Rev. Louis William Rink, C.S.C., 89, died Tuesday (Sept. 10, 2013) at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind.
He was born on Feb. 13, 1924, to John and Louise Rink in Homer City, Pa. He graduated from Homer City High School in 1942. Fr. Rink served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and spent three years in active duty. He graduated from Denver University in 1949 with a B.S. in radio broadcasting and production. Fr. Rink was received into the Congregation of Holy Cross on Aug. 15, 1952, at the Novitiate in Jordan, Minn. He professed First Vows on Aug. 16, 1953. After two years at Moreau Seminary and the University of Notre Dame, he studied theology at Holy Cross College, Washington, D.C., from 1955-1959. Fr. Rink made his Final Vows on Aug. 16, 1957, and was ordained a priest on Oct. 19, 1958 at St. Vincent’s Archabbey, Latrobe, Pa.
Following a year’s pastoral apprenticeship at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Austin, Texas, and Notre Dame High School in Bridgeport, Conn., Fr. Rink spent 13 years in Holy Cross Missions in Fort Portal, Uganda. Beginning in 1973, he served 10 years in the missions and with the Holy Cross Brothers’ St. Patrick’s School in Monrovia, Liberia, where he also worked in the diocesan radio education and communications programs. He then returned to the missions in the Holy Cross District of East Africa in Uganda from 1983-1984. After a sabbatical year, Fr. Rink went to Agana, Guam to serve as chaplain at Father Deunas School; there he also worked in the Office of Communications for the Archdiocese of Agana. From 1986-1987, he returned to Liberia to work for the Archdiocese of Monrovia. Fr. Rink returned to the Archdiocese of Agana in 1987. From 1988-1989, Fr. Rink assisted at St. James Parish in Medjugorje, Yugoslavia. Fr. Rink moved back to the United States in 1989 and spent three years at Casa Santa Cruz in Phoenix, Ariz., where he also lived from 1994-1998 and again from 2000-2002. Fr. Rink assisted at Our Lady of Soledad in Coachella Valley, Calif., from 1992-1994, and was the administrator of St. Francis Parish, Seligman, Ariz., from 1998-2000. Fr. Rink also utilized his background in broadcasting, producing Catholic radio programs for overseas missions and homebound listeners. His tapes are still being heard around the world. He also loved hosting retreats, especially in the missions. In 2002, Fr. Rink moved to Holy Cross House, where he remained until his death.
Fr. Rink is survived by a sister, Mary Rink, who lives in Ohio, and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. His parents and two brothers, Frank and Charles, are deceased. His brother Albert was killed in Europe during World War II.
Visitation will be 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 12, 2013) at Moreau Seminary, where there will be a Wake Service at 7:30 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be 3:30 p.m. Friday (Sept. 13, 2013) at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame. Kaniewski Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
