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VOLUME XI, NUMBER 3 FEBRUARY 2007 S ister Agnes Ijoko, HHCJ (Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus, a Nigerian religious community), arrived at Owensboro Regional Airport to begin her education at Brescia University February 1, 2001. She lived with the Ursuline Sisters at 514 St. Ann Street for four years, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in English and a certificate in elementary education. Through diligent study and summer courses, she also completed a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction before returning to Nigeria in 2004 to become a school principal. We recently received this letter from Sister Agnes Ijoko, HHCJ, who sends greetings to all Ursuline Associates. We’re happy to share it with you. Greetings from Nigeria! I am sure you will be wondering what has become of Agnes, one of your associates. I was sick of malaria and typhoid fever, but now I am fine and up on my feet again. While in the hospital, I remembered all the Ursulines and Associates. I am privileged to have Mass here every day in our house, so I pray and offer Masses very often for you all. I have relocated to another part of Abuja more interior than the first. We hardly have water or light but somehow we are surviving. The place is still developing and our school where I am the principal is in this part of Abuja. The school apostolate under my care is coming up fine though slowly due to some setbacks. We are still trying to complete the classroom and hostel structures we put up for our students. Hopefully that would be done with and the school would become a model for a fruitful apostolate. How are the Ursuline Associates? My regards to them. Ursulines are a wonderful group of women that can never leave my memory. May God’s work continue to prevail in our lives. Agnes, HHCJ, OSUA “Angela Alive” in Abuja, Nigeria Far left: Sister Agnes Ijoko signs her lifetime commitment as an Ursuline Associate in the Mount Saint Joseph Chapel in 2004. Left: Sister Mary Irene Cecil is Sister Agnes’ contact sister. They lived together while Sister Agnes was attending Brescia University. Above: Sister Marietta Wethington, Sister Michele Morek (congregational leader) and Marian Bennett pose with Sister Agnes at her lifetime commitment ceremony.

UPDATE February 2007

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Page 1: UPDATE February 2007

VOLUME XI, NUMBER 3FEBRUARY 2007

Sister Agnes Ijoko, HHCJ (Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus, a Nigerian religious community), arrived at Owensboro

Regional Airport to begin her education at Brescia University February 1, 2001. She lived with the Ursuline Sisters at 514 St. Ann Street for four years, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in English and a certificate in elementary education. Through diligent study and summer courses, she also completed a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction before returning to Nigeria in 2004 to become a school principal.

We recently received this letter from Sister Agnes Ijoko,

HHCJ, who sends greetings to all Ursuline Associates.

We’re happy to share it with you.

Greetings from Nigeria!

I am sure you will be wondering what has

become of Agnes, one of your associates. I was sick

of malaria and typhoid fever, but now I am fine

and up on my feet again. While in the hospital, I

remembered all the Ursulines and Associates. I am

privileged to have Mass here every day in our house,

so I pray and offer Masses very often for you all.

I have relocated to another part of Abuja more

interior than the first. We hardly have water or light

but somehow we are surviving. The place is still

developing and our school where I am the principal

is in this part of Abuja.

The school apostolate under my care is coming

up fine though slowly due to some setbacks. We are

still trying to complete the classroom and hostel structures we put up for our students. Hopefully that

would be done with and the school would become a model for a fruitful apostolate.

How are the Ursuline Associates? My regards to them. Ursulines are a wonderful group of women

that can never leave my memory.

May God’s work continue to prevail in our lives. Agnes, HHCJ, OSUA

“Angela Alive” in Abuja, Nigeria

Far left: Sister Agnes Ijoko signs her lifetime commitment as an Ursuline Associate in the Mount Saint Joseph Chapel in 2004. Left: Sister Mary Irene Cecil is Sister Agnes’ contact sister. They lived together while Sister Agnes was attending Brescia University. Above: Sister Marietta Wethington, Sister Michele Morek (congregational leader) and Marian Bennett pose with Sister Agnes at her lifetime commitment ceremony.

Page 2: UPDATE February 2007

two physicians, one third-year pharmacy student, and one administrative participant. We flew from Louisville to Quito, Ecuador, where we were joined by a Timmy

Foundation representative who had done the organizing of the clinics we would attend while in the country, two Ecuadorian interpreters, and a bus driver for our daily excursions. After a brief night’s rest, we

prepared for our trip to Tena. The journey took us through the Andes Mountains down into the Napo River valley, one of the tributaries feeding the Amazon River. While the trip was only about 150 miles, because of the condition of the roads it took a total of six hours to arrive at our destination. Our home for the next eight days was a resort in the town of Missahailli about six miles from Tena. The town is most famous for the monkeys that populate the town square. The mischievous mammals are adept pickpockets! Over the next week we attended six clinics, taking care of all sorts of medical problems. Our facilities usually consisted of local school buildings that we improvised into a makeshift area for triage, exam rooms, pharmacy and waiting area. The typical order of the day consisted of the students dividing up the various duties of triage (obtaining vital signs and initial history), pharmacy, or shadowing one of the medical professionals. During a routine day we would care for about 160 patients. While most of the patients

Page 2 Associate Update February 2007

Making Love Visible...Ecuador medical mission a learning experience

This past May I had the opportunity to participate in a medical brigade to the Amazon

basin of Ecuador in South America. The trip was sponsored by the Timmy Foundation of Indianapolis. The

foundation organizes brigades consisting of medical and pharmacy students with medical professionals to Third World countries. I was invited to participate by Beth Payne, a UL medical student I had met initially in 2000 when we both went to World Youth Day in Rome. A member of her class who had been on a trip before was organizing the trip to Ecuador, but they were in need of a medical professional. My initial response was that it just wasn’t possible due to the length of time I would need to be out of my office (two weeks). I am still not certain how I ended up acquiescing to her request, but I am certain God was grinning somewhere in that exchange. The weeks leading up to the trip consisted in obtaining supplies that we would use while in the country. The medical students had several fundraising activities in order to purchase medications and provide for medical consults for conditions beyond our scope of care. Through the generosity of two local pharmacies, I was able to obtain about $1000 worth of medications, and my local Rotary Club sponsored me for $500. The day finally arrived to leave for Ecuador. I wrote in my journal to start the trip, “The unknown is not a condition – it is an opportunity.” For me to go on a trip like this was stepping way outside my comfort zone, but anticipation helped relieve some anxiety. Our brigade consisted of 14 UL newly finished first-year medical students, two nurse practitioners,

Dr. Eddie Prunty of Central City examines a sick child while on a two-week mission trip to Ecuador in May 2006. Dr. Prunty and his wife, Melinda, plan to make their first commitment as Ursuline associates at a ceremony in April.

By Dr. Eddie Prunty, OSUA Candidate

UPdATe is published four times a year for the Associates of the

Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356-9999

Phone: 270-229-4103 Fax: 270-229-4953

Website: www.ursulinesmsj.orge-mail: [email protected] of UrsUline PartnershiPs:

Marian Bennett, OSUA / Sister Marietta Wethington, OSUeDitor: Sister Ruth Gehres, OSU

GraPhiC DesiGn: Jennifer Kaminski Continued on page 3

‘Perhaps my favorite part of the trip was interacting with the children at the end of the day.’

Page 3: UPDATE February 2007

February 2007 Associate Update Page 3

had minor illnesses, we also saw two patients with significant heart disorders requiring a consultation with cardiologists in Quito, several hernias requiring repair, and a small child with a severe infection of his spine. The trip also provided for a couple of opportunities to learn more about Ecuador. On the one Sunday we were in Missahailli, I attempted to go to Mass. But the only Mass was Saturday evening. Instead I rose early Sunday and went to the local Catholic church to say the rosary. Afterwards the group hiked into the rainforest to a waterfall. Later that afternoon we took a trip down the Napo River to an indigenous community to see how they provide for themselves. Finally, after traveling back to Quito on the night prior to our departure, we had a very entertaining history lesson of the city of Quito and of Ecuador given by “El Diablo.” As in any new experience, I learned a great deal about myself, my faith, and about medicine. I learned that I do not like cold showers (actually I already knew that but this confirmed it), I don’t like cilantro, and I either need to learn Spanish better or speak only English. (This last discovery came about as a result of trying to wish a patient “I hope you get better” but saying “I hope you die!” Thankfully she couldn’t comprehend my Muhlenberg-accented Spanish.) Perhaps my favorite part of the trip was interacting with the children at the end of the day. The medical students were wonderful, playing soccer with the local

kids, swinging them around, or teaching them “Duck, Duck, Goose.” The latter was especially entertaining. The beauty of these children was that I could see how easy peace could be if we just looked at each other through the eyes of a child. They cared not about our skin color, our affluence, our accent, or our nationality. They responded to us because we showed an interest in them. The heat, the sweat, the dirt, the poverty and our fatigue somehow all melded together to create something beautiful. More significantly, though I learned how it

felt to be totally powerless. In my day-to-day world I have control (or at least I like to think I do) of what happens with all sorts of devices and medications that enable me to effectively treat a wide variety of medical illnesses. In Ecuador I had only rudimentary equipment (a stethoscope, an otoscope and an ophthalmoscope), no diagnostic equipment, no lab and an inadequate formulary. I had the knowledge of what to do but not the ability – powerlessness. But out of this impotence came strength. The reality that it really never was my ability, that often it is just touch, patience, compassion, the willingness to be that heals the most. It was in this that I fully realized modern medicine may heal on one level (physical) but true healing occurs at many levels. In reflecting back since the trip I realize once again that in doing this mission work what I received was inevitably far greater than what I gave, that beauty occurs all around us, that love knows no bounds, that compassion covers many injustices, that courage requires action, that healing is a gift, and the unknown is an opportunity. n

American medical staff on a mission trip to Ecuador teach a circle of children to play, “Duck, Duck, Goose.” The staff played games with the children in the evenings after they were finished seeing patients.

Jamaica visitLeft: Mary Danhauer, a family nurse practitioner and Ursuline associate, enters her medical clinic in Jamaica. Above: Sister Suzanne Sims visited Mary while on a mission to Jamaica November 1-8, 2006.

Associate Mary Danhauer recently returned to Owensboro from Jamaica for a visit during the Christmas holidays. While she was here, Mary came to Maple Mount for Mass and supper with the Ursuline sisters. After the meal, Mary gave a short presentation to the sisters about her work in the clinic at Maggoty, St Elizabeth, Jamaica.

Continued from page 2

Page 4: UPDATE February 2007

Associate MeetingsPage 4 Associate Update / February 2007 Page 5

The Grayson County associates had a Christmas party December 8. Some of those in attendance were, left to right, David Mudd (associate candidate), Carol Hill, Coreen Moore, Stella McClure, and Brenda Semar.

Enjoying the festivities at the Grayson County associates Christmas party were, left to right, Father Brian Johnson, Sister Marietta Wethington, Diane Lee (guest), Beverly Harrison (associate candidate), and Willidean Alvey (guest).

The Western Kentucky associates met in Mayfield December 15. In attendance were, seated: Risë Karr and Betty Boren. Standing: Sister Teresa Riley, Pat Wilson, Sid Mason (hostess), Sister Karla Kaelin, and Marian Bennett, co-director of Ursuline Partnerships.

The Owensboro associate group met in November at Brescia University.Above: Sister Helena Fischer dines with Mary Hartz (associate candidate) and Bernadette Howard during the meeting. Right: Sister Michele Morek, congregational leader for the Ursuline Sisters, sits with Margie Hill and Helen Miles.

Enjoying the Henderson-Union County associates meeting in October were, left to right, Sister Margaret Ann Aull, Dotty Liles, and Betty Christian.

Hosts Sharon and Don Speaks welcomed Sister Suzanne Sims, center, to the Henderson associates meeting.

Associates in Muhlenberg County met December 13. Above: Wanda Rickard, Alice Powell (associate candidate), and Marlene Monaghan.Right: Marcia Stoller (associate candidate), Bonnie Adams, Eddie and Melinda Prunty (associate candidates), and hostess Kathy Gillis.

Page 5: UPDATE February 2007

Page 4 Associate Update / February 2007 Page 5

Elaine and John Wood have been members of St. Mary Parish in LaCenter, Kentucky, since 1968. Married for 41 years, they have five children and eight grandchildren. They are active in parish life by serving on the finance council, and as lectors, cantors and ministers of the Eucharist. In their larger community of Ballard County, they are active in scouting and enjoy fishing, hiking, boating and other outdoor activities. It has been said of Elaine, “She has a way of identifying persons who are searching for meaning in their lives and showing them how God can make a difference for them.” A retired forester for Westvaco, John’s commitment to his parish and community is summed up by, “If there is a need, John is likely to see the need and do something about it.” Sister Alicia Coomes and Sister Suzanne Sims are their longtime friends and contact sisters.

Welcome to our New Associates

Training in Tucson Sister Marietta Wethington, co-director of Ursuline Partnerships, attended the Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction for four weeks at the Redemptorist Renewal Center in Tucson, Arizona, last fall. She is pictured (left) with Sister Ann McGrew, who also earned a training certificate. The sisters studied such topics as spirituality, spiritual direction and tradition, interfaith spiritual direction, 12-step spirituality, dreams, supervision, and honoring the feminine and masculine in spiritual direction. Both help facilitate the Spiritual Direction Training Program at Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center. There are 12 participants in the current 2006-2008 program.

The Western Kentucky associates met in Mayfield December 15. In attendance were, seated: Risë Karr and Betty Boren. Standing: Sister Teresa Riley, Pat Wilson, Sid Mason (hostess), Sister Karla Kaelin, and Marian Bennett, co-director of Ursuline Partnerships.

The Owensboro associate group met in November at Brescia University.Above: Sister Helena Fischer dines with Mary Hartz (associate candidate) and Bernadette Howard during the meeting. Right: Sister Michele Morek, congregational leader for the Ursuline Sisters, sits with Margie Hill and Helen Miles.

Page 6: UPDATE February 2007

We encourage you to keep this list and to pray for these associates on their special days.

Page 6 Associate Update February 2007

May Birthdays: 1 Karen Beavers 2 Marie Ritz 4 Murilla Giittinger Lil Wilson 5 Madeleine Bianco 6 John Allen 9 Ruth Wright-Welzen 11 Clarence Kaiser 12 Sonia Pradenas 13 Willa Bloemer 14 Loni daniels 18 Mike Synk 21 Cecilia Mceldowney 22 Loretta Oliver

Tracy Strother 23 Maxine Hobbs 24 Sandra Jull Ola Higdon 25 Rose Mary egli

Kevin Karl Amy Payne

26 Sr. Agnes Ijoko, HHCJ 28 Sharon Rose 29 Jean Bertram

March Anniversaries of Acceptance: 22 Years Nettie Castle, Shirlene Quinn Laura Smith 20 Years Ann Collins 19 Years Catherine Bockhold, Larry and

Jane denton, david and Gloria Henderson, don and Maxine Hobbs, Rebecca Leonard diane Wilson, Pat and Mike Sullivan

18 Years Kevin Karl 16 Years Carolyn Miller 13 Years Fr. Conran Runnebaum 12 Years Anna Lesousky 7 years Audrey durbin6 years Inez Gálvez, Patricia Jamett

Jolanda Moraga, Carola Pulgar Sonia Pradenas, evelina Salas Raquel Sepúlveda

5 Years Fr. Tony Shonis 4 Years Carlene Braun, Catherine Gawarecki

Carol Hogan, Mildred Mcdowell 3 Years ed and Gloria Cecil, don and

Marlene Monaghan, debbie Walker2 Years Lela Buettmann

March Birthdays: 2 Shearon Harris

diane Wilson 5 Kay Buckman

Stella McClure 7 George Horishny10 Chris denniston 12 Velma dees 14 Mary Costello Pauline Goebel darlene Sapp 15 diane Hayden 16 Joan McKinnon 18 Camilla Frey

Mike Sullivan 19 Carolyn Butler 20 Angelina Glomb 21 Fr. Leonard Alvey

Marcy Bufalini elaine Wood 23 Carlene Braun 24 Catherine Roddy 25 Marcella Critchelow

Jodie Fulkerson June Townsend

26 Bea Porter

April Birthdays: 1 Frances elder 2 Larry Minks 3 Jeanne Miller 4 Joyce Firenza

evelina Salas 6 Marian Bennett Mary Jo dodson

Violet Hamilton Mary Rita Trittschuh 8 Sue donahue Wanda Gibson 9 Fr. Brian Johnson doris Kolb-Hopkins 11 Wanda Rickard 14 Lucille Weidenbenner 15 Laura Smith

Fr. Richard White 16 Claudette Ford 17 Terry Barnes 21 Jerry Frey 22 Mildred Mcdowell 24 Fr. ed Bradley Carolyn Head 25 Rev. Patricia dawkins

Fr. Brian Roby 27 edna Marnell 28 Michael Lemm Bob Pfeiler

April Anniversaries of Acceptance: 23 Years Winnie Cohron, Ione deken 22 Years Therese Allen

Gertrude Tyrala20 Years Fr. ed Bradley Adrian Bumpus Anna dye, Bonnie Marks 19 Years Ada Bader, Betty and Bobby

Joe Christian, Cecilia Curtis Bob and Marty darst Gail Funk, Claudette Ford Ann and John Hancock

Irvin Hancock, Nancy Richards, Brenda Sauer

June Townsend 13 Years Marvin and Murilla Giittinger Ann Hayden10 Years Lena dees, Phil and Velma

dees, Isabelle King8 Years Jean dowdy, Larry dowdy 6 Years dorothy Hughes, Arleen

Naglich, dolores Polson5 Years Ruth Metschuleit3 Years Brenda Semar1 year Anna Conn John and Martha Little

May Anniversaries of Acceptance: 23 Years Therese Fraize 22 Years Connie del Muro 21 Years Joan McKinnon, Midge Palm Bob Pfeiler 20 Years Mary Ann Childs 19 Years Margaret Stenger 18 Years Paul Kordenbrock Christopher Walls 17 Years Jeanne Lamastus15 Years Philomena Bollinger, dottie Clark

Shirley eckert, Camilla Frey Wilma Howard, Helen Pfeiffer Sandra Jull, Therese Lawson

Francis and Jean Steffen Rita Summers

13 Years Judy embry Anna Mae and Clarence Kaiser Sr. Ann Middlebrooks, SeC Georgann Stuck

Sr. Jeannette Touchet, SeC10 Years George and Lorna Horishny Mary Jo Johnson, Michael Lemm Larry Lynch, Meg and Mike Synk 8 Years June Fowler5 Years Suzanne Gochenouer darlene Sapp3 Years Chris Geary

Gary and Sera Mesnier2 Years Ruth Bittel, Penny Burns Fr. Ben Luther, elenita McConnell

Jean Simpson, Tracy Strother

Remembering Special Associate Days...

Page 7: UPDATE February 2007

Sister Carolita Young, OSUSister Carolita Young, 93, died

November 29, at Mount Saint Joseph, in her 74th year of religious life. She was a native of St. Mary in Marion County.

An educator for 60 years, Sister Carolita taught in Kentucky, New Mexico, Nebraska, and Missouri. She also served as librarian in several schools.

After her retirement, she served 10 years part time in the community library at Mount Saint Joseph.

Survivors include nieces and nephews, and her Ursuline Sisters.

Sister Mildred (Aloysius Marie) Barr, OSUSister Mildred (Aloysius Marie)

Barr, 85, died December 12 at Mount Saint Joseph, in her 66th year of religious life.

An educator for 45 years, Sister Mildred taught in Kentucky, New Mexico, Nebraska, and Missouri. She taught art at Mount Saint Joseph Academy and many other schools. She also served in the prayer house at the Mount and was director of the gift shop and of the museum.

Survivors include her sisters, Mary Lillian Hamilton, Owensboro, Ruth Ann Mayfield, Philpot, Janet Goff, Rome, and Angela Marie Dillard, Franklin; and brothers, Louis B. Barr and Herman J. Barr, both of Owensboro, and Gerald L. Barr and Frederick A. Barr, both of Whitesville; nieces and nephews, and her Ursuline sisters.Gifts in memory of Sisters Carolita Young and Mildred Barr may take the form of donations to the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356.n

Sister Carolita Young

’Obedience is straightforward, courageous, respectful, honorable and reverent.Third Counsel of Saint Angela Merici

Sister Mildred Barr

In Memoriam...February 2007 Associate Update Page 7

• Lina Trujillo, OSUA and Margaret Trujillo Chavez, OSUA, whose brother, Martin Trujillo, Jr., died November 30• Annette Thomas Chavez, OSUA, whose sister, Mary Jane Carrico, died October 20

Prayer Requests

An “Angela Anew” conference in Cincinnati December 27-29 brought together 25 Ursuline sisters and one Ursuline Associate from six communities: Brown County, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Toledo in Ohio; and Louisville and Maple Mount in Kentucky. Reflecting on the charism of Angela Merici, they explored the question, What do Angela’s insights offer us in today’s world...locally, globally, in our Church? Representing the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph were (photo, from left) Sisters Jacinta Powers, Michele Morek, Pam Mueller, Mary Lois Speaks, Kathleen Kaelin, and Maureen Griner.

Angela Anew Conference

Have you ever invited anyone to become an Ursuline associate? The Office of Ursuline Partnerships

will be glad to send information. Just let us know the name and address of

the person who might be interested in becoming an associate.

We extend deepest sympathy to:

Page 8: UPDATE February 2007

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGe

PAIdOWeNSBORO,KY

42301PeRMIT NO. 120

Please help us update our mailing list. If there are errors in your address, please inform us so that we may correct them.

Upcoming Events,,,• Saturday, February 10 - Associate Advisory Board, 8:30 a.m., Mount Saint Joseph. Alternate date– Feb. 14

• Saturday, February 17 - Louisville Associates Meeting, 1 p.m., St. Angela Convent, 1731 Edenside Ave.

• Saturday, February 24 - Glennonville Associates Retreat, 9–12 noon, St. Theresa Church, Glennonville

• March 2-4 - Catholic Charismatic Conference, Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center

• Thursday, March 15 - Lecture on torture by Sister Dianna Ortiz, 7 p.m., Brescia University Science Bldg.

• March 16-18 - A Women’s Retreat: Mary Magdalene, Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center

• Wednesday, March 21 - Muhlenberg County Associates Meeting, 6 p.m., St. Joseph Church, Central City

• Wednesday, March 21 - Owensboro Associates Meeting, 5 p.m., Brescia University Dining Room

• Saturday, April 21 - Rockin’ the Mount II concert, 5 p.m.

• Wednesday, April 25 - Associate commitment ceremony, 4:30 p.m., Maple Mount

• May 19-20 - Mount Saint Joseph Alumnae Reunion

ASSOCIATES JOHN AND BERNADETTE HOWARD deliver the day’s laundry to Eddie Tichenor at Harold’s Cleaners in Owensboro. The Howards are volunteers for the St. Benedict Joseph Homeless Shelter in Owensboro. Harold’s Cleaners does the shelter’s laundry at no charge. Other Ursuline associates volunteering at the shelter include Father John Vaughan, Carol Alvey, Gloria Cecil, Father Carl McCarthy, and Ursuline Sisters Marietta Wethington and Suzanne Sims. This shelter began serving the homeless in 2005 when the churches of Owensboro answered the need for clean, secure emergency lodging.

SUNDAY, July 8, 2007Associates and Sisters Day

Mount Saint Joseph, Maple Mount, Kentucky