Community News

Toronto, ON/October 7, 2020/For Immediate Release -- On October 7, 1851, four Sisters of St. Joseph came to Toronto from Philadelphia to care for children, left as orphans as a result of an epidemic of typhus. 

The leader of the Sisters, Mother Delphine, forged a path in caring for the sick, the orphans, the homeless, the destitute and the uneducated and now, 170 years later, in the midst of a pandemic, the Sisters, associates, staff and volunteers continue to forge new paths and celebrate their anniversary.

Madonna Bhavan, a community of Ancillae Secular Institute members in Trivandrum hosted a 3-day pre-marriage course at the premises of Ancillae’s Vocational training cum residential area at Kochupally. The course was conducted for the youth belonging to Pulluvila Forane of Trivandrum Archdiocese.  

Curious about Ursuline charism? Want to discover the joy of being loved by God? The Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph invite single Catholic women ages 18-40 to a “Zoom and See” experience. This virtual gathering will take place on Saturday, Nov. 7. Join us online from 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. CST to learn more about our creative, contemplative response to the needs of God’s people. 

UNCORKED! VIRTUAL EDITION

Enjoy a lovely evening of specialty wine and delicious chocolates from the comfort of your own home.

REGISTER / ORDER YOUR WINE

Registration is open! Sign up for the event and order your choice of award-winning Syncopation Rhythmic Blend (red), Acoustic Blend (white) or Duet Rosé wine. Tickets available while supplies last.

Tickets: $35 per ticket.

Proceeds benefit the ministries and retirement needs of the Sisters of St. Joseph. 

WINE PICK UP

Wednesday, Oct. 21
3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

By Katie Beckmann Mahon, Communications Manager

On Friday, the world learned the sad news of the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

At the age of 87, with 27 years of the years on the Supreme Court, Justice Ginsburg, known to the world as RBG, passed away from complications of pancreatic cancer.

Women worldwide viewed RBG as an icon, and she was a hero for those passionate about social justice advocacy.

During the seven months of quarantine due to the pandemic, S. Mary Anna Euring has created hundreds of pieces of artwork: paintings bushed on rice paper, origami earrings lovingly folded and greeting cards enhanced with her photos of Long Island. But what to do with all this art? She decided to host a sale of her art to sisters and Motherhouse staff to raise money for the congregation’s OPening Word Program, an adult literacy program for immigrant women which operates on Long Island, NY.
She raised more than $4,000!

By Katie Beckmann Mahon, Communications Manager

A few months ago, Sr. Jennifer Schaaf, OP, an Assistant Chaplain at the Saint Thomas More Catholic Chapel and Center at Yale University, was all set to attend an Alternative Spring Break Trip to Guatemala.

Simultaneously, as she was preparing for this trip, the COVID-19 pandemic was spreading to the northeast, and forced Sr. Jennifer and her colleagues to cancel this trip, hours before departure.

 The Daughters of Wisdom at Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center, Litchfield, CT unveiled their conservation easement sign. This designated the conserved land for all who come to the center. More information and some of the presentations are here: www.daughtersofwisdom.org/news-remembrances/2020/9/14/its-official-conservation-land-sign-unveiled .

The news was devestating for Sister of St. Dominic of Amityville Dolores Christi Gartanutti.  On Monday, August 31, her house burned to the ground when she left to bring Holy Communion to her 90+ year-old friend. An hour later, her home was destroyed and her dog Danny Boy passed away in the explosion.  

By Katie Beckmann Mahon, Communications Manager

To say the last five months have been challenging for Sr. Kathleen Sullivan, OP, would be an understatement.

As Chancellor for External Affairs for Dominican College, Sr. Kathleen has worked endlessly with fellow administrators to develop reopening plans for the school, in consideration of all its aspects, as well as collaboration with all its constituents.

The Franciscan Peace Center has produced an exciting new video project which will be released this month to celebrate the International Day of Peace (Sept 21) and Campaign Nonviolence (Sept 19-27).

Individuals from each state across the country were recruited and asked to record themselves walking and talking about a wish for peace in their state.  The individual videos were edited together into a 13-minute collaborative project. 

“Holding onto Hope” will take place online the weekend of Oct. 2-3, 2020, provided by the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center in Maple Mount, Ky., which is sponsored by the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph.

By Katie Beckmann Mahon, Communications Manager

When Sr. Jeanine Conlon, OP, said goodbye to the students of St. Charles School on Staten Island on March 13th, she only thought it would be for a few weeks.

Never did she think, the next time she would see her students would be the following September.

“You didn’t believe such a thing could happen, but it did,” commented Sr. Jeanine, a Sister of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York.

By Katie Beckmann Mahon, Communications Manager

Throughout her ministry at St. Pius V Parish & School in Rhode Island, Sr. Shirley Jeffcott, OP, has impacted many lives.

Whether she was teaching in the school or answering phones in the parish office, Sr. Shirley has always done “whatever needs to be done” to support the St. Pius V community.

With the school year approaching, Sr. Shirley has been helpful to the St. Pius V School administration as she has met with the incoming principal to help her learn about the history of the school.

Seven notable musicians will travel to Frankfort, Illinois, on September 2, 2020, to perform a live, private concert at St. Francis Woods for Sister M. Anna Clare Meyer's 105th birthday. That week, Sister is also celebrating her 85th anniversary of serving as a Franciscan Sister of the Sacred Heart. Trombonist Robert Graham, Sister Anna Clare's nephew by marriage, assembled the band of musicians for this special occasion.

Are you interested in religious life? Want to discover your passion and hear the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity share about serving others while in mission? MSBT Sisters invite single women, age 18+ that are discerning religious life to join them in a virtual discernment retreat. Perfect for those considering religious life, enjoy service and value faith sharing and reflection.

Please help me spread the word!

I would like you Zoom with the Springfield Dominicans Friday, September 18th from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm (Central Time Zone).  We will be discussing our vowed life, community life, prayer life and our mission and ministry; a panel of sisters will be doing these short presentation; there will be time for small group discussion; and then a round of “QUICK CONVERSATION” with sisters, as we move you in and out of the breakout rooms.

This evening is just “a glimpse” of who we are!  Come and ZOOM.

Congregation Spotlight: Saying Goodbye to St. Luke's School

By Katie Beckmann Mahon, Communications Manager

In early July, the St. Luke's School community received devastating news.

The Archdiocese of New York announced on July 9th the closing of 20 Catholic schools due to the financial impact of COVID-19, and St. Luke's School was one of six schools located in the Bronx on that list.

August 3-5, 2020, the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville gathered in Chapter, which is our meeting held every six years to plan for the future and respond to the needs of our community and world.

Tragic events from March to August led us to shift our agenda to respond to them. Our mission statement proclaims in part: “Our mission…cutting across socio-economic, racial and national boundaries, assists [all] to live more fully and develop a personal relationship with God.” Thus, as women of peace since 1535, we renew our commitment to work for peace and justice for all.

Sisters Come from Varied Backgrounds in Education, Healthcare and Advocacy Work for Impoverished, Deaf Ministry in the United States and Peru

LOUISVILLE, KY (August 5, 2020) – Five Ursuline Sisters of Louisville committed themselves to guiding the 162-year-old congregation of Sisters and Associate members that today minister with communities and individuals, near and far, in a variety of ways.

Ministry During a Pandemic: Sr. Barbara Duffy, OP

By Katie Beckmann Mahon, Communications Manager

“Learn to generously share what you have with those who ask for help, and don’t close your heart to the one who comes to borrow from you.” -Matthew 5:42

Over the past few months, many of us have used quarantine as a time to pick up new hobbies or complete projects around the house that we never had a chance to complete.

Congregation Spotlight: Cathy McCann, Associate

By Katie Beckmann Mahon, Communications Manager

Cathy McCann has been quite busy over the past few months.

At the beginning of the COVID outbreak, she came out of retirement to assist the New Jersey VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) in handling the initial pandemic response at food banks and pantries across the state.

By Katie Beckmann Mahon, Communications Manager, Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, NY

Since March, it has felt as if life has been on pause, and only recently, that the world is beginning to get back to a “new normal.”

For Sr. Monica Paul Fraser, OP, a Sister of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York, and a Pastoral Associate at Incarnation Church in Sarasota, Florida, her return back to her ministry couldn’t have come at a better time.

Germany, July 25: At the just concluded Regional Council, a new Council team for the German Region of Ancillae Secular Institute has been elected. Aniela Lichy is the newly elected Regional Directress and Sieglinde Werner, Valsamma Varghese, Sabine Baumann and Maria Kraushaar has been elected as the councilors.

As the COVID-19 pandemic and its far-reaching implications continue to unfold globally and in our communites, the Ancillae more than ever is compelled to make their “Apostolate of Presence’ relevant to the needs and needy of these troubled times. While Ancillae communities are at the service of the people in many and various ways, Marykutty Michael at Ulhasnagar, Mumbai is setting trends for reaching out during pandemic by her Tele-counselling initiatives.