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Associates and Sisters Day explores growth in the spirit of Saint Angela

More than 100 people gathered at the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center on June 23, 2018, for a wonderful Associates and Sisters Day.

Father Joe Merkt led discussion on “Exploring Personal Growth in the Spirit of Angela Merici” in the morning, and the afternoon welcomed three new associates, as well an excellent panel discussion. Here are pictures from the day.

Associate Stephanie Render, center, from Caneyville, Ky., talks with Sister Mary Matthias Ward, as Sister George Mary Hagan looks on.
Sister Amelia Stenger, center, visits with her sister, Mary Teder, left, and her niece Joan Teder, who are both associates in Missouri.
Associates Brenda Busick, left, of Greenville, Ky., and Mary Hartz of Owensboro look over the table of free books prior to the start of Associates and Sisters Day.
Associates Phyllis Troutman, left, of Raywick, Ky., and Carol Hill of Leitchfield, Ky., share a laugh as they work the registration table.
Sister Monica Seaton, left, chats with Associate Mary Lyne, of Memphis, Tenn. Sister Monica ministered in Memphis for four years.
Father Joe Merkt, the facilitator for the morning session, talks with Sister Cheryl Clemons prior to the start of the day.
Three Kansas associates join Associate Jean Simpson of Central City, Ky., second from left. At left is Carol O’Keefe, then Mary Ann Stewart and Marilyn Katzer.
Sister Mary Matthias Ward, director of the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center, welcomes the participants to the day.
Father Joe Merkt leads the discussion on Ursuline Spirituality during the morning session. He is a priest of the Archdiocese of Louisville, and an Associate of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville.
Participants were urged to find someone they didn’t know and talk one on one about a phrase or word in the handout that moved them. At left is Associate Delores Turnage, of Owensboro, talking with Associate Lois Bell of Paducah, Ky.
Associates Carol Owen, left, of Owensboro and Coreen Moore of Clarkson, Ky., share their one-on-one time.
Associate Donna Favors, left, of Owensboro, talks about the words that inspired her with Sister Alfreda Malone.
Sister Marcella Schrant, left, talks with Owensboro Associate Mary Hartz, while in the background, Sister Marie Joseph Coomes, left, chats with Owensboro Associate Joan Perry.
Sharon Higdon, left, of Elizabethtown, Ky., talks with Sister Mary Angela Matthews during the one-on-one. Higdon is considering becoming an associate.
Owensboro Associate Cindy Bornander, right, talks with Associate Sara Scully of Shepherdsville, Ky., about what stood out to her in the material.
Sister Stephany Nelson, right, talks with Sue Christian, of Henderson, Ky., who was attending her first Associates and Sisters Day. At left, Associate Phyllis Troutman talks with Sue’s husband, Associate Bobby Joe Christian.
Following the one-on-one discussions, participants returned to their tables to share their thoughts. On the left side of this table were Associates Sara Scully, Cindy Bornander and Ron Bornander, talking with Sisters Mary Diane Taylor, Mary Henning and Rosemary Keough.
Associate Kathi Skidd, left, of Owensboro, talks with her guest Linda Farley, of Owensboro, and Sisters Cecelia Joseph Olinger and Ruth Gehres.
Associate George Horishny, of Memphis, Tenn., shares what he told his group, as Father Joe Merkt listens.
Sister Amelia Stenger, congregational leader of the Ursuline Sisters, calls the new associates making their commitment to come forward in the Motherhouse Chapel.
The new associates, all of Owensboro, recite their commitments as their contact companion stands behind them. From left is Jeannie Foster and her contact, Associate Debbie Lanham; Joy Keller and her contact, Sister Martha Keller; and Kathi Skidd, whose contact was also Sister Martha. Kathy made her temporary commitment in 2012, when there were still two commitments, so was making her final commitment this year.
Sister Martha Keller puts the associate pin on her sister-in-law, Joy Keller.
Jeannie Foster gets a hug from Debbie Lanham following her commitment.
Sister Martha Keller places the associate pin on Kathi Skidd.
Ursuline Associates stand to recite their recommitment to the Ursuline Sisters.
The Ursuline Sisters stand to read their response to the associates.
The new associates and their contact companions pose on the chapel steps. In the front row, from left, are Kathi Skidd, Joy Keller and Jeannie Foster; the second row is Sister Martha Keller and Associate Debbie Lanham.
The new associates, from left, Kathi Skidd, Jeannie Foster and Joy Keller.
The Associate Panel for the afternoon session consisted of, from left, Stephanie Render, Delores Turnage, Kim Haire and Ron Bornander. They each discussed their response to the question, “How have I grown since being introduced to Saint Angela?”
Associate John Little carries the cross to begin the 4 p.m. Mass.
Associate Karen Wells, the first lector, carries in the lectionary, as the second lector, Cindy Bornander sings the entrance hymn “The Great Forerunner of the Morn.”
Father Joe Merkt, who led discussion in the morning session, prepares to celebrate Mass in the afternoon.
Sister Cecelia Joseph Olinger reads the intercessions, as Father Joe Merkt listens in the background.
Associates Debbie Lanham, left, and Martha Little bring up the gifts to Father Joe Merkt.

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