Convocation Session Offerings
In July 2019, St. Louis welcomed 160 Ursulines, associates and companions; students, faculty, staff, board members, and alumnae of Ursuline schools; staff, board members, and participants in Ursuline ministries: young adults; and all friends of Angela Merici for the 2019 North American Ursuline Convocation: Angela's Family Celebrating, Converging, Expanding. Below is a keynote speaker bio and a summary of breakout sessions.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
The North American Ursuline Convocation planning committee was pleased to announce the 2019 keynote speaker, Sister Teresa Maya. A member of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Sr. Teresa Maya is an internationally renowned speaker, advocate and humanitarian, having recently served as president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). Sr. Teresa Maya will bring her trademark energy, humor and considerable experience and knowledge of 21st century religious issues to Convocation 2019. Click the video link below to see footage of her remarks at Boston College in 2017
The North American Ursuline Convocation planning committee was pleased to announce the 2019 keynote speaker, Sister Teresa Maya. A member of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Sr. Teresa Maya is an internationally renowned speaker, advocate and humanitarian, having recently served as president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). Sr. Teresa Maya will bring her trademark energy, humor and considerable experience and knowledge of 21st century religious issues to Convocation 2019. Click the video link below to see footage of her remarks at Boston College in 2017
Breakout Sessions
View the breakout sessions below or download a printable PDF version.
“Living Laudato Si in the Spirit of Angela:
Responding to the Disorders of Society to Unite the Family”
In this interactive session, participants will reconnect with their love of the natural world and its beauty while also lamenting its devastation, which most directly affects our sisters and brothers around the work experiencing deep poverty. We will plumb the depths of Laudato Si to discover new ways to live into the challenges of our current environmental crises, while also acknowledging the creativity that many have shown as they work to unite humanity in response
Presenter:
Sharon Bidwell
Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, KY
Theology Teacher at Sacred Heart Academy, Louisville, KY
“Risking New Things: Creating Ursuline Ministries”
Participants will learn about the creation and development of Ursuline Ministries, an entity which works to enhance and support the ministries sponsored by and reflecting the charism of the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown. Participants will discuss how this vision might align with their vision for the future of their own Ursuline ministries and programs.
Presenter:
Daniel Wakefield, Associate
Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown, OH
Director of the Ursuline Sisters HIV/AIDS Ministry, Youngstown, OH
“From OSU to NGO to UN“
Ursulines are everywhere in local parishes, in classrooms, in mission country, and now in the United Nations. Come learn about Ursulines at UNANIMA, a non-governmental organization (NGO) at the United Nations advocating on behalf of women and children (particularly those living in poverty), immigrants, refugees, and the environment. UNANIMA’s unique membership consists of 22 congregations of Roman Catholic sisters whose 20,000+ constituents work in over 80 countries. We bring their voices, concerns, and experiences as educators, health care providers, social workers, and development workers to the United Nations’ table.
Presenters:
Janet Peterworth, OSU
Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, KY
Michele Morek, OSU
Ursulines of Mt. St. Joseph, KY
“Where Angela Has Led Us”
In 1535 Angela Merici and her followers forged ahead in blazing an historic and memorable trail in Brescia, Italy. From its humble beginnings in Brescia and continuing throughout the centuries, that trail is still blazing today in the work of the Ursulines through the world.
Presenter:
Rosemary Meiman, OSU
Ursuline Convent, New Orleans, LA
Archivist in New Orleans Convent
Director of Workshop of Ursuline Experience, Montana.
Young Adults Walking with Angela
Young women following in St. Angela’s footsteps who want to grow in their faith life, become women of service, share community and live the gospel values. We acquaint ourselves with the Ursulines near us to know their history and spirit.
Presenters:
Donna Frey, OSU
Ursulines of Toledo
Catholic and Ursuline Identity
St. Ursula Academy, Toledo, OH
YASA (Young Adults with St. Angela)
Doreen Abbott, Associate
Ursulines of Mt. St. Joseph, KY
Office of Ursuline Partnership
Y-DOSA (Young Daughters of St. Angela)
Spirituality for Persons with Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases
We will identify the cognitive functions and abilities that remain in each stage of Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases. Will explore the opportunities and ways that we can enhance the lives of those with Dementia to remain spiritually connected with the presence and love of God.
Presenter:
Barbara Torio, RN, M.Ed., Associate
Ursulines of Toledo, Ohio
Certified Dementia Practitioner
Transfiguration: Vision and Change
Transitioning from cloistered monastic life to an apostolic Ursuline congregation reveals the common ground of contemplation. The collaborative process of reconfiguration enhances discernment and adaptation, while creating new bonds of community. I will also reference roughly our transition from the Ursuline Motherhouse – what does community look like without a common roof, how does charism play out?
Presenter:
Carol Curtis, OSU
Ursulines of Louisville, KY
“Of Beds and Boats: A Conversation of Possibilities”
To the best of our discernment, we Ursuline Sisters are living a radical diminishment of Ursuline religious life in its canonical form. Are we standing at a deathbed or a birth bed? Is it time to fix the old boat or to build a new boat? And what’s happening in Honduras? Women of marginal neighborhoods are living “Angelinas”, contemplatives in the world as envisioned by Angela, organized within their parish communities for mutual support. Their lived experience as “Angelinas” is a sign of hope for midwives attending a rebirth of Angela’s Original Vision. This presentation will be formatted for conversation and contributions of your insight… and could lead to more.
Presenter:
Larraine Lauter, OSU
Ursulines of Mount St. Joseph, Kentucky
Executive Lead, Water with Blessings, Inc.
“Roots and Wings of Real People”
The value of women’s stories are rooted in tradition, but also graced with individuality. The uniqueness of individual journeys is alive. We need real life-giving human stories, not perfection.
Presenter:
Cheryl Clemons, OSU
Ursulines of Mount St. Joseph, KY
VP for Academic Affairs Brescia University
“Angela, contemplative in the world”
Discover how the Prayer of Saint Angela, found in the “Rule, Chapter V, On Prayer”, paints Angela as a contemplative in the world. As you reflect on Angela’s relationship to God and to the world, how does it mirror your own? What is in your stance to the world, as a daughter or son of Angela, that resonates with her contemplative stance?
Presenter:
Catherine Talia, OSU
Ursulines Sisters of Tildonk, US Province
“Living Laudato Si in the Spirit of Angela:
Responding to the Disorders of Society to Unite the Family”
In this interactive session, participants will reconnect with their love of the natural world and its beauty while also lamenting its devastation, which most directly affects our sisters and brothers around the work experiencing deep poverty. We will plumb the depths of Laudato Si to discover new ways to live into the challenges of our current environmental crises, while also acknowledging the creativity that many have shown as they work to unite humanity in response
Presenter:
Sharon Bidwell
Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, KY
Theology Teacher at Sacred Heart Academy, Louisville, KY
“Risking New Things: Creating Ursuline Ministries”
Participants will learn about the creation and development of Ursuline Ministries, an entity which works to enhance and support the ministries sponsored by and reflecting the charism of the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown. Participants will discuss how this vision might align with their vision for the future of their own Ursuline ministries and programs.
Presenter:
Daniel Wakefield, Associate
Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown, OH
Director of the Ursuline Sisters HIV/AIDS Ministry, Youngstown, OH
“From OSU to NGO to UN“
Ursulines are everywhere in local parishes, in classrooms, in mission country, and now in the United Nations. Come learn about Ursulines at UNANIMA, a non-governmental organization (NGO) at the United Nations advocating on behalf of women and children (particularly those living in poverty), immigrants, refugees, and the environment. UNANIMA’s unique membership consists of 22 congregations of Roman Catholic sisters whose 20,000+ constituents work in over 80 countries. We bring their voices, concerns, and experiences as educators, health care providers, social workers, and development workers to the United Nations’ table.
Presenters:
Janet Peterworth, OSU
Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, KY
Michele Morek, OSU
Ursulines of Mt. St. Joseph, KY
“Where Angela Has Led Us”
In 1535 Angela Merici and her followers forged ahead in blazing an historic and memorable trail in Brescia, Italy. From its humble beginnings in Brescia and continuing throughout the centuries, that trail is still blazing today in the work of the Ursulines through the world.
Presenter:
Rosemary Meiman, OSU
Ursuline Convent, New Orleans, LA
Archivist in New Orleans Convent
Director of Workshop of Ursuline Experience, Montana.
Young Adults Walking with Angela
Young women following in St. Angela’s footsteps who want to grow in their faith life, become women of service, share community and live the gospel values. We acquaint ourselves with the Ursulines near us to know their history and spirit.
Presenters:
Donna Frey, OSU
Ursulines of Toledo
Catholic and Ursuline Identity
St. Ursula Academy, Toledo, OH
YASA (Young Adults with St. Angela)
Doreen Abbott, Associate
Ursulines of Mt. St. Joseph, KY
Office of Ursuline Partnership
Y-DOSA (Young Daughters of St. Angela)
Spirituality for Persons with Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases
We will identify the cognitive functions and abilities that remain in each stage of Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases. Will explore the opportunities and ways that we can enhance the lives of those with Dementia to remain spiritually connected with the presence and love of God.
Presenter:
Barbara Torio, RN, M.Ed., Associate
Ursulines of Toledo, Ohio
Certified Dementia Practitioner
Transfiguration: Vision and Change
Transitioning from cloistered monastic life to an apostolic Ursuline congregation reveals the common ground of contemplation. The collaborative process of reconfiguration enhances discernment and adaptation, while creating new bonds of community. I will also reference roughly our transition from the Ursuline Motherhouse – what does community look like without a common roof, how does charism play out?
Presenter:
Carol Curtis, OSU
Ursulines of Louisville, KY
“Of Beds and Boats: A Conversation of Possibilities”
To the best of our discernment, we Ursuline Sisters are living a radical diminishment of Ursuline religious life in its canonical form. Are we standing at a deathbed or a birth bed? Is it time to fix the old boat or to build a new boat? And what’s happening in Honduras? Women of marginal neighborhoods are living “Angelinas”, contemplatives in the world as envisioned by Angela, organized within their parish communities for mutual support. Their lived experience as “Angelinas” is a sign of hope for midwives attending a rebirth of Angela’s Original Vision. This presentation will be formatted for conversation and contributions of your insight… and could lead to more.
Presenter:
Larraine Lauter, OSU
Ursulines of Mount St. Joseph, Kentucky
Executive Lead, Water with Blessings, Inc.
“Roots and Wings of Real People”
The value of women’s stories are rooted in tradition, but also graced with individuality. The uniqueness of individual journeys is alive. We need real life-giving human stories, not perfection.
Presenter:
Cheryl Clemons, OSU
Ursulines of Mount St. Joseph, KY
VP for Academic Affairs Brescia University
“Angela, contemplative in the world”
Discover how the Prayer of Saint Angela, found in the “Rule, Chapter V, On Prayer”, paints Angela as a contemplative in the world. As you reflect on Angela’s relationship to God and to the world, how does it mirror your own? What is in your stance to the world, as a daughter or son of Angela, that resonates with her contemplative stance?
Presenter:
Catherine Talia, OSU
Ursulines Sisters of Tildonk, US Province