounding it. Today, the parish consist of approximately 2,000 families.

Saint Rita's Catholic Church To get into the Catholic school located across the church, the students applying and their parents are interviewed by the principal. Students are assessed to determine what their strengths and weaknesses are. Parents are asked to submit the child’s birth certificate, health records (including immunization history), baptismal and other sacramental records, and recent report cards.

Kindergarten students must be five years of age by September 1st of the Kindergarten year. They should be six years old by September 1st to be admitted to First Grade. Tuition at St. Rita’s School is based on the family plan, and a parish rate is given to those families who participate in and support St. Rita’s Parish. Parental support is essential. Parents are required to perform 30 service hours each year, and to actively support the spiritual and academic standards of the school.

The school starts teaching from Preschool to Eighth Grade. Some of the classes that are offered there are music, computers, and physical education. Some of the extra-curricular sports (Varsity and Junior Varsity grades 4 – 8 ) are varsity Boys Football, JV Boys Football, Girls Softball, Varsity Boys Basketball, JV Boys Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Girls Basketball, Soccer. Some of the after-school programs that kids can participate in is the Holy Childhood Association, Catholic Charities, Community Appreciation and Service projects.

History

Before 1941 the area now known as St. Rita's Parish was part of the parish of St. Anne in San Diego. Catholics who lived in the Encanto area, had difficulty getting to St. Anne's for Sunday Mass. By 1932, the home of one of the parishioners become a chapel for Sunday Mass. In the latter part of the thirties this chapel came under the administration of Father Daniel O'Donoghue.

In 1941, Father John F. Gallagher was appointed by Bishop Buddy. St. Rita's was born. For some time mass continued to take place at the little chapel at 65th and Imperial in Encanto. Father Gallagher's first rectory was also located in the Encanto area in a rented house on Brooklyn Avenue. With the acquisition of property near Euclid and Imperial Avenues, plans for a permanent church and rectory were made. Ground had just been broken when the nation became involved in the Second World War. However, St. Rita's continued to blossomed into reality when Bishop Buddy dedicated the first parish church at St. Rita's on Palm Sunday 1942. This building is still standing and is better known to us as the Church Auditorium.

In 1950 plans were made for the opening of a parish school. On September 11, 1951, St. Rita's School opened its doors to 250 boys and girls. Five nuns from the School sisters of Notre Dame staffed the school. A convent was built to accommodate the sisters. During the sixties, St. Rita's was still growing. Through the generosity of bill Shaule St. Rita's was willed ten acres of property in 1961. During this same time, a supermarket, which was located directly across the street from the church, closed its doors. This meant it was up for sale. St. Rita's acquired the building for $250,000. The property, consisting of a building with 25,000 square feet and two-and-one-half acres of surrounding grounds, became part of St. Rita's Parish. The building was renovated and became known as St. Rita's School Annex Building. The total cost of the project was $421,497.57. The acquisition of the facility made it possible for St. Rita's School to accept more students. Within a few years the student enrollment totaled over 750. By the time Monsignor Gallagher retired as pastor of St. Rita's in 1973, the entire debt had been paid.

Prayers for Saint Rita

Prayer for Saint Rita Dear Rita, model Wife and Widow, you yourself suffered in a long illness showing patience out of love for God. Teach us to pray as you did. Many invoke you for help, full of confidence in your intercession. Deign to come now to our aid for the relief and cure of [name of sufferer]. To God, all things are possible; may this healing give glory to the Lord.

Amen.

Prayer to Saint Rita

Holy Patroness of those in need, Saint Rita, you were humble, pure and patient. Your pleadings with your divine Spouse are irresistible, so please obtain for me from our risen Jesus the request I make of you: [mention your petition]. Be kind to me for the greater glory of God, and I shall honor you and sing your praises forever. Glorious Saint Rita, you miraculously participated in the sorrowful passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Obtain for me now the grace to suffer with resignation the troubles of this life, and protect me in all my needs.

Amen.

Hymn to Saint Rita of Cascia Come, virgins chaste; pure brides, draw near: Let Earth exult and Heaven hear The Hymn that grateful accents raise, Our song of joy in Rita's praise.

By fast her sinless frame is weak; Her livid flesh the scourges streak. In pity for her Savior's woes, Her days and even nights are closed.

The thorn-wound on her brow is shown, The crimson rose in winter blown, and full-ripe figs on frozen tree at Rita's wish the wonders see.

The widowed spouse and wedded wife the way to heaven see in her life; the way secure our Rita trod, in life's dim day, through paint o God.

Praise to the Father and the Son, praise to the Spirit, Three in One; O grant us grace in heaven to reign through Rita's prayer and life-long pain.

Thou hast signed thy servant Rita with the sign of thy Love and Passion.

O God! Who didst deign to confer on St. Rita for imitating Thee in love of her enemies, the favor of bearing her heart and brow the marks of Thy Love and Passion, grant we beseech Thee, that through her intercession and merit, we may, pierced by the thorns of compunction, ever contemplate the sufferings of Thy Passion, who lives and reigns forever and ever.

Amen.

http://www.stritaschurchsd.org/St._Ritas/Welcome.html