July 1, 2020–June 30, 2021
Sacred Heart Schools
Sacred Heart Schools successfully navigated the challenges and opportunities brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the 2020-21 academic year. All four campus schools reopened safely, welcoming students to learn both in-person and virtually. With enhanced cleaning protocols, mask and social distancing procedures, upgraded technology, and dedicated faculty, staff, and families, all four schools remained open throughout the year. Our students thrived in academics, athletics, arts, and extracurricular activities, and despite the need for social distancing, continued to build community. We were proud to continue the legacy of providing an excellent Ursuline education to our students, ensuring that the legacy of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville and St. Angela Merici flourishes. —Dr. Karen McNay, president
Nativity Academy
In late summer 2020, Carol Nord, Executive Director of Nativity Academy, resigned after several weeks of COVID-19 health issues. Ebony O’Rea was named Interim Executive Director and will serve until a permanent director is named in the spring of 2022. Nativity Academy continued to serve about 85 middle school students through the pandemic school year. Support for past Nativity graduates continued on a limited basis. As with most educational endeavors, Nativity Academy’s students and staff struggled with virtual learning and contact. In-person classes resumed in late spring. Eighth grade graduation was held with a celebration. Sister Ruth Ann Haunz planned and coordinated a virtual mentor/tutoring program matching high school students with Nativity middle school students. The student-tostudent contact enhanced socialization and learning. —Sr. Ruth Ann Haunz, board member
Colegio Parroquial Santa Angela Merici, Callao, Peru Our challenges: • Inadequate equipment • Poor internet connections • Inventing new ways of planning lessons and connecting with students • Learning computer programs to enhance teaching and captivate the students • Parents needing to be more present to their children, especially the younger ones. Many parents were absent during online classes. • Older students being distracted while attending online classes • The lack of more personal contact between students and teachers, and students with other students • Several teachers who contracted COVID and were absent from classes for long periods of time • Extreme financial difficulties the school faced in paying teachers • Many parents lost their source of income and could not pay tuition. • Tensions in the family because parents did not have sufficient income to meet family needs • Emotional stress on the part of teachers, students, families Our Opportunities • Evaluate teaching methods, the why of education, the how of education • Focusing more on competencies rather than content • Teachers helping one another as they discovered new programs online • Solidarity among teachers • Solidarity among families as they supported one another in crisis • Creating prayer vigils for families in difficulty • Creating major school activities all by means of Zoom • The use of WhatsApp to maintain communication among teachers, with students and parents —Sr. Sue Scharfenberger, Mission Effectiveness director
Angela Merici Center for Spirituality
Archives My biggest challenge during this past year of COVID-19 was that not much archival work can be done remotely, since I need access to the materials in order to organize and manage them. So, during our work from home period, I focused on writing a collection processing manual and access guidelines. I also had the opportunity to connect through Zoom with other archivists for religious communities to discuss plans for the future of religious archival collections.
Programs People Reached Taizé Prayer via Facebook 5,824 Contemplative Prayer experiences offered via Facebook
2,221
Written reflections offered via Facebook, email blasts
2,948
Facebook posts/email blasts other than listed above
10,894
During this year of quarantining and lockdowns, there were a large number of reference requests from outside researchers, perhaps because people now had the time to pursue research they never had time for before.
Website visits 1,416 Total Number of People Reached 23,303 *Of special note: The Angela Merici Center for Spirituality stopped in-person programs on March 11, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is our hope to resume in-person programs by the end of the summer, 2021. I want to offer a special note of thanks to Kathy Williams, Patrick Lewis, Lycette Belisle, Lisa Feldkamp and Laura Meyer. Without their assistance this past year, little to none of this could have been possible. —Ginny Schaeffer, director
Associates
Number of Associates in North America – 151
July 1, 2020–June 30, 2021
Also this year, I served on a committee that is working on developing a Heritage Room in the Motherhouse. —Laurel Wilson, archivist
2020 Initial Covenant Signers – North America Michael Bratcher, Tricia Forde, Anna Jo Paul, Barry Paul Number of Associates in Peru – 66 In Memoriam Marianne Estock, Rosetta Fackler, Mary Rita Horn, James Hughes, Colleen Lewis, Irene Mueller, Malinda O’Daniel, Paula Perez, Dorothy Schroeder, Dorothy Schulz, Helen Zembower, Pat Zimmerman —Bay Baltes, director
Ursuline Sisters of Louisville
July 1, 2020–June 30, 2021
Human Resources
Communications Communications’ role increased during the pandemic with a need for videos/livestreams for events and prayer services that were previously held in-person. My two Bellarmine interns, Lycette Belisle and Patrick Lewis, helped us meet these challenges. Bernie Mudd-White started June 28, 2021 as my assistant, helping to meet increased demands on the department. Our social media presence became even more important with those in quarantine seeking ways to connect. —Kathy Williams, director Creativity Highlights • First religious community to publicly support the statement, “God Is On Your Side,” in support of at-risk LGBT youth. Our Facebook post with our statement went viral. • E-newsletter In Your Midst created • Designed, edited and wrote for Our Call and the DOME • Wrote several social justice statements in collaboration with Leadership and Social Concerns Liaison Lisa Steiner • Arranged coverage on Sister Yuli and Kathy’s border trip in The Record and Global Sisters Report • Edited obits, Facebook/web postings and produced livestreams of funeral Masses • Heritage Room Committee • Two Awards of Excellence from the Associated Church Press • Category Winner Award and Award of Merit from the Religion Communicators Council
COVID-19 has caused us to endure months of inconvenience and change. Thanks to the cooperation and participation of the Sisters, Associates, and U.S.A.E. staff, we complied with governmental protocols and social recommendations. Constant change and modification allowed us to operate through the worst of the pandemic and its interruptions to our lives. Currently, all employees and Sisters are fully vaccinated. Employee Handbook Last revised in 2013, a new edition of the U.S.A.E. employee handbook was developed. Technology Intern An intern position was added to our staff to assist the Sisters and our staff with the myriad of electronic issues that are faced each day. Additional help is now available for questions and problems involving desktops, laptops, tablets, cellphones, and virtual meetings. —Rick Raderer, director
Liturgy Liturgy encountered many new opportunities and challenges. With the spiritual void left when liturgy was canceled due to the pandemic, other methods were explored. Daily Liturgy Moments was added to Community Messages—a mix of prayers, poems, reflections, music, and catechesis. Small liturgical symbols were distributed to the Sisters for Lent and Easter. In concert with Communications, virtual services were offered for the 40th Anniversary of the El Salvador martyrs, Advent Vespers, and Taizé Prayer, among others. With the new virtual services came the hurdles of learning new technology, and understanding and applying copyright laws and permissions. Another major obstacle was the inability to hold funeral Masses for our deceased Sisters early in the pandemic. Later, this led to the challenge of offering funeral Mass viewing virtually. The challenges and opportunities posed by the pandemic will no doubt strengthen the Ursuline liturgical program and its outreach to the community. —Lisa Feldkamp, liturgist
Mission Advancement • In-person donor visits resumed in March after COVID hiatus. • Notified of intent for several will inclusions. • Planning phase for All-Class reunions for Ursuline Academy (October 2022) and Angela Merici (November 2021) has begun. • Fundraising for Chapel preservation goal of $3.5 million has been exceeded as of March 31, 2021 —Ellen McKnight, director For the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year, our fundraising goal was set at $700,000.00. Final income total was $448,735.07 (64.11% of our goal). Total Number of Benefactors: Total Number of Financial Gifts: Total Number of In-Kind Gifts: Most Common Monetary Gift: Calculated Average Gift Amount: Number of New Benefactors: Number of Estates Received:
589* 1064 4 $50 $421.74** 90 9
* Includes benefactors of in-kind donations, estates and monies ** Includes all financial donations, estates and effective value of in-kind donations
Social Concerns Social Concerns experienced a strong sense of solidarity with all God’s creation during the pandemic. Many challenges we faced presented new opportunities for being “united all of one heart and one will” (Last Counsel). Our inability to gather safely in person actually deepened our spiritual connectedness (and our technology capabilities) as we found new ways of participating in peacemaking. And the many injustices that were laid bare during the pandemic—among them systemic racism, forced migration, and climate change—sparked new levels of awareness and passion among many Social Concerns Committee members. —Lisa Steiner, liaison Prayer • Created several in-person and online prayer services Education • Facilitated and participated in online classes and conferences on systemic racism, peace and justice, and human trafficking Advocacy • Participated in marches and prayer vigils for social issues • Partnered with NETWORK to connect with Rep. Yarmuth in order to pass the Equality Act, American Families and Jobs Legislation
July 1, 2020–June 30, 2021
•W rote articles and reflections on Catholic Social Teaching, racial justice and environmental issues Direct Service •P artnered with Associates to provide support to a refugee family whose home burned down •D onated over 100 books to the Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women in Pewee Valley •D istributed Peace & Justice donations to over 23 local, regional, national and international organizations
Ursuline Sisters of Louisville