From humble beginnings on the south sideof St. Louis to the sandy shores of the Gulf Coast, sisters say he will do a good job as an archbishop
Down to earth. Willing to help. Hard worker. Hands-on.
These are some of the ways in which two of Archbishop-elect Mark S. Rivituso’s sisters describe their big brother, who will take the helm as archbishop of Mobile in September.
Later this month, Lisa Rivituso and Marilyn Wisniewaski will pack Marilyn’s SUV with some of their brother’s belongings and make the 10-hour drive south, where he will be installed at a Sept. 3 Mass at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.
In some ways, they’re surprised — and in others, they’re not — about his newest assignment. Either way, Lisa and Marilyn said the family is overjoyed for him and looks forward to seeing how he will serve the people of southern Alabama.
Lisa and Marilyn said they were surprised that he made the jump from an auxiliary bishop to an archbishop. Typically, bishops will take possession of a smaller diocese before going to a major archdiocese. But noting his work ethic — from making time to visit with people at events, to making stops at ministries across the archdiocese, to answering emails late into the evening — Lisa and Marilyn said it came as a fitting recognition.
Archbishop-elect Mark S. Rivituso took pictures with members of his family Aug. 10 at a reception at Boland Hall next to the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in St. Louis.
“I think there were a couple of openings in (the dioceses of) Belleville and in Jefferson City, and from what I heard from other priests — we were surprised,” Lisa said. “I was surprised, but also not, because whatever happens it’s well-deserved. He’s a hard worker and committed, and I’m glad he’s being recognized.”
Born in 1961, Archbishop-elect Rivituso was the sixth child of Rosemary and Gus Rivituso. The family lived in St. Francis de Sales Parish for five years before moving to another house and into St. Wenceslaus Parish in 1956.
The family, Gussie (who passed away in 2022), Christina, Cindy, Sam (who died in 2004), Carolyn, Mark, Lisa and Marilyn, lived in a two-bedroom flat. As the family expanded, rooms were converted into bedrooms to accommodate the children.
Rosemary’s mother, Rose Darpel, lived in the second-story flat. The Rivitusos attended Mass together at St. Wenceslaus on Sundays, but Rose opted for an earlier Mass time. Mark would often tag along with his grandmother, sometimes arriving half an hour before Mass to secure a spot in their regular pew and pray the Rosary. It’s where some of the early seeds of a priestly vocation were planted.
Rosemary stayed home with the children, while Gus worked three jobs — as a barber, providing a television service at the former Missouri Pacific Hospital and as a bottler for Anheuser-Busch Brewery — to support the family. The Rivituso siblings often formed their own sports teams, allowing them to play just about any sport together. The family also had an aluminum pool, and on hot days, their father would jump in with them after a long day of cutting hair.
Photo of the Rivituso family from the late 1970s, including bottom row, from left, Sam, Carol, Cindy and Christina; middle row, Rosemary, Marilyn, Lisa and Gus; and top row, Mark and Gussie.
“There weren’t really any kids in the neighborhood,” Lisa said. “So we all just kind of all played together, all eight of us. We kind of had our own team and played sports in the backyard or in the alley or in the parking lots. That’s why we all got along so well, because we were together so much.”
The family’s faith traditions included Holy Hours and Perpetual Help devotions. During Holy Week, they’d go to several churches on the south side — St. Francis de Sales, St. Vincent de Paul, St. John Nepomuk, Holy Trinity and Sts. Peter and Paul — on Holy Thursdays to visit the Blessed Sacrament.
His ability to be a peacemaker and look out for his siblings has carried over into his ministry as a bishop, Marilyn said. “I think it does help him now, because, you know, he’s just a really good people person, and he does try to make the best of situations and and try to assure people that you know that he’s going to help out,” she said.
Marilyn recalled once when they were out shopping. It was winter, and suddenly she noticed her brother wasn’t wearing the jacket he brought along. “I was like, ‘Mark, where’s your coat at? It’s cold outside.’ He didn’t make a big deal about it, but said he gave it to somebody that needed it.”
Gus Rivituso passed away in 1998 and Rosemary in 2019, two years after her son was named an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of St. Louis. At his episcopal ordination, Rosemary said of her son: “I’m very proud. I hope that he does the work, and spiritually, I hope it makes him grow, even if he’s already number one to me.”
Their parents were supportive of him in answering the call to the priesthood. “It was one of the greatest things, I think, in (mom’s) life, when he became a bishop,” Lisa said. “He went in (the seminary) right after high school. They were just proud of him.”
The Rivituso siblings have attended a few farewell Masses and events honoring their brother in the past several weeks, soaking up some of the last moments with him before he moves. The siblings and several other family members plan to attend the installation in Mobile.
Lisa and Marilyn have joked about relocating to warmer temperatures and sandy shores of the Gulf Coast, but family obligations will keep them in St. Louis for a little while, at least until their retirement years.
“We just hope everything goes well,” Lisa said. “He can handle anything, but I hope that he takes some time for himself, too.”
