Walk In Faith: Highlights

Finance

Hebrews 11:1 tells us “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” In the Finance Office we are assisting the USAE community in “Planning in Faith.” Much that we do is in support of, not just the day-to-day operations, but the long-term view of the Society in the “Planning in Faith” document. Specific accomplishments in this area include:

• Selected U.S. Bank as custodian for both Society and trust investments.

Liturgy

In June 2022, we joyfully began in-person Taizé services for the first time since the pandemic started. We were saddened by the retirement of Ginny Schaeffer at the end of December. She led our Taizé services beautifully for many years. We continued to offer monthly Taizé services with the help of wonderful volunteers.

Communications

Communications has walked in faith by telling the stories of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville and Associates through print, visual and social mediums. Through the DOME magazine, we have walked with the teaching history of the Ursulines, as well as their current ministries, and our e-publications provide a round-up of current events and news of the community.

Some Communications Highlights

• Press releases resulted in media coverage for:

– the Angela Merici Center closing.

– Sister Carol Curtis’ SHARE pilgrimage.

– Various statements against gun violence, both as a community and together with our region.

– Catholic Sisters Week events.

– St. Joseph Children’s Home honoring the Ursulines and Sister Loretta Guenther.

• Chaired Angeline Award and Chapel Donor Mass (Nov. 2023).

• Archival video interviews with Sisters (in progress.)

• Heritage Room timeline design and install.

• Three Category Winners and one Award of Merit from the Religion Communicators Council, and an Award of Merit and an Honorable Mention from the Associated Church Press.

—Kathy Williams, director

Donor/Alumni Relations

2022–23 Highlights:

• Smooth transition to Kim Bradley serving as manager after Ellen McKnight’s retirement.

• Each school is now in charge of their class reunions. Assistance is given by Kim by providing class lists and making necessary changes and corrections to the database.

• We are planning a Chapel Preservation Donor Mass and Brunch for October 2023.

• Served on the Angeline Award Committee and assisted the day of the event.

• Working with the Development Team of Holy Cross High School to ensure a seamless transition to Holy Cross managing Angela Merici High School reunions.

For the 2022-23 fiscal year, our fundraising goal was set at $350,000. Final income total was $232,622.71. (66.46% of our goal).

Total Number of Benefactors: 406*

Total Number of Financial Gifts: 763

Total Number of In-Kind Gifts: 3

Most Common Monetary Gift: $25

Calculated Average Gift Amount: $304.88

Number of New Benefactors: 30

Number of Estates Received: 6

*Includes benefactors of in-kind donations, estates and monies

**Includes all financial donations, estates and effective value of in-kind donations

—Kim Bradley, manager

• Assisted with an investment policy update.

• Presented Community stewardship options to the Society.

• Identified and selected an attorney to assist with USAE contracts.

• Arranged driver safety training and a cybersecurity presentation for Sisters and employees.

Thanks to Sister Shannon Maguire, Gina South and Austin Raderer for their teamwork, which keeps the Finance Office operating smoothly to meet the daily and long-term needs of the Society.

—Becky Phillips, director

Personnel Changes

During this fiscal year we welcomed Katie Holthouse to the Health Team. In December 2022, we said goodbye to a longtime employee, Ginny Schaeffer, director of AMC. We wish Ginny every blessing in her retirement!

We celebrated the 2022 Jubilee Mass and Missioning service in August, followed by the Angeline Award presentation and Mass in October. In November, we celebrated the feast of All Saints and the temporary closing of the Motherhouse chapel for renovations. During this time, we adapted to funerals, vigils, Community Masses and Taizé services being held in the Heritage Room.

Masses continue to be held 5-6 days a week at Twinbrook Assisted Living, and we successfully offered anointings of the sick, confession and Holy Week liturgies. We are adjusting to the scarcity and waning health of priests by offering more prayer services and Communion services at Twinbrook.

For the first time since COVID began, our Ursuline Choir has raised their voices in joyful song again. Members of the choir participated in a concert hosted by St. Peter the Apostle Church in November. In December, members of the Ursuline Choir, along with the St. Peter the Apostle Choir, sang Christmas carols for residents at Twinbrook, Nazareth Home–Clifton and Brookdale Senior Living facilities.

—Lisa Feldkamp, liturgist

Social Concerns/Cry of Earth and Cry of Humanity Guiding Team

For Social Concerns, our 2022-23 “Walk In Faith” has been eye-opening, calling us to embrace the unexpected with creativity, sure of God. Responding to the Cry of Earth and Cry of Humanity has broadened our network of collaboration. During the Ursuline Convocation, our Louisville theme of diversity challenged us to walk together as a “Wider WE.” During Community Days, the 50th anniversary of A Theology of Liberation by Gustavo Gutiérrez provided an occasion for Sisters who served in Peru to reflect on how this grassroots and integral approach to ministry is attentive to the cry of the poor and empowers communities. During Catholic Sisters Week, other Sisters also shared the paths that their ministry has called them to Walk In Faith. When we chose peace as our Laudato Si’ focus for this year, school shootings and armed conflicts were on the national and world news. Cory Lockhart accompanied us on our Seeking the Shalom of the City journey during our Spring Gathering. Last fall, we participated in the Spirit in Action Collaborative sponsored by Interfaith Paths to Peace to address the issue of violence in Louisville. At the end of March, we joined in the first citywide Violence Reduction Summit, less than two weeks before a mass shooting in Louisville. The community building

Operations

Throughout the year, Operations has aimed to help the Ursuline Sisters, USAE employees and others “Walk in Faith” by improving connectivity, safety, independence and flexibility. Whether through the deployment of new cell phones, tablets or computers, or the adoption of new software, our organization continues to evolve to meet the needs we undertook in faith manifested in citywide vigils and gatherings as we collectively confronted the tragedy, more painfully aware that violence against anyone impacts us all.

We express our faithfulness through solidarity, honoring long-standing relationships, as with our Appalachian neighbors in the wake of flooding and our family in Peru during this time of political unrest. Our Walk In Faith opens new horizons, as well, revealing new connections within our common home and inviting us to discover and explore new ways of justice and peace.

—Sister Carol Curtis, Social Concerns liasion

of our community and its mission. We purchased several new vehicles this year and continue to appreciate the technological advances that lead to increased safety and decreased impact on our environment. With the adoption of new items and technologies, we have also focused on the donation or responsible disposal of antiquated or unnecessary items.

—Austin Raderer, manager