November 2011
VOL. XVII, NO. 2
Formation plans for 2012 being finalized
W
hile associate groups continue praying with the first two formation plans based on “Angela as peacemaker and reconciler,” the next two plans for the first half of 2012 are being created. The Associate Advisory Board met Sept. 24 to discuss the final two formation plans for the 2011-12 year. The advisory board also agreed on the theme for the 2012 Associates and Sisters Day – “Angela as risk-taker, open to the Spirit.” Board members present were John Wood, Martha Little, Sister Sheila Higdon, Suzanne Reiss, Sister Angela Fitzpatrick, Marian Bennett and Dan Heckel. Sister Nancy Murphy and Associate Michael Ziegler could not attend. The first two plans were based on the first two talks on Associates and Sisters Day 2011. The panel discussion that day was on role models for living as a Christian, and overcoming obstacles to being the Christians we want to be. Associate John Wood put together the third formation session to challenge each of us to face who and what we consider “the poor,” and how we react to opportunities to assist those in need. The challenge of the third session will be to ask ourselves how we can better use our talents and resources to help the disadvantaged in our community. The fourth and final session will be an opportunity for associates to gauge how far they’ve come as peacemakers and reconcilers, and to answer the ultimate question, “What does it mean to be a Christian?” These two formation plans will be available for groups after the first of the year. The theme for Associates and Sisters Day 2012, and thus the subject of formation sessions for 2012-13, is the next step following “What Angela teaches us about change” and “Angela as peacemaker and reconciler.” Saint Angela as a risk-taker seems appropriate for 2012. The mere forming of the Company of Saint Ursula was a huge risk during 16th century Italy, and Angela further challenged her daughters to take risks in her words that mean so much to today’s Ursuline Sisters: “Act, move, believe, strive, hope, cry out to him with all your heart, for without doubt you will see marvelous things, if you direct everything to the praise and glory of his majesty and the good of souls.” Associates and Sisters Day will also afford an opportunity to join in celebrating one of the biggest risks taken by the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph – the 100th anniversary of the community’s beginning. Stay tuned for details.
UPDATE NOV. 2011.indd 1
Associates Lisa Reilly, left, and Carol O’Keefe, right, of Kansas pose with the Y-DOSA group from Whitesville, Ky., during their Sept. 22 visit to the Kentucky school. The girls pictured are, left to right, Chassity Roberts, Silva Stauffer, and Breana Murphy.
Kansas Y-DOSA shares its story in Kentucky By Lisa Reilly, OSUA
On Sept. 22, Associate Carol O’Keefe and I headed to Owensboro, Ky., from Kansas City in order to give the first of, we hope, many presentations about the Young Daughters of Saint Angela, entitled “Welcome to YDOSA.” The presentation was held at St. Mary of the Woods Catholic School in Whiteville, Ky., on Sept. 23. Sister Suzanne Sims, principal of St. Mary of the Woods and Y-DOSA leader, welcomed us with typical Ursuline hospitality. Carol and I presented to about 15 people including the three Y-DOSA members of the Whitesville chapter, Breana Murphy, Silva Stauffer and Chassity Roberts. Ursuline Sisters Marie William Blyth, Kathleen Dueber and Sharon Sullivan, the Ursuline congregational leader, came from the Mount to hear the presentation. Also in attendance were several associates interested in starting their own chapter, including Grayson County Associate Betty Stone; Tracy Conkright, principal of the Owensboro Catholic 4-6 Center; and Owensboro Associate Bonnie Marks, who teaches at the 4-6 Center. Continued on page 3
10/27/2011 1:46:08 PM