Sister Edith Prendergast, RSC, a woman of broad vision and quiet grace who led, nurtured and engaged thousands in catechetical ministry and leadership with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ Office of Religious Education, died in the early morning of April 1. She was 85.
As director of the archdiocese’s Office of Religious Education (ORE) from 1989 to 2015, Prendergast expanded the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress into the nation’s largest and most attended annual catechetical gathering.
Having just completed its 70th year, RECongress features thousands of Catholics of all ages and cultures, and many non-Catholics, who annually attend the event to hear prominent speakers representing all areas of ministry and multiple facets of life, celebrate liturgies reflecting the many cultures of the Catholic Church, and to simply renew their faith and find joy in community.
“Sister Edith had a great vision for our church, with an extraordinary ability to share her vision,” said Msgr. Lloyd Torgerson, pastor emeritus at St. Monica Church in Santa Monica, who hired Prendergast as an associate director of youth ministry, and whom she succeeded as ORE director in 1989. “She was one of the great people of this world, who led with great authenticity and joy.
“She had an incredible ability to work well with people, and everyone was important to her. No matter who you were, she gave you her time and attention. She was a beautiful person, a people person who really cared for others.”
“As a leader, Edith encouraged and empowered us to use our gifts and to be more than we thought we were capable of being and doing,” said Sister Kathleen Bryant, RSC, a fellow member of the Religious Sisters of Charity order and former archdiocesan vocations director.
“She networked and connected people across borders, faith backgrounds and lived experiences. Edith was inclusive and no one was outside her circle of friends and collaborators. She saw the face of Christ in each person. We will miss her exuberant joy and enthusiasm, which carried us all along the journey.”
Born in Ireland in 1940, Prendergast was one of six children raised on a farm by parents who taught her faith, charity and action, which laid the foundation for her vocation. Her parents welcomed strangers at the door, invited them in for a meal, and allowed them to spend the night. That practice encouraged Prendergast to choose a vocation with the Sisters of Charity at age 18.
She served her novitiate in Dublin and trained as an educator in London, majoring in ecclesiastical art and divinity, which encouraged her to use art, poetry and music in her catechetical ministry. In 1966, she was assigned to teach in Southern California schools and introduced experiential learning to promote students’ active involvement in their education and relationship with God.
When her religious community asked her to be involved in faith formation, Prendergast spent a year studying how to become a spiritual director and earned a master’s degree in theology at Boston College. With religious communities challenged by the changes brought by the Second Vatican Council, she honed her listening skills to help others cope with their struggles.
Returning to Southern California, Prendergast became director of religious education at Our Lady of Fatima Church in San Clemente. Her work led to her being hired by Torgerson at the LA Archdiocese’s Office of Religious Education, and over the next decade, she went from leading youth ministry to becoming the office’s associate director to taking over as director in 1989.
During the next 26 years, Prendergast oversaw the Religious Education Congress and led its expansion into the largest annual gathering of Catholics in the country at the time, drawing speakers and attendees from around the world. Multicultural and multilingual workshops were added, with Prendergast’s desire to make room at the Lord’s table for everyone, a desire born from her childhood upbringing.
That outreach extended to the inclusion of Catholics from every culture, age bracket and gender in leadership positions. Her ability to empower and trust others has been praised repeatedly by those who have worked with her.
“Sister Edith was a constant source of encouragement,” said Maryann Nguyen, master of ceremonies at RECongress’ arena liturgies, who joined the liturgy committee in her early 20s. “Whenever I felt unsure of myself, she affirmed my gifts and reminded me that my voice mattered. Her support helped shape my identity as a minister and leader in the Church at a formative time in my life.”
In addition to her office responsibilities, Prendergast attended Claremont School of Theology, receiving a doctorate in ministry; served on the board of directors for the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership (then National Conference of Diocesan Directors) to help increase lay involvement in spiritual formation and religious education; and facilitated the International Consultation for Adult Religious Education, sharing stories and best practices with others across the world.
Determined that people should be able to pursue a master’s degree in theology even if money was an issue, Prendergast set up her own endowment for laity. In 2011, she authored “Grace Abounds: A Call to Awaken and Renew Your Faith” (Ave Maria Press), including some of the opening addresses she gave at the Religious Education Congress.
Following her retirement from the ORE in 2015, she took a brief sabbatical, then returned to Southern California, becoming an active parishioner at St. Monica and continuing as an in-demand speaker and presenter at conferences worldwide. She was also a spiritual director for many, continuing to incorporate art and poetry, particularly those of Mary Oliver and David Whyte.
In her final days, Prendergast was regularly surrounded by friends and associates who loved and cared for her. Funeral services are pending.
Editor’s note: This is a developing story and will be updated with new details as they become available.
