Leadership and Guiding Teams Reports

Leadership Report

Our journey of faith continues to be connected with the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) on the local, regional and national level, exploring the emerging future of religious life. We were happy to be a pilot group for Thresholds in Transformation, not only for our Sisters who participated, but also by offering input to other communities who were wanting to participate as well. The virtual Ursuline Convocation that was held in October was a great success. Our involvement with the Women Religious Archives Collaborative (WRAC) has expanded, with Sister Jean Anne, Becky Phillips, Kathy Williams and Laurel Wilson being involved on various committees. We were happy to take the recommendation of the Health Team and add a new member, Katie Holthouse. We continue our ministry partnerships with Sacred Heart Schools, Nazareth HomeClifton and Bellarmine University. Although we have stepped back from sponsorship of Nativity Academy, we find ways to support its mission. We continue to engage in the legal and canonical steps of our “Planning in Faith” guide.

Walking in faith with our Sisters, Associates, co-workers and ministry partners has been a journey filled with blessings.

Charism and Spirituality

The Charism and Spirituality Facilitating Team invited the Sisters for reflection and sharing during Community Days, and again in March 2023. On August 4, the parable of the Prodigal Son was read, followed by individual reflection and small and large group sharing on “What does the ‘Prodigal Father’ say to you about your Creator, God?” Ginny Schaeffer, director of the Angela Merici Center, facilitated.

On March 4, 2023, Sisters gathered in the Heritage Room to view a short video of a homily on the Epiphany (our epiphanies) by Bishop Robert Barron. Bishop Barron reflected on where “God took hold of my life (epiphanies),” and small group sharing followed. After lunch, Sisters reassembled in the Heritage Room. Sisters who were unable to attend in person were connected virtually to sessions in the Heritage Room. A shortened version of the March 4 session was offered for Sisters who reside at Nazareth Home–Clifton.

—Sisters Martha Jacob and Judy Rice

Ursuline Sisters of Louisville

Governance

While the Governance Guiding Team did not engage the total congregation between July 2022 and June 2023, it did work behind the scenes on its assigned tasks. Due to the congregation giving a leaning on March 5, 2022, that 2026 would be our final Chapter, and Leadership having administrative duties to attend to, the Governance Guiding Team stepped back for a while.

At its meeting on March 24, 2023, the Governance Guiding Team requested to conduct the congregational Spring Gathering on March 16, 2024. At the same time, the team requested a place on the agenda for Community Days in 2024. While the details of these days are not yet planned, the team will lead the congregation in reviewing our governance journey, answering questions, and in looking ahead to what remains to be done leading up to governance decisions in 2026.

—Sister Janet M. Peterworth

We asked our Sisters: How have you walked in faith this past year?

How have you helped others to walk in faith? You can read some of their responses on these pages.

Walking in faith with others while living the transformative joy of the Gospels. Identifying and encouraging others to share the privilege and blessing of volunteering with the underserved and economically, socially, and spiritually needy. Creating new spaces for a transitional time with Nativity Academy—revised by-laws and Catholic identity documents.

Sr. Ruth Ann Haunz

I walked in faith this year by believing and trusting God who walked with me each day, and whose presence was a guiding light.

Sr. Rita Dressman

July 1, 2022–June 30, 2023

October 7, 2022: The Louisville Ursulines, Associates and SHS staff hosted a station during the all-virtual 2022 Ursuline Convocation: Challenged and Changed Towards a Ever-Wider We

My walking in faith this past 12 months has been a call to live evermore in the present, accepting what is and seeing how much God accompanies each of us always. I have been honored to accompany individuals through falls, surgeries, and other illnesses, offering my help and encouragement as they lived into their reduced health situations. There is no doubt in my mind and spirit how present God is to each of us, calling us to rely on God’s mercy and compassion.

Sr. Lynn Jarrell

I have walked in faith observing, listening and affirming each person I met along the way— encouraging them, giving them strength and sharing joy, because in each one lives the presence of a God who gives life and gives life in abundance. Yo he caminado en la fe observando, escuchando y afirmando a cada persona que encontraba en el camino, animándolas, dándoles fortaleza y compartiendo alegria, porque en cada una está viva la presencia de un Dios que da vida y regala vida en abundancia.

Sr. Yuli Oncihuay

After suffering a serious fall and dealing with low vision, I felt strengthened and loved by God and my many faith communities.

August 2-5, 2022: Community Days Most of our Sisters were able to gather in-person as we met, celebrated our jubilarians and were sent out on mission to “Walk In Faith.” On August 2, the newly installed archbishop, Shelton Fabre, met all the Sisters and had a Q&A session.

Walking in faith has been a challenge as I am so aware of the issues in our city, and country, regarding gun violence, the continued war in Ukraine and the unrest in Peru. It calls me to really commit to faith in knowing God does not abandon those who struggle.

Sr. Jean Anne Zappa

July 1, 2022–June 30, 2023

With faith, I asked God to “give me the grace to BE and to DO what you, God, want me to BE and DO this day.”

Sr. Rosella McCormick

I have walked in faith in prayer ministry with those who are suffering, with those who need encouragement and support, and with those who are rejoicing in thanksgiving. On this journey of faith, I bring a joyful presence and reverence to each person as a “Human GPS,” and in communities of groups of volunteers, line dancers, Ursuline Associates, two book clubs, and sports teams/fans, especially SHA and U of L. Sr. Julia Davis

August 3, 2022: Our Sisters who ministered in Peru and who know Gustavo Gutiérrez, OP, gave a presentation on liberation theology. Gutiérrez’s writing, “Teología de la Liberación, Perspectivas” (1971), reached its 50th anniversary in 2022.

October 2022: Sacred Heart Schools’ Heritage Room Timeline was installed in the Motherhouse. The timeline tells the story of the founding of Sacred Heart Schools by the Louisville Ursulines in 1858 to the present day.

October 13, 2022: Fall Fun Outing to Thomas Farm! Dr. McNay’s family hosted the Sisters for a fall outing to their family farm.

October 23, 2022: The Angeline Award was presented to Joy Green, an Ursuline Associate from Cumberland, Maryland, and Carmen de la Cuba Laurel, an Associate and retired vice-principal of Santa Angela Merici School in Carmen de la Legua, Peru.

November 2022: Restoration and painting by Whitehouse Residential & Commercial Painting began on the interior of the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception in the Motherhouse and will continue through September 2023.

If I had not walked in the overflow of faith in my daily struggles during these last six months, I would not have been blessed in many ways despite the extreme loss of my earthly sight. God is GOOD and is getting better every day.

Sr. Lee Kirchner

My walking in faith journey began the day I was required to relinquish my driver’s license because of poor eyesight. My physical loss of sight continually calls me to see with the eyes of faith that God walks with me daily. For me, walking in faith is a constant challenge to surrender to God’s unknown plan, embracing the present moment with humility, trust and unconditional love.

Sr. Clara Fehringer

I have walked in faith this past year by experiencing severe health issues and surviving them very well.

Roses in December,

2022: Sister Carol Curtis traveled to El Salvador and Honduras as a delegate with SHARE and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). They visited marginalized communities, forming friendships and solidarity.

Sisters Week, March 8-14, 2023

We had several events, including a talk by Sister Carol Curtis on “Living Out Laudato Si’ in Global Solidarity,” and several Sisters visited Sacred Heart Schools students to discuss

I’ve accompanied and been accompanied by my Ursuline Sisters. I wrote letters to my legislators asking them to do what they can to prevent gun violence and promote gun safety in our state and our country.

Sr. Agnes Coveney

I walked in faith this year as an artisan of peace. When we identified peace as our Laudato Si’ focus last summer, I wondered how to plan it. Instead, I was invited to envision it and live into it with others. In Central America, I witnessed the chiaroscuro of violence countered by movements of solidarity. Here in Louisville, as well, I experience peace work as walking in faith. The way of peace is made by walking, even in the valley of the shadow of death.

Sr. Carol Curtis

I have walked in faith through the development of a serious health issue with my heart and have learned to pray with great faith that God will bring me back to stronger health.

As I reflect on the world situation—wars, climate disasters, violence, migration across nations, it seems every day is a walk in faith…faith that God is still in God’s heaven and that all will be right with the world. I think I Walk In Faith as I ponder what the Ursuline congregation will look like in the upcoming years. It takes a great deal of faith to live in the liminal space that I find myself in. Faith is tricky…it seems it is here today and then gone tomorrow only to come back again and again. Walking in faith is the only way!

Sr. Janet M. Peterworth

We have made big “letting go” decisions over the past several years that have been hard to make, though necessary. My faith that our God is with us, and that something new is being born from us, keeps me going through the losses.

Sr. Jo Ann Jansing

Rita Joseph Jarrell

February 2022: The new Office of Catholic Identity and Ursuline Charism for Sacred Heart Schools is supported by the Louisville Ursulines. The office currently consists of three staff, L to R: Campus Minister and Catechetical Program Manager Andrea Hoback, Vice President of Mission and Community Mia Cooper, and Director of Mission Formation Jane Cruthirds.

July 1, 2022–June 30, 2023

I have been part of a group at Epiphany Catholic Church called Soul Life. We spend time together in discussion and contemplative prayer. We are reading the book, Seeking the God Beyond by J.P. Williams.

Sr. Sara Delaney

I walked in faith through intercessory prayer ministry to the sick, and ministry to those in need. I walked in faith through study and prayerful reflection on Laudato Si’, and by living the Ursuline Call as an Ursuline Sister. I walked in faith as a catechist with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Program.

Sr. Mary Jo Gramig

The increased gun violence, natural disasters, wars, state executions and abortions all continue to challenge me to choose life. The many public interfaith religious services have helped me walk by faith in our loving God and in our loving community of brothers and sisters.

Sr. Kathy Neely

May 4, 2023: Sisters and USAE staff gathered to watch the annual Sacred Heart Preschool parade during Derby week.