UrUrsuline Sisters suLine of Toledo Fall 2016 “Living in holy relationship, a contemplative presence in an ever changing world.” Directional Statement 2014-2018 Ursulines Live Out Mission: Being Available for Any Work of Charity Page PB UrsuLine Fall 2016 Ursuline Sisters of Toledo Page 1 Welcome In the last half of I was recently on a shopping errand with a Sister for a our mission statement, very real need related to her health. While the retail agent we proclaim that we was doing the paperwork for the purchase, the Sister “promote the mission of began feeling guilty about the cost. At the same time, I Jesus by being available received a text from a co-worker in an outreach ministry, for any work of charity.” who lives below the poverty level but who only asks for While the mission assistance when she has exhausted all other avenues. This remains constant, the time it was for a modest amount for a monthly bill due context in which it that very day which also happened to be her birthday. I is lived out, changes. Each of us can ask ourselves, quickly replied, giving her the time and the place to meet “Exactly what does being available for any work of me, and then responded to the Sister’s regrets, telling charity mean for me in this moment in time?” her to only be grateful that we could afford her need. Those Sisters and Associates who attended the North Reflecting upon it all later, I knew that if my heart had not American Ursuline Convocation in July were reminded been in the right place at the moment, I might have ended by Fr. Michael Crosby, OFM, CAP, that neither Jesus up causing anxiety in the person waiting for the response nor Angela had a ministry; they had a mission. So while and escalating the guilt of the Sister. charity can put flesh on the mission in context of a In this issue we share with you how some of us live particular ministry, the ministry is not the sole mission. out the mission of being available for any work of charity Mission is bigger and all encompassing. It has to do with as we encounter and relate to others, as well as to one our being more than our doing, or to put it another way, another. May these stories inspire your own. how we are in the doing. It is relational. Sister Georgianna Benner, artist and liturgist, whose knees were long beyond the ability to physically kneel, used to say that “Kneeling is a posture of the heart.” So it is with charity. On the Cover The Ursuline Sisters’ roots go back to 1535 in leaving to visit the Missions in Montana that were Brescia, Italy where St. Angela Merici urged her started by Toledo Ursuline Mother Amadeus Dunne followers to pray for the Church, to cherish the people and other Ursuline Sisters in the late 1800s. Top of God, and to respond to the needs of the day, taking right, Sister Mary Jo Koudelka transports a patient everything to the feet of Jesus. More than 160 years at Mercy Health St. Anne’s Hospital. In addition to later, the Ursuline Sisters of Toledo continue to unfold volunteering as a transporter at St. Anne’s, Sister the spirit and vision of St. Angela in the 21st Century. Mary Jo offers prayers and support to patients Presently, Sisters minister and volunteer in teaching, and families at Hospice of psychological counseling, social work, chaplaincy, Northwest Ohio. religious education, tutoring, elder and hospice Right, Sister Carol care, prison ministry, mission effectiveness, street Kronfield and other Ursulines outreach, spiritual direction, and more. prepare and serve a meal to On the cover, top left, we see Sister Claudia Holtz students at Corpus Christi stepping in with students of St. Ursula Academy, University Parish in Toledo. working in the yard of Rahab’s Heart. Bottom left, Associates Richard Hens and his niece, Associate Pauline Broadway pose before Page 2 UrsuLine Fall 2016 Ursuline Sisters of Toledo Page 3 Sisters and Associates Live the Ursuline Mission “Being Available for Any Work of Charity” Sharing our Faith with Neighbors Being Present to Others Sister Antoinette Years ago when Sister Cosentino’s ministry at Lucilla turned 90 years Woodlands Independent old, she told me that she Living Apartments had decided to retire. goes beyond the joy Following her example, of bringing Eucharist I’m not planning on to the residents. It’s retiring for a long, long an opportunity to time. I enjoy volunteering continue the tradition my time living our of the Ursuline Sisters’ Community mission “to be neighborly spirit available for any work of expressed in ministering charity.” to the retirement Every Sunday morning community located from September through Sister Bernarda Breidenbach across the street from March, I am at Rosary St. Ursula Academy. Cathedral Parish in Toledo preparing eighth through “When I returned from tenth graders for the reception of the Sacrament of Dewitt, MI in 1990 I Confirmation. As needed, I am also involved with the joined Sisters Mary Rite of Dismissal during Mass for the RCIA Candidates. Jo Koudelka, Francis I take delight in both ministries. Sister Antoinette Cosentino and of Assisi and Martina In addition to volunteering in a parish, I am one of Associate Sophia Lloyd who regularly ensured our receptionists at our Ursuline Center and assist with Communion was driving residents to various appointments. Other days I distributed to those spend time visiting patients in hospitals and residents in homebound or those just seeking to receive Jesus,” says Sister various nursing homes. Antoinette. Twenty-six years later Sister Antoinette can still I am grateful to be able to be present to others. be found every Tuesday, weather permitting, distributing Those whom I encounter bless my life. Through their Communion to an eagerly awaiting group of Woodland presence, they unknowingly bring to life one of my residents. If someone is not well enough to come to the favorite scriptural passages, “And what does the Lord community room, Sister Antoinette will go to their apartment ask of you? To act justly, to love tenderly and to walk and give Communion at their bedside. “They have become humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) family,” reflects Sister, “and I miss them when I am unable to go.” At age 99 she remains the sole Ursuline Sister continuing this ministry, so she turns to Associates to ensure that Angela’s Mission Statement charism of being available for any act of charity is not lost. Associates Sophia Lloyd and Pat Bercher help carry on this 2014 - 2018 Ursuline ministry. Sophia takes her Tuesdays’ lunch break to transport Sister Antoinette while Pat Bercher contacts each “The Ursuline Sisters of Toledo, consecrated Catholic resident on Tuesday mornings to confirm Sister’s women of the Church graced by the charism of attendance. The trio exemplify, as the Ursulines before them, St. Angela Merici, promote the mission of Jesus Angela’s Last Counsel as she calls us to “be bound to one another by the bond of charity, esteeming each other, helping by being available for any work of charity.” each other…” Page 2 UrsuLine Fall 2016 Ursuline Sisters of Toledo Page 3 Sisters and Associates Live the Ursuline Mission Serving the Poor and Underserved Sister Mary Kay Garvin and Associates Nanci Riddle article called ‘Appalachia Voices.’ The article poignantly and Kitty Meyers traveled to Wise, VA in July to volunteer explains the many factors responsible for the poverty of their time and talents at the Remote Area Medical (RAM) not only body, but mind and spirit as well, of the people project. RAM benefits the poor and medically underserved of Appalachia. The lack of employment opportunities, people of Appalachia in Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia by poor working conditions, climate change, lack of proper providing free dental, vision, and medical care to isolated, nutrition, prejudices, and hopelessness are but some of impoverished, or underserved communities. So anxious to the factors that perpetuate the poverty of Appalachia. Yet, receive long overdue medical and dental care at no cost to there are glimmers of hope for this area. Events such as them, the patients begin arriving at the fairgrounds (where RAM offer not only medical and dental care, dentures, eye RAM is set up) three days before the event begins. glasses, clothing, and food, but the people of Appalachia The Toledo Ursuline community learned about the are also offered hope in the form of the compassion, faith, project from Kitty and her friend, Ann Hook, who is and love they receive from the volunteers who serve them. an Associate with the Medical Missionaries of Mary (MMM). Three years ago Ann told Kitty about the MMM participation in the Remote Area Medical (RAM) project in Wise, VA. Sister Bernie Kenny, a member of the Medical Missionary of Mary Community, is a nurse practitioner Active in Church Ministry who began providing healthcare to the Wise, VA area 30 years ago in an old VW bus. Thus, the Health Wagon was Sister Rita Mae Johns born. She went to the most remote areas offering free is part of the RCIA (Rite medical care. The people of Appalachia love, respect, of Christian Initiation) for and appreciate Sister Bernie and her tireless work to make Adults Team throughout the medical care available to them. She’s been coordinating year at St. Joseph Parish in the RAM project in Wise for 11 years. Tiffin and this year the team This past June, Sister Bernie sent an email to the held a summer program for volunteers asking them to read and meditate on an 87-page people who could not attend the regular program.