Father Joe Rankin Pastor

Father Joe Rankin is from Louisville and grew up in the west and south ends of the city having attended grade school at St. Thomas More, Sacred Heart, St. John Vianny, and later at St. Mary in Lanesville, Indiana. He went to high school seminary with the Comboni Missionaries, later going to college at Xavier University in Ohio and completing his theological training in Rome. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1979. After ordination he supervised high school seminarians for four years and then was assigned to the foreign missions in Esmeradlas, Ecuador. While there, he was pastor of a parish and director of seminarian formation and youth ministry. From there he was transferred to Kitchener, Ontario where he did mission and vocation promotion. Since Father Joe’s return to Louisville in 1990 he has been the associate pastor at St.Athanasius, pastor at St. Monica and then St. Francis of Assisi. He was assigned to St. Rita on June 22, 2005.

Email: frjoe@saintrita.net

Fr. Jerry Bell Senior in Residence

Fr. Jerry Bell is a native of Louisville and grew up in St. Brigid Church in the Highlands. He attended Trinity High School and Bellarmine College. He went to St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, Md. where he received his Masters of Divinity. He taught religion and led retreats at St. Xavier High School. He was ordained a priest in 1973 and was appointed Director of Youth and Young Ministry, and Associate Vocation Director for the Archdiocese, primarily doing retreats (1973 - 1978). He served at St. Rita as Associate Pastor (1978 - 1980). He served as Pastor at Emmanuel Catholic Church in Albany, Ky. and Holy Cross in Barkesville (1980 - 1986). St. Aloysius, St. Benedict, and St. Claire in Bullitt and Hardin Counties (1996 - 2002). St. Augustine and Holy Name of Mary in Lebanon, Ky (2002 - 2012). Father Jerry has recently 'retired' or being 'recently engaged' as Priest-in-residence at St. Luke and St. Rita, after an immersion experience in Guandalejara, Mexico. He has served in the World Wide Marriage Encounter, St. Meinrad Seminary's Institute for Priests Programs for newly ordained priests, and numerous Archdiocesan councils, commissions, and consultative bodies.

Aurelio PugaDeacon

MAurelio Puga was born in Ixtlán del Rio Nayarit, Mexico where he received most of his education. He moved to the USA as a teenager, and is now a self employed carpenter. He and his wife Wanda have been members of St. Rita parish for over eight years and have two sons, Daniel and Aurelio Jr. As a couple they completed the Ministry formation program at the Russell Institute of Religion and Ministry at Spalding University. Aurelio Puga's parish activities have included Hispanic parish council coordinator, RICA team member, sacramental preparation (baptism), and training for Eucharistic ministers, lectors and altar servers. As a deacon he is here to share his gifts with all God’s people.

Email: apuga@saintrita.net

Ken MitchellDeacon

Deacon Ken- born Sept 19, 1950, raised in Louisville, Ky, attended St. Elizebeth School and St. Xavier H.S. He and his wife, Jan have 2 children--Kenny Jr. and Stephanie, and has 4 grandchildren. Ken is retired from AT&T after 33 years. He currently is a school bus driver with JCPS. Deacon Ken was ordained Aug. 28, 1993. He has served at Most Blessed Sacrament, St. Mary, St. Jerome, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. Deacon Ken has now joined the staff here at St. Rita and St. Luke. Ken is also a speaker for “ Food for the Poor” and a liason for the “ National Institute foe Continuing Education for the Deacons”.

Email: kwilliams@saintrita.net

Joan'e D'HaenePastoral Associate

Joan'e is a native of Monroe, Michigan. She moved to Louisville in 1994 to attend Spalding University where she earned a Mastersin Pastoral Ministry degree. She has since made Louisville her home. Joan'e worked in health care for twenty-five years prior to focusing on full time ministry. She was the Pastoral Associate at St. Francis of Assisi parish for eleven years prior to joining the St. Rita faith community. She is lay associate of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Monroe, Michigan.Joan'e loves to travel. She enjoys books, movies, music and she loves being a part of a large family and community of friends.

Email: jdhaene@saintrita.net

Sister Isamary GarcíaAsociada Pastoral

Sister Isamary García, the oldest of five children,was born and grew up in Monterrey, Mexico, where her family and friends still reside. She completed her Bachelor degree in psychology in Monterrey. Since that time Isa has workedin different capacities with children of all ages, from early childhood to young adults. She came to the United States in 1994 when she joined the Covenant House (CH) volunteer program to serve homeless and runaway youth. She was assigned to CH Florida, whereshe met two Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, and where she served for over ten years. At this time Isa began to discern religious life. In 1999 she became a candidate with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (SCN). In 2005 she moved to Nazareth, where the SCN motherhouse is located. Sister Isa took temporary vows in February 2008. During her apostolic year as a novice she was assigned part time to St. Rita for ministry. Currently she works there full time as Pastoral Associated for the Hispanic Community. Although her title is “Pastoral Associate for the Hispanic Community”, Sr. Isa is available to anyone in the parish.

Email: igarcia@scnky.org