Changing Seasons

In your early encounters with the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, did you ever wonder why things happen when they do? I remember sitting down in the then-unairconditioned Motherhouse chapel for a Mass celebrating the Jubilarians, and my dress at the shoulders stuck to the varnish of the pews. The kind Sisters in the row behind whispered to me, the new kid in the pew, that one sits forward in the chapel during summertime to avoid the varnish situation.

For decades, Ursuline Sisters of Louisville made their profession of vows in the summer season. We have also had wintertime transfer of vows with Sisters Carol Curtis and Mary Theresa Burns. The reason for summertime vows and Sister gatherings was the school year, which was oriented to the agricultural seasons. Although this refers to the northern hemisphere, for us and for our Ursuline Sisters in Peru, our respective seasons and school years differ as the earth’s rotation varies our times of planting, harvest and learning.

In this issue, we learn about the four Ursuline Sisters celebrating their jubilees. These anniversaries mark the years from their investment as novices in 1948, 1953 and 1963. You can read about the seasons of change these four Sisters have seen in their lives as Ursuline Sisters. It is the season of jubilee for these Ursuline women!

The feature story describes, from 1965 to 1975, how the teaching ministry of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville changed to adapt to the times but remained rooted in the Ursuline’s centuries-long teaching mission. Ursuline Sisters and Associates continue to be inspired by Jesus’ teachings and his soulchanging relationships with the people he encountered. Even the daily witness of our attempts to be kind, to be aware of the world and the other life-pilgrims around us, carries on our Ursuline charism through all the year’s seasons.

Among the other topics featured, the Peruvian Journal offers Sister Sue Scharfenberger’s new information on the Peru ministries. She also describes the political unrest unfolding in Peru. With our prayers, we accompany the people of Peru and the people of many other countries in the world who are in a season of political and economic challenge, crisis or instability.

We celebrated Catholic Sisters Week March 8–14! Visit our website to see all our events: ursulinesisterslouisville.org/catholic-sisters-week-celebratingtraditions-changing-the-world/ jubilarians (top to bottom):