Called to Be Prophetic Women of Hope, Part Three: Asian Advocacy BY KATHY WILLIAMS
This is the third in a series on the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville’s history of being pioneers on issues of social justice and outreach. They are women who follow Catholic social teaching in both words and action. This stems from their charism, which is “a contemplative love of God and a resulting openness and eagerness to serve the needs of others.”
1948: A Connection With China The year is 1948. It is three years after World War II and one year before our ally from that war, China, became a communist country following its own civil war. Reverend John T.S. Mao, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Nanking, China, has asked the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville for scholarships for two girls from China to attend Ursuline College. The request is granted, according to General Council minutes from March 6 of that year. In 1950, Father John Moore, a Maryknoll missionary, requested that the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville give another Chinese girl a full scholarship and room and board. And so, it continued for years—scholarships given to girls from Korea and China, including Taiwan and Hong Kong, as the Ursulines saw that there was so much need for girls in those countries to be educated. During a period of strained or non-existent relationships between the United States and these countries, the Ursulines found a way to make a difference and reach out to those on the margins.
Julia Ung Ng, UC Class of ’55
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SUMMER 2021 | DOME
Julia Ung Ng was living in a small village in China in 1951 when Father Moore befriended her and her family. He asked Julia what her future plans were. She replied that her dream was to go to college in the United States, but her parents had lost so much in the war and could not afford to send her. Father Moore arranged for her to receive a scholarship, and as Julia says, “The day I received my scholarship letter was the happiest day of my life. To this day, I am so grateful.” As she had to travel by boat rather than a plane due to lack of funds, Julia didn’t arrive on campus until October 1951, after the semester had already started. She then spent Christmas on campus as the only student in the dorm since she had nowhere else to go. Julia said, “I was so homesick
Jady Ung, UC Class of ’58 and Jeanie Ung, UC Class of ’61 in their dorm
Mary Kwan, UC Class of ’55