In Your Midst June 2020

In Your Midst June

Dear Friends,

While we are all trying to find ways of coping, giving and connecting during this time of uncertainty and struggle with the COVID-19 virus, a wave of recent protests calling for reform with the recent killings of Americans by police and armed citizens began. We are including some of our photos of standing peacefully for justice in this issue of In Your Midst. Black lives DO matter. We can and must DO better.

—Kathy Williams, editor

Sisters and Associates participate in June 5th prayerful protests in memory of Breonna Taylor in downtown Louisville

Friday, June 5, on what would have been Breonna Taylor’s 27th birthday, several Ursuline Sisters, Associates and SHS teachers and staff joined Spalding University students and friends in a prayerful protest. Later that evening, some Associates were downtown attending a protest in a larger group.

Sister Carol Curtis reflected, “Sister Janet Peterworth and I stood with Spalding University students lining the block on Street. We also met several Associates and SHA staff, Lori Hadorn and Sharon Bidwell. When we returned to the square, we saw the Lockharts and Emily Mosby keeping their prayer vigil under the trees with several others—wise elders who experienced the 1960s civil rights movement. When Emily saw the sign Sister Rita Dressman had carefully lettered, ‘Justice for All’, she gently said, “Yes, it’s for everyone....”

Sister Janet Peterworth with Associates Bob and Dottie Lockhart and Emily Mosby, far right

Sister Janet Peterworth, SHA teacher Sharon Manco Bidwell and Sister Carol Curtis

Sisters Rita Dressman and Carol Curtis make signs Downtown vigil for Breonna Taylor

Sign made by Associate Lisa Steiner’s daughters

In Your Midst

A Mother’s Day Virtual Pilgrimage

On this Mother’s Day, I had an opportunity to pray for all those suffering, lonely, hungry and dying during this pandemic.

I started early with Zoom Mass at St. William Church in Louisville, taking in spiritual nourishment to begin my journey of asking Mary, the Mother of God, to walk with me.

I spent the day on a prayerful pilgrimage to live-streamed Masses. First, I went to the Vatican, then the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in D.C., then on The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) community at St. Patrick, Hamilton, Ontario, then the Diocese of Rochester, New York, and finally Word on Fire in California.

I also “traveled” to chapels and churches in Maple Mount, Vine Grove, Frankfort and Louisville.

By Sister Julia Davis, OSU

Leadership from LCWR’s Subregion 6 wrote a letter decrying the recent deaths of black persons at the hands of the police and armed public. The letter stated in part: Racism is the original and persistent sin of the United States. Unarmed black people are killed by police authorities and armed members of the public. Say their names: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, Tony Robinson, Trayvon Martin. So many others. We know this. We see this. We grieve. We are angry. We move on. It happens again.

...White institutions hold power in a criminal justice system that utterly fails to impose accountability on police officials and armed white citizens who kill unarmed black people. There is no justice. How, then, can there be peace?

Praying Together Via Zoom

Several of our Sisters have been getting together via Zoom for a weekly prayer session. Sister Janet Peterworth remarked that, “We look like the Brady Bunch!”

Shown are Sister Agnes Coveney, Sister Janet Peterworth, Sister Rita Dressman, Sister Martha Jacob, Sister Mary Jo Gramig, Sister Mary Theresa Burns and Sister Barbara Bir.

Specifically, we join with the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights in calling for fundamental reform in the way policing is done in the United States. We call for fundamental law reform to strip away protections for those who bring violence and death to unarmed black people....

Every person is a precious child of God.

In Your Midst June 2020

Catholic Trivia on Zoom!

Sister Janet was emcee. Sisters Rita Dressman, Rita Ann Wigginton,Ruth Ann Haunz, Martha Jacob, Martha Buser, Julia Davis, Jean Anne Zappa and Kim Sison all played. Looks like a good time was had by all!

Laudato Si’ Week 2020

While we couldn’t celebrate in person, we celebrated on social media, through email and zoom calls. We joined our global church in a day of solidarity and prayer for our common home.

Care for God’s Creation Prayer

God of all creation,

Are you missing our monthly Taizé prayer services? You can watch them online on the Angela Merici Center for Spirituality’s website—click on this link: https://amcspirituality.org/prayer-in-the-spirit-of-taize/

Sister Mary Theresa Burns serves as chaplain at Nazareth Home-Clifton. She recently led a prayer service on May Day to honor Mary.

How splendid and majestic is the world you created! It reveals your glory; it teaches us about you.

When you made us in your image, you gave us this command: care for the world and for all the creatures in it, for this is our common home.

Help us to be stewards who honor you in the world you have made for the good of all creation and for future generations.

May your justice reign forever! Amen. Have

Remembering our dear Sisters who died this past month and are now in the loving arms of Jesus:

Sister Jean Anne Zappa reports:

Email Kathy Williams, In Your Midst editor and designer: kwilliams@ursulineslou.org

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“Sister Martha Buser continues to do spiritual direction by phone. We wrote our state legislators regarding new voting laws; we wrote our congress persons regarding the plight of the post office, and we already cast our votes for the primary election. Martha also worked on a Chapter Planning Committee reflection booklet that will soon be sent to all Sisters.

I am reading three books: Economic Dignity, How We Love: A Formation for the Celibate Life and Hope by Pope Francis. I have been going to work once a week; the other days working from home.”

Sister Lorraine Maginot

Sister Isabel Lehmenkuler

Sister Jane Stuckenborg

Sister Bernadine Nash