Powerhouse of Prayer

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 E ach day after breakfast, Ursuline Sister Rosemary Keough makes the short trip linens,” she said. Those angels include Mary Ann Clements Carr, 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. “It’s important to be in conversation Sister Rosemary Keough posed in the Motherhouse Chapel as she celebrated her senior Sisters whose vision is fading. “I consider it a blessing to have 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 Hispanic people through Centro Latino, driving them Retreats From page 13 to doctor’s appointments and helping them navigate the technology in advance. For those completely new often-confusing American system. She knows what it’s to Zoom, my suggestion is that the ‘Zoom room’ be like to be busy and hopes that the many people with open 20 minutes before the program starts (to give hectic lives today can find the peace that prayer brings. people time to make sure their mikes are on and their

“I’m grateful I have that opportunity,” she said. video is working), and that everyone be on the call 10 One of the Ursuline Sisters who minutes before the program officially begins. Technical inspired her prayer life was (the late) instructions about how the retreat will progress can be Sister Ruth Helen Flaherty, both as a given to everyone. teacher at Mount Saint Joseph Academy, • Attendees can make sure that they carve out the and later as a friend in the community. entire time to be as present to the retreat as if they “At 4:30 p.m., she’d say, ‘It’s time to had physically arrived at the retreat center: all other go see the Spouse.’” distractions have been eliminated and arrangements

Sister Ruth Sister Rosemary’s daily prayers are have been made not to be disturbed. (No doing laundry

Helen more conversations with God rather during the retreat.)n

Flaherty than the prayers she grew up with.

“I remember hearing that the definition of prayer “Our call in these times includes working to is, ‘Lifting up your heart and soul to God,’” Sister see the deeper invitation that the pandemic is Rosemary said. providing. How might we be conscious of the

A special group she prays for are her “Visiting transformation occurring within ourselves, Angels,” a group of her former students from the our communities, the nation, and the global Academy who graduated in 1972. community as we live through this time?”

“They came to Centro Latino to help clean up – Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR)