FEBRUARY 2021
VOL. XXVI, NO. 3
Zoom brings Associates together across the country By Dan Heckel, OSUA
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And if, according to times and circumstances, the need arises to make new rules or do something differently, do it prudently and with good advice.
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rsuline Sisters and Associates are very familiar with Saint Angela Merici’s words from her Last Legacy, surely created from a lifetime in the chaos of 16th century Italy. Perhaps it’s fair to think that Saint Angela would have considered 2020 a year in which the need arose to do something differently. With in-person gatherings not possible due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Associates are facing their fears of technology and gathering monthly on Saturday mornings via Zoom. Those who don’t equate a virtual meeting with a war-ravaged society have obviously never been on a Zoom call. “The Zoom meeting happened out of desperation,” Martha Little said. The Owensboro Associate leader asked her group who would be willing to join online. “The ones I thought I could count on haven’t come. But people from other groups have joined,” she said. “It’s the movement of the Holy Spirit and Angela. I love
being able to see these people and hear their input. It pulls us closer together.” On the second Saturday of each month, at 10 a.m. Central time, any Associate or Sister can join with a Zoom link sent by Doreen Abbott, coordinator of Ursuline Partnerships. The meetings began in October, and after Little led the first two, Associate Joanne Thompson from Kansas led the December meeting, and Associates John and Elaine Wood of Western Kentucky led the January session. “I cannot tell you how much I have missed meeting with my fellow Associates,” Thompson said. She didn’t hesitate when given the opportunity to join via Zoom. “When I first heard (former coordinator) Marian Bennett’s voice as she called in, my heart was filled with warmth and joy,” Thompson said. “Then when she figured out how to add the camera, I could see her smile. Then I could feel my heart filling up with the
Screen shots taken during two of the Ursuline Associate Zoom meetings (November 2020 and January 2021)
unconditional love I have always felt whenever I encountered the Associates and Sisters.” Thompson didn’t know the Kentucky Associates as well when the Zoom meetings began, but the meetings have brought people together. “We have learned to talk about the ‘hard stuff’ and know we are in a perfectly safe place to do so. We know we can share what we struggle with and what gives us hope,” Thompson said. “I am closer to my Ursuline Sister and Continued on page 3
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, June 26, 2021
Associates and Sisters Day
(pending if we can gather safely)