Our Call Ursuline Associate Community Quarterly
July 2021
Liturgy and Lunch Resumes Thursday, May 13, 2021, was a momentous day for Louisville-area Associates. For the first time since February 2020, we were able to have a Mass in the Motherhouse chapel followed by lunch in the social room. When I announced the Liturgy and Lunch date, I asked that only persons who were fully vaccinated should RSVP to attend the event. Approximately 35 Sisters and Associates gathered at 11 a.m. for Mass in the chapel. Father Tom Boland was the officiant, I was the lector and Donna Ising was the eucharistic minister. Everyone present wore masks during the liturgy. We observed social distancing in the chapel. Attendees sat in every other pew and six feet apart. During the Eucharist, only the body of Christ was distributed, as the Archdiocese of Louisville was still advising against sharing the cup of Christ’s blood. While lining up to receive the Eucharist, communicants maintained social distancing. And because of pandemic precautions there was no singing during the Mass. Lunch was served in the social room where, again, social distancing
was observed and attendees removed their masks to eat. Bottled water was provided, and to avoid sharing serving utensils, boxed lunches were ordered from Common Table, a center sponsored by Catholic Charities where disadvantaged people can learn culinary and food service skills. As evidenced by the way the meal was enjoyed, they are doing a great job! Even better than the food was the camaraderie, as people who hadn’t been able to gather in over a year met again in familiar circumstances. Many in attendance expressed over and over how much they had missed being able to meet in person to share Eucharist and fellowship—both spiritual and physical—with their community. We plan to continue our monthly gatherings on into the summer and fall.
Our Call
Liturgy and Lunch Attendees Top photo: Hugh Smith; Middle photo (L to R): Peasie Fischer, Teresa Butler, Sister Jo Ann Jansing, Nannette Mershon; Bottom photo (L to R): Midge Meehan, Helen Ratterman, Rory Polio, Emily Mosby.
The Ursuline Associates are Christian women and men who, within their own state in life, join the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville in prayer, mutual support, and service. Together they seek to deepen their lives of prayer and service as followers of Jesus in the spirit and tradition of Saint Angela Merici, foundress of the Ursuline Sisters.
Staff: Bay Baltes 3105 Lexington Road, Louisville, KY 40206 502 896-3956, ext. 3127 baybaltes@ursulineslou.org or associates@ursulineslou.org 1
New Advisory Board Members Three of the current Advisory Board members will leave the board June 30. They have served faithfully throughout their terms and have performed a valuable service to the Associate community as a whole. Those rotating off the board are Diane Dickman, Karen Harris, and Anne McCollum. Two other board members, Bob Lockhart and Eileen Spears, had to resign from the board before their terms were up. They also served the community very capably while active on the board. This adds up to a total of five new board members that are needed. In April, I put out a call to the community asking persons interested in serving on the board to contact me. I was extremely pleased to hear from six Associates who expressed interest in serving on the board. They are: Michael Bratcher, Todd Brock, Lauren Hitron, Ellen McKnight, Rory Polio and Lisa Steiner. By accepting all six onto the board, we bring the total to ten members: Michael Bratcher, Todd Brock, Sister Rita Dressman, Lauren Hitron, Donna Ising, Sister Jo Ann Jansing, Ellen McKnight, Emily Mosby, Rory Polio and Lisa Steiner. Top: A past board meeting in the Motherhouse I believe this new board, which will be appointed effective July 1, Above: Sister Jo Ann Jansing addresses the board. is poised to lead the community forward in the years to come. Thanks to all the board members for serving in this very valuable capacity!
Six associates named to serve on the Advisory Board (L to R): Michael Bratcher, Todd Brock, Lauren Hitron, Ellen McKnight, Rory Polio and Lisa Steiner
2
Update on Social Concerns In May, the Social Concerns Committee had its first in-person meeting in over a year, though some members opted to participate by Zoom. It was great to be together after what one member said felt like “perpetual Lent.” Even though the pandemic shifted the ways we participated in peace and justice causes, it sparked new levels of awareness and passion among many members. At our meeting, we heard of all the work people had been doing as individuals or in small groups. One common theme was embracing the need for racial justice, especially in our own city. We learned about efforts at Sacred Heart Schools to address racial inequities; we shared experiences from our JustFaith classes on systemic racism; we heard about partnerships in West Louisville; we recalled attending peaceful protests centered on the death of Breonna Taylor. In addition to confronting racism, many of our members have also been
active working with immigrants and refugees. From ministering at the southern U.S. border to serving our Latino neighbors here in Louisville, our members continue to demonstrate the welcoming compassion of St. Angela in current times. We also spoke about environmental justice. Some of our Sisters and
Ursuline response to Pope Francis’ invitation to take a stand on the 5th anniversary of “Laudato Si” (“Care for Our Common Home”). Speaking of the environment, Social Concerns is aware of a growing interest to learn more about justice for Earth and integral ecology. To this end, we will offer a series of JustFaith classes starting in September. This three-part will focus on Sacred Land: Food and Farming, Sacred Air: Climate and Energy, and Sacred Water: Oceans and Ecosystems. If anyone is interested, please contact Lisa Steiner at lsteiner@ ursulineslou.org to learn more. Finally, we invite all Associates to become a part of our Social Concerns Committee! Email Lisa at the address above to join the email distribution list. That way, you will know what is happening and can participate however the spirit moves you! Thanks so much.
Even though the pandemic shifted the ways we participated in peace and justice causes, it sparked new levels of awareness and passion among many members. Associates have done amazing work in this space, whether it was celebrating Earth Day in Peru, volunteering with organizations that foster ecological consciousness, or focusing on the
Members of the Social Concerns committee have participated in events to raise their voices against gun violence, injustice and to serve with Forgotten Louisville.
3
Reflections
Life Breaks Through
The following is a reflection given by Sister Jean Anne Zappa, OSU, at the Mass on June 10, 2021 in the Motherhouse chapel to celebrate the lives of Sisters Lorraine Maginot, Isabel Lehmenkuler, Jane Stuckenborg, Bernadine Nash and Jamesetta Defelice, who all passed away during May and June, 2020. My great nephew Zachary was born in February during Covid and a snowstorm. Life broke through. When he came home to meet his brother and sister, he was crying, as all newborns do. His 4-year-old sister, Claire knelt down and said to him, “Don’t worry Zachery, it is going to be okay. You are home now with your mommy and daddy and big brother and big sister.” As I reflected on today’s readings and this Memorial Mass for Sisters Lorraine, Isabel, Jane Bernadine and Jamesetta, Claire’s comforting words to her little brother came back to me. We know the storms that Job had to endure as he struggled to try to understand his relationship with God during his trials. How does one come to know God when there is silence? In Job’s journey, he comes to terms with the awesome mystery of God and proclaims, “I know that my redeemer lives.” An act of hope; life breaks through. He hears God say, I am with you, it is ok. In Romans, Paul wrote this letter as a basis for Christian hope, a recognition of the love of God made manifest in Christ Jesus. God is on your side; no trouble of life could make the Christian forget the love of Christ. The question is always, “Where is God? The conclusion is always the same. God’s plan is clear. God is always faithful, on our side. Nothing can separate us from the love of God—nothing, not Covid, shutdown, isolation, distancing or masks or the fact that five of our sisters died and, we could not be with them in their burial. We know they did not die alone; we know and believe our faithful God was right there with each one of them. Life broke through.
In our loss, we were united, struggling to find meaning and yet strong in our faith for nothing ever will separate us from the love of God. We have the assurance that God welcomed Lorraine, Isabel Jane, Bernadine and Jamesetta. God welcomed them and said, “It is going to be ok—you are home, right here with your loving God.” In the gospel, Jesus invites and welcomes, “Do not let your hearts be troubled, for in God’s house are many dwellings,” and we know we are all welcomed. John’s gospel was written to maintain belief during troubled times, reminding us of wherever we are, God is with us. We are always in God’s home now or when our earthly life has changed. “I am the way, truth and life.” The “I am” statement connects with the Old Testament proclamation of “I am who am,” translated as “I am for you.” Jesus reminds us, “I am for you,” reaching out to us individually and communally in an intimate way. We are in the company of our God right here, right now. And even though we could not be with or celebrate the lives of our Sisters when they died last year, we are assured they were and are in the company of our God and the love of Christ. From “Life’s Lessons Learned” I read, “When we lose someone we love, we must learn not to live without them, but we must live with the love they left behind.” And we are assured that Lorraine, Isabel, Jane, Bernadine and Jamesetta left love behind because they were faithful to their Ursuline life and faithful to their loving God. And God says, “It’s ok, you are home now with me, for nothing can separate you from me.” Life breaks through.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God— nothing, not Covid, shutdown, isolation, distancing or masks… 4
In Memoriam
Sister Dolores Hudson, a native of Cumberland, Maryland, passed away on April 2, 2021, at Baptist Health Louisville. She was 82. Sister Dolores entered the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville in 1957. In Cumberland, Sister Dolores taught at SS. Peter and Paul School (1969-1977). She was also principal at St. Francis de Sales School, Morgantown, West Virginia (1977-1984), and St. John Neumann School in Cumberland (1987-1997), where a new school yard was named in her honor when she retired from that position. Sister Dolores also taught at St. Peter School in Columbia, South Carolina, and at St. Helen, St. Elizabeth and St. Vincent de Paul parish schools in Louisville. After retiring from teaching, she served as cocoordinator of the Sisters at Marian Home from 1998 until 2010, when it closed. She also served in this capacity in the Motherhouse from 2010 to 2017. Sister Dolores is survived by a sister, a brother, and several nieces and nephews, as well as her community of Ursuline Sisters and Associates. Sister Regina Marie Bevelacqua, a Morgantown, West Virginia, native, passed away on April 7, 2021, at Nazareth Home-Newburg. She was 84. Sister Regina Marie entered the Ursuline community in 1955. For more than 20 years she served as principal of the Monsignor Pitt Learning Center, which later became Ursuline-Pitt School, and taught special education classes at the Ursuline Child Development Center in Louisville, St. Peter, St. Ann and St. Joseph schools, also in Louisville, and at St. Joseph School in Columbia, South Carolina. For more than 50 years, Sister Regina Marie was a Special Olympics coach. In 1986, she founded Harvest Home, which served women with intellectual disabilities, in Louisville. In 1993, she and Associate Mary Jo Payne co-founded St. Mary’s Center which works with individuals with intellectual disabilities. Sister Regina is survived by her sister-in-law, Jackie Bevelacqua, several nieces and nephews, and her close friends Ursuline Associates Mary Jo Payne and Mary Ann Daunhauer, as well as her community of Ursuline Sisters and Associates.
Her 30-year teaching career included several parish elementary schools in Louisville, and Sacred Heart Model School, Angela Merici High School and Sacred Heart Academy on the Ursuline campus. Sister Colette served on the Ursuline Sisters’ leadership team from 1988 until 1996 and was director of the Ursuline Life Office and co-director of the Associate Call program. In 2009, she was inducted into the Holy Cross High School Hall of Fame in recognition of her long career at Angela Merici High School, which later merged with Bishop David High School to become Holy Cross High School. She is survived by her sister-in-law and several nieces and nephews, in addition to her community of Ursuline Sisters and Associates. Sister Georgia Jean Kruml, a native of Ord, Nebraska, passed away on May 15, 2021, at Nazareth Home–Clifton at the age of 85. She entered the order in 1953 and served at Sacred Heart Academy, Ursuline Academy, the Ursuline Motherhouse, Marian Home and St. Joseph Children’s Home. Sister Georgia Jean served as a teacher’s aide at several parish schools in Louisville while obtaining her bachelor’s degree from Bellarmine College (now University) and a master’s degree from Spalding University. After receiving her degrees, she served on the staff at Blessed Sacrament School in Omaha, Nebraska (1977-1990) and at St. Athanasius School in Louisville (1992-1996). Sister Georgia Jean was well-known as a drummer in the Holy Name Band, a concert band based in Louisville. Her computer skills were most helpful to others in the community, and in 2006 she was the recipient of the Adult Volunteer Award from the Kentucky Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. She is survived by two sisters, Ursuline Sister of Louisville Theresa Kruml of Iowa City, Iowa, and Cecilia Ann Kruml of Lincoln, Nebraska, and a brother Robert Kruml, also of Lincoln, as well as her community of Ursuline Sisters and Associates. Sister Raymunda Orth, an Evansville, Indiana, native, passed away on May 28, 2021, at Nazareth Home–Clifton. She was 92. Sister Raymunda entered the order in 1947, and for nearly 50 years was a classroom and music teacher at numerous parochial schools in Louisville and Indiana. In her later years, she taught
Sister Colette Kraemer, of Louisville, passed away on May 3, 2021, at Baptist Health Louisville at the age of 89. Sister Colette joined the Ursuline community in 1950 and was a graduate of Sacred Heart Academy and Ursuline College.
continued 5
In Memoriam continued
special education classes and worked as an assistant in the administrative offices of the Ursuline Sisters. In 1957, Sister Raymunda received bachelor’s degrees in music theory, piano and English from Ursuline College (now Bellarmine University). She attained a master’s degree in special education from Cardinal Stritch College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1972. She is survived by her sister, a sister-in-law, and her community of Ursuline Sisters and Associates. Sister Sarah Stauble, of Louisville, died on June 13, 2021, at Nazareth Home–Clifton. She was 88. Sister entered the Ursuline order in 1952 after graduating from Ursuline Academy in 1951. She received her undergraduate degree from Bellarmine University and master’s degrees from Cardinal Stritch College and
Notre Dame University, in Indiana. In 1996, Sister Sarah was recognized as a distinguished graduate of Bellarmine University, and in 2004, she received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. Sister Sarah taught music and special education classes for over 50 years in Kentucky, Madison, Indiana, and Jackson, Mississippi. She served two terms on the Ursuline Sisters leadership team (1968-1972 and 1980-1988) and was the director of the Associate program for several years. In addition, she was a member of the Bellarmine University board for 10 years, chairperson of the board of directors of Day Spring, Inc., and a volunteer at Wayside Christian Mission and St. Vincent de Paul Open Hand kitchen. She is survived by many nieces and nephews, as well as her community of Ursuline Sisters and Associates.
Angela Merici Center for Spirituality by Ginny Schaefer
As the number of people who are fully vaccinated increases and the level of coronavirus infection continues to decrease, it is my hope that the AMC will be able to resume in-person programs, beginning with Taizé Prayer and Sabbath Moments, in the late summer and fall. If you would like to be informed of upcoming programs and prayer opportunities, we would be happy to send you an email blast, or you can check us out on Facebook or on our website.
Opportunities for Contemplative Prayer: A Guided Meditation
The Angela Merici Center for Spirituality is offering a monthly guided meditation via its Facebook page and website. This is the first offering of a new series, Opportunities for Contemplative Prayer, that will be posted on the fourth Monday of the month. It is our hope and prayer that you will receive what you need and desire from these opportunities.
rest in God’s presence. Come and find rest for your soul. All are welcome.
Sabbath Moments
Sabbath-keeping is an ancient tradition of resting from your labor so that you might remember the gifts of God and reconnect with the Ground of your being. The theme for this year is Love. Each month we will reflect upon a different aspect of love and how we might more fully live into it. As for now, we will continue to offer Taizé Prayer and Contemplative Prayer Experiences virtually. They can also be found on the AMC Facebook page and website.
To be placed on our email blast list please email your name and email address to: gschaeffer@ursulineslou.org Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/amcspirituality Visit our website at: www.amcspirituality.org
TAIZÉ Prayer
Known for its beauty, peace and quiet power, Taize Prayer is practiced throughout the world. Using chants, simple songs, inspirational readings, Scripture, silence and prayer, it offers an opportunity of ever-deepening
6
Birthday Celebrations for the Quarter
Here is the list of those who will be celebrating birthdays in the upcoming quarter (July, August, September). Use your Associate Directory to reach out to the birthday person with a phone call or a card!
July
5 6 8 16 18 21 25 27 29 30 31
Karol Jean Bradshaw, WV Karen Joan Bundy, WV Sr. Janet Marie Peterworth, KY Dottie Lockhart, KY Donna Helm, KY Peggy Cummins, KY Lauren Hitron, KY Kathy Williams, KY Michael Bratcher, KY Patricia Hagan, KY Dorothy Schroeder, IN Donna Ising, KY Lane Clatterbuck, MD Todd Brock, IN Sr. Yuli Oncihuay, KY
August
7 8 10 11 12 14 16 19 20 25 26 28 31
Sandra Holloway, KY Sr. Sara Delaney, KY Coty Bella-Oropilla, KY Sharon Vessels, KY Diane Dickman, KY Regina Leitner, KY Carole Strohbeck, IN Mary Margaret Grimes, IN Sr. Rita Dressman, KY Mary Margaret King, MD Amy Jo Nall, KY Sr. Kathleen Neely, KY Sr. Jean Anne Zappa, KY Jan Farrell, KY Maureen McGann, MD Mary Agnes Squires, MD Katy Sniegon, SC Pat Zimmerman, SC Rayda Cuba de la Cruz, Peru
7
September
2 3 4 6 8 9 10 11 16 17 20 21 23 30
Sr. Clara Fehringer, KY Helen Zembower, MD Claude Zimmerman, SC Catherine Gracesqui, FL Judy Heitzman, KY Rosalia Castaneda, Peru Sr. Julienne Guy, KY Evelyn England, KY Diane Smith, KY Sr. Rosella McCormick, KY Sr. Lorna Weiler, KY Kathryn Hilleary, KY Kathy Mattingly, MD Sr. Shirley Ann Simmons, KY Linda Ratchford, MD Carlotta Ingram, KY Sr. Anne Mary Lochner, KY Rosalvina Mendoza Puscan, Peru
Advisory Board Associate Staff: Bay Baltes, Director bbaltes@ursulineslou.org
Sister Jo Ann Jansing ja.jansing@att.net
Todd Brock tbrock@evdio.org
Rory Polio aurora.polio@gmail.com
Donna Ising ajhoward17@bellsouth.net
Emily Mosby emily.mosby@twc.com
Lauren Hitron lhitron@shslou.org
Advisory Board: Michael Bratcher mbratcher@shslou.org
Ellen McKnight emcknight@ursulineslou.org
Sister Rita Dressman rdressman@ursulineslou.org
Lisa Steiner lsteiner@ursulineslou.org
Follow us! Facebook: @ursulineassociates
Bay Baltes, Director Ursuline Associates 3105 Lexington Road Louisville, KY 40206