“Chile: An Ursuline Adventure” Evening with an Ursuline April 5, 2016

The Latin American ministries of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, primarily in Chile, were the focus of the April 5, 2016, Evening with an Ursuline. The event began with a meal in the dining room featuring an entrée that is popular in Chile — empanadas -meat pies/turnovers filled with diced meat, onions, olive, raisins and a piece of hard-boiled egg. For dessert, there was Torta de Hojas (“Thousand Layer Cake”) resembling layers of caramel nut candy bark. Twenty people attended Sister Ruth Gehres’ presentation –“Chile: An Ursuline Adventure”–at Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center. In December 2015, the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph celebrated their 50th year of service in Latin America. Sister Ruth served as an assistant to Sister Mimi Ballard at Casa Ursulina in Chillan, Chile, from 2007-2013. She had just returned from a month-long visit to Chile less than a week before her presentation.

Here are photos of the presentation.

Items from Guatemala were on display, including Ursuline Sister Dianna Ortiz's book chronicling her tragic experience of rape and torture while serving as a teacher there in 1989.
Also available were photos of the Ursuline Sisters' ministry in Chile and other Chilean artifacts.
Director of Local Community Life Sister Mary Matthias Ward introduces Sister Ruth Gehres. Sister Mary Matthias will become the director of the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center in May.
Sister Ruth Gehres welcomes the group and explains that the Ursuline Sisters moved into foreign missions when Pope John XIII asked that all North American religious communities send missionaries to Latin America.
Sister Luisa Bickett, second from left, served in Chile 1965-83, both in teaching and parish ministry. She was recognized by Sister Ruth for her work in that country, particularly in serving the poor. Also pictured are Sister Amelia Stenger, left, and Sister George Mary Hagan, right.
Listening intently to the presentation, are, left to right, Sister Nancy Murphy, Kris Mango of Owensboro (in back), Sister Betsy Moyer, Carol Doti (Kris’ grandmother who was visiting from Huntington Beach, Calif.), and Tina Wolken, associate professor of education at Brescia University, Owensboro.
Ursuline Associates Marian Bennett, left, and Ed Cecil, both from Owensboro, enjoy the presentation. At right is Sister Amelia Stenger.
Sister Catherine Marie Lauterwasser, right, prepares to take notes. Seated at left is Sister Mary Matthias Ward.
Sister Ruth points out the city of Chillán - location of Casa Ursulina. Chillân is located in Chile's fertile Central Valley, halfway between the ocean and the Andes Mountains.
From left, Sister Betsy Moyer (striped shirt), Sister Joseph Angela Boone and Sister Eva Boone concentrate on the discussion.
Sister Luisa Bickett, who served in Chile from 1965 to 1983, watches the presentation.
Solidarity and respect are the keys to the ministry of Casa Ursulina, Sister Ruth points out. Sister Mimi Ballard emphasizes these concepts with all of the women who come to the Casa.
Over 200 women registered for classes this year. Orientation on March 7 was held outdoors, since the Casa doesn't have indoor space for so many. There were hardly enough chairs!
The final slide featured photos of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph who have ministered in Chile, Venezuela or Guatemala since 1965.
Sister Ruth Gehres, standing at right, emphasizes this ministry's great gratitude for donor support. She also described initiatives through which many women gain income through selling yarn and crafts to companies such as KidKnits and Abbey Press.