Former Paola Ursulines make the move to Kentucky
MAPLE MOUNT, Ky. — The Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph began their annual Community Days on July 8 with a merger celebration liturgy in the chapel to welcome their 23 new Sisters who are formerly Ursuline Sisters of Paola.
Each of the former Paola Sisters was in attendance, except for Sister Marie William Blyth, who had to return to Denver for the funeral of her sister.
The Sisters processed in with their designated Mount St. Joseph companion Sister and stopped before the altar to sign the Book of the Company of Mount St. Joseph. It is a tradition that dates back to when St. Angela Merici formed the Company of Saint Ursula in 1535 and asked each of the 28 women to sign a book to signify their commitment.
Bishop Emeritus John J. McRaith of the Diocese of Owensboro, Ky., celebrated the Mass and read from the Gospel of John. Afterward, Sister Cheryl Clemons delivered a reflection on the unifying moment of this special Mass, with the melding of the former Belleville, Ill., community, along with Paola and Mount St. Joseph. She referred often to C.S. Lewis’ “The Great Divorce,” which includes the line: “I am in love, and out of love I will not go.”
While the Sisters sang the Magnificat, former Paola superior Sister Kathleen Condry joined congregational leader Sister Michele Morek in mixing soil from the two communities in a pot and planting a redbud tree.
The ceremony concluded with Sister Rita Lavigne, a former Paola Sister, playing “Bind Us Together,” a song well-known among the Paola community.
