CHARLOTTE — For more than 30 years Sister Eileen McLoughlin, MSBT, counseled people in need – alcoholics, addicts, people grieving the loss of a loved one, and many others desperately searching for help – sharing the healing power of hope and the message that God loves them.
On Feb. 23, friends and co-workers gathered at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, where she spent the last 11 years of her counseling ministry, to wish Sister Eileen well as she retires.
Sister Eileen began her ministry in the Diocese of Charlotte in 1987, working in the counseling department at Catholic Social Services (now Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte).
Pictured: Sister Eileen McLoughlin entered the Missionary Servants of the Blessed Trinity in 1950, serving first at St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Oklahoma and in for the past 31 years in the Diocese of Charlotte. Archival photo provided by Sister Marie Frechette, MSBT
After 20 years of diocesan service, and serving three years in Philadelphia, she founded the counseling services office in 2006 at St. Matthew Church at the invitation of its former pastor, Monsignor John McSweeney.
“Sister has a great legacy in the Diocese of Charlotte as a member of the Missionary Servants of the Blessed Trinity, who were very integral in establishing what is now Catholic Charities here in the diocese,” noted Father Pat Hoare, St. Matthew’s pastor. “Counseling services, and many other services provided at Catholic Charities, Sister provided with her congregation.”
At St. Matthew Parish, Sister Eileen established 12-step programs including Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous as well as Alateen, Co-dependents Anonymous and Food Addicts in Recovery. There are many support groups for grieving spouses and parents, as well as those suffering from other issues.
“Many people talk about how Sister has helped them in some way, either directly or indirectly,” Father Hoare said.
“But 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.”
Sister Marie Frechette will carry on Sister Eileen’s legacy at the Charlotte parish, heading up the counseling department.
“She has been great in terms of bringing people to Al Anon, Narc Anon – everything that needs help and assistance,” Sister Marie said. “She ran the counseling office here with a light touch. You wouldn’t know she was really the coordinator, except you had to call and make an appointment.”
Sister Eileen’s motto has always been “Help is for those who want it, not those who need it,” Sister Marie noted.
“Sister Eileen has given the Church a great service and has always been vibrant, alive and welcoming. Her work here, and her work at Catholic Social Services in the past, gave her great joy,” Sister Marie said. “She is a missionary.”
Charlene Grattan, who also recently retired from St. Matthew’s counseling office, worked with Sister Eileen for the past decade.
“She has been an incredible mentor and friend,” Grattan said. “She is a woman who not only talks the talk, but walks the walk.
“Her persona emits nothing but love and acceptance, tolerance, grace and compassion.”
Grattan noted that Sister Eileen has done a great deal of work with people who are in recovery – not just from alcoholism but also from drug addictions, sex addictions and addiction to pornography.
“She always did good,” Grattan said. “I will miss her dearly. She is one of a kind – they broke the mold when they made her! It has been a joy having her in my life the last 10 years.”
After joining the Missionary Servants of the Blessed Trinity in 1950, Sister Eileen’s first mission was to St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Oklahoma, where she and 10 other sisters took care of more than 140 children.
Later Sister Eileen served in Alabama, where she opened a free seasonal daycare for migrant children after she learned of an infant’s death from heat exposure while the mother worked in the potato fields. The program, staffed by volunteers, lasted for more than 20 years.
When Sister Eileen came to the Charlotte diocese, she worked for 20 years with Jeannie Bell (now retired) at Catholic Social Services.
“We had offices right next to each other at Catholic Charities,” Bell recalled. “She is an incredible woman filled with the Spirit. She just emanates love and care to all whose lives she touches – truly from the very lowly to the very highest.”
“She will be truly missed,” Bell said.
At her retirement party after Mass Feb. 23, Sister Eileen was surrounded by coworkers, friends and people whose lives she has affected over the years. There were many hugs and well wishes given before she returns to her order’s motherhouse in Philadelphia.
Father Hoare said the parish was delighted to give Sister Eileen a celebratory send-off for all that she has meant to the diocese and the parish.
“It’s impossible to give her what she deserves,” he said. “But the little bit we can do here is our way of showing our love. There will be many people who will come here in the years to come who will be touched by what you’ve done, Sister,” he added.
In her remarks to those gathered, Sister Eileen said, “I love what I do. I really love the spirit here at St. Matthew – the congeniality, compassion and caring and the hard work you put in, 24 hours a day sometimes.
“I have happy memories to bring with me to Philadelphia,” she said. “I promise I will be praying for you.”
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
