During the Christmas season, when we celebrate “God who so loved the world that he gave us his only son,” we also celebrate the beautiful world that God created for us. Our Catholic Social Teaching tells us that caring for the earth is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. Pope Francis has affirmed this teaching with his powerful encyclical, Laudato Si’. We chose this beautiful image of children holding a globe in the hope that it inspires you to actively take steps to care for our common home.
About this Issue
In this issue, you will read about our efforts to care for our common home through our Laudato Si’ Action Plan. These efforts range from the local level, such as the Louisville Ursuline community’s recycling and donating of unused items as they downsize, to partnering with other organizations that have boots on the ground at the state and national levels. You’ll also read about the efforts of our sponsored school in Peru, where students are engaged in activities focused on caring for the earth.
Our feature article focuses on the 50th anniversary of our Social Concerns Committee, which began in 1974 as a Chapter mandate to engage in justice advocacy. We also continue our “Sisters in Ministry” series, spotlighting Sisters Mary Martha Staarman and Kathy Neely, who serve as Spanish translators at a free health clinic, and Sister Rita Ann Wigginton, who has ministered for decades in deaf ministry.
—Kathy Williams, editor
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WINTER 2024 CONTENTS
2 On the cover/About this issue
3 From the Leadership Circle
4–7 Celebrating 50 Years of Our Social Concerns Committee
8-9 Are We There Yet? Laudato Si’ and Our Path to Integral Ecology
10-11 Bridging Language Gaps at Family Community Clinic
12-13 Decades of Deaf Ministry
14-15 Laudato Si’ at Saint Angela Merici School and Beyond
16-17 Laudato Si’ en el Colegio Santa Ángela Merici y Más Allá
18 In Memoriam: Sister Loretta Guenther
19 In Memoriam: Sister Shirley Ann Simmons
20-24 Donor Gifts
25 Annual Report/Angeline Award
26 New Videos on the Website
DONOR/ALUMNI RELATIONS
KIM BRADLEY
Manager, Donor/Alumni Relations
COMMUNICATIONS/PR OFFICE
KATHY WILLIAMS
Director, Communications/Public Relations
DOME Editor, Art Direction and Design
DOME CONTRIBUTORS
SISTER CAROL CURTIS
SISTER JANET M. PETERWORTH
SISTER SUE SCHARFENBERGER
KATHY WILLIAMS
LAUREL WILSON
Archivist
KAREN HEILERS
Proofreader
A Gift That Keeps on Giving: Our Common Home
Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ is a profound call to action for the preservation of our planet. It serves as a poignant reminder of our interconnectedness with the natural world and the urgent need to address the environmental crisis we face.
The document’s central theme, “Care for Our Common Home,” resonates deeply with the understanding that we are not merely stewards of the Earth but also its inhabitants. The encyclical underscores the intrinsic value of all creation, from the smallest insect to the vastest ocean. It challenges us to move beyond a consumerist mentality and embrace a more sustainable and compassionate way of life.
As I reflect on Laudato Si’, I am struck by the urgency of the issues it addresses. Climate change, pollution, deforestation and the loss of biodiversity are all interconnected crises that threaten the well-being of both humans and the planet. This encyclical offers a moral framework for understanding these challenges and inspires us to take action.
It is imperative that we embrace a more sustainable way of living. This includes reducing our carbon footprint, conserving resources and supporting environmentally friendly practices. Additionally, we must advocate for policies that prioritize the protection of our planet and promote social justice.
One practical way for each of us to practice care for creation is to decide if we could save a tree by using less paper. We are inviting you to decide if you would like to receive the DOME digitally or continue receiving
it in the mail. You will receive a postcard in January describing how you may choose to receive the DOME.
Laudato Si is a beacon of hope, reminding us that it is not too late to make a difference. By acting responsibly with compassion and a sense of stewardship, we can create a more sustainable and just future for ourselves and generations to come.
During this season of Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas, let us find ways to give thanks for the great gift of creation—the beauty of nature and its natural resources—by being good stewards. Let us use wisely to conserve, reuse and recycle when we are celebrating or gift-giving.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son” (John 3:16) to be God among us, to be in the world with us. When we care for our common home, we honor both the Creator and the creation that Christ came to dwell among. As we celebrate God-with-us during this holy season, let us reverence all of creation and may we continue to share the gift that keeps on giving—care for our common home.
Celebrating 50 Years of Our Social Concerns Committee
BY SISTER JANET M. PETERWORTH
Social justice is woven into the DNA of the Ursulines. Our foundress, Saint Angela Merici, lived in turbulent times, worked with the incurables in hospitals in Brescia, Italy, and gathered young women to protect them from exploitation. She sought justice for all, especially women.
This commitment to justice can be traced from Straubing, Bavaria, where three women answered the call to go to Louisville, Kentucky, to teach the children of German immigrants. This was certainly an act of justice, as German immigrants faced challenges in their new home in Kentucky and needed support for their youth to live and thrive in this country.
In the 1960s, Ursuline Sisters marched for open housing in Louisville, joined the United Farm Workers’ boycotts, and supported all pro-life issues.
The 1974 Chapter marked a pivotal moment as the Ursulines embraced social justice as a mandate. They resolved to establish a task force to study Vatican II documents on social justice, initiate action-oriented programs, and report findings to the 1975 Delegates
Assembly. Thus began a concerted effort to engage in justice advocacy. The DNA of justice lived on!
Fifteen Sisters joined the first social justice task force, with 11 attending the inaugural meeting. According to an archival report, the establishment of the task force increased awareness of social issues within the Ursuline community.
In July 1975, a resolution was passed stating that the Ursuline Sisters should be involved with those who are materially poor, discriminated against, exploited, or deprived of dignity. From then until now, the Ursulines have worked to fulfill this mandate, both corporately and individually, never losing sight of their call.
As the task force grew, so did its activities. In 1975, it sponsored a study of the Appalachian pastoral letter, This Land is Home to Me, and hosted a social justice workshop on that topic. Membership had increased to 26. In 1977, the congregation established a Peace and Justice Fund to support monetary requests from various organizations, a fund that remains active today. The Ursulines also joined the Interfaith Center on
Ursuline Sisters were among the 3,000 participants in a Civil Rights march on March 14, 1965 in downtown Louisville where Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and others spoke. Sisters Shirley Ann (Joanella) Simmons and Sue (John David) Scharfenberger are in the foreground. Photo by Courier-Journal/Louisville Times.
The 1974 Chapter marked a pivotal moment as the Ursulines embraced social justice as a mandate. They resolved to establish a task force to study Vatican II documents on social justice, initiate action-oriented programs, and report findings to the 1975 Delegates Assembly. Thus began a concerted effort to engage in justice advocacy.
Corporate Responsibility (iccr.org) in 1978, raising awareness of the impact of their investments on promoting social justice, and are members to this day.
Throughout the 1980s, members of the task force participated in protests and boycotts, advocating for issues such as the closure of the School of the Americas in Ft. Benning, Georgia, and better housing for the poor. Community members served at the St. Vincent de Paul soup kitchen and studied the Sanctuary Movement, which aimed to shelter refugees fleeing civil unrest in Central America. This led to the community hiring two men from El Salvador seeking refuge in Louisville.
By 1985, Ursuline Associates were included in the task force, expanding its membership to 25 vowed members and 14 Associates. The 1988 Chapter resolved to promote Gospel justice and serve the
oppressed, transforming the task force into the Social Concerns Committee, tasked with raising awareness among the congregation.
As the 1980s transitioned into the 1990s, the committee took up two critical issues: racism and environmental justice. Activities included celebrating Black History Month and inviting Father John Judy to celebrate Mass in the Motherhouse chapel. The committee distributed materials to raise awareness of discrimination and white privilege. Environmental initiatives included directing the Motherhouse food
service and local houses to use eco-friendly products and hosting programs like “Listening to the Earth” featuring Sister Paula Gonzales, SC, in 1991.
In the late 1990s, the committee had active subcommittees focusing on racism, non-violence, and environmental issues. In 1997, the Ursulines joined the North American Ursuline Social Justice Committee, broadening their outreach.
The early 2000s saw a decline in numbers and energy within the congregation. Though the Social Concerns Committee became smaller, those committed to justice continued to engage in issues like water rights, healthcare advocacy, and human trafficking. With encouragement from leadership, the committee revised its mission statement and positioned itself as leaven for the community.
In 2019, the congregation hired a part-time social justice coordinator, marking a significant shift as
SOCIAL CONCERNS
Celebrating 50 Years of Our Social Concerns Committee
Continued from page 5
the committee’s leader was no longer a volunteer. This role focused on educating members about environmental issues and vulnerable populations. The coordinator provided resources and opportunities for involvement, leading to participation in groups like The Forgotten Louisville, which assists the homeless.
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the committee to utilize Zoom meetings for education on justice issues, ranging from gun violence to environmental concerns. The Peace and Justice Fund continued to support local and international causes.
Following the 2020 Chapter, a new committee emerged—the Cry of Earth/Cry of Humanity Guiding Team, which focused on listening to the cries of the earth and our marginalized brothers and sisters. As COVID restrictions lifted, in-person programs resumed and members who were able engaged with local organizations promoting shared goals. The Ursulines became active partners in peace and justice efforts more than they had ever been.
In 2021, the Ursulines reaffirmed their commitment to environmental concerns by signing a 7-year pledge to the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, which outlines sustainability goals aligned with societal and ecological issues. This bold response reflects the urgency of the ecological crisis, so wellillustrated in Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si.’ (Please see our report on pages 8–9.)
Though fewer members now attend meetings or protests, the commitment to justice persists in the conversations, thoughts and prayers of the Ursulines of Louisville, as well as in the Ursuline Associates and the students at Sacred Heart Schools.
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Ursuline Social Concerns Committee, we thank those who have kept justice issues alive over the years. It is fitting that the Ursulines of Louisville received the 2024 Peacebuilders Award from Interfaith Paths to Peace, underscoring that peace and justice live on in the Ursulines’ DNA
Sister Mary Terence Schmitt (R) with a Benedictine Sister on their way to Frankfort for a rally protesting the death penalty. 1999.
Social Concerns meeting: Sisters William Klipsch, Jean Marie Hettinger, Anne Mary Lochner, Frances Schaf, Mary Jo Gramig, Mary Terence Schmitt and Martha Buser. 2006.
50 Years of Social Justice Advocacy
1974
The 1974 Chapter established a task force to study Vatican II documents on social justice, initiate programs, and report findings to the 1975 delegates assembly. Fifteen Sisters joined the first task force.
By 1985, 14 Associates joined 25 Sisters on the task force, participating in protests, boycotts, and serving at community outreach programs. The 1988 Chapter resolved to promote Gospel justice and transitioned the task force into the Social Concerns Committe.
In the late 1990s, there were active subcommittees focusing on racism, nonviolence, and environmental issues. In 1997, the Ursulines joined the North American Ursuline Social Justice Committee, broadening their outreach.
With fewer members, the Social Concerns Committee began focusing on advocacy rather than hands-on activities. Following the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 Chapter, a new committee emerged, focusing on the Cry of the Earth and Cry of Humanity. In 2021, the Laudato Si’ Action Platform pledge was signed.
1980 1990 2000 2024
We celebrate 50 years of the Social Concerns Committee. It is very fitting that the Ursulines of Louisville received the 2024 Peacebuilders Award from Interfaith Paths to Peace.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) protest, June 18, 2018
Are We There Yet? Laudato Si’ and Our Path to Integral Ecology
BY SISTER CAROL CURTIS
In 2021, the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville began our Laudato Si’ journey toward integral ecology. Over the past three years, from the backseat of my mind, I have heard the recurrent childlike voice inquiring: Are we there yet? Well, we are getting there. But it is not a linear trip.
While we set out on our pilgrimage together, along the way we joined with other caravans—this is Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ vision. One of the joys of this past year has been the establishment of an archdiocesan Creation Care Committee, which just celebrated its first “Green Mass” on October 2 at St. Francis of Assisi Church (our banner presiding) and is planning a Laudato Si’ 10th anniversary conference next June.
On October 10, the annual Day Against the Death Penalty, we helped sponsor the Catholic Mobilizing Network’s “Justice Re-Imagined” observance at the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C. On October 14, we represented the Catholic Laudato Si’ Platform at the Intertribal Water Council at the Waterfront Botanical Garden. Responding in the wake of Hurricane Helene to the third regional climate disaster in three years, we partnered with Water by Women and the Salvation Army to provide water filters and needed supplies to our neighbors.
Our 2020 Chapter mandate emphasized the “importance of collaboration to maximize our capacity to be in mission and have an impact in responding to cry of earth and cry of humanity.” Certainly, we have experienced the strategic advantage of such an approach: Kentucky Interfaith Power & Light, Interfaith Paths to Peace, the Kentucky Interfaith Network’s food summit, the newly formed metro Interfaith Environmental Advocacy Network. Yet, the surprise has been how quickly these coalitions birth new relationships and expand our collective capacity to respond to new challenges and opportunities— building community as we go.
This June saw the first disbursement of our fiveyear Ministry Fund pledges in support of more than a
dozen long-standing peace and justice partners. These contributions are not project-restricted, allowing the organizations creative flexibility in their areas of service. The Community Foundation of Louisville has handled other requests on our behalf.
As a congregation, downsizing involves numerous transitions: responsible recycling of electronics, donating household goods and furniture to help immigrant and displaced families resettle, and redirecting books toward literacy programs and spirituality centers. Logistically, it has been a necessary clearing out, but through it we have had the joy of discovering grass-roots initiatives: STITCH, finding homes for our well-loved sewing machines and partnering with Kentucky Refugee Ministries to teach sewing to immigrant women; contributing to Louisville Free Public Library Craft Exchange; Falls City Bikeworks—placing our bikes in good hands while they teach maintenance and supply parts to Louisvillians who depend on them for transport; SOS (Supplies Overseas), connecting our durable medical equipment with hospitals in need globally; and, handing on our garden tools to immigrant and youth gardening and food literacy programs.
It’s about more than just circular economy and good stewardship: hand to hand, hand in hand, we are building a diverse, inclusive and resilient community. Yes, we share our gifts, but for each of us, the first gift is who we are, and we mutually gift each other by being receptive and present to each other.
Bottom: Sister Carol Curtis, right, handed water buckets to a volunteer in Erwin, Tenn., Oct. 2, as a Tennessee Army National Guard helicopter waited to transport them to communities affected by Hurricane Helene. (Photo by Water by Women).
Photos: Top: Angela Dempsey of the Navajo Nation was a representative at the Intertribal Water Council in October.
Middle: Our community’s garden donations to Sacred Earth Community Garden at 41st Street (including Sister Mary Rose Rohmann’s vintage garden fork!).
It’s about more than just circular economy and good stewardship: hand to hand, hand in hand, we are building a diverse, inclusive and resilient community.
BY KATHY WILLIAMS
At Louisville’s Family Community Clinic, two Ursuline Sisters with rich histories of service to the Hispanic community bring their expertise to the vital task of interpreting for Spanishspeaking patients. Sisters Kathy Neely and Mary Martha Staarman’s backgrounds uniquely prepared them for this important volunteer work.
Sister Mary Martha Staarman, known affectionately as “Cool Martha,” has been volunteering at the clinic for eight years. Her journey with the Spanish language began in 1964 when she answered Pope John XXIII’s call for missionaries in Latin America. Along with three other Louisville Ursulines, she journeyed to Peru, where she helped establish the Colegio Parroquial Santa Angela Merici school in Callao after an intensive Spanish course.
“The Peru assignment changed my life,” Sister Mary Martha reflects. “I think I found my vocation among the people there. It made me see religious life in a different context.” After having a serious illness in Peru, where she struggled to understand doctors and nurses, she was motivated to help others in similar situations if she could.
Upon returning to the United States in 1978, Sister Mary Martha served in various pastoral ministries across the country. For 32 years, she worked with Mexican immigrants in West Chester, Pennsylvania, often accompanying young women through pregnancies and early childcare. “I have over 500 grandchildren!” she jokes, maintaining contact with many families to this day.
Sister Kathy Neely, fondly called “Fantastic Kathy” at the clinic, brings 45 years of experience from Peru
I believe that the Gospel is all about building community no matter where we are.
to her role at the clinic. Her love for the Spanish language and her vocation as a religious began in high school, where she was taught by Ursuline Sisters of Louisville in Cumberland, Maryland. After her high school graduation, she entered the Ursulines in 1960. In 1968, she volunteered to minister in Peru, where she initially taught children at the Peruvian Naval School before focusing on education for mentally and physically challenged children.
Sister Kathy’s work in Peru was transformative. She co-founded a school named Fe y Audicion (Faith and Hearing) and later moved to the Andes Mountains for pastoral ministry. In 2012, she helped establish the Saint Angela Merici Rehabilitation Center for physically and mentally challenged individuals in San Miguel.
“I believe that the Gospel is all about building community no matter where we are,” Sister Kathy says, a philosophy she carries into her volunteer work at the Family Community Clinic.
At the clinic, both Sisters play crucial roles. Sister Mary Martha works two afternoons a week, while Sister Kathy volunteers three mornings. They interpret for doctors and nurse practitioners, bridging the language gap for the predominantly Hispanic patient population.
“We’re like two ships passing in the night!” Sister Kathy laughs, referring to their different shifts. Despite initial nerves about medical interpretation, both Sisters have found their niche. They appreciate
the clinic’s thorough approach, with providers spending at least 30 minutes with each patient.
The Family Community Clinic, founded in 2011 by parishioners of St. Joseph Church, provides free primary healthcare to uninsured individuals. Operating on donations and grants without federal funding, the clinic offers a comprehensive range of services including dental care, social services and mental health support, and partners with the University of Louisville to offer additional services.
The clinic frequently treats chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension. Through a partnership with the University of Louisville, patients can access specialty care, including OB-GYN services for women.
Executive Director Ellen Wells emphasizes the importance of volunteers like Sisters Kathy and Mary Martha. “We rely heavily on our interpreters,” she says. “Most of our patients are Spanish speakers, and our volunteers make it possible to provide quality care.”
For Sisters Kathy and Mary Martha, their volunteer work at the clinic is a natural extension of their lifelong commitment to service. Through their dedication and language skills, they ensure that the Hispanic community in Louisville has access to essential healthcare, continuing their mission of building community and serving those in need
Decades of Deaf Ministry
BY KATHY WILLIAMS
Since 1969, Sister Rita Ann Wigginton’s passion has been ministering to the deaf community. Her journey, spanning five decades, demonstrates the power of dedication, adaptability and a desire to serve an often-marginalized segment of the faithful.
Sister Rita Ann’s path to religious life and deaf ministry began in grade school. The stability and discipline of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville who taught her at St. Clement and later at Angela Merici High School deeply influenced her decision to join their order after high school graduation.
Her ministry with the deaf began during a visit with Sister Barbara Bir’s family in 1969. During the visit, she met Jo, Sister Barbara’s deaf sister, who had been educated in a public school due to the lack of Catholic school services for the deaf. Despite having learned to read lips, Jo felt marginalized both at school and in church. Inspired by this encounter and advised by Jo’s parents to learn American Sign Language (ASL), Sister Rita Ann pursued advanced education in deaf ministry, earning a master’s degree from Gallaudet University and a certificate from Boston College in religious education.
Though her initial goal was to teach deaf children in public schools and provide religious education on weekends, her path changed when Father Charlie Dittmeier invited her to work in pastoral ministry with the Catholic Deaf Office of the Archdiocese of Louisville.
Sister Rita Ann views this work as missionary service. “Deaf ministry IS missionary work,” she explains. “You get enculturated with the people; you learn their language and work with them and adapt to their culture. It’s a very invisible disability—you cannot tell if someone is deaf just by looking at them.”
Deaf ministry IS missionary work. You get enculturated with the people; you learn their language and work with them and adapt to their culture. It’s a very invisible disability.
Sister Rita Ann Wigginton
Over the years, Sister Rita Ann served in various roles across different dioceses:
• Archdiocese of Louisville Catholic Deaf Office (1976-1981).
• Diocese of Toledo, Ohio, as director of ministry for deaf (1981-1991).
• Catholic Charities Deafness Services director in Brooklyn, New York (1993-1997).
• Diocese of Covington, Kentucky, as director of ministry for the deaf (2000-2008).
One of her most significant contributions has been her involvement with the Ministry Formation Program for Deaf Adults (MFP). Established in 1993 in the Archdiocese of Chicago, MFP is the only program of its kind in the United States, designed to train deaf Catholics to become effective lay leaders in church ministry. From 2008 to 2020, Sister Rita Ann served as its executive director, initially sharing the role with Father Mike Depcik, OSFS.
Sister Rita Ann has been involved in numerous national and international events, including planning committees for Religious Education National Workshops, seven national Cursillo retreats across the United States and one in the Philippines, multiple diocesan weekend retreats throughout the U.S. and Canada, and six directed retreats for the deaf in Springfield, Illinois.
Her dedication has earned her recognition. Sister Rita Ann was named the Reverend David Walsh Pastoral Worker of 2020 for Outstanding Service with Catholic Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community by the National Catholic Office for the Deaf, and on November 9, 2024, she received the Service Award from Holy Cross High School in Louisville.
Now serving on the Leadership Team of the Ursuline Sisters, Sister Rita Ann continues to contribute to deaf ministry by teaching Hebrew scripture online for MFP and serving on the Holy Cross High School board in Louisville.
The deaf ministry landscape within the Catholic Church has faced significant challenges in recent years. Many dioceses, including Louisville, have closed their deaf ministry offices and programs, partly due to financial strains. The COVID-19 pandemic presented additional hurdles, forcing MFP to adapt from a four-year, in-person format to a three-year online curriculum. Despite these challenges, MFP continues to serve students across 14 states, recently celebrating its 30th anniversary.
While institutional support for deaf ministry in the Church has decreased in some areas, Sister Rita Ann sees hope in the increased leadership roles taken on by the laity. Events like the annual Deaf Eucharistic Conference in Maryland and Pastoral Week continue to provide support and connection for those in deaf ministry. “The work has been taken on by a broader group, and they are empowered,” she notes. The ministry has changed, but the work continues.
Danielle Wiegandt, president of Holy Cross High School, presents Sister Rita Ann with the 2024 Service Award at Holy Cross’s Hall of Fame gala.
Laudato Si’ at Saint Angela Merici School and Beyond
This year we celebrated our 59th anniversary of Saint Angela Merici School. We usually celebrate in October as close to the feast of Saint Ursula as possible. The message this year centered around the four values that we try to exhibit daily in what we do and how we relate—respect, community, leadership and service—with special consideration for those who are taken for granted and those who are sometimes left out.
We are fortunate that the Season of Creation begins in September when we prepare for the school celebration. The Laudato Si’ themes of environmental care for all of creation mesh with living the charism and legacy of Saint Angela.
Our quarterly presentations try to consider all of our students—not an easy task with the bashful, insecure, or the eternal leaders, or the “no importa” (nothing matters) attitude of some. We have an amazing group of teachers who find ways of making the timid shine and the extroverts tame their enthusiasm.
The anniversary celebration, however, was only a mirror of what goes on daily in school. All of the classrooms have large plastic water bottles where the tops of soft drink and personal water bottles are collected. It is amazing how many bottle caps are collected in a week. Then, periodically, all are gathered and taken to the children’s hospital where the funds from recycling them are used for healing burn victims and other cases of skin infections. The students are conscious of the future of those water bottle caps and what they mean for other children who are hospitalized for burn trauma.
But caring for our common home goes way beyond recycling. It involves not wasting water, conscious use of electricity, turning off lights and unplugging
unnecessary appliances. Giving priority to cultivating organic gardens, hanging plants and recycling food waste are all part of responsible stewardship for the life of the planet.
In the last three years, we have been invited to coordinate with another community of lay associates in creating a ritual that honors the earth and renews our commitment. We have chosen the Rimac River that runs in front of our house as the place for our ritual.
This year our associates, our fifth and sixth graders, and our school band participated in different ways in the ritual. In coordination with the Municipal Office for the Environment, we were able to secure trees to plant alongside the riverbank. After being instructed in how to plant them, the students were involved in carefully moving the soil and placing the plants gently in the earth.
The value of service is sometimes the most difficult to integrate into the mindset and experiences of our community. We speak a lot of solidarity and participate in moments of solidarity, especially with those
We are fortunate that the Season of Creation begins in September when we prepare for the school celebration. The Laudato Si’ themes of environmental care for all of creation mesh with living the charism and legacy of Saint Angela.
experiencing health issues, death in a family, etc. It is more difficult to understand service as integral to our way of life.
In more recent years, however, we have had some good experiences communicating service as an integral part of our lives. Starting with fourth-year students, and according to their interests, they have been helping in some of our after-school projects. In those hours of service, students begin to understand and discover their own gifts, qualities and talents in relation to others, especially those who are younger.
With accumulated service hours, students become eligible to request participation in the mission trip to San Miguel, Cajamarca, in the Andes Mountains. There, they experience giving and receiving, mutual learning and community building with their brothers and sisters in this rural area who have a variety of cultural experiences, values and needs.
The students who participated in this experience this year returned on October 19 after a week in San Miguel and Cajamarca. Several experienced some knocks and bumps, but all experienced the open arm hospitality of our paisanos. Little by little, the students learn that there is more to life than receiving. There is great value in knowing the other who is like you, Peruvian, experiencing hospitality, and the other who is “different,” still Peruvian, but with a different experience of hospitality.
During the recent mission trip to San Miguel with 13 students, Sister Yuli embraced both the privilege and challenge of walking alongside them—sharing in their moments of giving and receiving, the little and the many that any of us have.
Saving bottle caps for funds for children’s burn treatment.
Second graders visiting our home to learn about the Ursulines and Saint Angela.
Laudato Si’ en el Colegio Santa Ángela Merici y
Más Allá
Este fue nuestro 59 aniversario del Colegio Santa Ángela Merici. Por lo general, celebramos en octubre lo más cerca posible de la fiesta de Santa Úrsula. El mensaje de este año se centró en los cuatro valores que tratamos de exhibir diariamente en lo que hacemos, cómo nos relacionamos, con especial consideración por aquellos que se dan por sentados y aquellos que a veces se dejan de lado: Respeto, Comunidad, Liderazgo y Servicio.
Somos afortunados de que el Tiempo de la Creación cae en el mes de septiembre mientras nos preparamos para la celebración escolar. Los temas del cuidado del medio ambiente para toda la creación se entrelazan con vivir el carisma y el legado de Santa Ángela.
Nuestras presentaciones trimestrales tratan de tener en cuenta a todos nuestros estudiantes: no es una tarea fácil con los líderes tímidos, inseguros o eternos, o la actitud de “no importa” de algunos.
Pero tenemos un grupo increíble de maestros que encuentran formas de hacer brillar a los tímidos y a los extrovertidos domar su entusiasmo. Entretejido en los cuatro valores y con la creatividad de los estudiantes y profesores, el mensaje de cuidar nuestra casa común y cuidarnos unos a otros se integró de una manera asombrosa.
La celebración del aniversario, sin embargo, fue solo un espejo de lo que sucede a diario en la escuela. Todas las aulas tienen grandes botellas de agua de plástico donde se recogen las tapas de las botellas de agua y refrescos personales. Es increíble la cantidad de tapas de botellas que se recogen en una semana. Luego, periódicamente, todos son recogidos y llevados al hospital de niños, donde a su vez se transforman en curación para las víctimas de quemaduras y otros casos de infecciones de la piel. Los estudiantes son
conscientes del futuro de esas tapas de botellas de agua y de lo que significan para otros niños que están hospitalizados por quemaduras.
Pero el cuidado de nuestra casa común va mucho más allá del reciclaje. Implica no desperdiciar agua, uso consciente de la electricidad, apagar las luces, desenchufar artefactos innecesarios. Dar prioridad al cultivo de huertos orgánicos, plantas colgantes y reciclaje de residuos alimentarios forman parte de la administración responsable de la vida del planeta.
En los últimos tres años hemos sido invitados a coordinar con otra comunidad de asociados laicos creando un ritual que honra a la tierra y renueva compromiso. Hemos elegido el río Rímac que corre frente a nuestra casa como lugar para nuestro ritual. Este año, nuestros Asociados, nuestros estudiantes de quinto y sexto grado y nuestra banda escolar participaron de diferentes maneras en el ritual. En coordinación con la Oficina Municipal de Medio Ambiente, logramos conseguir árboles para plantar a lo largo de la orilla del río. Después de ser instruidos
sobre cómo plantar, los estudiantes participaron en mover cuidadosamente la tierra y colocar las plantas suavemente en la tierra. La mano a la obra es la mejor manera de aprender y valorar los dones de la creación.
El valor del servicio es a veces el más difícil de integrar en la mentalidad y las experiencias de nuestra comunidad. Hablamos mucho de solidaridad y participamos en momentos de solidaridad especialmente con aquellos que necesitan por problemas de salud, muerte en una familia, etc. Es más difícil entenderlo como parte integral de nuestra forma de vida.
En años más recientes, sin embargo, hemos tenido algunas experiencias realmente buenas comunicando el “servicio” como una parte integral de nuestras vidas. Empezando por los alumnos de 4º ano, y según sus intereses, han ido ayudando en algunos de nuestros proyectos “extraescolares”. En esas horas de servicio comienzan a comprender y descubrir sus propios dones, cualidades, talentos en relación con los demás, especialmente con los más jóvenes.
Les pedimos que compartan sus experiencias en términos de lo que descubren sobre sí mismos, sobre el trabajo conjunto, sobre el acompañamiento. Creemos que es importante la reflexión sobre sus experiencias, lo que aprenden sobre sí mismos y lo que aprenden sobre el “servicio” que realizan.
Los ejemplos comienzan a expandirse, y se dan cuenta de los múltiples beneficios: para el que da, para el que recibe y para la comunidad que los rodea.
Estudiantes de segundo grado visitan nuestra casa para aprender sobre las Ursulinas y Santa Ángela.
Con las horas de servicio acumuladas, los estudiantes se vuelven elegibles para solicitar la participación en el viaje misionero a San Miguel, Cajamarca, donde experimentan el “dar y recibir”, el aprendizaje mutuo y la construcción de comunidad con sus “hermanos y hermanas” de otra parte del país, con una variedad de experiencias culturales, valores y necesidades.
Los estudiantes que participaron en esta experiencia este año regresaron el 19 de octubre luego de una semana en San Miguel y Cajamarca. Varios experimentaron algunos dificultades y golpes, pero todos experimentaron la hospitalidad de brazos abiertos de nuestros “paisanos”. Poco a poco los alumnos aprenden que la vida es más que “recibir”. Hay un gran valor en conocer al otro que es como tú, Peruan@, que experimenta la hospitalidad, y al otro que es “diferente”, aun, Peruan@ y con una experiencia diferente de la hospitalidad.
Con esta reciente experiencia de 13 estudiantes viajando a San Miguel, Yuli disfrutó del privilegio y el desafío de caminar con, en un contexto de dar y recibir, lo poco y lo mucho que cualquiera de nosotros tenemos.
¡Parte del don del servicio es que siempre recibimos más de lo que podemos dar!
Ahorrar tapas de botellas para financiar el tratamiento de quemaduras infantiles.
Sister Loretta Guenther
“Let the little children come to me…for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
—Matthew 19:14
Sister Loretta Guenther, OSU, 90, died in the 72nd year of her religious life on October 7, 2024, at Nazareth Home-Clifton. One of 10 children and a native of Louisville, Kentucky, Wilhelmina Pauline (her baptismal name) attended St. Elizabeth parish school, where she was taught by the Ursulines. She attended Sacred Heart Academy as an aspirant, and she entered the Ursulines in 1952 at age 18.
Sister Loretta served as a cook at the convents of St. Raphael, St. Anthony, St. Peter, Ursuline Academy, Sacred Heart Academy and Ursuline College in Louisville, and at St. Patrick school in Sidney, Nebraska. She also worked in the Ursuline Motherhouse infirmary kitchen.
In 1974, Sister Loretta chose to work at St. Joseph Children’s Home, where she served as a houseparent until her retirement in 2010, a total of 36 years. She received an award of excellence for her superior performance in 1997.
In February 2000, Sister Loretta was honored by the St. Joseph Catholic Orphan Society as the first recipient of the “St. JosephUrsuline Award.” In 2002, the Home established a fund in her
name for education and support expenses for the children that reside at the home, including art, music, gymnastics, and dance classes, as well as recreation activities and educational field trips.
In 2023, St. Joseph Children’s Home named their chapel in honor of Sr. Loretta for her years of service, and a plaque at St. Joseph has a quote from Sister Loretta, “It’s the simplicity, the love that children have that makes them so special. I was so blessed to be at St. Joseph because I know children are close to God.”
Sister Loretta was very devoted to the Blessed Mother and said Mary has appeared to her several times—during grade school while she was in church, during illnesses, in times of need, and while in prayer. She would often say, “She is so beautiful, I pray that I see her again.”
Sister Loretta is the daughter of the late Albert and Wilhelmina Pauline Guenther. She is survived by her brother-in-law, Carl Lawrence; many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews; as well as her community of Ursuline Sisters and Associates.
Sister Shirley Ann Simmons
“Live and behave in such a way that others may see in you a model.”
—St. Angela Merici, 6th Counsel
Ursuline Sister of Louisville Shirley Ann (Joanella) Simmons, OSU, age 99, died in the 82nd year of her religious life on June 9, 2024, at Nazareth Home-Clifton. A native of Heartwell, Nebraska, she graduated from St. Patrick High School in North Platte, where she was taught by the Ursulines, then received a scholarship to attend Ursuline College in Louisville. She entered the Ursulines in 1942 at age 17. In a 2022 interview for her 80th jubilee, Sister recalled one incident as a postulant, where “there was a plate of cookies that somehow ended up in our area. When Sister Sylvester Ahlhaus, who oversaw the postulants, returned to the room, the cookies were gone!” she said, laughing. “We were just young kids and couldn’t resist those cookies!”
Sister Shirley Ann began her 55-year ministry as a teacher in Louisville at St. Boniface parish school in 1944, then later taught at Our Lady of Lourdes parish school and served as principal of St. Elizabeth parish school. She also taught in Cumberland, Maryland, and in Omaha and North Platte, Nebraska. She served as principal
at three schools in Nebraska: St. Patrick Elementary in Sidney; Blessed Sacrament School in Omaha; and St. Luke School in Ogallala from 1975 until her retirement in 1999.
She then served in parish ministry in St. Luke parish until she returned to Louisville in 2012. She volunteered at United Crescent Hill Ministries and in the Ursuline Sisters’ archives for several years.
She earned a bachelor of arts degree in education from the former Ursuline College (now Bellarmine University) in Louisville, and a master of arts degree in education from Creighton University, Omaha.
Sister Shirley Ann is the daughter of the late Niles and Ella Porterfield Simmons. She was also preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law, Gloria and Joe Dodson; brother John “Jack” Simmons; and brother and sister-in-law Niles Simmons and Joan Cohen. She is survived by several nieces and nephews, greatnieces and nephews, as well as her community of Ursuline Sisters and Ursuline Associates.
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SISTERS WHO TAUGHT AT STS PETER AND PAUL IN CUMBERLAND, MD
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ST. PATRICK’S-NORTH PLATTE
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SISTER SARAH STAUBLE, OSU
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AUSDALE, OSU
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Women Religious Archives Collaborative (WRAC)
July 1, 2023 — June 30, 2024
Committees
Buechel/Hikes Point Ministries (steering)
Cry of Earth, Cry of Humanity
Guiding Team
Fortunate Families (LGBTQ)
Holy Cross High School Curriculum
LCWR Region 6 (executive)
National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) Regional
Norton Hospitals (pastoral care)
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (finance)
Ursuline Charism and Spirituality
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Ursuline Synod and Synodality
Volunteer
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Archdiocese of Louisville
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Agricultural Workers Are Respected
Equals (AWARE)
Casa Latina
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Family Community Clinic
Greenwood Cemetery
Community Partners
Hand in Hand Ministries
Kids’ Café
Discalced Carmelite Sisters (Louisville)
Coming to a mailbox near you!
Be on the lookout in January for a postcard survey mailed to you. We are asking you to indicate your preference as to whether you wish to continue to receive the printed DOME in the mail, or would like to receive it via email.
Nominate a Deserving Woman for the
Masonic Homes Kentucky
Nativity Academy at St. Boniface
Nazareth Home–Clifton
Nazareth Home–Highlands
Norton Children’s Hospital
Olmsted Parks Conservancy
Shively Area Ministries
St. Frances of Rome Church
St. Lawrence Church
St. Vincent de Paul Society
St. William Parish
U of L Hospital
United Crescent Hill
Ministries
Wayside Christian Mission
A nominee must meet the following criteria:
• Demonstrates Christian leadership as a disciple of Jesus Christ by being actively involved with challenges that face women and families today.
• Reflects a contemplative love of God, resulting in an openness and eagerness to serve the needs of others.
• Currently has a personal connection to the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville.
• Is able to receive the award in person at a ceremony on October 19, 2025.
• For more information and to download a nomination form, please visit: https://ursulinesisterslouisville.org/angeline-award/
Deadline for nominations is February 3, 2025. Note: Associates and USAE employees are not eligible for the award.
3115 Lexington Road Louisville, Kentucky 40206
www.ursulinesisterslouisville.org
New Videos On Our Website!
You can now view videos of our virtual Chapel tour on our website, as well as videos of individual Sisters sharing the story of their call to their vocation and ministries. Follow the links and QR codes below to view these exciting videos.
