Eileen Catherine McLoughlin was born July 30, 1929 in Jersey City, NJ to Elizabeth and John McLoughlin. She was baptized at St. Joseph’s Church in Jersey City on August 7, 1929. Eileen attended St. Aloysius Academy graduating in 1947.
Eileen was one of eight children – Mary Elizabeth, Margaret, Ann Marie, John, Richard, James, and Robert. Her great love of her family was very evident in her stories.
When John McLoughlin died and Elizabeth was left a widow with eight children, she took up the work of her husband’s real estate business and Eileen became the cook and organizer for the family. She often mentioned she was a good cook.
Eileen met the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity in Jersey City, NJ. When she went to work for the US Government in Richmond, VA. She visited the Sisters there and was part of the Missionary Cenacle Apostolate. Soon she was writing Mother Mary Francis about entering, saying she had been considering a religious vocation for several years but God must have wanted her to meet the Missionary Cenacle before she could decide. Her pastor in Richmond, Father Gormley wrote,
“If her zeal together with her good common sense, that has marked her work for souls as a member of the cenacle, is any indication of what her work in the community itself will be, then we shall have wonderful things to expect of her.”
So her application for admission was accepted. She entered in August 1950, her First Profession was March 25, 1952 and Final Vows March, 25 1955. After First Profession, 23 year old Eileen (known then as Sr. Ignatius Eileen) was missioned to Bethany, Oklahoma to be a counselor at the orphanage for 7 years, where she and 10 other sisters took care of more than 140 children.
She was a caseworker at Catholic Charities in Harrisburg, PA. Like many sisters, she took classes here and there until she received her MSW from Catholic University in 1969. She attributed her achievement to the sisters who encouraged her and built up her confidence. After graduation, she was in Philadelphia for a short time then off to Mobile, AL for 3 years. In Alabama, she opened a free seasonal daycare for migrant children after learning of an infant’s death from heat exposure while the mother worked in the fields. The program, staffed by volunteers, provided a safe place and loving care to children for more than 35 years.
At this point in her life, Eileen went to a treatment program for alcohol addiction after an intervention by her MSBT sisters. This experience of recognizing the truth of her addiction was to have a great impact for good on her life and on the life of many others.
Eileen was missioned to Catholic Social Services in Greensburg, PA from 1975-1980. Then, in 1980, she went to Stirling, NJ to serve at Mrs. Wilson halfway house for women. She was missioned to Catholic Social Services in Charlotte in 1983. When a couple of workers in Charlotte heard Sr. Eileen was coming they asked, “What she was like?” The Sister answered, “She’s like no other sister you’ve met. Don’t be surprised if she drives up on a motorcycle.” Apparently she did not drive up on a motorcycle, but she was very much herself.
Sr. Eileen specialized as a drug/alcohol counselor. Her goal was to help people realize God’s love for them, help them increase in self-esteem and empower them to solve their problems.
In 2003, Eileen was invited to leave Charlotte to be the Custodian (Superior) of the Motherhouse in Philadelphia. Although she loved the ministry and community in Charlotte, she said yes. “I’ve been praying for 25 years, “Relieve me of the bondages of self that I may do your will.” I said to myself “put your money where your mouth is.” She served the needs of her sisters for three years until another could accept the ministry.
In 2006, at the invitation of its former pastor, Monsignor John McSweeney, Sr. Eileen returned to St. Matthew’s Parish in Charlotte, where she founded the Counseling Services Office. Sister Eileen established 12-step programs including Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous as well as Alateen, Co-dependents Anonymous and Food Addicts in Recovery; many support groups for grieving spouses and parents, as well as those suffering from other issues. One of her former pastors said,
“Many people talk about how Sister has helped them in some way, either directly or indirectly. I think her greatest legacy is the person that we don’t know, who calls here and doesn’t even remember talking to Sister. They call in desperation or at the end of their rope, and they find the help that they need and find love here in our community.”
Sr. Eileen came back to Philadelphia in 2018. She spent her time visiting sick sisters, listening to sisters who needed to talk, playing cards regularly and praying.
In 2020, Eileen was very ill with COVID. This affected her overall health and she was asked to move to a more supportive environment at the Motherhouse. Her humility in accepting the move was very impressive. In recent months, Eileen would at times forget to come to meals but she was always present for Eucharistic Adoration.
Thank you, Sr. Eileen, for all you were for us and for others. May you rest in the peace and love of God!