In 2017, Fr. Richard Rinn, CSV, celebrated Mass in the chapel at the Viatorian Province Center, where 50 years earlier he had professed his first vows as a religious brother. He took the moment to reflect on God’s goodness.
Fr. Richard, second in line, at a prayer service in 1966 at St. James Catholic Church in Arlington Heights, IL, to begin his novitiate
“We gather in prayer grateful to God for all the gifts he’s given to us. Fifty years ago, I came to this community in this very chapel,” he said. “In this place, we are reminded of what we do as religious. We work like Martha in the gospel, relying on God’s grace every step of the way.”
Later, he joked about his religious life – “I thought I was going to be a teacher, and teach US history for the rest of my life.”
He entered the Viatorian Novitiate a little more than one month after graduating from Saint Viator High School, in Arlington Heights, IL, in 1966 and then professed first vows one year later.
then-Br. Richard in 1973-74 at Saint Viator High School
Fr. Richard did go on to teach – he would return to his alma mater as a teacher in 1971, and again, in 1998, as its president. In between, he also served at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, where he was a teacher and counselor before joining the administration as assistant principal, principal, and president.
From 1999 to 2025, Fr. Richard served St. Viator Catholic Community in Las Vegas, as its pastor. During that time, the community remodeled its church, improved the school buildings and campus, and – perhaps most importantly to him – founded the Micah Program for inclusive education.
From 1991, Dan Erbach, Fr. Richard, and Chuck Gerber at Bishop Gorman High School.
The St. Viator School Foundation honored Fr. Rinn at its 2025 banquet, following his retirement the previous summer. He used the opportunity to affirm the many great leaders and collagues in the school community, and once again uplift the Micah Program. “The Micah Program is a special program. I knew we were doing something good and special for these children. What I didn’t anticipate is that it does something wonderful also for the rest of our school and our parish. Compassion and empathy are so much a part of our community’s fabric,” he said, as he made a special appeal for the foundation dinner’s fundraising for Micah.
In his religious life, Fr. Richard has also served the community in leadership roles, including accepting the appointment in 2022 from Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, Provincial, to serve as Assistant Provincial.
In retirement, Fr. Richard continues to live in Las Vegas, his adopted home. He still celebrates Sacraments and assists his Viatorian brothers in ministry at St. Viator and in the region. “You’ll never escape three-part homilies,” he joked.
More on Fr. Richard from Viatorians.com:
- St. Viator School Foundation Honors Fr. Richard Rinn (2026): The 2026 banquet evening honored the longtime pastor for his leadership for the school and support for the Micah Program.
- Two Good and Faithful Servants Retire as Pastors (2025): Along with Fr. John Peeters, CSV, of St. Patrick Parish in Kankakee, IL, Fr. Richard retired from a long stint as pastor of a Viatorian parish.
- Micah Program Continues to Grow (2025): The Provincial Council visited with the Micah Program students and staff during a council meeting.
- Viatorian Legacy Showcased at Bishop Gorman
Fr. Richard blessed palms at Palm Sunday Mass at St. Viator in 2026.
(2025): At a new building on campus, a special area was dedicated as the St. Viator Gallery. Fr. Richard and fellow Viatorians celebrated the occasion together.
- A Bazaar Way to Further the Viatorian Mission (2024): Fr. Richard supported the women’s guild in staging a market whose proceeds supported “wish list” items for the parish.
- Viatorians Celebrate 70 Years of Ministry in Nevada (2024): With many brother Viatorians and associates, Fr. Richard helped mark the 70th anniversary of Viatorian ministry in Nevada.
- Beauty of Basilicas Inspires Viatorians (2024): With Fr. Mick Egan, CSV, Fr. Richard helped lead a European pilgrimage and celebrate Masses at amazing churches.
- A Blessing for God’s Smallest Creatures (2024): For the feast of St. Francis, Fr. Richard blessed pets from the parish community.
- St. Viator Celebrates with Fr. Larry (2024): Fr. Larry Lentz, CSV, celebrated 60 years of religious life with many Viatorians, including Fr. Richard.
- Viatorians in Las Vegas Collaborate to Feed the Hungry (2024): Fr. Dan Belanger, CSV, and Viatorians in the region joined with Fr. Richard in connecting St. Viator’s generosity into outreach ministry at St. Thomas More in Henderson.
- Humility and Inclusion on Holy Thursday (2024): Fr. Richard washed the feet of parishioners, including Micah 6th-grader Amanda.
- Beloved Tradition Returns (2024): After four years of restrictions, altar servers returned to liturgy at St. Viator.
- Viatorians Lead Pilgrimage to Italy (2023): This time, Fr. Mick and Fr. Richard headed to Italy with traveling friends.
- St. Viator Parish School Invests (2023): With school leadership, Fr. Richard helped implement major maintenance and upgrades to the school campus.
- New Provincial Superior Elected (2022): The community elected Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, as Provincial, and he appointed Fr. Richard as Assistant Provincial.
- Viatorian Pilgrimage to Ireland (2022): Another pilgrimage!
- New Addition Brings Joy (2022): After the death of his dog, Sox, Fr. Richard later got a new dog, Nellie.
- St. Viator Puts Faith in Action (2021): Fr. Richard helped mobilize St. Viator in a community outreach in support of a vulnerable family.
- A Gift from One Viatorian Institution to Another
Left to right, Fr. Larry Lentz, CSV, Fr. Richard Rinn, CSV, Br. Rob Robertson, CSV, and Fr. Mick Egan, CSV, enjoyed a tour during a European pilgrimage trip.
(2021): St. Viator and Fr. Richard commissioned a St. Viator statue to give as a gift to Cristo Rey St. Viator.
- Area Catholic Schools at St. Viator (2020): Fr. Richard celebrated Catholic Schools Week Mass, which for the first time included students from newly opened Cristo Rey St. Viator.
- Parish Updates from Fr. Richard Rinn (2020): In a bit of a COVID-19 time capsule, the pastor shares a video update with parishioners unable to gather in person.
- Cristo Rey St. Viator Freshmen Come Together for Retreat (2020): Fr. Richard helped host the first freshmen retreat at St. Viator.
- St. Viator Parish School Welcomes All Students (2018): In support of the Micah Program, Fr. Richard welcomed a Micah Student into altar server ministry.
- Fr. Rinn Takes Pastoral Counseling to New Heights (2017): A parishioner created a documentary about his father and his prolonged illness, and Fr. Richard appears in the movie, providing counsel to the man.
- Viatorian Pastors Trade Parishes for a Weekend (2017): Fr. Mick, then pastor of St. Thomas More, and Fr. Richard swapped Masses for a weekend.
- Given New Life to St. Viator (2016): A look at the church renovation that Fr. Richard helped spearhead.
Updated by Associate Dan Masterton on July 22, 2026.