Sister Edith Prendergast, 1940

Sister Edith Prendergast, 1940–2026

St. Monica Catholic Community mourns the loss of force catalyst Sr. Edith, who, as Monsignor Torgerson’s best friend, informed the vision and ministry of St. Monica. She helped build the radical hospitality and inclusiveness that St. Monica Catholic Community is known for.

Known to quote Sr. Edith often, Monsignor Torgerson gives her much credit for who he is as a pastor and minister. To say that we will miss her is a vast understatement; she was the lifeblood of the Church in Los Angeles.

What she loved most in the world were poets and prophets, and so many of us know she was a prophet herself. May she rest in God’s great eternal peace.

Tell me, what is it you plan to do / with your one wild and precious life?

– Mary Oliver

Sr. Edith Prendergast, R.S.C., D.Min., a Religious Sister of Charity, was born in Moneyvroe, Cappoquin, County Waterford, Ireland, to Catherine and Richard Prendergast. Raised on a family farm in a home marked by deep faith, hospitality, and care for those in need, she was shaped by her parents’ example of prayer, generosity, and a distinctly Celtic spirituality that recognized God in all things. After a brief period as a civil servant, she entered the Religious Sisters of Charity in 1959, embracing a vocation of service to the poor and a lifelong commitment to faith formation.

Sr. Edith studied education at the University of London’s Institute of Education, where her love for art, literature, and experiential learning took root, and later earned advanced degrees in theology from Boston College and a Doctor of Ministry from Claremont School of Theology. Her early ministry included teaching in England and California, as well as formation work as Director of Novices during a time of significant renewal in religious life. Known for her creativity, spiritual depth, and ability to draw forth the gifts of others, she became a trusted mentor and leader. Msgr. Lloyd Torgerson, who first invited her into archdiocesan ministry, reflected that “she has a great spirit for people and can see things in people that we can’t always see in ourselves,” a quality that would define her lifelong service.

In 1987, Sr. Edith was appointed Director of the Office of Religious Education for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, becoming the first non-ordained person to hold the role. Over 27 years of leadership, she transformed and expanded the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress into a globally recognized gathering, fostering inclusivity, multicultural engagement, and vibrant faith formation for all ages. Upon her retirement, after nearly three decades of service, she was widely honored for her visionary leadership, collaborative spirit, and profound influence on catechesis. Describing her ministry as “a very energizing experience,” she credited her passion, relationships, and prayer as sustaining forces. A cherished friend of St. Monica, she will be missed beyond measure; may she now rest in God’s peace.