Father Thomas Rita

Reverend Thomas L. Rita, 81, a graduate of St. John’s Seminary in Brighton and a retired priest of the Diocese of Fall River, passed away suddenly on Thursday, March 5, at Charlton Memorial Hospital. For the last twelve months of his life Father Rita resided at Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River.

Before that, he spent his retirement years living at the Cardinal Medeiros Residence for Retired Priests. Father Rita is survived by his niece and nephew, Beth (of Live Oak, Florida) and Matt (of Charlestown, Massachusetts), along with Matt’s wife, Jackie, who became like a niece to him over the years. He is also survived by eight grand-nephews and -nieces, all of whom received baptism and other sacraments by his hands or in his presence: John (and his wife, Kaila), Anna, and Rob Macomber; and Niamh, Maddie (and her husband, Rasmi), Yoyo, Evelyn, and Carmen Rita. His great-grand-nephew, Roy Macomber, was – and now always will be – the last member of the family to be baptized by “Uncle Tommy.”

A native of New Bedford, Father Rita was the third of four sons born to the late Louis and Veronica (Earley) Rita. After graduating from Holy Family High School, he entered St. Mary’s Seminary in Kentucky. He later returned here to the Commonwealth to complete his formation at St. John’s Seminary. Father Rita was ordained to the priesthood on May 1, 1970 by Bishop James Connolly. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his two older brothers, Jimmy and Jake, his younger brother, Larry, and his sister-in-law, Terry Rita. At the twenty-fifth anniversary celebration of Father Rita’s ordination, his brother Jake – who affectionately called him “the Rev” – remarked: “From his earliest days in childhood, he wanted to serve the Lord as a priest. There was never any question about it. He knew what he wanted, pursued it, and . . . never looked back.” That commitment to his vocation remained undiminished through Father Rita’s Golden Jubilee, even as the 2020 pandemic prevented his many well-wishers from celebrating with him in person.

During more than four decades of parish ministry, Father Rita’s assignments spanned the Fall River Diocese – from the Rhode Island border in Bristol County to the west, to the Lower Cape in Barnstable County to the east. The parishes in which he served included St. Mary’s in Mansfield, St. Anthony’s in East Falmouth, St. Mary’s in South Dartmouth, St. Mary’s in Taunton, Our Lady of the Assumption in Osterville, Holy Trinity in West Harwich, St. Mark’s in Attleboro Falls, and St. Mary’s in Seekonk (twice). When the latter parish joined with nearby St. Stephen’s in 2010, Father Rita became the founding pastor of the new Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish. He also served as the director of St. Vincent’s Home in Fall River and a judge for the Diocesan Tribunal.

Over the years, Father Rita earned a well-deserved reputation as a priest who left parishes better than he found them. This was evident in the various renovation and construction projects he oversaw at the churches entrusted to him. But such improvements were never undertaken merely to suit Father Rita’s tastes – refined though they were. Rather, he viewed the enhancement of physical places of worship as a means of drawing his parishioners closer to God. Perhaps the most palpable example of this can be seen in the Our Lady of Life Adoration Chapel in West Harwich, which then-Bishop Seán O’Malley dedicated in 2002 during Father Rita’s pastorate at Holy Trinity.

By far, however, the most enduring legacy of his priesthood will be the countless lives he touched and the lasting relationships he leaves behind. As his health challenges mounted over the past several years, many of the people Father Rita once served (or served with) supported him through their constant visits, phone calls, cards, and prayers. Because those cherished friends are too numerous to name here, his grateful family would simply say to all of them: “You know who you are.” And the same is true of the long list of staff members, caregivers, and providers – at Cardinal Medeiros, Catholic Memorial, and elsewhere – who did their best to bring Father Rita comfort during the closing chapter of his life’s story.

Family and friends are invited to attend the visitation on Thursday, March 12, between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. (with a prayer service to be held at 6:30 p.m.) at St. John Neumann Church, 157 Middleboro Road, in East Freetown. Father Rita’s Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 13, also at St. John Neumann Church. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, 1213 Kempton Street, in New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, and to help displaced communities around the world, donations may be made to one of Father Rita’s favorite charities, at www.crs.org/donate/crs-give-where-needed.

Diocese of Fall River
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