Catching Up with the Mission – Sister Cheryl Clemons

The ministry at the Maple Mount campus most affected by the Covid pandemic is the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center, where in-person retreats have been canceled for the past year.

The Center has adapted by offering virtual retreats and programs via Zoom, and this year has been helped with its programming by the addition of Sister Cheryl Clemons

When Sister Cheryl left her ministry as vice president of Academic Affairs at Brescia University, she didn’t expect to discern her next way to serve in the midst of a pandemic. Like Saint Angela, she has adapted with the times.

“We began the ‘Mount on the Road’ Lenten series in mid-February – all digital,” she said. The four-week program is serving parishes in the Diocese of Owensboro, as well as individuals who are not part of the parishes taking part.

She and Maryann Joyce, Center director, are planning a face-to-face women’s retreat on May 22 weekend titled “Renewing Our Hearts: Hope and Healing with Julian of Norwich.” The 14th century English mystic survived her own pandemic, and her inspiring message will be shared with the participants. Like all programs planned for the Center during the pandemic, the in-person event could be postponed or converted to a virtual retreat.

Sister Cheryl completed spiritual direction training in 2020 and is offering spiritual direction via Zoom – except for one person who meets with her in person and socially distanced.

She continues volunteering to lead RCIA sessions at her home parish at Our Lady in Lourdes and at Precious Blood Parish in Owensboro – “both in-person because the numbers are small and there’s a hall to spread us out,” she said.

Learn more and register for Sister Cheryl’s women’s retreat.