Ursuline Celebrates 75th Anniversary

URSULINE CELEBRATES 75TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A YEAR-LONG SERIES OF EVENTS

“Archbishop Cushing yesterday announced the purchase of the J. Montgomery Sears home at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Arlington Street as a convent for Ursuline nuns. It will be the first time that this order has had a home in the city since their convent in Charlestown was burned by a mob at the height of the Know Nothing movement…” – Boston Post, January 1, 1946

When a few families approached then-Archbishop Cushing of Boston about establishing a school for girls in the mid-1940’s, they were thrilled when the Ursuline Sisters accepted Cushing’s invitation to return to Boston to establish a school called Ursuline Academy. But little did they know that over the next 75 years, it would move to Dedham to gain additional space, send its graduates to the finest schools in the country, and boast of an alumnae base of over 4,300 women.

Seven and a half decades after these humble beginnings, we meet the milestone of our 75th anniversary with pride in our heritage, confidence in our tradition of educational excellence, and optimism in the future of our community. We are marking the occasion with a fifteen-month long celebration that began in April and will continue through June of 2022. We have much to be proud of: the legacy of the Ursuline Sisters, a history of empowering and educating young women for lives of impact, a dedicated faculty, generous donors, and a bright future. The goal over this year is to hold events both large and small, in-person and virtual, so that there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Commemorative Mass: St. Cecilia Parish, Boston

A Mass live-streamed from the historic St. Cecilia Parish in Boston, a few blocks away from Ursuline’s original Arlington Street campus, served as the kickoff for our year-long celebration in April. Celebrant Rev. John Unni paid homage to Saint Angela Merici and to the Ursuline Sisters for laying the groundwork for a network of schools dedicated to educating women of purpose and integrity, and emphasized the importance of faith-filled women leaders in the world.

After the Commemorative Mass, activity shifted to our Speaker Series.

Speaker Series: Rev. James Martin, SJ

Fr. James Martin, SJ is a Jesuit priest, author, editor at large of America magazine, and regular commentator in the national and international media. He joined us in April via Zoom to discuss his new book, Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone. Alumnae and friends from around the country, some as far away as Alaska, were treated to Fr. Jim’s engaging, personable style as he discussed how ordinary people can open their hearts and listen to God, and answered questions from participants.