AUGUST 2012
VOL. XVIII, NO. 1
Associates and Sisters Day was full of inspiration
By Lorna Horishny, OSUA of Memphis, Tenn.
“Inspire: 1, to influence, move or guide by divine or supernatural inspiration; 2, to exert an animating, enlivening or exalting influence on; 3, to spur on.” The definition above was lifted and edited from the online Merriam-Webster website and one has to admit, those who were fortunate enough to attend Associates and Sisters Day on June 9 at Mount Saint Joseph found just that inspiration. From the opening talk by Sister Maureen Griner on “Risk-Taking Models” for spiritual risk-taking to the final presentation by Associate Lisa Reilly on “Y-DOSA,” and the loving closing segment “In Memoriam,” we were abundantly inspired and blessed with the Holy Spirit’s presence as person after person shared their stories of spiritual risk-taking and the blessings that will follow. Sister Maureen started us off with an excellent call to witness and conversion with her personal reflections on a life spent answering God’s prompting to live a life of fullness and fearlessness in doing His work on earth. As she said, “Fear is inevitable, but trust in God makes all things possible.” Her closing quote was indeed uplifting to me: “The sign of God is that we are led where we did not mean to go.” It occurs to me that being truly Christian and playing it safe just don’t go well together. The second session by Karen Siciliano (nicknamed “Karen Angela” by Associate Martha Little) permitted
us to see into a life of continual discernment in answering God’s call. “Karen Angela” shared her lifelong search for meaning and direction through an early attraction to the Franciscan and Ursuline charisms, to finally achieving her goal as a member of the secular institute established by Mary-Cabrini Durkin, “The Company of St. Ursula.” After lunch, Sister Martha Keller put a different spin on cultivating vocations with a call to “Promoting a Culture of Vocations.” Her four suggestions to “Pray, Evangelize, Mentor and Invite,” with their examples and direction, offered a new take on a modern call to vocations that is so important and can seem such a daunting task in our noisy, secular-focused world. Session three was a lively panel by six Ursuline Associates who generously shared their journeys through lives of holy and inspired risk-taking. Peggy Clark, Owensboro; Carol Hill, Grayson County; Joanne Mason, Hancock County; Marcia Stoller, Muhlenberg County; Carol O’Keefe, Kansas, and Elaine Wood, Western Kentucky, offered insights into their experiences and the joys of spiritual risk-taking. Ladies, we salute you, and thank you, moderator Dan Heckel, for giving them free rein. They were awesome. Lisa Reilly, a Kansas associate, showed a beautiful presentation on “Y-DOSA” (Young Daughters of Saint Angela) and the 11 girls who presently belong. The organization has made great strides in the last three years as they endeavor to provide girls ages 11 to 18 with the inspiration to follow the charism of Angela Merici. Y-DOSA’s sponsors hope to establish charters for new Continued on page 3
Speaking on “Risk Taking” on June 9 were, left to right: Associates Peggy Clark, Owensboro; Carol Hill, Grayson County; Joanne Mason, Hancock County; Carol O’Keefe, Kansas; Marcia Stoller, Muhlenberg County, and Elaine Wood, Western Kentucky.