Reflections Blog

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 31st year, the center offers various programs, including computer classes and daily social outings. The center serves 76 students, close to 50 participate in daily activities. To learn more about the [...]

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 involves a young princess and a bunch of her friends. Now, because this family story has been told for so long there are many versions of it. And as with all [...]

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 we are the witnesses of Jesus’s life; we are commissioned to preach the good news. We are to proclaim that Jesus is alive and, in our midst, not just by words, [...]

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 together for a prayer service: "Hope and Act with Creation." The service was held on the portico at the rear of the Motherhouse. All those gathered lifted their voices in celebrating [...]

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 afternoon celebration for students. The Sisters sent a congratulatory letter highlighting the school's history as a model teaching environment connected to Ursuline College. The letter praised the school's blend of Catholic [...]

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 this section of his book, Merton is searching to come to his “real self.” This was a struggle for him. I think Jesus might have been having that same struggle. “Who [...]

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 and Holy Cross board member, presented the relic on Sept. 13. The walking stick holds symbolic meaning in Holy Cross's crest, representing the legacy of Angela Merici High School, which merged [...]

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 would have been tempted to throw the biggest tantrum imaginable. “Those late arrivals don’t deserve the same pay as I got. It’s just not fair.” Over the years, as I have [...]

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 Pittsburgh Ursulines originally purchased 80 plots. Past Ursuline leaderships have arranged for the remaining 40 graves to be donated to those who could not afford a grave site. To date, nine [...]

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, whom John calls Mary, we believe to be the Mary from whom seven demons were ejected according to Mark. And what did these seven demons signify if not all the vices? [...]

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 beside the Apostle Thomas, doubting the story the other apostles told him about the appearance of the resurrected Lord, Jesus. This account is found in only one Gospel—that of John. Let’s [...]

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 go over to the other side.” And I asked myself, what is the other side for me? Who is on the other side? Today’s gospel is full of insights about Jesus’ [...]