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By Kathy Williams, Ursuline Sisters of Louisville director of communications and Ursuline Associate  "Sede vacante! The seat is vacant." It is an extraordinary time in the Catholic Church—this period between the death of a pope and the election of his successor. We as Catholics, and it seems, the entire world, are grappling with the loss of our beloved Pope Francis, and at the same time, are trying to imagine who [...]

A Good Friday Reflection by Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU They did not think it was going to end this way. The women did not dream they would be standing at the foot of a cross. But death is women’s work. Blood is women’s mark. While the other Evangelists mention women at a distance, it is John alone who notes that the women—Mary, his mother; her sister, Mary the wife [...]

The following is a reflection for Palm Sunday by Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU: A couple of years ago, I made a weekend retreat with John Dear, former Jesuit and longtime peace activist. He was discussing nonviolent demonstrations and their value in the struggle for justice. What Fr. Dear said fits well with Palm Sunday and so I share. Picture this. A large crowd of the people of Jerusalem were [...]

By Bonnie Chester, Ursuline Associate A couple of days ago, this question was posed by someone on social media: “When you get to heaven, who would you search for first?” Believe it or not, Moses came to my mind. You might think that was a strange answer compared to who you would seek out. I credit him with getting the “show on the road,” so to speak—that is, successfully getting [...]

The following is a reflection that Sr. Jean Anne Zappa gave at the feast day Mass of St. Angela Merici on Monday, January 27, 2025. Genesis 12:1- 3; 1 Peter 4: 8-11; Mark 6: 7-13 I don’t know if you have seen the website for the pilgrimage to Rome for the Jubilee year. You can buy a special hat, water bottle, shirt, or backpack if you decide to go to [...]

The following is a reflection that Ursuline Associate and USAE Communications Director Kathy Williams wrote for a monthly Associate post titled "I've Been Thinking." For information on becoming an Ursuline Associate, please contact Lauren Hitron at [email protected] Christmas. The season of joy, the season of our Savior’s birth. I love the entire Advent and Christmas season, with its promise of God made flesh to dwell among us—the infant Jesus, who [...]

Lauren Hitron, Louisville Ursuline Associate and director of the Jean Frazier Institute at Sacred Heart Schools, recently was in Italy to study the Renaissance and leadership in Florence with a group from Gonzaga University. She visited several important sites of St. Angela Merici while she was there and reflects on her experience: I recently had the privilege of taking a personal “mini pilgrimage” to see where St. Angela Merici lived [...]

Photo caption for three.: Sister Kathy Neely, left, Sister Mary Martha Staarman, far right, with executive director Ellen Wells, center.   Ursuline Sisters of Louisville Kathy Neely and Mary Martha Staarman both received an award of recognition from the Family Community Clinic at their Founders Day luncheon on Wednesday, November 13. Both Sister Kathy and Sister Martha volunteer as Spanish language interpreters at the clinic, which provides free medical care [...]

Photo caption: Danielle Wiegandt, president of Holy Cross High School, presents Sister Rita Ann with the 2024 Service Award at Holy Cross’s Hall of Fame gala.   Sister Rita Ann Wigginton received the 2024 Service Award from Holy Cross High School in Louisville on November 9. Sister Rita Ann serves on our Leadership team, and since 1969, Sister Rita Ann Wigginton’s passion has been ministering to the deaf community. Additionally, [...]

Photo Caption: Sister Regina Bevelacqua (May 24, 1935 - April 7, 2021) The former St. Mary’s Center was renamed SMC Regina’s Center in the fall of 2024 to honor Ursuline Sister of Louisville Regina Bevelacqua, who died in 2021. Sister Regina, who co-founded the center with Mary Jo Payne in 1993, served as executive director until 2021. SMC Regina’s Center serves teens and adults with intellectual disabilities. Now in its [...]

The following reflection was given by Sr. Janet M. Peterworth, OSU, at the feast day Mass of St. Ursula in the Motherhouse Chapel on October 21, 2024. I want to tell you a story. It is a family story. I have told it more than once and most of you here have told it as well. This family story that I am telling dates from the 5th century, and it [...]

Reflection by Sister Jean Anne Zappa, OSU, for the funeral Mass of Sister Loretta Guenther, OSU on October 17, 2024. Readings: Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9 The readings today, chosen by Sister Loretta, are for Easter Sunday, Cycle A. Sister Loretta is saying to us, “I believe in the Resurrection; I believe that Christ is present here today.” In the Acts of the Apostles, we are reminded that [...]

Photo Captions: Sisters at St. Francis prayer: Ursuline Sisters and SHA students gather for prayer. SHA students at St. Francis: Sacred Heart students at the prayer service. Sr. Carol Curtis at St Francis: Sister Carol Curtis leads the prayer service.   On October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, Associates of Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, coworkers, and students from Sacred Heart Academy (SHA) gathered [...]

Photo caption for Sacred Heart Model: Principal Leah Mullen with Ursuline Sisters of Louisville President Sister Jean Anne Zappa. Photo caption for Sacred Heart Model students; Sacred Heart Model School students process into Mass.   Sacred Heart Model School in Louisville, which was founded by the Louisville Ursulines in 1924, celebrated its 100th anniversary on September 25 with special events including a Mass led by Archbishop Shelton Fabre and an [...]

The following is a reflection on Mark 8:27-35 given by Sr. Janet M. Peterworth at St. William Church on September 15, 2024. “The story I tell myself about me has little to do with how you see me.” This was written by Thomas Merton in his book “The Sign of Jonas.” Listen again. “The story I tell myself about me has little to do with how you see me.” In [...]

Photo caption: Sister Rita Wigginton, left, is pictured with students Tristen Ward, center, and Hunter Drake, after she presented a second-class relic of St. Angela Merici to Holy Cross High School on Sept. 13. The Ursuline Sisters of Louisville donated a second-class relic—believed to be a piece of St. Angela Merici's walking stick —to Holy Cross High School during its 40th anniversary year. Sister Rita Wigginton, an Angela Merici alumna [...]

The following is a reflection by Ursuline Associate Bonnie Chester. At a very young age, I remember hearing the gospel story in Matthew 20:1-16 and thinking, “Wait a minute.” The owner of the vineyard hired workers at dawn, at 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., and 5 p.m. At the end of the day, all the workers received the same wage. If I was the one who worked the longest, I [...]

Did you know that there are 40 Ursuline Sisters buried in Pittsburgh at Calvary Catholic Cemetery? The Ursuline Sisters of Pittsburgh merged with the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville in 1958. Since the merger, 16 Ursulines were buried in Calvary, bringing the total to 40 Sisters. Pictured are the graves of Sr. Ellen Friel and Sr. Mary Catherine Vukmanic, the last two Ursuline Sisters of Louisville to be buried there. The [...]

The following is a reflection that Sr. Janet M. Peterworth, OSU, gave at Epiphany Church on July 21, 2024. Do you see Mary of Magdala as a fallen woman or as a disciple? Let’s start with the fallen woman profile. Most scholars who have studied Mary of Magdala believe this perception started in the fourth century with Pope Gregory I. Here’s Pope Gregory: “She whom Luke calls the sinful woman, [...]

Associate Bonnie Chester reflects on strengthening our faith by remembering the example of Doubting Thomas. “Blessed are they who have not seen and have believed.” I’ve never been very good at delegating. According to my mother, one of my first sentences was “Do it myself!” I suppose I have a need to be “hands-on” or to “see with my own eyes.” Had I been there, I would likely have stood [...]

The following is a reflection given by Sister Sue Scharfenberger, OSU, on Sunday, June 30, 2024, at St. William Church in Louisville. Sister Sue ministers in Peru, where she serves as the promoter of Santa Angela Merici School in Callao.  Did you catch that first line of the gospel? Jesus crossed again to the other shore in a boat. I found myself repeating over and over during the week, “Let’s [...]

On July 3, the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville hosted USAE coworkers and the staff of Sacred Heart Schools for an all-American lunch by Red Top Gourmet Dogs of hot dogs, brats, chips and star-spangled cupcakes. A great time was had by all at this kick-off to America's birthday!

By Bonnie Chester, Ursuline Associate The phrase “God doesn’t call the qualified, but qualifies the called,” resonates deeply with me, although it isn’t found verbatim in the Bible. Over time, knowledgeable Christians have likely arrived at this sentiment by reflecting on passages like Ephesians 4:11-13: “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the [...]

The following is a reflection given by Sister Jean Anne Zappa, Ursuline Sisters of Louisville president, at the Missioning ceremony for Sisters, Associates, and co-workers on June 7, 2024. I am sure you notice that many of the TV ads are about medicine for various conditions. One such ad is for heartburn. As we hear the gospel about the disciples on their journey, it seems they had heartburn before they [...]

The following is a reflection that Sister Clara Fehringer, OSU, gave at the Jubilee Mass at the Ursuline Motherhouse on June 7, 2024. “You will know your vocation by the joy that it brings. You will know.” —Dorothy Day What is joy? Joy is what Mary was longing for as she bypassed the kitchen and went to sit at the feet of Jesus. She seized the moment. She had Jesus’ [...]

The following is a reflection that Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU, gave at St. William Church on Pentecost Sunday: May 19, 2024. I know what it’s like to be under the influence of alcohol. In my younger years, I was known to have been there. It loosened my tongue and made me braver than I usually was. It made me seem to speak in a language that wasn’t my real [...]

Twinbrook Assisted Living, where many of our Ursuline Sisters of Louisville and several Associates live, held a Kentucky Derby 150 tea party on Wednesday, May1, with "mint julep" parfaits, tea in real china cups, singing of "My Old Kentucky Home" and of course, Derby hats! Some lucky attendees even won the coveted gold Pegasus Pins! Win, place, or show, a good time was had by all.

The following is a reflection by Associate Bonnie Chester based on the Gospel reading from Sunday, April 28, 2024: Jn 15:1-8,  The parable of the Cine and Branches. Some of the most intimate and rewarding conversations happen around the dinner table with family and friends. This was true for Jesus and His twelve disciples during the Last Supper in the Upper Room on the night before His crucifixion. Though we [...]

Some of our Sisters and Louisville-based Associates made a trip to Cumberland, Maryland, in late April to visit the Associates there. Our Sisters served in Cumberland for over 100 years. They are shown here at Sts. Peter and Paul Church. Over 250 Ursulines ministered at Sts. Peter and Paul/Ursuline Academy/St. John Neumann School between 1879 and 2000, and over 100 vocations came from Cumberland, including Sisters Rita Dressman (pictured), Catherine [...]

What to do at your 2024 solar eclipse party at the Motherhouse? Why, serve Sun Chips, Moon Pies, and have an Eclipse-themed playlist, of course! We were in the path of 99% totality, and while it wasn't 100%, we sure did enjoy our moment with Brother Sun and Sister Moon as they danced and played in the heavens! We thank our Creator for all the wonder that we experienced today. [...]

Kathy Williams, director of communications, received the following DeRose Hinkhouse Awards at the 2024 Religion Communicators Council Conference on April 4 at The Brown Hotel In Louisville, Kentucky. Publication Design: Article or Story - Single Work Category Winner Magazines - Series Award of Merit Annual Reports - Single Work Award of Merit Other - Single Work Award of Merit  

Several of our Sisters and Associates, along with Archbishop Fabre, participated in The Way of the Cross: A Walk for Justice on Good Friday, March 29, in downtown Louisville. The walk began at Martin Luther King Park in front of the Mazzoli Federal Building on Chestnut Street and conclude at Founders Square Park across from the Cathedral of the Assumption on 5th Street. The walk was a justice-oriented, outdoor “Stations [...]

The following is a Lenten reflection by Bonnie Chester, Ursuline Associate. Have you ever read of or saw a picture and imagined yourself in the scene? What would be your reaction to the event? Would you participate or would you be a bystander? Would you support or condemn the action taking place? As I read happenings in the gospels, I like to place myself into a scene and spend some [...]

Several Sisters, Associates, and coworkers toured the main building of St. Joseph Children's Home on March 20, 2024. They saw meeting rooms, the cafeteria, classrooms, the childcare center and the quilting room. The highlight was seeing the chapel that was dedicated to Sr. Loretta Guenther, the last Ursuline Sister to serve at St. Joe's, and the hallway dedicated to the Ursuline Sisters. Over 150 Ursuline Sisters of Louisville served [...]

The following is a reflection that Ursuline Sisters of Louisville President Sister Jean Anne Zappa gave at the funeral liturgy of Sister Denis West, OSU on March 8, 2024. There was a young girl who was born in Oolitic, Indiana, about 75 miles from Louisville, a small town, population 1,200. Many people who lived there knew each other and would support each other and help each other. Ruby Mae and [...]

Just in time for Catholic Sisters Week (March 8–14, 2024), sophomores from Emily Jarboe’s art class at Sacred Heart Academy created comic strips featuring the lives of several Ursuline Sisters of Louisville. On Feb. 27, the students had an informal showing of their art in the Ursuline Motherhouse with several of the Ursuline Sisters. The comics feature nine different Ursuline Sisters of Louisville: Mother Martina Nicklas (1839-1936), who purchased the [...]

A group of Sisters of Louisville attended the "Night of Remembrance" on January 5, 2024, at Bates Memorial Baptist Church in Louisville for the 150 victims of violence killed in Louisville this past year. Their names were read, and candles lit for each one. The more than 100 suicides were also acknowledged (not named). The musical group "Linkin' Bridge" performed the concluding song; one of their members was among the [...]

By Associate Bonnie Chester Do you have a comfortable chair, one that you can kind of nestle into? One that you can settle into for a time of prayer, maybe for watching your favorite TV show, even a chair in a choice spot, or right in front of a teacher in your favorite class? Take a seat and get comfortable, for the Great Teacher has a few choice words for [...]

          In November 2022, restoration began on the interior of the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception in the Ursuline Motherhouse. Built in 1917 as part of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville’s Motherhouse, the chapel has been the spiritual center of the campus. The renovation was funded by the Chapel Preservation Fund Campaign, which ran from 2017–2022. Sacred Heart Academy alumnae Amy Montgomery Bergeron (SHA ’94) and [...]

By Associate Lisa Steiner Every year as I approach Lent, I reflect on my desire to grow closer to the Holy One. How can I approach this sacred time with a clean and open heart? Lent is a time to be in solidarity with Jesus; to feel what He felt, to pray as He prayed. Yet over the years, my Lenten experience has not always been very meaningful. I hate [...]

You can order In Your Midst and Lover of Us All, books on Saint Angela Merici by Sr. Martha Buser here: https://ursulinesisterslouisville.org/books-on-saint-angela-merici/   You can order DVDs of Sr. Martha Buser discussing her books here: https://ursulinesisterslouisville.org/dvds-on-the-life-and-spirituality-of-saint-angela-merici/   You may view videos of Sr. Martha Buser discussing her books here: https://ursulinesisterslouisville.org/videos-on-saint-angela/   New! A compilation of Sr. Martha’s writings and reflections Please email Kim Bradley for a copy: [email protected]  

We had a beautiful Mass on Friday, January 26, to honor St. Angela Merici, foundress of the Ursulines. Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, Associates of Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, USAE staff and SHS staff came together to worship and afterward, enjoyed a lovely lunch.   On Monday, January 29, Sacred Heart Academy (SHA) kicked off Catholic Schools Week with a Mass honoring Saint Angela Merici and several Sisters attended the Mass [...]

The following is a reflection given by Sr. Janet M. Peterworth, OSU, at a student Mass at Bellarmine University on January 21, 2024, honoring St. Angela Merici with the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville as invited guests. “When change wants to happen, it looks for people to act through.” This is a line from author Joanna Macy. When I read it, it caused me to stop and pay attention. I believe [...]

On January 23, 2024, Sacred Heart Schools hosted the Naturalization Proceedings of the United States District Court today, helping to welcome 78 new American citizens to our great country. Planned by SHA senior Lena Fultz and presided over by The Honorable Benjamin Beaton, the welcomed candidates hailed from 28 different nationalities. SHA's Madrigals sang the Star-Spangled Banner to begin the ceremony, and Sacred Heart Preschool students welcomed guests with beautiful [...]

Sunday, January 21, several of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville joined Bellarmine University students at an evening Mass honoring St. Angela Merici at the beautiful Our Lady of the Woods Chapel. Sister Janet Peterworth gave a wonderful reflection on St. Angela at Mass. Bellarmine’s Campus Ministry hosted the students and Sisters afterward for pizza and lively conversation ensued, with connections made!

The following reflection is by Associate Bonnie Chester. “You are never too old.” I remember this phrase from a good friend (who also was my mother) when I contemplated returning to college at age 42 to earn an associate degree in physical therapy. Could I learn again and read a textbook? Could I understand Physics 101? Are you kidding? After all, cookbooks and light novels were the extent of my [...]

Can you send love over 200 miles away? Can you keep the legacy alive of the Louisville Ursulines who ministered at Able families and Christian Help for twenty years? Can you put a smile on a child’s face on Christmas morning, whom you will never, see? The answer, is yes, you can.   In 1995 Ursuline Sisters of Louisville Mary Brendan Conlon and Sister Janet had the idea for a [...]

The following Advent reflection is by Associate Bonnie Chester. Say, “Yes.” I read this statement during Advent last year: God can do amazing things through one person who will say, “Yes.” If the writer was referring to Mary, the Mother of God, I would say, “Yes, indeed.” Wouldn’t you? However, I think there is more than one person saying yes in this amazing story. Mary was an ordinary teen living [...]

The following is the homily given by Father Bob Ray at the Mass of the Resurrection for Sister Martha Buser, OSU, on November 28, 2023. First of all, Martha told me a couple of years ago, “When I die, tell them I’m happy.” From Martha’s lips to our ears, “She’s happy!” Martha believed the end result of living in Christ, is genuine and lasting happiness. The readings Martha chose for [...]

Paula Klein-Kracht, OSU, was inducted into the Nativity Academy at St. Boniface Hall of Fame last night at their annual auction night, along with Libbye and Guy Montgomery. They are the very first recipients of this award. Sister Paula was the very first director of Nativity Academy, which is celebrating its 20th year, serving urban youth and transforming lives.

Sister Martha Buser, OSU, wrote this reflection on November 9, 2023. It was her last blog post she wrote before her death on November 18, 2023. She is now in the arms of her loving God, looking to new horizons. What can I do? People often ask that question. Maybe it's because it's an important question and maybe it's because it has so many answers, you can get tired of [...]

After months of restorative work, the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception in the Ursuline Motherhouse opened for the public in August, 2023. Sacred Heart Academy alumnae Amy Montgomery Bergeron (SHA ’94) and Anna Cristofoli Tatman (SHA ’78) were chosen to complete the renovation. Amy Bergeron owns Whitehouse Residential & Commercial Painting and was named lead project manager for the renovation. Anna Tatman, of Rosa Mosaics & Tile Company, served as [...]

Sacred Heart Schools administration hosted a luncheon and beautiful prayer service today for their staff, the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville and the USAE staff. It was a lovely way to celebrate Founders Day and the Ursuline charism that we all share. Oh, and some of us may have been dressed up for Halloween! "As we carry the Ursuline Charism forward, may our hearts be like a piazza, open to serving [...]

At its annual fund-raising gathering, Interfaith Paths to Peace (IPP), a Louisville-based organization, recognizes both individuals and organizations as peacebuilders in the Louisville community. On October 26, the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville were recognized as a faith-based peace building organization. Over the last several years the Sisters have supported IPP through Ministry Grants and through participation in IPP conferences and workshops on stopping gun violence in the city. Sr. Carol [...]

The students and staff of Santa Angela Merici School in Callao, Peru, celebrated the 58th anniversary of the school in October by taking to the streets with signs, songs,  and greetings of care and love for their neighbors. The seeds sown in 1965 continue to bear fruit in our Ursuline-founded, coed school that serves prek-high school.

The Sisters and Associates were invited to a "Fun Day" on October 24, 2023, aboard Captain's Quarters Princess yacht, which included a delicious lunch, thanks to a generous donor who designated funds for the occasion. The two-hour tour of the Ohio River included views of the Walking Bridge and downtown Louisville. The weather was perfect, and the company was outstanding!

The following reflection is by Bonnie Chester, Ursuline Associate. Do you see me? These words might very well have been the ones that came to the mind of the victim in the parable of the Good Samaritan. This story is the gospel for Monday in the 27th week of ordinary time. Luke is the only evangelist to pen this story. He writes this narrative when Jesus  responds to a question [...]

The following is a reflection by Sister Martha Buser, OSU Noah is a two-year-old.  He is my  great-great-nephew, and he has a lot of wisdom, as apparently some children do. They express it in wonderful ways and are most often oblivious to what they know, until later, when they find out what they said. I was reflecting about something that he said some time ago. Noah enjoyed and still enjoys not [...]

The following is the reflection given by Sister Barbara Bir, OSU, at the funeral Mass for Sister Anne Mary Lochner, OSU on September 30, 2023. Micah 6: 8,9  2 Timothy 1: 1-7 John 4:4-41 You… You…You…We…have been told what is good and what God requires of you…of us.  Did you hear it? DO justice. LOVE goodness. WALK humbly with God. Micah, the prophet, was telling the people what religion is. [...]

The following is a reflection at Sr. Anne Mary Lochner’s Vigil Service given by Sr. Rita Ann Wigginton, OSU The Song we listened to was Daughter of God by Sarah Hart. The first reading was taken from the Last Counsel of St. Angela Merici to her daughters. The Gospel was Matthew 5:1-12 Sr. Anne Mary is a daughter of God, along with all of the women sung about in the [...]

By Bonnie Chester, Associate And The Oscar For Best Supporting Role Goes To… If you think about this title as you read the gospels and journey with Jesus during the last three years of His life, this award will have to go to Peter. I always think of him as Jesus’s “side kick.” The website bible.knowing-jesus.com counts 67 appearances of Peter in the gospels. John, the apostle, is called the [...]

Sister Martha Buser, OSU, age 92, who had falls at home in March and June that resulted in a broken cheek in March, a broken hip in June, and a lengthy recovery, recently reflected on how this injury, along with her loss of eyesight due to severe glaucoma and the effects of the fall, has affected her in her relationship with God and others.  In reflecting on my life experience, [...]

The following is a reflection given by Sr. Jean Anne Zappa, OSU, at a Mass for the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville on September 11, 2023, in the Ursuline Motherhouse Chapel. As we pray about peace on this 9/11 day, we most likely remember where we were when we heard the horrible news on September 11, 2001, 22 years ago and the many feelings we had that day and many days [...]

The following is a reflection given by Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU, and Kevin Karl at St. William Church in Louisville, Kentucky on September 3, 2023. Janet Peterworth: Remember Tevya in Fiddler on the Roof?  Remember how he argues with God? “Dear God,” he says, “was that necessary? Did you have to make him lame just before the Sabbath? That wasn't nice. It's enough you pick on me. Bless me [...]

The following is the reflection that Sister Jean Anne Zappa, OSU, gave at the funeral Mass of Sister Judith Rice, OSU, on August 10, 2023. I do not know how many of you knew that Judy did not like things to last too long—a meeting, a lecture, a homily, obviously not even her funeral liturgy. She chose short readings. I also don’t know if you knew Judy was directionally challenged. [...]

The following is a reflection by Ursuline Associate Bonnie Chester: The LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know I am with you, as I was with Moses. Now command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant to come to a halt in the Jordan when you reach the edge of the waters." So Joshua said [...]

The following is a reflection given by Sister Sue Scharfenberger, OSU, at the Jubilee Mass on July 28, 2023, in the Ursuline Motherhouse. Deuteronomy 6:3-9;  Philippians 4:4-9; John 15:1-17. I have pondered these readings more times than I can count. On the one hand, they are so familiar. On the other, they are entirely new, bringing forth in me new images and memories, and challenges. The other, border crossings, women [...]

The following is a reflection that Ursuline President Jean Anne Zappa, OSU, gave at the missioning of Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, coworkers and Associates on Friday, July 28, 2023: When I was teaching high school, there was a section in the textbook on grace describing sanctifying, actual and sacramental grace. The students were trying to make some applications of grace to their own lives. So, when it was test time, [...]

Take Off Your Shoes By Ursuline Associate Bonnie Chester A couple of days ago, this question was posed by someone on social media: “When you get to Heaven, whom would you search for first?” Believe it or not, who came to my mind was Moses. You might think that was a strange answer compared to whom you would seek out. I credit Moses with getting the show on the road, [...]

The following is a reflection written by Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU, for Sunday, July 2, 2023: 68 years ago today, I was a bride. I wore a beautiful bridal dress with a long, flowing lacy veil. I was so nervous about what this was all going to mean for my future, but I walked up that aisle with my head held high. However, underneath all that bridal attire I [...]

The following is a reflection by Associate Bonnie Chester: “From terrible sinner to saint, from persecutor to persuasive preacher, Paul gives us all hope: no matter what kind of life we have lived, we can change. Indeed, we can be welcomed back into the fold,”1 a quote I read a few years ago on his and St. Peter’s feast day, June 29. When we first meet Saul in the Acts of [...]

The following is a reflection by Associate Bonnie Chester. Could I interest you into sitting down with your Bible, opening it to the Gospel of John and slowly, prayerfully, begin reading Chapter 17. There are numerous times that Jesus’ prayer to God, His Father, are recorded in the Gospels. The words that are probably the most familiar are those He says on the cross: “Father forgive them, for they know [...]

Sister Janet Peterworth has written a beautiful reflection for the Feast of the Ascension: “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking up to the sky?” Here they are again! These two men dressed in white asking obvious questions. We first met them in the tomb in Luke's account of the resurrection. Their question? "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" The question implies that the followers [...]

By Bonnie Chester, Ursuline Associate “Be still and know that I am God.” These biblical words from Psalm 46 have become an oft-repeated phrase. I have seen it on bumper stickers, posters and even coffee mugs! When you read it, you immediately think of becoming quiet before God in prayer, don’t you? Slowing down from the busy pace of your life, maybe picking up your Bible, or in my case, [...]

By Sister Rosella McCormick, OSU As I sit down to write this perspective, Derby week in Louisville is getting into full swing—balloons and boat races; fancy hats and the latest “hot and not so hot” fashions; mint juleps and chow wagons; famous faces and fine horses; and of course, WIN, PLACE, and SHOW bets. Most of us will enjoy watching THE Kentucky Derby. Recently, I was reminded of the Derby [...]

An Easter Reflection by Bonnie Chester, Ursuline Associate If you believe in the old adage “Seeing is Believing,” well, in the Bible, immediately after the Resurrection, there are inspiring stories of exactly this saying. The gospel writer, John, devotes two entire chapters to the events following Jesus' rising from the tomb. In total there are four episodes in chapter 20 where sight was needed to result in belief. The first [...]

“Let Him easter in us, be a dayspring to the dimness of us, be a crimson-cresseted east.” ― Gerard Manley Hopkins Gerard M. Hopkins’  lovely phrase presents a poignant challenge each spring. Yes, it is spring—that time of year when all the world turns into love; buds hurry to blossom; jonquils and dandelions dot the landscape; baby calves and colts are frisky in newly green meadows; and the birds go spastic. Richer [...]

A Good Friday Reflection by Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU: They did not think it was going to end this way. The women did not dream they would be standing at the foot of a cross. But death is women’s work. Blood is women’s mark. While the other Evangelists mention women at a distance, it is John alone who notes that the women—Mary, his mother; her sister, Mary the wife [...]

The following is a reflection for Palm Sunday by Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU:  A couple of years ago, I made a weekend retreat with John Dear, former Jesuit and longtime peace activist. He was discussing nonviolent demonstrations and their value in the struggle for justice. What Fr. Dear said fits well with Palm Sunday and so I share. Picture this. A large crowd of the people of Jerusalem were [...]

The following is a reflection given by Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU, at St. William Church, Louisville, Kentucky on March 5, 2023 Did you know that transfiguration is a core class and subject taught in year two at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? Did you know that this class teaches the art of changing the form and appearance of an object or person? Did you know that transfiguration is [...]

The following is the reflection that Sr. Janet M. Peterworth gave at the funeral Mass of Sr. Mary Lee Hansen on February 8, 2023. Our readings today are so Mary Lee. She mixed and matched, spliced and patched the scripture pieces until she had exactly what she wanted us to hear on this occasion. “Be so full of God that you shine like the full moon, open up your petals [...]

Ursuline President Sister Jean Anne Zappa, OSU, gave the following reflection at the Mass celebrating the feast of St. Angela Merici on January 27, 2023. Sirach 2: 7-13; Colossians 3: 12-17; Matthew 5:13- 16 One word that seems to connect all three of the readings today is perseverance. In the first reading, we hear of the God of compassion who is in the midst of ambiguity and uncertainty in human [...]

By Kathy Williams Ursuline Associate and Director of Communications for the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville Right in the middle of Advent, we find two feast days devoted to Mary—the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, which celebrates Mary being born without sin, and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12. On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, we celebrate Mary’s “yes” to God—confused as she [...]

By Sister Barbara Bir, OSU Our present world can seem like the end of time that Matthew tells us about.  “So it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left. Therefore, stay awake! For [...]

I think Advent is perhaps the most underrated season of the liturgical year. It seems that try as we might, Advent with its soft whispers is drowned out by the hustle and bustle of Christmas. Advent with its muted colors of purple and dark blue is overcome with Christmas and its bright colors of red and green. Lent comes in with a bang, with its populist holy day of Ash [...]

When will it end? How will it end? So far this year, there have been 606 mass shootings in our country. There has not been a single week in 2022 without at least four mass shootings in the United States. 67 Americans, including children, died during mass shootings this year. This does not count the number of victims injured, often permanently, the family members left to grieve forever or the [...]

The following was a reflection given by Sister Carol Curtis, OSU, at a Mass held in the Motherhouse Chapel on November 1, 2022, All Saints Day with Ursuline Sisters, staff and Sacred Heart Schools administrative staff in attendance. It was the last event for the chapel until the summer of 2023, due to the chapel being closed temporarily for repairs and painting. Our gathering today is itself a convergence of [...]

The following is the reflection given by Sister Sue Scharfenberger, OSU, at the Mass on October 23, to celebrate the Angeline Award given to Joy Green of Cumberland, Maryland, and Carmen de la Cuba Laurel of Callao, Peru.  I would like to share a story. Very possibly you will recall it from some years back. But it bears repeating today. Once upon a time in a very remote unfriendly village [...]

The following is a reflection given by Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU, at St. William Church in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 2, for All Souls Day. “We die the first time when the last breath leaves our bodies. We die a second time when the last person speaks our name.” —The Lost Book of Friends by Lisa Wingate There is something haunting about that thought, isn’t there. And so here [...]

By Sister Agnes Coveney, OSU Two weeks ago, I saw a photo with a three-year old boy hard at work, mowing the lawn with a play lawnmower. He is turned to face the photographer and it is as if he is saying: Can’t you see, I’m busy! I understand from early childhood experts, my Ursuline Sisters, that children’s play is learning. It’s probably true to say that for children most [...]

Sister Janet M. Peterworth shares a reflection  in Global Sisters Report on ministering to and counseling victims of the recent flooding in eastern Kentucky, and looking back on her doing the same in Tug Valley in Mingo County, West Virginia after a 1977 500-year flood. "Victims of disasters need to tell their stories. They need to express their feelings to someone who will listen." On April 2, 1977, a so-called [...]

“It is I who bring both death and life,” our loving God reminds us in Deuteronomy 32, but still five states (Texas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia) have executions scheduled from August to December of 2022. This is the bad news. But the good news is that we have many dedicated people working diligently to bring an end to the death penalty, as those of Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN) [...]

The following is a reflection given by President Jean Anne Zappa, OSU, at the annual Missioning service held on August 5, 2022 in the Motherhouse Chapel. Sisters, Associates and staff were invited to attend. The theme of this year's missioning is "Walk In Faith." “Walk in faith”— is that a command or an invitation? In the readings today, Isaiah is more of an invitation and Romans is more of a [...]

Sister Rita Ann Wigginton, OSU, reflects on her experiences in Peru thirty-five years ago, describing carrying Jesus in the Eucharist to those on the margins in Peru with her fellow Ursuline Sisters. She notes that Peruvian priest Gustavo Gutierrez, OP, was present at a funeral liturgy she attended in Lima. One of the key post-Vatican II leaders in liberation theology, Gutiérrez’s foundational text, Teología de la liberación, perspectivas (1971), reached [...]

The following is a reflection given by Sr. Janet M. Peterworth at St. William Church in Louisville, Kentucky on July 3, 2022. “And the Lord said, go. And I said who me? And he said, yes, you. And I said, but I am not ready yet And there is company coming, and I can't leave the kids, And you know there's no one to take my place. And he said, [...]

The following was published by Global Sisters Report in a series by guest writers who are Catholic sisters, called The Life. This excerpt was written by Sister Sue Scharfenberger, OSU. An educator, she ministered in rural Mississippi and for the last 42 years has been with the people in the coastal region and the Central Sierra of Peru. Her ministry has been with circles and communities of women around issues of empowerment, nonviolence [...]

By Sister Agnes Coveney, OSU The following is a reflection given by Sister Agnes Coveney, OSU, at Mass on June 2, 2022 in the Motherhouse Chapel on the Ursuline Campus. Here we are on our journey in the 7th week of Easter, between the celebrations of Jesus’ Ascension and his sending of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. There is something to the times we are living in now, that makes [...]

The following is a reflection written by Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU, for the third Sunday of Easter, May 1, 2022. “It is something within us that doesn’t let us sleep,that doesn’t let us rest,that won’t stop poundingdeep inside. . . No, brother,it is not the noise in the streetswhich does not let us sleep. . . Join us in this vigiland you will know what it is to dream!Then [...]

By Ginny Schaeffer, director of the Angela Merici Center for Spirituality …love one another as I love you.Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.I have told you these things so that my joy mightbe in you and your joy might be wholly mature. John 15:12, 14:27, 15:11 Jesus was not blind or stupid. Unlike the religious leaders he once busted for not being able to read [...]

Tandem, an organization founded by twins Arianna and Lorenzo Martinelli of Louisville, matches and facilitates interaction between seniors and high schoolers. They are currently developing an app, Tandem, that will have its third release in April. They state that their 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. Several Ursuline Sisters of Louisville [...]

By Sister Ruth Ann Haunz, OSU In a Face Time visit with my niece, she shared her frustration with her 3-year-old daughter, Ellie. “She doesn’t listen,” she exclaimed. In response to her dad’s attempt to talk to her about her aversion to listening to her parents, she declared that her batteries were dead! She just could not hear. In further conversation, she admitted that her imaginary batteries were turned off. [...]

By Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU   Fourth Sunday of Lent “Could we start again, please?” You may recognize this line as a title of a song in the rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar. Mary Magdalene and Peter want to start over with Jesus and His mission. They were both having second thoughts. It had gone too far for them. They were not sure anymore. I suggest that the title [...]

Sister Sue Scharfenberger, OSU, left, holding gate door for students returning to in-person classes at Saint Angela Merici School in Callo, Peru, March 7, 2022.     On March 7, Saint Angela Merici School in Callao, Peru, reopened to in-person learning after TWO YEARS of being closed due to the pandemic. The Ursuline Sisters of Louisville founded St. Angela Merici School in 1965, which currently serves students preK-high school. Sister [...]

By Ginny Schaeffer, director of the Angela Merici Center for Spirituality What if we view this desert time of Lent as not just a time to reflect or to lament or to confess or to fast, but a time where we learn to be free. Megan Westra Two years ago, we lived through a different kind of Lent. In order to keep ourselves and each other safe from a virus [...]

By Sr. Agnes Coveney, OSU By this time in Lent, Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday are past. We are settling into the pattern of Lent—the Scripture readings, the spareness of this liturgical season, and the Lenten practices that we all do our best to adopt in these weeks. I remember a friend who worked with me when I was a newly vowed Ursuline Sister. My friend asked, since I was [...]

By Ginny Schaeffer, director of the Angela Merici Center for Spirituality   You are my beloved. —Mark 1:11 We spend most of Advent preparing for Christmas – decorating, buying gifts, baking, wrapping gifts. We spend most of Holy Week preparing for Easter – shopping, coloring eggs, baking. All of this for just one day. Granted, these are the two great feast days of the Church and should be celebrated with [...]

  We ask you to join us in praying for the people of Ukraine and the people of Russia. If you do not pray, then please join us in sending thoughts for peace, reconciliation and healing. Lover of us all, Our hearts are so heavy and breaking with the news that Russia has invaded Ukraine. We come to you as your children praying for our brothers and sisters, holding them [...]

by Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News Service   Although scientists have made great strides in the field of medicine, genuine care and listening to those who suffer must always be at the forefront of any therapy, Pope Francis said. “Patients are always more important than their diseases, and for this reason, no therapeutic approach can disregard listening to the patient, his or her history, anxieties and fears,” the pope wrote in his message for the 2022 World Day [...]

By Kathy Williams, Ursuline Associate and director of communications for the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville Our Lady of Guadalupe by Jen Norton, used with permission   Right in the middle of Advent, we find two feast days devoted to Mary—the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, which celebrates Mary being born without sin, and the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12. With the Immaculate Conception, [...]

By Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU   When I wrote this reflection, I was looking out the window of my hotel in New York City at the Freedom Tower. It is the one that was built on the same grounds where the Twin Towers stood. It is indeed an awesome structure. I suppose it is a tribute to what we human beings can do with our 21st century engineering and [...]

By Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU This article was first published in Global Sisters Report on December 3, 2020 Cemetery where Maryknoll Sisters Ita Ford and Maura Clarke are buried in El Salvador, pictured in 2015 (Janet M. Peterworth) My thoughts today come from Isaiah (58:1-9a) on the kind of fast that our God wants. I was musing about this in the context of my trip to El Salvador in [...]

By Sister Jean Anne Zappa, OSU, president of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville   Waiting seems to be the hardest thing to do for many of us—waiting in doctors’ offices, at the drive-thru at the bank or fast-food place. Then, there is waiting for that package you ordered or waiting for when you could get the COVID vaccine or booster. Today begins a different kind of waiting—a waiting at Advent [...]

By Ginny Schaeffer, director of the Angela Merici Center for Spirituality, a ministry of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville     Gratitude turns what we have into enough. —Anonymous It seems that we are living under a whole new threat this season. At this time last year, we were struggling to get the pandemic under control, too many families were mourning the loss of loved ones and difficult decisions were [...]

The following is a reflection given by Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU, on Sunday, October 31, 2021 at St. William Church in Louisville, Kentucky.   “Why do I hear, but do not understand? If you hear, but are having trouble understanding, take advantage of the complimentary demonstrations offered  this week. Call Acute Hearing Center to schedule your no-obligation appointment.” When I saw this ad in the Courier-Journal, I thought of [...]

By Ginny Schaeffer, Director of the Angela Merici Center for Spirituality, a ministry of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville   It’s that time of year, one that I look forward to and then dread its passing. The cooler temperatures are a reprieve from summer’s oven. Skies deepen in their blue with less humidity. Trees change their colors as they prepare for winter’s slumber. What a wonderful season; but it can [...]

Friends of Sister Brendan Conlon at her memorial service in Kermit, West Virginia on September 24, 2021 By Sister Janet Peterworth, OSU They gathered one by one, carrying chairs and heavy, but grateful hearts, as they gathered to remember their friend, mentor, and associate, Sr. Brendan Conlon. The people of Kermit, West Virginia, in Mingo County, could not let her pass without saying what they wanted to say to pay [...]

The following is a reflection given by President Jean Anne Zappa, OSU, at the annual Missioning ceremony held in the Motherhouse Chapel on Sunday, August 29, 2021. The theme for this year's missioning is "Live in Joyful Hope/Vive Con Gozosa Esperanza."   I hope she will be ok. I hope he is not upset with me. I hope it is alright. I hope Jean Anne doesn’t t talk too long. [...]

The following is a reflection that Sister Sue Scharfenberger, OSU, gave at the Jubilee Mass on Sunday, August 29, 2021 in the Motherhouse Chapel, celebrating the 2020 and the 2021 jubilarians.   Who of us was not in awe of that young girl with the yellow coat and red hat who stood before the country, before President Biden and Vice President Harris and recited The Hill We Climb.  Since then, [...]

By Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU Do you remember? I remember. Do you know where you were? I know exactly where I was. Can you recall your feelings? I can. I am not talking about the day you made your first vows or the day you got married or your first day on a new job or ministry. No, I am talking about Sept 11, 2001. I am talking about [...]

At the sight of them, his heart broke open [with compassion]…—Mark 6: 34 As the tragic events of yesterday begin to settle into your heart, take a moment to ponder what yesterday must have been like for all the families of the service men and women who are currently stationed in Kabul. Use the gift of your imagination to put yourself in their shoes. Get a sense of their worry, [...]

Artwork by Jen Norton, used with permission. The following is a reflection given by Sister Janet M. Peterworth at the funeral Mass for Sister Mary Brendan Conlon on July 26, 2021. Many years ago, our congregational leaders asked all of the Ursuline Sisters to plan their funerals and wakes. So being the good Sisters that we were, Brendan and I sat down one night in our living room (somewhere among [...]

The following is a reflection given by Sister Jean Anne Zappa, OSU, at the funeral Mass of Sister Dolorita Lutsie, OSU on July 21, 2021. Did you know that the Appalachian Mountain range starts in Canada and ends in Alabama? And of course, the two most beautiful places it runs through are Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Mountains are majestic, and beautiful, and they can also be dangerous and daunting. They [...]

The following is a reflection given by Sister Jean Anne Zappa, OSU, at the Mass on June 10, 2021 in the Motherhouse chapel to celebrate the lives of Sisters Lorraine Maginot, Isabel Lehmenkuler, Jane Stuckenborg, Bernadine Nash and Jamesetta Defelice, who all passed away during May and June, 2020.   My great nephew Zachary was born in February during Covid and a snowstorm. Life broke through. When he came home [...]

The following is a reflection given by Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU at Saint William Church in Louisville on Sunday, June 13, 2021.   I live in the Chatsworth Apartments just off Frankfort Avenue and Ewing in Louisville. Frequently, as I am waiting for traffic lights to change, I see men and women who are partially sighted or completely blind walking along Frankfort Avenue, or crossing that street, using either [...]

The following is the reflection written by Sister Sue Scharfenberger, OSU, for the funeral Mass of Sister Raymunda Orth, OSU.   “It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.” The wisdom of The Little Prince opens for us an understanding of time. And of relationships. The scripture today tells us there is time for everything. But neither the scripture nor the Little [...]

By Ginny Schaeffer, Director of the Angela Merici Center for Spirituality   Pentecost – What a fantastical story! There’s a mighty, rushing wind that is localized in one building in Jerusalem where tongues of fire just happen to hover over the heads of those “praying and waiting” in one room of that building. Jews from sixteen countries miraculously hear the story of God’s wonderous works and revelation through Jesus Christ [...]

By Sister Janet Peterworth, OSU   “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking up to the sky?” Here they are again! These two men dressed in white asking obvious questions. We first met them in the tomb in Luke's account of the resurrection. Their question? "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" The question implies that the followers of Jesus are looking in the wrong place. [...]

The pilgrims! The following is a reflection from Ursuline Sisters Yuli Oncihuay, Kathy Neely: Louisville and Carol Reamer: Toledo, Ohio, from their month-long mission in El Paso, Texas with the Casa del Refugiado of Annunciation House.   Three of us Ursuline Sisters (Yuli Oncihuay, Kathy Neely: Louisville and Carol Reamer: Toledo, Ohio) traveled together on April 29th to begin volunteering in the Casa del Refugiado of Annunciation House (founded in [...]

She holds life within herShe breathes, she sings, she criesYet I use her and step on herAs if she were already dead. Forgive me, God, for moving so far away from EarthFor eating food from packagesDrinking water from cansConsuming and discarding too muchAnd giving back too little. Forgive me, God, for forgetting that I am a guest in her houseFor not cleaning up after myselfNot minding the sacrifice of her [...]

Three Marys: Crucifixion by Dawn Williams BoydUsed with permission. https://www.dawnwilliamsboyd.com/   By Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU They did not think it was going to end this way. The women did not dream they would be standing at the foot of a cross. But death is women’s work. Blood is women’s mark. While the other Evangelists mention women at a distance, it is John alone who notes that the women [...]

Black Madonna by Katherine Skaggs, used with permission.www.katherineskaggs.com By Lisa Steiner, Associate and Social Concerns Liaison Today I pray to the Black Madonna, the mother of all creation. I pray that she will care for all the children of Earth, especially those who look like her. I pray that she can rescue our brothers and sisters who struggle against racism all over the world. And I pray especially that she [...]

Thank you to Nic Phillips for the use of his artwork. Please see link below for his new book, Breaking Chains:www.avaloniabooks.com/product-page/breaking-chains By Lisa Steiner, Associate and Social Concerns Liaison On this International Day of Remembrance of Victims of the Slave Trade, I reflect on the Black Madonna in Sue Monk Kidd’s novel, The Secret Life of Bees. Every country must confront its sins, and the dehumanizing injustice of slavery is [...]

By Sister Martha Buser, OSU Here we are, almost through Lent, and many of us are still asking ourselves or others, “What can I do for Lent? What can I give up? Should I give up candy? Watching TV? What other thing can I give up that would be a penance for me?” I realized that this year, due to the pandemic, we don’t have anything we can give up [...]

By Sister Sue Scharfenberger, OSU Did you have that experience on Ash Wednesday on February 17? They said Lent was beginning. To me, it felt more like a prolonging of what we had been living for a year now. Prayer, penance, almsgiving. Nothing new, really. I struggled to find meaning in this “new” season of Lent. I think I felt fortunate not to have to receive ashes. (Ash Wednesday is [...]

Joan DiLeonardo Leotta attended Ursuline Academy in Pittsburgh from grades one through eight. This is her story of how Sister Mary Anne Murkowsky, OSU, encouraged her to become a writer, beginning in the 6th grade with the school newspaper. Sister Mary Anne Murkowsky, OSU, taught at Ursuline Academy from 1936-1962. She died on September 25, 1990. Joan did become a writer and also performs stories on stage—often these are tales [...]

"NT030.Jesus Cleanses the temple" by pcstratman is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 The following is a reflection given by Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU, at St. William Church in Louisville on Sunday, March 7, 2021. OK, folks, listen up. There is a new sheriff in town! And this sheriff is no namby-pamby. This sheriff means business. He is upset with what is going around town. He means to clean it up! He means to [...]

The following is a reflection by Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU on the readings for Sunday, February 7, 2021. Seems to me that all the main characters in this past Sunday’s readings on February 7th are a bit testy. Job is really in a bad mood. Hasn’t been sleeping, sees life as drudgery, and thinks he will never see happiness again. He is definitely crabby. Along with Alexander, in the [...]

By Sister Sue Scharenberger, OSU Fairly certain that I was not alone in my “angst” since the elections in November, I began looking for support for my concerns for our country and what would come with January 20th and the inauguration of a “new era”, I thought. Then came January 6th. I felt frozen in fright! “Can’t be,” I thought. Again, knowing I could not be alone in what I [...]

By Sister Janet Marie Peterworth, OSU Epiphany is God’s day for show and tell. Really, it’s true—it’s God’s day for show and tell and it is our day—at least it was my day for recognition. Just as surely as Matthew needed to write this story of the Magi for his early Jewish/Christian community, I needed to hear it again. This time, as I reflected, I tried not to hear it [...]

By Sister Sue Scharfenberger, OSU Advent Reflections from Peru Probably every year they appear in Advent. But this time I noticed them more, or I paid better attention. I refer to the number of times the biblical texts invite us to go up to a high mountain, a holy mountain (Isaiah 11:9), where sadness and mourning will be taken away (Isaiah 25:7), and from where justice and peace will flow [...]

By Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU Mountains moved--slashed, gashed. Valleys smoothed--smashed, smothered. O mountains, I have seen water as blood Pouring from your side, And mud like pus oozing from your wounds. O valleys, I have felt you shift Under your heavy load And heard you gasp and groan as though for life. It is Progress, they prate; Progress is the name. It opens the way in for golden arches, [...]

The following is a reflection given by Sister Clara Fehringer at Historic Saint Paul Catholic Church in Lexington, Kentucky, at Mass on December 7, 2020, the second Sunday of Advent. “Comfort, give comfort to my people says the Lord.” This statement from the Prophet Isaiah gives us blessed assurance as we navigate through this pandemic that God is on our side—what a comfort! We look around us and see so [...]

Maryknoll Sister Maura Clarke, Jean Donovan, Ursuline Sister Dorothy Kazel and Maryknoll Sister Ita Ford By Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU My musings today come from Isaiah (58:1-9a) on the kind of fast that our God wants. I was musing about this in the context of my trip to El Salvador in 2015. The background of that trip started many years ago. A brutal civil war was raging in that [...]