Louisville Ursulines Gather in-person for Community Days
Most of our Sisters were able to gather in-person for our Community Days on August 26-29 at the Motherhouse. Our theme this year is “Challenge • Change • Creativity” and the community explored that theme through prayer and reflection, small groups and reports. We were able to celebrate our 2020 and 2021 jubilarians with a special Mass. We also held our missioning ceremony at both the Motherhouse chapel and Nazareth Home-Clifton with the theme, “Live in Joyful Hope.”
Ursulines serve at the Border in El Paso
Louisville Ursulines Kathy Neely and Yuli Oncihuay, along with Toledo Ursuline Carol Reamer, served at the Casa del Refugiado of Annunciation House during the month of May,2021. The three had lived and served together in Peru for decades and so it was a reunion for them to journey together. Casa del Refugiado is a temporary shelter (1-3 days) for immigrants entering the country. They performed various duties, including intake, serving meals, laundry and cleaning. On Mother’s Day, Sister Yuli had the three of them craft cards for the mothers that were there. Over a hundred people a day that came through the shelter and there were 14 volunteers and support staff.
They saw and heard many heartbreaking stories; of families separated at the border, of children traumatized and the uncertainty of where they were going next. Relatives and friend were to sponsor them for the next leg of their journey, but it was often a tenuous connection. All three Sisters said they the experience had a powerful impact on them.
They said that the verse Matthew 25: 37-40 served as the underpinning of their experience:
Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did
for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
For a more in-depth description of their service at the border, please see our Summer 2021 DOME article: https://ursulinesisterslouisville.org/dome-magazine/
Photo caption: Sisters Carol Reamer (Toledo), Kathy Neely and Yuli Oncihuay (Louisville)
Craft photo caption: Sisters Yuli, Kathy and Carol make Mother’s Day gifts for the guests of Casa del Refugiado.
In-person Leadership Meetings, Community Conversations and Associates’ Liturgy and Lunch Resume
After sixteen long months, in April, Sisters were able to gather for in-person community meetings and our Associates were able to have “Liturgy and Lunch.” Leadership had their first in-person meeting in June, and continued to collaborate with LCWR, Region 6 and Subregion 6 through ZOOM meetings.
Angela Merici Hall Named at Holy Cross High School
Several Ursuline Sisters of Louisville attended Mass at Holy Cross High School in Louisville yesterday morning, along with representatives from the Archdiocese of Louisville. It was the Feast of the Holy Cross, and on this occasion, Danielle Wiegandt, president of the school, announced a 5.5-million-dollar capital campaign called “Opening the Doors to Tomorrow.” $4 million has already been raised, and thanks to a partnership with the Archdiocese of Louisville, the school has already been able to complete renovations to the part of the building that was the original Bishop David High School. Holy Cross was founded in 1984 and was preceded by the all-female Angela Merici High School and the all-male Bishop David High School. Holy Cross, a coeducational Catholic high school, serves the southwest area of Louisville. The Ursuline Sisters of Louisville founded Angela Merici High School (1959-1984) and together with the Archdiocese, were the first two donors to the campaign. Through their gift, the Ursulines chose to name the second floor of the school the “Saint Angela Merici Hall.” A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held with a tour through the school and a reception in the renovated cafeteria.
Sisters Participate in Pilot Program, Tandem
Sister Rita Joseph Jarrell, Sister Paula Kleine-Kracht, Sister Kathleen Neely and Sister Janet Marie Peterworth volunteered in a pilot program for Tandem, a mobile app connecting and facilitating interaction between elderly and youth.
Tandem creators and siblings, Arianna and Lorenzo Martinelli, Sacred Heart Academy and St. Xavier students, say, “Our mission is to create a safe and accessible environment for high schoolers to benefit from seniors’ mentorship while seniors stay connected with the younger generation.”
Participants meet weekly by phone. “This proves to be challenging at times,” said Sister Janet Marie. “We both have busy schedules so we have to negotiate schedules for times to meet.”
Experienced in speaking with grade school children and families in parish ministry, Sister Kathleen said, “… I am learning I CAN talk with a youth of [this] age…which I feared to do before.”
Sister Rita Joseph’s student enjoys her history knowledge. “I love to talk and he loves to learn,” she said. “I love the connection and to teach history on the weekends.”
Sister Paula said of her student, “I don’t think at 16 I ever had the stamina to do all she does!” The pair often text each other.
The sisters continue to enjoy their “meetings” each week. Learn more about Tandem at https://youtu.be/BV9BzyDZSME
Get Social!