Spirit, Vision and Presence

Celebrating 140 Years of Ministry Beginning Sept. 18, 2014 Spirit, Vision and Presence Dear Friends, There is an old song that talks about the “Lazy days of summer.” But here at the Ursuline Motherhouse, the summer has been anything but lazy. We are in the midst of transition and all that transition entails. In this issue you will see some of the faces and places of transition: the Sisters who will serve in Leadership for the next six years, new leaders at the Ursuline Preschool and Kindergarten, a new leader for The Ursuline Center, From and pictures of our newly renovated swimming pool. Sister Mary McCormick As part of the process of electing a new leadership team, the Sisters set a General Superior directional statement for the next six years. In part, it reads that the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown will promote holistic living, develop our legacy, enrich spirituality, expand our network of relations, practice respectful communications, strengthen mission integration, promote visible solidarity and support gender equality. We will be working with all of our colleagues and friends to embody this vision over the next six years. In our immediate future, we mark 140 years of service to God’s People in the greater Youngstown area. On September 18, 1874, five Ursuline Sisters came from Cleveland to St. Columba Parish to teach in the school. Fr. Patrick Brown was pastor at St. Columba in those days. His sister, Sister Angela Brown, was a Cleveland Ursuline and came with four others to begin a new foundation. God’s Blessings have been with us all these years. We pledge to continue to serve God’s People here, especially those most in need. Our New Leadership Team 2014-2020 Leadership Team. From left are Sisters Norma Raupple, Councilor, Mary McCormick, General Superior, and Regina Rogers and Patricia McNicholas, Councilors. Photo by Tony Mancino. On June 1, Sister Mary McCormick was installed as our 21st General Superior. Her councilors are Sisters Regina Rogers, Patricia McNicholas and Norma Raupple. This team will lead until 2020 and implement a new Directional Statement developed by our entire community. Sister Mary is Professor of Theology and Academic Dean at St. Mary Seminary in Cleveland, Sister Regina is Assistant Principal and a Religion Instructor at Ursuline High School, and Sister Patricia is Senior Development Officer for Beatitude House, where Sister Norma is Hispanic Outreach/Education Coordinator.