Ursulines1535-2009 of Fa c t Sh e e t

Mission Statement We, the of Cincinnati, are a community of Christ-centered women transforming lives with compassion and creativity.

We pledge to respond to the needs of our times through diverse ministries and in collaboration with the laity. We will respect the dignity of each individual, nurture their unique gifts and be present to them as we all seek a deeper and more personal relationship with God.

St. Mother Fidelis Coleman 1535established the Company of 1910established the Ursuline Sisters St. Ursula (Ursula was the patron of Cincinnati at the request of saint of young women) in , then-Archbishop Henry Moeller Italy, with 28 of her followers at her to teach, serve and care for the side. Unlike many women religious people of Cincinnati as a wave of that period, the first Ursulines of immigrant children came into did not live cut off from the world, but were parish schools. engaged in active ministry, meeting the needs of the people of their time. St. Ursula Academy 1910opened its doors in September 1910 Marie (Guyart) de with 63 children in kindergarten 1639l’Incarnation became the first through the eighth-grade. One woman missionary to North hundred years later, the schools America, giving selfless service to have been divided into St. Ursula God and the Native Americans. Academy (Walnut Hills) with 780 She was the first superior of the students, and St. Ursula Villa (Mt. Lookout) with Ursulines in North America. 450 children. Mere Marie was beatified on June 22, 1980. Holy Name School Sister Monica 1913became the first parish school 1965Foltzer developed “Professor staffed by the Ursulines, quickly Phonics Gives Sound Advice.” followed by St. Monica School. This approach to teaching reading is still used today.

Mother Baptista Freaner 1914became the first directress of St. The Ursulines of Cincinnati followed in Ursula Academy and later served 1993the footsteps of St. Angela by traveling to Italy to as superior of the Ursulines of visit the homeland of their foundress. Cincinnati. Her leadership helped to establish the Ursulines’ reputation as outstanding educators. In collaboration 2001with the laity and in response to the needs in our local The chapel at the community, the Ursulines 1918Ursulines’ McMillan Street established the Starfish Project, motherhouse was completed a ministry for women in crisis. because of the generosity of Maria Longworth, of Rookwood Pottery fame, and Bellemy Storer. The Ursulines’ 2006archives was moved, reorganized and renovated. Sister Mary Carmel McClellan, academic 1920director of St. Ursula Academy, became the first woman to receive a doctorate in education from the University of Cincinnati. The Ursulines plan for the 2009-2010celebration marking 100 years of service to the people and church of Cincinnati. The 1920-1950Ursuline Sisters spent summers teaching religious education to children in Arnheim and other rural parishes in the eastern For more information on the 100th anniversary portion of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. events, contact Sister Mary Jerome Buchert, OSU, General Minister, at 513-961-3410, ext. 139. The Ursulines staffed 1930-1964additional parish schools, including Our Lady of Ursulines of Cincinnati Visitation, St. , St. Henry (Dayton) St. Ursula and All Saints. 1339 East McMillan St. Cincinnati, 45206 Twenty-two exiled 1963Cuban Sisters were welcomed 513-961-3410 ext. 139 into the Ursuline community. [email protected] They were driven out of Cuba by the Communist Castro regime. The Sisters studied American teaching methods and English to prepare them to teach at schools in the Archdiocese of Miami, Florida.