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Ursuline Sisters celebrate 150 years with anniversary Mass

“The Ursuline Sisters came here because that’s what Ursuline Sisters do. They are sent, and good things happen.”

Those were the words of the Most Rev. William Medley, Bishop of the Diocese of Owensboro, as he presided over Mass on Aug. 11, 2024, at the Motherhouse Chapel. Bishop Medley spoke before a full house of Sisters and invited guests to honor the 150th anniversary of the first five Ursuline Sisters arriving at what became known as Maple Mount on Aug. 15, 1874.

“They came in obedience,” Bishop Medley said. “Father (Paul) Volk wanted local children to get an education. … Those first five Sisters couldn’t have known that the name of Mount Saint Joseph would be revered across Kentucky, and across the West.”

The Ursuline Sisters have been celebrating with various events and displays throughout the year, inviting different groups of people who are important to the Sisters. While limited space restricted inviting everyone the Sisters would have chosen, the Mass and reception to follow included the most eclectic group of supporters gathered – priests, other religious communities, Ursuline Associates, alumnae, farm families, staff members, financial supporters, diocesan representatives, Brescia University staff, and family members of the Sisters.

Before Mass began, Sister Martha Keller, assistant congregational leader, offered those gathered a special opportunity for prayer. Father Volk, who invited the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville to send teachers to open Mount Saint Joseph Academy in 1874, had a special devotion to Saint Joseph.

“Every March, Father Volk wrote down his personal prayer intentions for the year and slipped them under the statue of Saint Joseph that is located on our front campus,” Sister Martha said. “Father Volk called on Saint Joseph to intercede for his personal needs as well as this community’s needs.” 

Each person present was given a card with a picture of the Saint Joseph statue and a picture of Father Volk’s prayer intentions from 1918, which are located in the Mount Archives.

“Today, we are offering you the opportunity to join us as we continue this devotion,” Sister Martha said. “If you choose, you may wish to write your own prayer to Saint Joseph seeking his intercession for your needs. Or you may list your personal prayer requests on the card provided.”   

The prayer requests were gathered by the Sisters in a basket, and after Communion, Sister Monica Seaton, a member of the Leadership Council, placed them before the statue of Saint Joseph in the Chapel. Sister Martha led a litany prayer to Saint Joseph during this time, which began, “Saint Joseph, we acknowledge you as a patron saint of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph. In this year of celebrating 150 years of service in Daviess County on the holy ground of Mount Saint Joseph, we seek your assistance, entrusting to you all our needs, concerns, and desires. Knowing your protection is so great, so strong and prompt.”

The Mass began with a procession to “Standing Before Us” that included seven Ursuline Sisters carrying candles – representing the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit – who placed their candles in front of banners depicting Saint Angela Merici and Saint Ursula. Members of the Ursulines of Louisville Leadership Council processed in, with one member carrying a photo of Mother Aloysius Willett, the first mother superior after the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph became an autonomous community in 1912. The picture was placed next to the Saint Angela and Saint Ursula banners. Bishop William Medley later blessed the picture and banners with incense.

The theme for the anniversary year is “Cultivating the Vine Saint Angela Entrusted to Us,” and Bishop Medley referenced Saint Angela and the pruning of vines several times in his homily.

“May the vine that has been nourished here, continue to flourish here with the women who still serve,” he said.

As the Mass ended, Sister Sharon Sullivan, congregational leader, thanked those responsible for the day, and all the guests, then invited everyone to Maple Hall for a short program and lunch.

There, Sister Jean Anne Zappa, president of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, read some encouraging words for the Sisters. As a gift for the 150th anniversary, each of the Ursuline Sisters received a copy of “All About Love: Reflections over the decades with Saint Angela Merici,” a compilation of writings and reflections by the late Ursuline Sister of Louisville Martha Buser.

Sister Martha then read congratulatory letters from the Passionist Nuns of Saint Joseph Monastery in nearby Whitesville, Ky., and from the Most Rev. Shelton Fabre, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville.

“As your Sisters in consecrated life and fellow workers in the vineyard of the Lord, we thank you for the witness you give to us and to all the people of God as you live and serve in the spirit of Saint Angela,” wrote Mother Superior John Mary Read of the Passionist Nuns.

Archbishop Fabre wrote, “You have manifested Saint Angela Merici’s directive to ‘adapt to the needs of the changing times,’ through the variety of ministries in which Sisters serve and in your steadfast commitment to proclaim Jesus to all people through the ministry of education and Christian formation.”

A special treat for those gathered was a video from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who said, “Y’all have truly made an impact. Scripture tells us, ‘Therefore encourage one another, and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.’ Y’all certainly embody that. As governor, I want to thank all the Sisters and hard-working volunteers for helping our people. Congratulations on 150 years, and here’s to 150 more.”

Sister Monica led those gathered in the 150th anniversary prayer, and then grace before the catered meal. The Blue Bridge Boys, a local bluegrass band, entertained those present during lunch.

Here is the video from Gov. Beshear and pictures from the day.

Gov. Andy Beshear’s congratulatory video

Sister Suzanne Sims and Ursuline Associate Wes Wheatley gather before Mass. Wheatley had his last day of employment for the Sisters on Aug. 10. He is entering the seminary on Aug. 17.
Sister Martha Keller, assistant congregational leader, welcomes those gathered to Mass and explains the prayer ritual involving Saint Joseph.
Sister Nancy Liddy carries the processional cross to open Mass.
Seven Ursuline Sisters carried in candles during the processional, representing the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Sister Mary Celine Weidenbenner carried the first candle. She has been an Ursuline for 61 years.
Sister Cecelia Joseph Olinger carries the second candle. Sister C.J., as most people know her, has been an Ursuline Sister for 65 years.
Sister Ann Patrice Cecil carries the third candle into the chapel. Sister Ann Patrice has been an Ursuline for 66 years.
Sister Elaine Burke carries in the fourth candle. Sister Elaine has been an Ursuline for 74 years.
Sister Nancy Murphy sings along as she carries in the fifth candle. She has been a Sister for 63 years.
Sister Amelia Stenger carries in the sixth candle. She has been a Sister for 56 years.
Sister Jacinta Powers carries in the final candle. Sister Jacinta has been an Ursuline for 51 years.
All the Sisters placed their candles in front of the banners of Saint Angela Merici on the left, and Saint Ursula.
Sister Mary Ellen Backes carries in the thurible and incense. Sister Mary Ellen drove in from Springfield, Ill., for the Mass.
Members of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville Leadership Council were part of the procession. At left is Sister Rita Ann Wigginton, along with Sister Jean Anne Zappa, president.
Ursuline Sister of Louisville Agnes Coveney processed in next.
Ursuline Sister of Louisville Yuli Oncihuay carries in a picture of Mother Aloysius Willett, the first superior after the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph became an autonomous community in 1912. At left is Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph Ann McGrew, a member of the local Leadership Council.
Sister Yuli Oncihuay carries the picture of Mother Aloysius toward the table with the banners, while Sister Mary Ellen Backes awaits Bishop William Medley.
Sister Sharon Sullivan, congregational leader at Mount Saint Joseph, processed in next.
Sister Larraine Lauter, the first reader, carries in the lectionary.
Two of the priests concelebrating the Mass entered next, Father Larry Hostetter, left, the president of Brescia University, and Father John Okoro, the new pastor of St. Alphonsus Parish.
Father Ray Goetz, left, the chaplain at the Motherhouse, is joined by Father Jerry Riney in the procession. Father Jerry grew up at the Mount, where his father and grandfather were the farm managers.
The Most Rev. William Medley, Bishop of the Diocese of Owensboro, adds incense to the thurible held by Sister Mary Ellen Backes.
Bishop William Medley blesses the altar with incense to begin Mass.
Bishop William Medley, second from left, is joined, from left, by Father Jerry Riney, Father John Okoro, Father Larry Hostetter and Father Ray Goetz.
Sister Cheryl Clemons plays the piano during “Standing Before Us,” as Paula Humphries plays the flute and Sister Alicia Coomes sings. Danny Humphries played the trumpet, but not during this hymn. Sister Cheryl and Sister Martha Keller planned the music and liturgy.
Additional seating was needed for the roughly 120 people in attendance at the Motherhouse Chapel.
Sister Larraine Lauter reads from the Book of Proverbs 31.
Sister Betsy Moyer reads from Romans 12.
Father Jerry Riney holds the prayer before the intercessions for Bishop William Medley, as Father John Okoro and Father Larry Hostetter look on. Father Riney was an altar server at the Mount when he was a boy.
Sister Suzanne Sims reads the intercessions and leads the gathering to respond.
Sister Sharon Sullivan, left, and Ursuline Sister of Louisville Jean Anne Zappa – each the leaders of their communities – bring up the gifts to Bishop William Medley.
Sister Martha Keller leads those gathered in a litany to Saint Joseph.
Sister Monica Seaton brings the basket of prayer intentions to the front of the chapel.
This is the blank prayer card that each participant in Mass was given to write a prayer intention to Saint Joseph.
Sister Monica Seaton places the basket of prayer intentions before the Saint Joseph statue, while Sister Martha Keller leads a litany prayer to Saint Joseph.
Sister Amelia Stenger poses with her pride and joy, buttermilk cookies for the lunch dessert. The pioneer Sisters had their first meal of watermelon and buttermilk.
The Glenn family, neighbors to the Sisters who now lease the Ursuline farm, gather as they enter Maple Hall. From left are Gene Glenn, Jacqueline Glenn, Nickie Glenn, Austin Glenn and Bobby Glenn, plus the youngest members.
The Leadership Council of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville gather for lunch. From left are Sisters Yuli Oncihuay, Agnes Coveney, Rita Ann Wigginton and Jean Anne Zappa. On the table are copies of “All About Love: Reflections over the decades with Saint Angela Merici,” a collection of writings by the late Ursuline Sister Martha Buser. The Sisters brought a copy for every Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph.
Sister Jean Anne Zappa, president of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, congratulates her “country cousins” on 150 years.
Sister Monica Seaton leads the gathering in the 150th Anniversary prayer, and grace before lunch.
The Blue Bridge Boys, a group of local bluegrass musicians, entertained the Sisters and guests during lunch.
Ursuline Associate Kim Haire, left, joins her sister, Sister Cheryl Clemons, during the reception.
Father John Vaughan talks with Sister Alicia Coomes, left, and Sister Suzanne Sims during the reception. Father Vaughan, who celebrates 50 years of ordination this year, remembers being a newly ordained priest when he attended the 100th anniversary in 1974.
Margaret Kallman, left, and her husband Neil talk with Frank Mason, while at the end of the table Sister Judith Nell Riney talks with Ursuline Associate Joanne Mason.
Sister Monica Seaton talks with Ursuline Associate Wes Wheatley at the end of the day.
Stephanie Warren, left, president of the Mount Saint Joseph Academy Alumnae Association, talks with Sister Ruth Gehres, who graduated from the Academy in 1951.

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