“Build community wherever you go.”
—St. Angela Merici

The Ursuline Sisters of Louisville gathered for their Community Days the week of June 22-26, with the theme, “Let Your Light Shine/Deja Brillar Tu Luz.” They came together to pray and reflect, receive important committee updates, and enjoy precious time in fellowship with one another.

On Wednesday, June 24, during Community Days, the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville gathered and received updates on Sacred Heart Schools from Dr. McNay. The Sisters also recognized our outgoing archivist, Laurel Wilson, for her work in our archives. Laurel will be leaving in August to work with the Women Religious Archives Collaborative (WRAC) in Cleveland, where our archives will be housed starting next year. The Sisters then received a tour of the Ursuline Innovation STEM Center’s Ursuline Environmental Education Program and Design Lab and observed the laser engraver in action. All in all, a very productive and fun day!

We celebrated our three jubilarians on Friday, June 26, with a special Mass in the Motherhouse Chapel: Sr. Theresa Kruml (75 years), Sr. Mary Martha Staarman (70 years), and Sr. Loretta Krajewski (50 years).

The homilist was Rev. Bryan Ernest, a retired priest from the Diocese of Grand Island, Nebraska (a friend of Sr. Loretta). The concelebrants were Rev. John Burke from Louisville (friend of all the Ursulines) and Rev. Gary Beckman from the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa (a friend of Sr. Theresa), and the deacon was Deacon Chris Kabat from the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin (also a friend of Sr. Theresa).

The jubilarians were presented with a surprise: a plaque bearing an apostolic blessing from Pope Leo in honor of their anniversaries of religious profession. Everyone enjoyed a luncheon and fellowship in the dining room following Mass.

We also held our missioning ceremony on June 26 with the theme, “Let Your Light Shine/Deja Brillar Tu.” Louisville Ursuline Sisters, coworkers and Louisville Ursuline Associates received a missioning card, inviting them to deepen their call in their respective ministries.

In her reflection for the service, Sr. Jean Anne stated, “Remember, no amount of darkness can ever extinguish light, and hope is a series of small actions that transform darkness into light. No matter the degree of light for each of us, we need to be open to the invitation and act on it: Arise and shine. Light will overcome darkness. Let your light shine through good works in your daily life, giving praise and glory to God.”