One of the first missions taught by the Ursuline Sisters of Belleville was St. Agnes School in Kenmare, North Dakota. The sisters taught here from 1912 to 1962. Its history given below is taken from commemorative books written about the school. St. Agnes Parish in Kenmare, North Dakota was an important gateway for Catholic mission…
Sisters of the Past
Sacred Heart Academy, Waterflow New Mexico
Catholicism in Waterflow, New Mexico dates from February 22, 1912, when the first Mass was celebrated there in makeshift quarters. Three young men, Joseph and Lorenzo Stallings of Kentucky and David Watson of Georgia, Catholics, were among the pioneer settlers of the region. They called on the Franciscan Fathers at Farmington for help in establishing…
Mother Cecilia Koehler, Graphoanalyst
Mother Mary Cecilia Koehler was born in Paola, Kansas on January 21, 1890, the fifth child of Jacob and Catherine Koehler, and was named Mary Monica. She grew up in a happy, intellectual household and soon became a tall, imposing, intelligent young girl. When she was five years old, a group of Ursuline sisters came…
It’s tough not being Elvis
Teaching children has built innumerable relationships between students and the Ursuline Sisters. If a relationship does not last over the years, at least cards from students to their teachers at the time of retirement, jubilees, or school transfers provide a glimpse to these relationships. Plus, these cards show the creativity and, shall we say, sometimes…
Sister Mary Michael Barrow OSU
May 21 marks the 57th anniversary of the death of Sister Mary Michael Barrow. The archives recently acquired a 16 page handwritten biography of Sister Mary Michael by an unknown author. Shortening the biography a bit, her story is completely fascinating as she accomplished achievement after achievement, all the while having a severe physical handicap.…
Summertime, and the livin’ is easy
One need only have a Facebook account and be friends with a teacher (or be a teacher yourself) to know that summertime is anticipated eagerly, relished when present, and mourned over when complete. Summertime did not bring a break for the sisters as it does for many teachers now. Back home at Maple Mount from…
At this Ball Prince Charming Leaves By Midnight
Springtime means many things. Planting season, Easter, graduations, First Communions, and proms with guaranteed modest attire. The Mount Saint Joseph Community Annals for April 25, 1949 has the following to say. “[Academy] Faculty members and 21 [Sodality] Officers viewed students’ formals to approve or disapprove necks and sleeves.” Which dresses were approved or disapproved is…
Mount Saint Joseph Nature Scenes
The Ursuline Sisters are gifted with many talents, and the fruits of many of these talents are here in the archives. One or more sister(s) are responsible for the following photos of nature and art around Mount Saint Joseph. Unfortunately, the photographers’ name(s) are not noted. These lovely shots showcase the harmony and peace that…
Sister Ann Victoria Wasylina
Taken from Sister Ann Victoria Wasylina’s wake reflection. Sister died October 12, 2010. Born June 11, 1924, Irena Wasylina was the only daughter of the blacksmith, Basil Wasylina, and his wife, Anna. Growing up in Duliby, Stryj, in the Polish Ukraine, Irena had two brothers, Peter – also a blacksmith – and Nicholas, a cobbler.…
Snow Religious Art
As we wait forever (to me, anyways) for it to warm up, here is a photo of creativity in action regarding snowmen. Or would that be snowwoman? Or snowmadonna? Or snowimmaculateconception? Oh, the possibilities. This photo was donated to the archives by Sister Eileen Howard.