U r s u l i n e s
A L I V E
Powerhouse of Prayer
– By Dan Heckel, Mount Saint Joseph Staff
Sister Rosemary grateful for conversations with God This feature highlights the efforts of those Ursuline Sisters who minister in the “Powerhouse of Prayer,” who lift up all those who ask for prayers throughout the year.
my room and gave me lovely bed ach day after breakfast, linens,” she said. Those angels Ursuline Sister Rosemary include Mary Ann Clements Carr, Keough makes the short trip Mary Ann Shewmaker Willett, from her room in Saint Joseph Villa Sister Jacinta Powers, Carmelita to the small chapel there so she can O’Daniel Leonard, Sarah Kranz, pray for “everybody I can think of in Dorothy Ford Riggs and Lou my life.” Highland Goings. “That little chapel has three One of her other ministries at windows, in one of them I can the Mount is a different form of see the greenery. I feel like I’m prayer – reading to a couple of the connected with nature,” she said. senior Sisters whose vision is fading. Sister Rosemary Keough posed in the “It’s important to be in conversation Motherhouse “I consider it a blessing to have Chapel as she celebrated her with our God.” 60th Jubilee in 2017. that contact,” she said. Sister Rosemary has been an Although Covid-19 has been a Ursuline Sister for 63 years. After 59 years of active trial for everyone, she believes some good things are ministry – including two stints of teaching at Mount arising. Saint Joseph Academy – she moved back to Maple “They say the birds are chirping more, the skies in Mount in 2018. One of her ministries is serving in the the big cities are cleaner, the animals are coming out,” Powerhouse of Prayer. Sister Rosemary said. “I certainly believe God has a “My prayer life has been extra good since moving plan for all of us.” to the Villa,” she said. “I’m not rushing around to go Friends can write to Sister Rosemary at 8001 somewhere.” Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356. n Sister Rosemary spent 18 years ministering to Retreats From page 13 Hispanic people through Centro Latino, driving them to doctor’s appointments and helping them navigate the technology in advance. For those completely new to Zoom, my suggestion is that the ‘Zoom room’ be often-confusing American system. She knows what it’s open 20 minutes before the program starts (to give like to be busy and hopes that the many people with people time to make sure their mikes are on and their hectic lives today can find the peace that prayer brings. video is working), and that everyone be on the call 10 “I’m grateful I have that opportunity,” she said. minutes before the program officially begins. Technical One of the Ursuline Sisters who instructions about how the retreat will progress can be inspired her prayer life was (the late) given to everyone. Sister Ruth Helen Flaherty, both as a • Attendees can make sure that they carve out the teacher at Mount Saint Joseph Academy, entire time to be as present to the retreat as if they and later as a friend in the community. had physically arrived at the retreat center: all other “At 4:30 p.m., she’d say, ‘It’s time to distractions have been eliminated and arrangements go see the Spouse.’” have been made not to be disturbed. (No doing laundry Sister Rosemary’s daily prayers are Sister Ruth during the retreat.)n Helen more conversations with God rather Flaherty than the prayers she grew up with. “Our call in these times includes working to “I remember hearing that the definition of prayer see the deeper invitation that the pandemic is is, ‘Lifting up your heart and soul to God,’” Sister providing. How might we be conscious of the Rosemary said. transformation occurring within ourselves, A special group she prays for are her “Visiting our communities, the nation, and the global Angels,” a group of her former students from the community as we live through this time?” Academy who graduated in 1972. “They came to Centro Latino to help clean up – Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR)
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