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Ursuline Sisters rememembered as part of Rhodelia church history

The Ursuline Sisters were invited to a Catholic church in Meade County, Ky., which is preserving its history with a new Family Life Center – which includes five Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph who came from the parish.

The original St. Theresa Church in Rhodelia was built in 1818, and its school began in 1866. On Oct. 15, 2022, the parish celebrated the blessing of its Family Life Center, which will serve to share the long history with future generations. Ursuline Sisters Suzanne Sims, Ann Patrice Cecil and George Mary Hagan represented the Ursuline Sisters.

The Sisters of Charity ran St. Theresa School from 1870-2002, a total of 122 years. The center honors all the sons and daughters of the parish who became religious sisters, religious brothers or priests, as well as their ancestors in faith. There was no Catholic high school in Rhodelia, so some of students attended St. Romuald High School in Hardinsburg, where they met the Ursuline Sisters.

The five members of the parish who became Ursulines were Sister Mary Amadeus Pike, Sister Geraldine Jarboe, Sister Elizabeth Ann Ray, Sister Ruth Helen Flaherty and Sister Marita Greenwell.

Two priests who came from the parish – Father Ron Knott and Father Bob Ray – spearheaded the project. Father Ray is the nephew of Sister Elizabeth Ann Ray. He came to Maple Mount to do research work in the Archives for this center.

Here are some photos from the event:

Father George Illikkal, pastor of St. Theresa, left; Father Ron Knott, center, who spearheaded the Family Life Center effort; and Father Bob Ray, nephew of Ursuline Sister Elizabeth Ann Ray who did the research for the center, look at a plaque of appreciation for all their work.
Archbishop Shelton Fabre of the Archdiocese of Louisville, right, helps hold the ribbon as Father George Illikkal, Father Ron Knott and Sister of Charity David Clare Reasbeck prepare to cut the ribbon on the Family Life Center. Sister David Clare served at St. Theresa for many years. In the background left is Ursuline Sister Ann Patrice Cecil.
The three Ursuline Sisters in attendance were, from left, Sister George Mary Hagan, Sister Ann Patrice Cecil and Sister Suzanne Sims.
The sanctuary at St. Theresa Church in Rhodelia. This is the third church of St. Theresa, this one built in 1861.
Sister Mary Amadeus Pike was the first member of St. Theresa Parish to join the Ursuline Sisters, in 1908. She died in 1966.
Sister Geraldine Jarboe was the next St. Theresa parishioner to join the Ursulines, in 1913. Her life was cut short in 1918 after contracting double pneumonia. There is no photo of her in the Mount Archives.
Sister Elizabeth Ann Ray was a member of St. Theresa's and aunt of Father Bob Ray. She joined in 1929, and died in 2008.
Sister Ruth Helen Flaherty joined the Ursuline Sisters in 1937 from St. Theresa's Parish. She died in 1989.
Sister Marita Greenwell was the last member of St. Theresa to join the Ursulines, in 1946. She went to heaven in 2011.

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