MAY 2020
VOL. XXIV, NO. 4
Associates and Sisters Day moves to August 8 By Dan Heckel, OSUA (MSJ Staff)
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o give everyone a better chance of gathering safely, Associates and Sisters Day is being moved to Aug. 8 at the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center. That Saturday was already reserved for our annual Associate Retreat, so instead we will bring everyone together to listen to Ursuline Sister of Louisville Martha Buser discuss “Charism Isn’t Taught – It’s Caught.” Once you’ve caught the Ursuline charism, where will it lead you? The new date is contingent upon our ability to gather free from concerns about Covid-19. We will likely have livestreaming available of the day for those who still feel uncomfortable with getting together with a large crowd. A final decision on whether to continue with Associates and Sisters Day will be made in early July. We asked our Ursuline Associates how they were staying positive and helping others during these unusual times. Here are some of their responses: Pam Knudson, Kansas City, Mo.: “We are trying to stay positive and not have cabin fever in our home; we don’t want to end up like ‘The Shining’ characters. A lot of people are sitting on their front porches on sunny, warm days enjoying waving at each other and yelling ‘hello’ to each other. The neighborhood has a teddy bear walk ... where we walk around the neighborhood looking to see who has a teddy bear waving or just sitting in the windows. On some walks we flip a coin at the end of the block to see if we turn left or right or go straight.
Registration is now open for Associates and Sisters Day on Aug. 8, 2020. Fill out and mail the registration form on the back page or sign up online with the web link provided.
ASSOCIATES DAY 2019: Associate
Pauline Goebel, left, and Associate Marian Pusey, center, both of Louisville, share a laugh with Owensboro Associate Marian Bennett. BELOW: Associate Coreen Moore, left, of Clarkson, Ky., goes over her notes with Sister Mary Celine Weidenbenner.
This makes the evening walk more interesting. Teachers are parading through neighborhoods honking their horns so that schoolchildren know that their teachers are thinking of them. I’m cooking at home a lot more, but sometimes we will order a meal via the telephone and pick it up at the restaurant where a server will bring it to our car. We feel like this is supporting our local small businesses and we always tip the server.” Ed Cecil, Owensboro, Ky.: “I am trying to stay positive by talking to my wife, Gloria, three or four times a day by phone at the Hermitage Care and Rehabilitation Center. I am trying to keep her positive and keep her spirits up.” Gloria Cecil is also a dedicated associate. Carol Hill, Leitchfield, Ky.: “I start my day with prayer, then make necessary phone calls and texts to check on several people. I’m keeping the rest of the day my normal routine. ... Thank God for all blessings and keep us safe from this deadly virus.” Christa Bennett, St. Joseph, Ky., and director of Human Resources for the Ursuline Sisters: “I’m finding little ways to make home time more enjoyable, like walking the dogs on my lunch break. Feeding the chickens on my morning/afternoon Continued on page 2