NOVEMBER 2016
VOL. XXII, NO. 2
Y-DOSA SUMMIT AUG. 4-6: Associate Doreen Abbott, left, new leader of the Whitesville, Ky., Y-DOSA group, cuts peaches with Sisters Mary Jude Cecil and George Mary Hagan. Center: Sister Emerentia Wiesner plays bingo with Maggie Foster and Makenna Greenwell, both of Whitesville.
New Y-DOSA leaders find Kansas companions By Dan Heckel, OSUA
When Doreen Abbott was hired as a fourth-grade teacher in 2012, she knew little about the Ursuline Associates or the Young Daughters of Saint Angela. Just four short years later, she is both an Ursuline Associate and leader of the Y-DOSA group in Whitesville, Ky., where she teaches at St. Mary of the Woods Elementary School. She is embracing her new role with her trademark fiery enthusiasm. “I think the girls feed off my enthusiasm,” Abbott said. “We have a good time.” Ursuline Sister Suzanne Sims began the Whitesville Y-DOSA program in 2010 when she was principal at St. Mary of the Woods. That same year the Kansas Y-DOSA chapter began, led by Associates Carol O’Keefe and Lisa Reilly. Y-DOSA is a faith-based group for girls ages 11 to 18, who look to the model of Saint Angela Merici for guidance today. They are offered the opportunity to gather without the social pressures most girls face. Sister Suzanne knew she was leaving St. Mary’s at the end of the 2015-16 school year, and needed someone to lead the Y-DOSA chapter. She had both hired Abbott as a teacher and invited her to become an associate, and was aware how much she was enjoying her formation experience. Once Abbott was scheduled to become an associate at the June 11 Associates and Sisters Day, Sister Suzanne asked her to lead the Whitesville Y-DOSA chapter. “At first I was scared to lead Y-DOSA, but God had
The Y-DOSA girls from Whitesville, Ky., volunteered at the 46th Mount Saint Joseph Picnic on Sept. 11. Helping with the yard sale, left to right: Harlee Keener, Lexie Barnett, Paige Crabtree, Meredith Harley, Maggie Foster and Brianna Parks. At left, Lexie and Harlee wash dishes.
a purpose for me and this is it,” Abbott said. “My faith led me to where I’m supposed to be. I’m really excited getting to do this.” That excitement has been felt all the way to Kansas, where the leaders there decided in Fall 2015 to make some structural changes. After much prayer, O’Keefe said she believes Saint Angela answered their prayers by sending them Abbott. “We were over the moon with excitement and couldn’t wait to meet Doreen and her new assistant, Julie Foster,” O’Keefe said. After the orientation and leadership training, O’Keefe said, “we knew we had hit the jackpot. We quickly noticed the high energy and positive attitude of both of these ladies and how quickly they grasped our vision for the future of Y-DOSA.” Both groups have continued to add girls over the years, but the high school girls in Whitesville found it difficult to attend the regular meetings during the week, Abbott said. In conversing with Foster, the preschool assistant at St. Mary’s, they decided to have their monthly meetings prior to the 4 p.m. Saturday Mass at St. Mary’s, and then go to Mass together. “We have 19 girls now,” Abbott said. All but one of the girls who had ceased coming are back, and there are Continued on page 3