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Associates Day brings together Ursulines, Associates and guests

More than 70 women and men assembled in Maple Hall at Mount Saint Joseph for Associates and Sisters Day on June 21, 2025. The crowd included eight Associates affiliated with the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville. One of them, Jane Cruthirds, inspired everyone with her “Angela: A Pilgrim of Hope” keynote presentation. She talked about her journey as an Ursuline Associate, as a teacher at a Catholic School, and her actual journey to Italy to see some of Angela Merici’s sacred sites.

Three others from Louisville – Lisa Steiner, Theresa Butler, and Patricia Hagan – gave a panel discussion about how their Associate group became its own entity.

The day also included prayers, a trivia game, and a memorial video, as well as an optional tour of the Heritage Room. A delicious lunch consisted of chicken salad, fruit, chips, rice crispy bars, and cookies. During the announcement of Associate anniversaries, Associate Lois Bell was recognized for being an Associate for 35 years.

The highlight of the event was the commitment ceremony for two new Ursuline Associates: Amy Fogle Stiff of Owensboro, Ky., and Gayle Sims Bogard of West Virginia. They were accompanied by their contact companions Sister Cheryl Clemons (Amy) and Sister Suzanne Sims (Gayle). Stiff recently joined the staff of the Ursuline Sisters as the first lay director of Local Community Life.

Here are some photos from the day.

Associate Dan Heckel, who helped emcee the program, talks to Carrie Wentzel, an Associate with the Ursulines of Louisville. Carrie gave a short presentation about the Italy pilgrimage that she attended. Seated in front is Sister Rebecca White.
Associate Doreen Abbott, left, greets Associate Maryann Joyce at the start of the day. Abbott helped organize the event, including the food and drinks.
Left to right, Sister Amelia Stenger speaks with Associates Elaine Norcia, Linda Rocco, Carolyn Sue Cecil, and Sister Margaret Ann Aull.
Associate Elaine Wood smiles as she talks to Sister Mary Matthias Ward.
Left to right, Associate Phyllis Troutman, Sister Cecelia Joseph “C.J.” Olinger, Associate Bonnie Marks, and Sister Emma Anne Munsterman catch up with one another.
Sister Cecelia Joseph “C.J.” Olinger, left, greets Amy Fogle Stiff, who planned to make her Associate commitment that afternoon.
Associates Lois Bell, left, and Phyllis Troutman, right, are greeted by Sister Martha Keller that morning.
Patricia Hagan, an Associate for the Ursulines of Louisville, smiles as she speaks with Sister Joan Riedley who was seated across from her. Her fellow Associate, Regina Leitner, is seated at the end.
Sister Susan Mary Mudd, left, poses with Rory Polio, an Associate with the Louisville Ursulines. Rory wanted to get a lot of photos of the day.
Associate Joyce York-Higginbotham, left, got to know Lisa Steiner, an Associate for the Louisville Ursulines and one of the panelists.
Sister Monica Seaton listens as people sing the Pilgrims of Hope song for the Jubilee Year of Hope as she leads the opening prayer.
Jane Cruthirds, the keynote speaker, said she is using Angela as her model for the Jubilee Year of Hope. Standing to her left is Carrie Wentzel, who is also an Associate with the Louisville Ursulines.
Carrie Wentzel, an Associate with the Ursulines of Louisville, brings a microphone around during a sharing time for Jane Cruthirds’ presentation.
Congregational Leader Sister Sharon Sullivan says a blessing before the noon meal.
Going through the lunch line were Sister George Mary Hagan, left, and Sister Marie Joseph Coomes, right, with Sister Nancy Murphy right behind her.
Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves as the group took a lunch break at noon on Associates and Sisters Day. Seated at right is Sister Monica Seaton.
Sister Vivian Bowles, right, smiles as she fixes her plate for lunch, as Associate Ed Cecil across from her looks over the desserts.
Associate Stephanie Render, left, shares a laugh with Sister Amelia Stenger during a visit to the Heritage Room in Lourdes Hall during Associates and Sisters Day.
Brad Stiff, husband of new Associate Amy Fogle Stiff, and Associate Marilyn Terry listen as Sister Amelia Stenger explains some of the early history of the Ursuline Sisters when they arrived at Maple Mount in 1874. The visitors were touring the new Heritage Room.
Associate Lois Bell looks at artifacts in the Heritage Room in the early afternoon of Associates and Sisters Day. Bell of Paducah has been an Ursuline Associate for 35 years.
Associate Wes Wheatley talks with Sister Sharon Sullivan, right, during the Saturday event. Seated to his left are Sister Maureen O’Neill and Sister Karla Kaelin.
Sister Suzanne Sims speaks with Associate Charlotte Paez, who came with her husband, Associate Gustavo Paez, and her mother-in-law. Charlotte is a member of the Associate Advisory Board.
Sister Nancy Murphy, right, stops by to say hello to Associate Maryann Joyce. Joyce used to be the director of the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center.
Associate Dan Heckel welcomes and points out the panel of speakers who are Associates with the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville: left to right, Patricia Hagan, Theresa Butler, and Lisa Steiner. The group talked about the new direction the Louisville Associates had taken.
Lisa Steiner tells everyone that the Associates of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville are active in their parishes, and they try to find a focus for their service as Associates.
Theresa Butler, who used to be the director of the Associates for the Louisville Ursulines, explains how the group evolved away from paid staff to become its own nonprofit.
Associates stand to read their Renewal of Commitments during the ceremony for new associates. Associate Kim Haire, left, is standing next to a seated Sister Cheryl Clemons, who is her sibling.
The Ursuline Sisters stand to read the Response of the Community to the Associates, including promising to pray for them daily.
The Ursuline Sisters stand to read the Response of the Community to the Associates, including affirming them in the spirit of Saint Angela.
Associate Carol Hill, left, smiles as she greets Sister Francis Louise Johnson at the closing of the event.
During the ceremony for new Associates, Amy Fogle Stiff, second from left, and Gayle Sims Bogard, third from left, read their commitments. Their contact companions, Sister Cheryl Clemons, left, and Sister Suzanne Sims, right, witnessed their commitments.
Sister Cheryl Clemons, left, pins new Associate Amy Fogle Stiff as new Associate Gayle Sims Bogard is pinned by Sister Suzanne Sims. Congregational Leader Sister Sharon Sullivan, back left, led the ceremony.
The two new Associates posed with their contact companions after the ceremony. Left to right: Sister Suzanne Sims, contact for Gayle Sims Bogard, and Amy Fogle Stiff with her contact Sister Cheryl Clemons. Bogard is from West Virginia while Stiff lives in Owensboro.
Many of the guests for the day were Associates with the Louisville Ursulines. Left to right, Theresa Butler, Carrie Wentzel, Lisa Steiner, Patricia Hagan, Regina Leitner, Barb Mercer, and Rory Polio. Not pictured is Associate Jane Cruthirds, who was the keynote speaker.

 

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