Ua summer 2015 for issuu

Ursulines Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph

Summer 2015 Vol. 14, No. 1

www.ursulinesmsj.org

Proclaiming Jesus through Education and Christian Formation

INSIDE...

Habitat House 2015 Jubilarians Stephany’s Story

Sisters Partner with New Education Efforts

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From our Congregational Leader Dear Friends, Once again I have been captivated by words or, more specifically, by a word part, “prefixes.” And especially by two prefixes “re” and “ex.”

Now typically we think that “re” means “again,” perhaps even with slightly negative or frustrating connotations. As in, “redo,” having to do something over and over again until one gets it right. Or “reuse,” as in reusing my sister’s old clothes, “hand-me-downs.” And “ex” also sometimes has a slightly negative feel, when its meaning is “used to be” or Sister Sharon “no-longer,” as in “ex-president” or “ex-friend.”

But there are far more positive associations with “re” and “ex.” We recycle to help the environment; we respond to a friend to enrich the conversation; we renovate and remodel older structures to expand and extend a facility’s usefulness and attractiveness. We explore to make new discoveries; we exercise to renew and restore our health; we exchange ideas and prayers and hopes and dreams.

There are always so many ways to approach an idea or event; some are negative, some are positive, and some are simply open for consideration, inviting receptive examination. In this Ursulines Alive, you will find many opportunities to explore your responses to these prefixes.

Enjoy reading about the collaboration with the Empowerment Academy and the sustainable agriculture partnership with the Owensboro Community and Technical College. Examine the ways the work of the Ursuline Sisters is being strengthened through expanded relationships with these groups whose missions complement that of the Ursulines.

See how the Ursulines are exercising their rediscovered construction skills with the “Wake Up the World” Habitat build in Louisville, Ky. Explore with our postulant, Stephany Nelson, her own renewal and deepening of her spiritual quest with the Ursuline Sisters. And, at last, rejoice with our Jubilarians as they celebrate their special anniversaries of faithfulness.

As we return to this season of earth’s bounteous harvest, may you experience your own recreation and renewal of heart and spirit.

In Angela,

Sister Sharon Sullivan, OSU Cover: Congregational Leader Sister Sharon Sullivan talks to the crowd gathered in front of St. Angela Hall at a press conference on June 12 regarding the new Empowerment Academy. The Academy, an opportunity to provide safe housing and stability for high school students who are homeless or near homeless, kicked off its fund drive in front of its future home, St. Angela Hall.

Left circle: Emma Thrasher, 20, hoses out a pig stall on April 30. These pigs were raised at the Mount by Owensboro Community and Technical College students, gaining about 100 pounds until they were processed and sold for meat. Right circle: Three acres of the sisters’ property south of campus along Cummings Road is being farmed by new tenants – agriculture students from OCTC. Here, students hoe the ground in the fall of 2014.

Ursulines Alive is published by the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, Maple Mount, Ky. Three issues are published each calendar year.

EDITORS: Director of Mission Advancement/Communications...... Dan Heckel, OSUA

Communications Specialist/Graphic Design.................... Jennifer Kaminski, OSUA MISSION ADVANCEMENT STAFF:

Director of Development................................................ Sister Amelia Stenger

Coordinator of Mission Effectiveness............................. Sister Rose Marita O’Bryan

Coordinator of Ursuline Partnerships............................. Marian Bennett, OSUA

Communications and Development Specialist............... Kris Mango

Mission Advancement Assistant..................................... Sister Marcella Schrant

Contributing Writer......................................................... Sister Ruth Gehres Contributing Writer......................................................... Sister Marietta Wethington 2

In this issue Ursuline Sisters Partner with Others to Expand Education.................................3 2015 Jubilarians.....................................6 Habitat House........................................8 Not Really Retired: Sister Marcella..... 10 Postulant Stephany Nelson’s Story.....11 Retreat Center ....................................12 Evening with an Ursuline....................14 Development.......................................15 Soli Deo Gloria ....................................16 We rejoice in the gifts of our sisters, given for the kingdom of God

Our Mission We, the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, sustained by prayer and vowed life in community, proclaim Jesus through education and Christian formation in the spirit of our founder, Saint Angela Merici.

Our PURPOSE Freeing and Nurturing Women and Children

OUR CORE VALUES • Prayer • Service • Empowerment • Justice • Contemplative Presence ...in the spirit of Saint Angela Merici

Contact Us Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph 8001 Cummings Road Maple Mount, Kentucky 42356 270-229-4103 Fax: 270-229-4953 info.msj@maplemount.org www.ursulinesmsj.org • Facebook: facebook.com/ursulinesmsj • Instagram: Ursuline Sisters of MSJ • LinkedIn: Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph • Snapchat: ursulinesmsj • Twitter: twitter.com/ursulinesmsj • YouTube: UrsulineSistersMSJ

Kristin Whitney peeks around the corner of a room on the second floor of St. Angela Hall as Dedrick Jackson, left, an Empowerment Academy board member, gives a tour to some of the participants attending the June 12 announcement. The second floor of St. Angela Hall will eventually house 12 girls.

Sisters Offer Land to Groups who Share Similar Mission

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hen Ursuline Sister Sharon Sullivan was training special education teachers at Brescia University, she would at times help place her students at Beacon Central High School, the alternative school in Daviess County, Ky. The principal there was Donna Lanham.

“I shared her passion for helping students discover and reach their potential,” Sister Sharon said. So when Lanham called Sister Sharon in early 2014 and asked her what she knew about students known as “couch hoppers,” Sister Sharon was intrigued.

Several hundred high school students in Daviess County are identified as “couch hoppers,” young people living in dysfunctional family situations with no permanent address.

They are literally sleeping on the couches of friends until they move to the next house. The school system recognized the risk of these students falling behind in their studies with so much uncertainty in their lives.

“We talked a while and I finally asked, ‘Now what might you be thinking (Mount Saint Joseph) would be able to do with this?’” Sister Sharon said.

Lanham explained that she was on the advisory council for a project called the Empowerment Academy, a nonprofit group hoping to provide safe housing for these teens so they could focus on their

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By Dan Heckel, Mount Saint Joseph Staff

school work. They were looking for a home for these children.

Sister Sharon, now congregational leader of the Ursuline Sisters, began to describe St. Angela Hall at the Maple Mount campus. The building opened in 1914 and was used for housing students of the Mount Saint Joseph Junior College from 1925-50. Its first floor is now used for the offices of Mission Advancement, but its second and third floors are vacant and used for storage.

“One thing led to another, and one day in March 2014, Donna, Vicki Quisenberry, Bev Phelan and Vicki Riley came out to Mount Saint Joseph to see what St. Angela Hall really looked like,” Sister Sharon said. “By the end of that March afternoon, Vicki Quisenberry was absolutely convinced that our St. Angela Hall was destined to become the Empowerment Academy and we had recognized that our missions were indeed compatible and perhaps even symbiotic – enriching each other’s missions.”

Quisenberry is executive director of the Foundation for Daviess County Public Schools, and is the secretary for the Empowerment Academy Board of Directors.

“Despite the ragged carpet, thick coating of dust, cobwebs and a liberal scattering of dead bug carcasses, the minute I walked into that lovely old building, I knew we had found a home for our EA kids,” Quisenberry Continued on page 4

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Agriculture students from Owensboro Community & Technical College have a plot of land to grow food on at Mount Saint Joseph. They are shown here tending to their vegetable garden on Oct. 30, 2014.

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said. “At that moment, Sister Sharon and I committed to making the EA happen.”

On June 12, 2015, the Empowerment Academy Board stood on the porch of St. Angela Hall and announced that it was beginning its efforts to raise the $2 million needed to cover $1.4 million in renovations to St. Angela and the rest for the first year of operating expenses.

The crowd that gathered was silent as they listened to a young woman tell how her life and the life of one of her friends could have turned out the same. They both lost fathers at a young age, and their mothers often selected boyfriends of suspect character. The young woman was fortunate to have the help of her grandparents to raise her, and she succeeded in school and will go to college in the fall on a full scholarship.

Her friend did not have the same family support.

Years of physical and mental abuse left him relying on the couches of friends for a place to stay. He struggled in school, got involved in drugs and was often asked to leave places without getting any of his possessions. His future is now uncertain.

“A stable, supportive environment would have meant so much to him,” she said. “That’s what supporting the Empowerment Academy can do.”

Sister Sharon Sullivan was moved by the young woman’s story that day.

“In 1925, St. Angela Hall became the Mount Saint Joseph Junior College,” she told the crowd. “In 1950 it moved to Owensboro and became Brescia College. In 30 years, what will the Empowerment Academy become as it starts its moment of birth today?”

Sister Sharon said recently there are many benefits to having the Empowerment Academy at Maple Mount, including: • The excitement of a newly developing ministry that can be of direct benefit to young people of Daviess 4

These pigs were raised at the Mount by OCTC students, gaining about 100 pounds until they were processed and sold for their meat.

County and their families and futures; • The potential for St. Angela Hall to once again be home for students; • The potential for involvement, if desired, for sisters at Maple Mount to interact with young people; • The expansion of the Mount Saint Joseph mission beyond traditional boundaries.

The Empowerment Academy is the second recent endeavor in which property at Maple Mount is being offered to help fulfill a secular, but related, mission.

In the fall of 2014, the Owensboro Community and Technical College leased three acres of the Mount farm to grow vegetables as part of its new sustainable agriculture program. This spring students in the program raised pigs and broiler chickens at the Mount to have experience with livestock.

Melding the mission of the Ursuline Sisters with other groups is important, Sister Sharon said.

“We are called to be the face of Christ wherever we are; we cannot be insular or isolated – our mission field is all around us and perhaps even the land on which we dwell and the buildings in which we live share in the Ursuline mission,” she said. “We need to make all expressions of our mission possible.”

Quisenberry said the atmosphere at Maple Mount is perfect for what the Empowerment Academy wants to provide.

“The layout of St. Angela Hall is perfect for what we want to do with common areas on the ground floor, living quarters for the young ladies on the second floor and for the young men on Empowerment Academy board members Mike Ballard, left, and Dedrick Jackson display the architect drawings for what St. Angela Hall will look like once renovated. Right now, it is being used as the Mission Advancement office.

Emma Thrasher, left, and Erica May prepare to feed and water the broiler chickens in their portable coop on the Mount Farm.

They are students at Owensboro Community and Technical College.

the third floor,” she said. “St. Angela Hall is full of light and with all of the pretty wood details, it’s warm and inviting. The campus is quaint and magnificent at the same time, so the teens who will live at the EA can wake up each morning to peace, quiet and beautiful surroundings knowing they are in a safe environment.

We are so appreciative of the sisters and thankful for their commitment to work with us to make the Empowerment Academy a reality for children in need.”

Renovations on the building will not begin until all the money is raised and the Mission Advancement staff is in new office space in another building. Renovation of that office space on campus could begin this fall.

Sustainable Agriculture

The genesis of the sustainable agriculture program dates to conversations between Father Larry Hostetter, the Brescia University president, and Sister Sharon about ways to expand collaborations between Brescia and the Ursulines. The Mount Saint Joseph Farm Task Force encouraged consideration of what might be possible if Brescia were to offer a degree in sustainable agriculture in collaboration with the farm at Maple Mount, Sister Sharon said.

“It soon became clear that Brescia would not be able to develop and offer an agriculture degree in the near future, but Father Larry still believed in the value and potential of such a degree and such a collaboration,” Sister Sharon said. “Then I think the Holy Spirit took a hand.”

Father Larry and Jim Klauber, then the president of OCTC, were networking at an

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education meeting and raised the topic of new academic programs – especially the notion of sustainable agriculture, Sister Sharon said. Within days, OCTC scheduled a meeting with Brescia and Mount Saint Joseph to brainstorm possibilities for a new sustainable agriculture program. Within a few weeks, OCTC representatives and Father Larry toured the Mount to get more ideas about what might be possible in collaboration among the two colleges and MSJ. “We talked about shared missions and the benefit to the sustainable agriculture program participants of being on and collaborating with an established farm committed to sustainable practices,” Sister Sharon said.

The MSJ Farm Task Force was created in 2010 after the community agreed to explore the possible futures for the Mount farm. Early in the task force’s work, one of the futures being considered was the hope for collaboration in mission with other entities, Sister Sharon said.

“The thought of collaborating in educational mission with Brescia University, our sponsored institute, was most appealing; so when the request for a collaboration in education came from OCTC, it seemed appropriate to consider it,” she said. “After all, OCTC has an educational mission and a history of serving students in great need. Sweetening the mixture was the realization that the impetus for the OCTC sustainable agriculture program reflected and enhanced our own environmental stewardship values.”

Chelsea Williams, assistant professor and program director of Agricultural Studies at OCTC, said in the spring that having her students work with livestock was invaluable in teaching the responsibility involved in animal care. She expects to have students back in the fall semester raising a garden and hopefully adding more livestock.

Sister Sharon said she hopes there are more opportunities in the future for the Ursuline Sisters to share their mission for the good of the community.

“I hope that these two beginning collaborations will open the doors and fuel the imaginations of other educational, service and faith agencies whose missions complement ours,” Sister Sharon said. “Pope Francis reminds us that we are called to ‘wake up the world.’

Surely once the world is awakened, it needs some place to go. Perhaps our future motto could become, ‘If you have a mission, we have a place.’”n

To learn more about the Empowerment Academy, contact Vicki Quisenberry at vickiq@foundationfordcps.org 5

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19 sisters celebrating jubilees of religious life 70 years...

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tSister Philomena Cox, a native of Owensboro, was a teacher (194754) and principal (1959-62) at St. Catherine, New Haven; a teacher at St. Charles, Lebanon (1955-56) and St. Pius, Owensboro (196263); principal of St. Bernard, Clementsville (1954-55), and teacher/principal at St. Columba, Louisville (1969-76). She was principal at St. Alphonsus, St. Joseph (1956-59) and St. Mary Magdalene, Sorgho (1963-69). She was director of building services at Brescia College/University (1976-91). At the Motherhouse, she was a business office secretary (1991-2000), local community treasurer (2000-08) and is now active in prayer. tSister Marcella Schrant, a native of Walker, Kan., was previously an Ursuline of Paola, Kan., prior to the 2008 merger with Mount Saint Joseph. All of her ministry was in Kansas until retiring to Maple Mount in 2014. She was a teacher for 43 years at Holy Name, Kansas City (1947-54, 1961-69), St. Agnes, Roeland Park (1954-57, 196990) and St. Patrick/Holy Trinity, Paola (1957-61). She was elected superior of her community (199094). She was a receptionist at St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, (1994-2004) and office assistant at St. John the Evangelist Parish (2007-14), both in Lawrence, and pastoral associate at Holy Family Parish, Eudora (2004-07). She now volunteers with the office of Mission Advancement at the Motherhouse.

tSister Marie Brenda Vowels is a Louisville native. In Kentucky, she taught at St. Romuald, Hardinsburg (1947-49), St. William, Knottsville (1949-54), St. Charles, Lebanon (1954-56), St. Anthony, Axtel (1956-58), St. Catherine, New Haven (1963-64), St. Thomas More, Paducah (1964-66) and St. Martin, Flaherty (1974-75).

She was principal of St. Andrew, Harrodsburg (1970-73) and Precious Blood, Owensboro (1973-74). In New Mexico, she taught (195963) and was principal (1975-78) at St. Joseph, San Fidel; taught at St. Teresa, Grants (1966-70) and was parish minister at St. Teresa Parish (1993-95); taught at Sacred Heart, Farmington (1958-59); served as parish minister at San Estevan Indian Mission, Acoma (1978-86, 1989-91), at St. John the Baptist Parish, San Juan Pueblo (198689), and at St. John the Evangelist, Houck, Ariz. (1991-93). She was director of religious education for the St. Anthony Indian Mission, Zuni (1997-98). She also served in outreach in Benton (1995-97), and at the Motherhouse in the Post Office (1975) and as an information receptionist (1999-2009). She is active in prayer.

60 years... tSister Jane Falke, a native of Westphalia, Kan., was an Ursuline Sister of Paola. She taught in Kansas at St. Agnes, Fairway (1958-60), St. John, Greeley (1960-63), Queen of the Holy Rosary, Overland Park (1963-66) and Bishop Miege

The sisters gathered for a Jubilee Mass on July 11. Seated, from left: Sister Delores “Dee” Long, Sister Marcella Schrant, Sister Marie Brenda Vowels and Sister Philomena Cox; standing, from left: Sisters Catherine Marie Lauterwasser, Marie Joseph Coomes, Margaret Marie Greenwell, Ann McGrew, Jane Falke, Mary Ellen Backes, Frances Louise Johnson, Michael Marie Friedman, Marietta Wethington, Mary Henning, Marie Michael Hayden, Barbara Jean Head, Teresa Riley and Emma Anne Munsterman. (Absent: Sister Maureen Griner)

High, Roeland Park (1967-82).

She was principal of Holy Trinity, Paola (1966-67). She has also been a pastoral minister for L’Arche Heartland, Overland Park (2006-07) and business manager for St. Charles Parish, Gladstone, Mo. (199098). She was assistant superior/ treasurer of her Ursuline community (1982-90, 1998-2006) and served as a council member for 10 years.

At Catholic Charities, she was an administrative support specialist in Northeast Kansas in Overland Park (2008-10) and since then, a receptionist in Kansas City, Kan. tSister Margaret Marie Greenwell, a native of New Haven, was a teacher for 35 years in Kentucky.

She taught at St. Brigid, Vine Grove (1957-59) and in Louisville at St. Columba (1959-61) and St. Denis (1961-67). She was principal (198687) and taught religion (1987-93) at St. Ann, Morganfield, and was parish minister at St. Ann Church (1985-86). She taught (1967-85) and was principal (1983-85) at St. Thomas More, Paducah. She served as the receptionist at the Sister Visitor Center (Catholic Charities) in Louisville from 1993 until 2015. tSister Marie Michael Hayden is a native of Owensboro. She taught at St. Columba, Louisville (195759) and St. Catherine, New Haven.

(1959-64). She was assistant director of religious education for the Diocese of Lincoln, Neb. (1964-79) and director of religious education for the Diocese of Owensboro (1979-87). She was the director of religious education and parish minister for St. Francis de Sales Parish, Lebanon, Mo. (1987-96) and

for Sacred Heart Parish, Russellville (1996-99). She ministered to her ill brother, Father Lucian Hayden, at the Carmel Home, Owensboro, 1999-2001. She was director of religious education and pastoral associate for St. John the Baptist, Fordsville (2002-14). She is active in prayer. tSister Francis Louise Johnson was born in Waverly and grew up in Mayfield. In Kentucky, she taught at St. Edward, Jeffersontown (195758); St. Catherine, New Haven (1958-59); Peonia, Peonia (196667); St. Margaret Mary, (197172) and St. Ignatius (1972-73) in Louisville and St. Brigid, Vine Grove (1981-83). She was principal at Holy Cross, Holy Cross (1970-71). In Missouri, she taught at Seven Holy Founders, Affton (1959-64), St. Teresa, Glennonville (1973) and St. Angela Merici, Florissant (1983-84).

She taught at St. John the Baptist, Plattsmouth, Neb. (1964-66). She taught at Sacred Heart, Farmington, N.M. (1967-70) and St. Charles, Albuquerque, N.M. (1973-80). She was a parish minister at St. Francis de Sales Parish, Paducah (198489) and a pastoral associate at St. Aloysius Parish, Pewee Valley (19892002). Since 2003, she has been coordinator of the Guest House at Mount Saint Joseph. tSister Catherine Marie Lauterwasser is a native of Owensboro. She taught music at St. Bernard Academy, Nebraska City, Neb. (1958-59 and at Seven Holy Founders, Affton, Mo. (1959-64).

At St. Margaret Mary, Louisville, she was a classroom (1957-58) and a music teacher (1964-71). She did both at St. Romuald High, Hardinsburg (1971-73). At Mount Saint Joseph Academy she was a music teacher (1973-79) and the last principal (1980-83). She taught at Trinity High School, Whitesville (1979-80) and at Mary Carrico, Knottsville (1983-98). At Maple Mount, she assisted in archives (1998-2006), local community life (2005-10) and has been treasurer since 2008.

tSister Teresa Riley is a native of Mayfield. She taught at St. Leonard, Louisville (1957-67); Precious Blood, Owensboro (1967-69); Seven Holy Founders, Affton, Mo. (196976); St. Joseph, Mayfield (197678); St. Angela Education Center, Louisville (1980) and Owensboro Catholic High (2000). She served at Brescia College/University as office manager for admissions (1978-80) and director of Student Support Services (1986-2000). She was administrative assistant in the education department at Bellarmine College, Louisville (1981-86). She was pastoral associate at St. Mary Parish, LaCenter, (2001-10), and is now in outreach ministry in Benton. tSister Marietta Wethington is a native of Clementsville. She was a teacher at Immaculate (195764) and St. Pius X (1971-75) in Owensboro; St. Columba (196467) and St. James (1967-69) in Louisville; St. Paul, Princeton (1969-71), St. Joseph, Bowling Green (1975-79) and at St. Angela Merici, Florissant, Mo. (1979-80).

She was a pastoral associate at Holy Spirit Church, Jamestown. (19932000). She was elected three times on the Ursuline leadership Council (1984-92, 2000-2004), and served in Motherhouse ministry as local superior (1981-84) and as director of activities (1980-81), formation (1984-92), postulants (2000-10), the contact program (2003-10) and ongoing formation (2000-06).

She was co-director (2004-07) and then director of formation for Ursuline Partnerships (200711, 2013-14), assistant director of pastoral care (2010-11) and retreat/ spiritual director for the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center (2011-14). She is a founding member of the Spiritual Direction Training Program at the Center.

She now volunteers with Mission Advancement.

50 years... tSister Mary Ellen Backes is a native of Minot, N.D., and was an Ursuline Sister of Belleville, Ill., prior to the 2005 merger with

Mount Saint Joseph. She was a teacher at Holy Childhood of Jesus, Mascoutah, Ill. (1967-68, 1971-80), director of religious education at St. Stephen Parish, Caseyville, Ill. (1982-89) and general superior of the Ursulines of Belleville (1989-95).

Since 1995 she has been pastoral associate at St. Joseph Parish, Springfield, Ill. tSister Marie Joseph Coomes is a native of St. Lawrence. She was a teacher at St. Peter of Antioch, Waverly (1968-70), St. Martin, Flaherty (1970-74), St. Martin, Rome (1974-75), St. Francis of Assisi, Loretto (1975-77) and St. Francis Xavier, Raywick (1977-78).

She ministered at the Motherhouse infirmary (1978-82, 1986-2004) and at the Mount Saint Joseph Prayer House (1982-86). She served in the senior companion program with Audubon Area Community Services in Owensboro (2006-13). She is serving in housekeeping, presence and support for the Ursuline Sisters at 514 St. Ann St. in Owensboro. tSister Michael Marie Friedman, a native of Glennonville, Mo., was a teacher at Mary Carrico, Knottsville (1969-72); and a principal and teacher at St. Paul, Princeton (197273); St. Alphonsus, St. Joseph (197375), and St. Romuald, Hardinsburg (1975-81). She taught at St. Mary High School, Paducah (198185). She served as principal of St. Mary Elementary School, Paducah (1985-89), Owensboro Catholic Middle School (1989-90), and St. James Catholic Regional School in Elizabethtown (1990-2015). tSister Maureen Griner, a native of Louisville, was a music teacher at Seven Holy Founders School, Affton, Mo. (1969-74) and St. Pius X High School, Lincoln, Neb. (1974-79). She ministered at Brescia College as choral director (1979-80), music education instructor (197985) and music and liturgy consultant (1991-92). She served as director of novices and liturgist (1980-85) and as an elected member of the leadership Council (2004-10). She was a liturgist at Holy Name of Jesus Continued on page 9

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Among those present for the ground blessing of the Habitat house on May 30 is Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph Amanda Rose Mahoney, seated on the far left. Sister Kathleen Kaelin took the photo.

BELOW: Sister Sharon Sullivan, left, congregational leader, and Sister Julia Head, assistant congregational leader, are all smiles in early May as they prepare to work on some framing of the Wake Up the World House in the Habitat warehouse in Louisville.

Ursulines help sponsor Louisville Habitat Build

By Dan Heckel, Mount Saint Joseph

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s part of the celebration of the Year of Consecrated Life, the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph joined with 16 other congregations who serve in the Leadership Council of Women Religious Region 6 (Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee) and the Archdiocese of Louisville to sponsor a Habitat for Humanity house in Louisville.

The house was designated the “Wake Up the World House,” a reference to Pope Francis calling upon women religious to “Wake up the world! Be witnesses of a different way of doing things, of acting, of living.

It is possible to live differently in this world.”

The house is at 1915 Hazelwood Court, Louisville.

The family who is helping build and then takes ownership of the house is from Somalia. Bisharo Hussein is head of the family; she has eight children – the youngest is less than a year old while the eldest is 20 years old. Bisharo works for Tyson Foods and is most proud that she is successfully raising her children and has earned her GED. The “build” began the last weekend in May with the “ground blessing” for the Wake Up the World House on May 30. That was the same day as the Get Moving at the Mount 5K at Maple Mount, but some of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph who serve in Louisville were able to attend.

From May 5-7, the North American Ursuline 8

Leadership Council – which includes the leadership Council from Maple Mount – met in Louisville. Sister Janet Marie Peterworth, the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville president, arranged for the group to visit and tour the Habitat for Humanity Center west of downtown Louisville, where the Wake Up the World House was being framed. They put together three walls and wrote messages on the fourth wall of what will be the shed of the Wake Up the World House. The house is scheduled to be completed in late August.

Nancy Murphy, a Sister Nancy Gerth, a Sister of Sister Council member, drives a Charity of Nazareth, organizes the nail into the frame of the volunteers. Saturdays throughout Wake Up the World House in the Habitat warehouse. the summer are volunteer weekends for the house, and some of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph serving in Louisville are scheduled to volunteer on Aug. 15.

Sister Sharon Sullivan, congregational leader of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, shared how the hand of God is working in this project to build a second

Those working on the house are urged to sign the boards with well wishes.

Here Sister Nancy Murphy wrote, “Enjoy your home.”

Habitat house next door. Here’s the story: When Sister Janet informed a Habitat official in Louisville that the 17 religious congregations had secured the $45,000 needed to support the Wake Up the World House, the official said that 48 hours earlier, an anonymous donor said he would supply the money for a house in honor of Pope Francis, but only if another Catholic group would sponsor a house. The Pope Francis House was blessed April 25 and will become home to another Somali family.

This is the first time the Ursuline Sisters have been involved in a Habitat house since they supported a 2007 women’s build in Owensboro. n

Bisharo Hussein is pictured with three of her eight children during the May 30 “ground blessing” of her house under construction in Louisville.

Jubilees

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Parish, Henderson (1986-91). She was director of music for the Diocese of Memphis, Tenn. (1992-2006) and director of music for the Cathedral in Memphis (1992-2012). Since 2006 she has led the Dorothy Day House of Hospitality in Memphis. tSister Barbara Jean Head is a native of New Haven. She was a teacher at Precious Blood, Owensboro (1969-73) and St. Mary Magdalene, Sorgho (1982-83), principal and teacher at St. Andrew, Harrodsburg (1973-82) and a math teacher at Owensboro Catholic High (1983-89). She was treasurer and business administrator for the Ursulines (1989-2004) and was elected to their leadership Council (2004-10). Since 2005 she has been the senior accountant at Brescia University in Owensboro. tSister Mary Henning is a native of Axtel. She was a teacher at St. Edward, Jeffersontown (1969-76), a music teacher at Mount Saint Joseph Academy (1979-81), a music minister at Blessed Mother Parish, Owensboro (1995-97) and an associate professor of music at Brescia College/University (1981-95, 1997-2013). Since 2013 she has served as director of worship and liturgy at the Motherhouse, and director of postulants. tSister Ann McGrew, a native of Clarkson, was a teacher at St. Peter of Alcantara, Stanley (1968-69), St. Denis, Louisville (1969-75) and teacher/principal at St. Brigid, Vine Grove (1975-84). She was pastoral associate at St. Leo, Murray, and director of the Newman House, Murray State University (1993-96), pastoral associate at St. Stephen Cathedral, Owensboro (1996-2001) and St. Anthony, Browns Valley (2001-02). She was director of RCIA at St. Martin, Owensboro (2005-06) and parish minister at St. Martin and St. Elizabeth, Curdsville (2007-10). She served multiple roles at Brescia University, including supervisor of the Women’s Discernment House (2001-05), campus minister (2002-03) and spiritual coordinator of the ministry formation program (2003-05). She served the Ursuline community as director of novices (1985-92); secretary to the leadership Council (1989-92); an elected member of the Council (200410); director of formation (2004-07); director of temporary professed (2004-09); team member of the Spiritual Direction Training Program (2004-present) and program facilitator at Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center (2006-07). Since 2010, she has served as director of the Retreat Center. tSister Emma Anne Munsterman a native of Mount Vernon, Ind., taught in Louisville at St. Bernard (1968-70), St. Margaret Mary (1970-77) and St. James (1981-84); and at Christ the King, Madisonville, (1977-81), St. Paul, Leitchfield (1984-85), Precious Blood, Owensboro (1985-89) and at the Cincinnati (Ohio) Reflexology Center (1996-98). She was assistant local superior and director of transportation at the Motherhouse (198992) and secretary to the leadership Council (1992-96). Since 1998 she has been a licensed massage therapist and certified natural health practitioner of several holistic modalities. She provides care for the Sisters of Charity at Nazareth, Ky. 40 years... tSister Delores “Dee” Long a native of Kansas City, Mo., was an Ursuline Sister of Paola. She served as a gym teacher and coach at the Lakemary Center, Paola (1979-82) and taught at Holy Angels, Garnett, Kan. (1982-86). She taught at Holy Name, Kansas City, Kan., (1986-88) and served as principal (1988-95). She was the principal at Our Lady of Unity, Kansas City, Kan., (1995-2004) and taught at Our Lady of the Angels, Kansas City, Mo. (2004-12). She served in the emergency care center at Catholic Charities in Kansas City, Kan., for a year before retiring in 2013. She now assists in archives at the Motherhouse.

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Not Really Retired...

Sister Marcella ministers with a smile on her face Search the Internet for “hospitality training” and dozens of results pop up. Ursuline Sister Marcella Schrant has never had a second of hospitality training – it just comes naturally to her.

“Most of the time, I’m happy,” Sister Marcella said. “I think that’s what the kids loved about me. When I came in to teach, I would be in a good mood.”

Sister Marcella was a teacher for 43 years in Kansas, where she was an Ursuline Sister of Paola prior to the 2008 merger with Mount Saint Joseph. She served a term as superior of her community from 1990-94, served college students for 10 years in Lawrence, Kan., then a parish community in tiny Eudora, Kan., for three years before returning to Lawrence for seven years at St. John the Evangelist Parish.

When her role there ended in late 2014, she came home to the Mount in December. In February this year, just a few months shy of her 89th birthday, she began volunteering in the Mission Advancement office each morning, home to Development, Communications and Ursuline Partnerships.

“I was really looking for something to do,” she said.

“It’s going very well so far.”

“I’d witnessed how much the staff enjoyed working with her at St. John the Evangelist and how productive she was,” said Dan Heckel, director of Mission Advancement.

“When I learned she was coming to the Mount, I made it known immediately that if she wanted to continue volunteering, we wanted her in our office.”

When nearly 3,500 Quilt Club letters needed to be prepared for mailing, Sister Marcella took care of it. When checks come in from supporters wanting Quilt Club tickets or Mount Saint Joseph Picnic raffle tickets, Sister Marcella fills them out.

“Aside from the work she does for us, she comes over every morning with a smile on her face and individually wishes the staff ‘good morning,’” Heckel said. “It means a lot to all of us.”

Sister Marcella has friends wherever she’s ministered who remain in touch with her. Since she knew she wouldn’t be in Lawrence this year to sell picnic tickets, she wrote a letter to some of her friends there, and has received more than 50 letters back.

Her first tour in Lawrence was at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center at the University of Kansas, where she was the receptionist from 1994-2004.

“There was a bench near the window sill where the students would come to talk,” she said. “I still hear from them.”

Sister Marcella said she feels very welcomed in her new surroundings and by the sisters in Saint Joseph Villa where 10

Sister Marcella Schrant sorts raffle tickets for the Mount Saint Joseph Picnic (coming up on Sept. 13) in her office in the Mission Advancement department in St. Angela Hall.

she lives. Since coming to the Mount, she’s continued her love of canning, including blackberry, blueberry and strawberry jams. By the first week of July she already had 50 jars ready to sell at the picnic.

Sister Marcella is celebrating her 70th year as an Ursuline Sister this year, and plans to make her time in Mission Advancement her last ministry. In the afternoons, she can be found enjoying a book in the courtyard at Saint Joseph Villa with a cup of coffee nearby -- and no doubt a smile on her face.

Friends can write to Sister Marcella at 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356.

– By Dan Heckel, Mount Saint Joseph Staff

2015-2016 Quilt Club Tickets

Now Available!

Sister Catherine Kaufman

You get 12 chances to win a handmade quilt with our Quilt Club annual memberships, available for only $20 each. A new quilt is raffled each month. Order your tickets today!

For details, visit ursulinesmsj.org, click on “Help the Sisters” and then “Quilt Club.”

Order your tickets by Oct. 2 to get your name in all 12 drawings. Call 270-229-2009.

Email kris.mango@maplemount.org

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Stephany Nelson ready for a year in the classroom

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Note: To read a longer version of this story, visit ursulinesmsj.org

here’s a picture of a brown-haired first-grader pinned to a bulletin board in Stephany Nelson’s classroom. It’s not a picture of a former student – it’s Stephany’s first-grade picture from Kendall, Fla. “I did not have a good experience, I struggled in first grade,” she said. “My picture is to remind myself what it means to be in first grade.”

In May, Stephany completed her sixth year of teaching first grade at St. Joseph Catholic School in Bowling Stephany Nelson smiles at Dominic, who came to the United Green, Ky. It was her first year of teaching since she States from Burma, as he hands in his paper during class. became a postulant with the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph. When the school year began, she thought job, it’s a calling to ministry. I realized how involved she it might be her last at St. Joseph, because she expected to had been at Holy Spirit.” Stephany was hired to teach first enter the novitiate at Maple Mount, which would require grade in the 2009-10 school year. her to spend her time in study and community with the “My joy is teaching reading,” Stephany said. “This has Ursulines. been a wonderful experience. It really is the foundation Illness in the fall of 2014 prohibited her from attending year of school. If they can read in first grade, they’ll grow the classes she needs to complete her master’s all the way through.” degree as a reading specialist. Then in January “Stephany has always been an excellent her mother had two heart attacks and open teacher,” Lange said. “She’s very attuned to Stephany shared heart surgery. Stephany knows it will be best the learning styles of her students. She does with Principal to complete the two classes she needs for her an excellent job differentiating her methods Jan Lange her master’s before entering the novitiate, so her based on the student needs. The children call to religious entrance is more likely next summer. love her.” life, and that set “Selfishly, I was very relieved I get to During Stephany’s first school year at St. in motion her keep her for the next year,” said Jan Lange, Joseph, the Diocese of Owensboro received a journey toward principal at St. Joseph. “I’m giving her a leave new bishop in William Medley. Just a month the Ursuline of absence. Whoever I hire will know it may after he was installed, Bishop Medley came Sisters. only be for a year.” to the school on March 19, 2010, the feast The physical and emotional struggles of the of Saint Joseph. past year have not fazed Stephany’s decision “His homily was about his call to be to become an Ursuline Sister. She studies the heritage of a priest and then to be bishop, and that he always said the community and the early pioneers with Sister Mary ‘yes,’ like Saint Joseph,” Lange said. “Then he said ‘I hope Henning, director of postulants. there are some of you who are called to the priesthood or “I told Sister Mary, ‘Sometimes I feel like Job,’” religious life.’”

Stephany said. “God asks, ‘Are you going to trust me?’

For the first time, Stephany thought he might be God gives me trials for a reason,” Stephany said. talking to her. The more she prayed about it, the feeling Stephany’s journey to become a teacher and potentially never went away. During Sunday Mass on Feb. 26, 2012, an Ursuline Sister began a decade ago. After moving to Lange was sitting next to Stephany and noticed she was Bowling Green, an experience during a koinonia retreat crying. began her quest to convert to Catholicism in 2005. She “I was just overwhelmed with emotion,” Stephany said. also realized what she most wanted to do was teach. She “Why is God choosing me? I was afraid to tell Jan.” began attending Western Kentucky University, graduating Stephany shared with Lange her call to religious life, with an education degree in December 2008. During Lent and that set in motion her journey toward the Ursuline 2009 she helped with a koinonia at Holy Spirit Catholic Sisters.

Church, in which one of the participants was Lange.

“It’s exciting, this doesn’t happen very often,” Lange “A parent from school was on the team and introduced said. “I think she talks about her journey with the (Stephany) to me and said she’s looking for a teaching students. We tell the students on Saint Angela Merici’s position if we have an opening,” Lange said. feast day it is also Ms. Nelson’s feast day.”

“She had a very strong prayer life,” Lange said. “When Lange has been principal since 2001, but began as a you’re hiring in Catholic schools, you need someone who teacher at St. Joseph in 1987. There has not been a sister at is comfortable sharing her faith with children. It’s not a Continued on page 15 11

A Ministry of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph

Give Peace, Quiet and Prayer a Chance

Sixth-grade students from Owensboro Catholic Schools visited Mount Saint Joseph for a “Day of Prayer” on May 26.

LEFT: Congregational Leader Sister Sharon Sullivan tells students about Our Lady of Prompt Succor during their scavenger hunt.

RIGHT: The students sing during Mass at the Motherhouse Chapel. They also participated in crafts, the Rosary Walk, an outdoor team-building activity and a picnic lunch.

Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center Calendar of Upcoming Events Fall 2015 AUGUST

Evening with an Ursuline: Looking Glass ......................... Tuesday, Aug. 4 Unitarian Universalist Spiritual Mentoring Institute............... Week of Aug. 9-15 Rediscover Catholicism....................................................Thursday, Aug. 13 Yarn Spinners Retreat..................................................... Week of Aug. 14-16 Retrouvaille.............................................................. Friday-Sunday, Aug. 21-23 Father Paul Volk: A Passion for God Retreat..................Saturday, Aug. 22 SEPTEMBER

Evening with an Ursuline: Spiritual Reading.....................Tuesday, Sept. 1 Rediscover Catholicism................................................... Thursday, Sept. 10 45th annual BBQ Picnic at Mount Saint Joseph..................... Sunday, Sept. 13 Runaway Quilters.............................................................. Week of Sept. 21-25 Diocese of Owensboro Diaconate Program........... Friday-Sunday, Sept. 25-27

Deacon Matthew Keyser, left, and students have fun during the Christian Leadership Institute during the week of June 21-26. There were 22 teens and 13 adults participating in the event which helps students discover their God-given talents and to find ways to use them in their parishes, schools and communities.

OCTOBER

Newman, USI and UE (Indiana) Students Retreat.....Friday-Saturday, Oct. 2-3 Diocese of Owensboro Priests Retreat................................... Week of Oct. 5-9 Evening with an Ursuline: The Wisdom of Women............ Tuesday, Oct. 6 Rediscover Catholicism.......................................................Thursday, Oct. 8 Catholic Engaged Encounter............................... Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 10-11 Marian Retreat.................................................. Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 17-18 Quilt Guild........................................................... Monday-Thursday, Oct. 19-22 Diocese of Owensboro Diaconate Program.............Friday-Sunday, Oct. 23-25 New Spiritual Direction Training Program Begins........ Week of Oct. 26-30 Cantor Intensive..............................................Wednesday-Saturday, Oct. 28-1 Center-sponsored programs are in bold type. Please call to register.

To register or to schedule your event, call Kathy McCarty 270-229-0206 • kathy.mccarty@maplemount.org The Retreat Center is located 12 miles west of Owensboro on Hwy. 56 12

Ursuline Associates Mary Hartz, left, and Bernadette Howard attend the June 11 session of the yearlong study of Matthew Kelly’s book, “Rediscover Catholicism” at the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center.

Newcomers can still join the class which meets on the second Thursday of the month until Dec. 10.

Dear Friends of the Center, Summer is in full swing as you are reading this letter. I hope you have had time for R.E.S.T. I found this in a daily email I get on Ignatian Spirituality. The meaning is Restored Energy in Spirit Time. How can you do this?

Here are some suggestions:  Linger a bit longer in the morning over coffee;  Read a book suggested by your children or a friend; Sister Ann  Take a nature walk each day

These are only a few suggestions. Choose something to restore your energy.

Before summer is over, also take a few moments to think about ways you can continue the idea of ‘restoring your energy in Spirit time.’ Maybe something that will continue throughout the year, for the next few months or even something you want to do for one week. Take time every day to listen to God’s voice in your life. According to the “experts,” God speaks to us. Why do we not hear God’s voice? Good luck as you continue on this your journey with our awesome God.

During this coming year, Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center will begin a new group in the Spiritual Direction Training Program. This will be the sixth group for the two-year program. About 40 people have completed the program.

If you would like information about the Spiritual Direction Training Program, visit the website www.ursulinesmsj.org, then click on the Conference & Retreat Center tab. Please pray for the success of this program and all the programs offered through this Center.

Directed prayer days, retreats and private prayer days, and retreats will continue to be offered. The regular first Tuesday “Evening with an Ursuline” and the second Thursday program offered by Sister Ann McGrew will continue to be part of the Center schedule. What can we offer to enrich your spiritual life? Thank you for your prayers for the success of the programs offered.

May God continue to bless all your endeavors for bring about the Kingdom of God. In Saint Angela,

Sister Ann McGrew, OSU, Retreat Center Director ann.mcgrew@maplemount.org

Sister Mary Jude Cecil weeds and waters the petunias and zinnias in the garden outside Saint Joseph Villa on June 18. During the warm weather, she waters the flowers in the morning and evening so everyone can enjoy the beauty.

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SPIRITUAL DIRECTION TRAINING PROGRAM 2015-2017 Feeling called to companion Please others on their inquire by journey with Aug. 31, God? The mission 2015 of this program is to prepare people for a spiritual direction ministry and to enhance the skills of experienced spiritual directors, in the spirit of Saint Angela Merici. Participants meet for eight weekly sessions. Sessions are led by a team of trained spiritual directors. More than 40 individuals from across the U.S. have completed the program since it began in 2004.

Topics and Dates

Spirituality....................... Oct. 26-30, 2015 Spiritual Direction............... Jan. 11-15, 2016 The Inner Journey................ April 4-8, 2016 Prayer and Scripture............. July 25-29, 2016 Theology......................... Oct. 17-21, 2016 Ethics ................................Jan. 9-13, 2017 Supervision ........................April 3-7, 2017 Case Studies/Retreat..............July 31-4, 2017 Limited scholarships are available. Contact Sister Ann McGrew: 270-229-0200

To register or for more information, contact Sheila Blandford: 270-229-4103 ext. 804 sheila.blandford@maplemount.org A brochure can be found at www.ursulinesmsj.org under Conference & Retreat Center

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Evening with an Ursuline expands for coming year

Sister Mary Matthias Ward presented “Gratitude as Gift” during the April 7 Evening with an Ursuline dinner/program.

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ike all good ideas, “An Evening with an Ursuline” started out small in its first year, but the response has been so positive that the program will continue for another year at the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center, with double the number of sisters involved as presenters.

The Retreat Center stays busy on weekends throughout much of the year, and at times there are groups using the Center during the weekdays, although there is always room for more. Usage during weekday evenings was a bit low, so Sister Mary Matthias Ward suggesting tapping into the great wealth of knowledge the Ursuline Sisters have to create a monthly program on topics of interest.

Four sisters agreed to take turns being presenters for the first year, with Sister Mary Matthias joined by Sisters Amelia Stenger, Vivian Bowles and Rose Marita O’Bryan.

Even during the cold winter months, turnout for the programs remained consistent. The evenings begin with a delicious dinner prepared by the Retreat Center staff, followed by an hour-long program.

The 2015-16 year of “An Evening with an Ursuline” begins in September with eight sisters sharing their expertise, promising an even broader choice of topics.

The programs in the coming year will also begin a half hour earlier, with dinner at 5 p.m. and the program ending at 6:30, which will get participants home earlier.

The cost for dinner and the program is $20.

Sister Marietta Wethington will open the year Sept. 1 with one of her favorite topics, “Spiritual Reading.” Sister Marietta is a certified spiritual director who has led many retreats through the years. She has a wealth of knowledge on spirituality that will speak to issues in everyone’s life.

Sister Marietta will return to lead the March 1 session on “Angela, A Woman for All Time,” sharing her vast knowledge on Saint Angela Merici, the founder of the Ursuline Sisters whose message still resonates today.

Sister Rose Marita returns for her second year as a presenter on Oct. 6, discussing “The Wisdom of Women: Gift of the Feminine Soul for Men as Well as Women.” She serves as director of the Contemporary

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Woman Program at Brescia University, which often addresses male and female experiences regarding the roles of women.

Sister Rose Marita will lead a second session on Jan. 5, 2016, “Change and Transition: A Reflection.” Certainly change is the only constant in everyone’s life, and will make an interesting topic.

Sister George Mary Hagan makes her debut on Nov. 3 with “Catholic Pioneers: Maryland to Kentucky.”

Sister George Mary is a native of New Haven, Ky., near Bardstown, where the first Catholic families to settle in Kentucky arrived from Maryland in the late 1700s. Sister George Mary was active in the “Maryland to Kentucky and Beyond 2014 Reunion” that brought 465 people to St. Catharine College in Springfield, Ky., last year, uniting descendants of the pioneers who came from Maryland.

Sister Ann McGrew, director of the Retreat Center, will lead her first session on Dec. 1 titled “The Art of Waiting.” That is certainly a topic in which everyone can use some insight. Sister Ann will return June 7 with another meaningful topic, “The Choice to Say ‘Yes;’ The Choice to Say ‘No.’” Sister Amelia will be the speaker Feb. 2, discussing “Why Do I Feel Guilty When it’s Time to Relax? Dealing with Everyday Stress.” Sister Amelia is the director of Development for the Ursuline Sisters and wears many hats at Maple Mount, so she is certainly an expert on this topic.

Sister Ruth Gehres will lead her first “Evening with an Ursuline” on April 5, titled “Chile: An Ursuline Adventure.” In 2007, Sister Ruth left the comforts of Maple Mount to learn a new language and spend six years ministering with Sister Mimi Ballard at Casa Ursulina, the Ursuline ministry to poor families in Chillan, Chile. It was certainly an adventure that she can detail well.

Sister Ruth will complete the year of programming on Aug. 2, 2016, with “The Gift of Forgiveness,” certainly a topic everyone can use. Sister Vivian returns for her second year on May 3, discussing “Mind Management.”

Sister Vivian has a doctorate in counseling psychology, helped start the psychology department at Brescia University and was director of its Counseling Center for many years. Both she and Sister Ruth are former presidents of Brescia.

Sister Mary Matthias will be the July 5 presenter on “Blueprint for Life: Beatitudes,” one of her favorite topics. She is the director of Local Community Life at the Motherhouse and like Sister Rose Marita, is a former superior of the Ursuline Sisters.

To register for these programs, contact Kathy McCarty at (270) 229-0206, or email kathy.mccarty@ maplemount.org.n

Sisters Clara Reid, Ann Patrice Cecil, Emerentia Wiesner and Marie Montgomery cheer during the 5K Run/Walk at Maple Mount on May 30. It was the official 5K for the Daviess County Bicentennial (Sister Marie is holding the county flag). Right: Sister Judith Nell Riney finishes the race!

Stephany

God (and Friends) are Always with Us Dear Friends of the Ursuline Sisters, As we look to the summer with its time of work, vacations, community days for us, and quiet days of rest, we know that God is a part of all we do. Saint Angela knew that God was always with her, guiding her as she began the work of building the Ursuline community. In the Introduction to the Counsels she says, “Ask for what you need. You have every reason to Sister Amelia ask God to enlighten and guide you and to teach you what has to be done in this task out of love for Him.” There are many tasks that we are called to accomplish and so often we are blessed with wonderful friends as we go about those tasks. In the last magazine, we placed a wish list for things for the Sisters in St. Joseph Villa. Your response was amazing. Your care and love for the Sisters was so apparent as you sent your best wishes and the donations.

We are so grateful for your outpouring of generosity. Your kindness to the women who have given their lives for “the task out of love for Him”, means so much to all of us. We love them and want to make their time of waiting for the great reunion in heaven as comfortable as possible. Thank you for your support of this project.

Other tasks that are very much a part of our lives, are those related to the 45th Annual Picnic for the Ursuline Sisters Retirement Fund on Sept. 13. We hope you can come to the picnic. The food is great and you will meet people from all over. It is a great time to meet the Sisters and visit with friends. For the second time, we will have quilts for sale.

The tall fence around the gathering area will be covered with beautiful quilts sewn by our Quilter Friends and quilted either by hand or machine. They are all very nice and will keep the babies warm and the older ones cozy.

As we read Pope Francis’s new encyclical Laudato Si –Praise be to You, we see that there are many tasks that are still before us as we learn to take better care of the world God has given us to steward. In his words, he shares, “All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.” That is the task before us.

Together we can make a difference if we ask God to enlighten us, guide us and teach us what needs to be done.

Thank you again for your wonderful support. God bless you and those you love. Sincerely,

Sister Amelia Stenger, OSU, Director of Development

Come to the 45th Mount Saint Joseph BBQ Picnic!

Sunday, Sept. 13 • Serving begins at 11:30 a.m.

Booths! Crafts! Games! Silent Auction! TOP Grand Raffle PRIZE IS $10,000! Get your $5 raffle tickets by calling 270-229-2009 License #0290

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From page 11

the school during her tenure.

“It’s inspiring for the students to see her,” said Karen Stringer, a kindergarten teacher.

“She’s a good role model and example for the students. We just see priests and seminarians.

We were happy for her. You could see she was happy and excited for the future.”

Samantha O’Leary, the school’s other first grade teacher, echoed those thoughts.

“She’s ‘our nun.’ It helps give the kids inspiration that a woman can have a vocation,” O’Leary said.

Anna Alexander has been a teacher at the school for 13 years, the last two teaching second grade.

“I remember when she came to my house and told me she was going to be a sister,” Alexander said. “I said, ‘You’ll be perfect for it.’ The way she sings at Mass, you can see her love for God. She’ll be excellent at whatever she chooses to do.”

Alexander is a former first grade teacher, so she knows how well Stephany is preparing her future students.

“She does a great job, you can tell the kids are ready for second grade,” Alexander said. “They are ready and eager to learn.”

Stephany had 17 students this past year.

“I teach all subjects other than physical education, art, computer lab and library,” she said. “I enjoy teaching reading. They can do anything if they can read.”

Her students clearly have great affection for her.

“She’s a good singer,” Avery Kimbler said.

“My favorite class is religion. We get to learn about Jesus and sometimes we get to sing songs.”

“She teaches us about Jesus, that he was the son of God,” Blair Alexander said.

Being with the Ursulines has affected Stephany as a teacher, she said.

“Saint Angela said, ‘You will achieve more with kindness and gentleness than with harshness and sharp rebukes.’ I can’t say I was the most gentle teacher when I started,” Stephany said. “I learned that from reading Saint Angela, talking to sisters and my spiritual director. It’s been very good for me.”

As Stephany readies herself for her seventh year at St. Joseph and more instruction on the Ursuline life, she said she feels good about her decision to join.

“I have peace about that. As far as how this will all work out, only God knows.” n 15

8001 Cummings Road Maple Mount, KY 42356-9999 270-229-4103 www.ursulinesmsj.org info.msj@maplemount.org

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Soli Deo Gloria

We rejoice in the gifts of our sisters, given for the kingdom of God Three Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph were singled out for their influence this spring.

Sister Larraine Lauter was featured in USA Today for her ministry, Water With Blessings, which coordinated with women religious, pastors, medical missionaries and humanitarian aid groups to get water filters into the hands of the people of Nepal following Sister Larraine Lauter talks to eighth-graders at St. Joseph the devastating Catholic School in Bowling Green, earthquakes there in Ky., on March 24, 2014 about Water April.

With Blessings. The school raised Water With $ 360 to equip six Water Women.

Blessings trains Water Women in impoverished countries to use the filters to clean water for families. Water With Blessings, headquartered in Louisville, Ky., raises money to cover the cost of the filters and training needed, which amounts to $60 per filter. The charity has trained Water Women in more than 20 countries.

Sister Larraine prompted anyone going to Nepal to take filters with them, and she relied on faith and the goodness of people to cover the costs. At the time the article was published in the Louisville Courier-Journal on May 26, more than 500 filters had been delivered to Nepal.

Sister Michele Morek, coalition coordinator for UNANIMA in New York City, published an article March 9 as part of the Global Sisters Report titled “United in one hope: Religious

Sister Michele in front of the United Nations building in New York City

at the United Nations.” The Global Sisters Report is an independent, nonprofit source of news and information about Catholic sisters and the critical issues facing the people they serve. It’s a project of the National Catholic Reporter and funded by a grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

Sister Michele’s article detailed the work done by men and women religious through nongovernmental organizations at that United Nations. She represents 19 congregations of women religious that exist as UNANIMA, which includes the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph as a founding member.

UNANIMA works with the United Nations to bring attention to issues such as human trafficking, clean water and the needs of poor women and children.

The article published to coincide with the UN meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women.

Sister Mary Matthias Ward received an unexpected honor during the Archdiocese of Louisville’s “Salute to Catholic School Alumni” on March 18.

John Asher, primary spokesman and vice president for Racing Communications at Churchill Downs, was honored with the Community Service Award. Upon receiving his award, he made sure to acknowledge the impact that Sister Mary Matthias had on him. She taught him in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades at St. Paul School in Leitchfield, Ky. “John was a student always wanting to excel, always willing to take suggestions,” Sister Mary Matthias said. “John is a hard worker, a brilliant young man, a lover of family and friends,” she said after the award ceremony. Sister Mary Matthias now serves as director of Local Community Life at the Motherhouse in Maple Mount.