Rooted and Reaching, Part Three: The Teaching Ministry of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville from 1965–1975, Changing Seasons

Continued from page 7 years after the merger, the institution would operate under the title “Bellarmine-Ursuline College.”

A document from the Ursulines archives entitled “History and Organization” states, “This series of developments has produced in Louisville a new type of Catholic college, representing the open, progressive, and experimental spirit of Vatican II and an American society in the state of transition. It is a ‘Catholic’ college and a ‘diocesan’ college in the best contemporary sense of these terms.”6

But even under the best of circumstances, change can be challenging. In recalling the merger of Ursuline College and Bellarmine College, Sister Pat (Marcian) Lowman (1921–2016) said, “It was a must. Neither of us could survive on our own.” Sister Pat had taught at Ursuline College for three years when the merger took place. “I loved teaching there [Bellarmine], and later on, it was such a good thing. But it was very difficult at first. We felt we were submerged because we were smaller.”7 (In 1968, Bellarmine enrollment was approximately

1,800 and Ursuline’s was 485.) Sister Pat taught history at Bellarmine for 31 years, and was a beloved teacher on campus.

During the second session of the Special Chapter in 1969, the General Council was granted the authority to investigate the feasibility of seeking alternate sponsorship or lessening—or adjusting—the institutional commitment in the Ursulines’ community-owned schools.

Given this mandate, the General Council made the decision to “gradually phase out the operation of Ursuline Academy” located at 806 East Chestnut

It was a must. Neither of us could survive on our own. I loved teaching there [Bellarmine], and later on, it was such a good thing. But it was very difficult at first. We felt we were submerged because we were smaller.

—Sister Pat Lowman

St. Martin of Tours School Louisville KY 1858—1967

Ursuline Academy Louisville KY 1859—1972

St. Mary School Louisville KY 1861—1871

Corpus Christi School Newport KY 1864—1900

St. Aloysius School Covington KY 1866—1867

St. Joseph School Louisville KY 1867—1872**

St. Peter School Louisville KY 1868—1967

St. Boniface School Lafayette IN 1868—1877

SS. Peter & Paul School East Liberty PA 1869—1874

St. Charles Borromeo School Peru IN 1870—1874

St. Joseph School Logansport IN 1870—1874

St. Anthony School Jeffersonville IN 1870—1892

SS. Peter & Paul School Cumberland MD 1870—1981

St. Mary School Madison IN 1872—1954

Holy Childhood of Jesus Mascoutah IL 1872—1888

St. Boniface School Germantown IL 1873—1877

St. Francis of Assisi School Dayton KY 1873—1901

St. Joseph Academy St. Joseph KY 1874—1912

Immaculate Conception Columbia IL 1875—1890

Sacred Heart Academy Louisville KY 1877—

St. Mary School Bloomington IL 1877—1883

St. Boniface School Edwardsville IL 1878—1880

St. Mary School Metamora IL 1878—1894

St. Mary School Lincoln IL 1878—1882

St. Patrick School Lincoln IL 1878—1882

St. Mary School El Paso IL 1879—1882

SS. Peter & Paul School Haubstadt IN 1879—1881

St. Celestine School Celestine IN 1880—1885

St. Vincent de Paul School Louisville KY 1880—1979

St. Mary School Memphis TN 1881—1890

Sacred Heart School Pekin IL 1881—1888

St. Patrick School Minonk IL 1881—1882

St. Boniface School/Westside/ Catholic Consolidated Evansville IN 1881—1980

Huberta Academy/St. Joseph School

Owensboro KY 1881—1919

St. Francis of Assisi School Ottawa IL 1882—1887

Holy Ghost School St. Louis MO 1883—1893

St. James School St. James IN 1884—1890

Holy Trinity School Louisville KY 1885—1979

St. Alphonsus School St. Joseph KY 1885—1888

St. Bernard School St. Louis MO 1886—1899 would soon lose a dear friend—one who has meant to me than any one else I have known. ...I feel such deep sorrow I cannot even cry any longer.