MAY 2015
VOL. XX, NO. 4
Associates and Sisters Day promises “Saints Among Us”
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Her talk will focus on the humanity of the saints, how many of them lived normal lives for their times until they opened themselves to follow where God was leading them. “The purpose of canonization is to provide models for us,” Sister Cheryl said. Her talk will challenge those present to find what in the saints’ lives is relevant to us today. She will discuss saints who were martyrs, scholars, reformers, mystics, ministers to the needy, missionaries, religious founders and lay people. Registration for Associates and Sisters Day will begin at 8 a.m. on the second floor of the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center, with the gathering in Conference Room A. A welcome, instructions on the day and an opening prayer service begin at 9 a.m., with Sister Cheryl set to begin at 9:30. Her talk will last until lunch time, and will include time for reflection and table discussions, along with a break. During that break, associates will be asked to write down their story of who invited them to become an Ursuline Associate and why they said “yes.” Some
Sister Cheryl
ssociates and Sisters Day on June 13 will of these stories will be shared help celebrate Pope Francis’ call to make this in the first session after lunch at “The Year of Consecrated Life” by featuring 1:30 p.m. Ursuline Sister Cheryl Clemons discussing Each year one of the “Consecrated Life: Saints Among Us.” most popular aspects of Sister Cheryl, academic dean and vice president Associates and Sisters Day is of Academic Affairs for Brescia University, is an a panel discussion. This year’s expert in Catholic history and has vast discussion is titled All those who knowledge of the saints. She earned her “Surprised by have yet to make doctorate from The Catholic University the Spirit,” with their lifetime of America in Washington, D.C., in panelists taking a few moments to talk commitment historical theology-systematics, which about someone who they believe was deals with the doctrine of the Church as called by God to serve and ended up are invited to it developed historically. The topic of someplace she or he did not intend to be participate in her dissertation was Saint Gertrude the by responding to that call. the commitment Great, a 13th century Benedictine mystic Our panelists are Associates Therese ceremony. from Germany. Allen of Louisville; Debbie Lanham of
Owensboro; Linda Monaco of Kansas City, Mo.; and Paul Parker of Central City, Ky. Following a break, participants will once again enjoy the opportunity to test their Ursuline knowledge with a trivia presentation. That will be followed by some recognition of associates celebrating anniversary years and a few other presentations, with a break before Mass at 4 p.m. Father Jerry Riney, an Ursuline Associate, will preside at Mass, and some new associates will make their commitment. It was decided following discussion at last year’s Associates and Sisters Day to have only one commitment to be a lifetime associate, so all those who have yet to make their lifetime commitment are invited to participate in the commitment ceremony. The commitment ceremony typically takes place about 4:30 p.m. CDT. Ursuline Associates and Sisters all over the country and elsewhere will be asked to recommit at 4:30 p.m. in their local time zone in what is being called a “global commitment ceremony.”n
Associates & Sisters Day is Saturday, June 13! See registration on back