The Ursuline Sisters
of Youngstown

Sister Virginia McDermott was
honored by Ursuline High School
at the Feast of Saint Ursula Liturgy on October 21, 2004. 
Sister Virginia, a member of the Ursuline class of 1933 and an Ursuline Sister for the past 71 years, gave the following presentation after the liturgy.

However, I still remember being a teenager, that wonderful time of colossal energy: a time of waiting impatiently for life to unfold - a time when God was "growing me up".  On the other hand, I remember wishing that I could stay right here in my teenage cocoon forever.  Life was free of worries and rich with dreams - and frankly, I loved it all.  But something pulled me beyond the present. Call it dreams, ambitions, graces - we all have them.  They are God's way of setting us to thinking seriously.  I often remember a line from W.B. Yeat's poem "He Wishes for the Cloth of Heaven": 

            I, being poor, have only my dreams.
            I have spread my dreams under your feet.
            Tread softly, because you tread on my dreams.

Let me share with you a choice few of the dreams that have figured in my life.

To be a journalist - to work for the [Youngstown] Vindicator, was dream one.  I could see myself with my notepad and pen rushing for an interview; perhaps getting a big scoop, being part of the communications media - a big dream for a while.

The next one got a bit scarier.  This time, I told everyone that I was going to get married and have a family of fourteen and give them a happy home.  Soon I realized this was an ambitious dream and I had no immediate prospects to carry it out.  It simply had to go on hold indefinitely.  But in the big picture of my life, it came true, partly.

My next enthusiasm was more realistic.  My two older sisters were teachers, so why not one more in the family.  They encouraged me to visit their classes, and naturally these little people were too enchanting to resist.  I would be a teacher - I would have an ideal class and the little ones would be angels - every day would heaven.  This is the way dreams go. 

By this time I was a senior at Ursuline, enjoying my "almost grown-up experience", making friends, getting into social life, learning to dance and other things you need to know as you mature.  Into this idyllic life came a dream that was a whopper.  I announced that I wanted to be an Ursuline Sister.  A wonderful idea, I thought.  But there were certain people, like my parents, who thought my lifestyle suggested that I was not really suited for that rather quiet life.  Parents, friends, and classmates came tot he consensus that I would never last in convent life.  My classmates will verify this.  So to please myself, I became an Ursuline Sister.

And here I am, 71 years later.  I made it and I am loving the life God has chosen for me.  I can honestly say that my dreams have been fulfilled - with a few variations.  I emerged from being a "wild" teen to becoming a demure novice.  And after some training I actually began teaching my very own class of first graders and loving it.  That lasted f14 years.  On completion of my Master's degree, I was assigned to Ursuline High School to teach English and Journalism.  I envisioned my role in journalism as perhaps teaching some future Pulitzer prize winner.  I was still dreaming, but it was a great reward to advise the students working on the Ursuline News and the Ursulinian.

I can't exactly account for the "mother" role and the "fourteen children" of my dreams.  I guess that was fulfilled in the lives of the many I was to teach and love through the years.  These "children" whom I taught were to move in and out of my life even to the present.  And I hope I gave them a happy home in my heart. 

Having shared my dreams and life journey with you my Ursuline friends, I now have an important message for you and it is this:

Fundamentally, Catholic principle is that all reality is potentially the bearer of           God's presence.  I repeat that:  all reality is potentially the bearer of God's presence.  When your dreams become reality, your service somehow brings God's presence to another, you think of yourself as "giving" to others.  Yet the reverse is happening.  You yourself are being fulfilled with God's joy and God's wonderful presence in your life.  That is exactly the way it is, dear friends.  Honestly.  And believe me, I speak from years of personal experience. 

So here I am at the time of life called "retirement" and I'm having the time of my life. I still dream dreams and graces are coming wholesale.  In every dream God is alive in me.  We who are retired from active duty still want to serve.  There's always enough emptiness in us to fill ourselves with the needs of others.  My Ursuline Community thrives on the tradition of service.  Four years ago, I was invited to serve in prison ministry.  This is what I am presently doing at the age of 89. I work with one woman and nine incarcerated men (who are not much older than you young men).  I have visiting privileges at the Ohio State Maximum Security Prison where I visit twice a month.  I also send letters to these inmates if they wish to receive.  My role is simply to convey the gospel message of love, forgiveness and healing.  I listen to their stories, encourage their dreams and pray for them.  I try to give them a reason to hope.  And I have to tell you that, in turn, I experience a wonderful sense of fulfillment.  Those men would appreciate a prayer of yours, I'm sure. 

I would like to close now with a favorite poem by e.e. cummings:

            You shall above all things
                be glad and strong.
           Whatever life you wear
                it will become you.
            And if you're glad
                whatever's living
                will yourself become.

Sister Virginia's presentation was read by Sister Darla Vogelsang.  In order to ensure that all would know that the words were those of Sister Virginia, Sr. Darla used a "prop" , a computer picture of Sr. Virginia.