History

In 1874 the immigrant children at St. Columba School in Youngstown, Ohio needed teachers. So on September 18 of that year six Ursuline Sisters from Cleveland arrived in Youngstown to begin teaching at St. Columba School. The Ursuline Sisters soon became a welcomed presence in this area of northeastern Ohio. Before long, the sisters launched an academy that eventually evolved into the present day Ursuline High School in Youngstown, Ohio.

In less than nine short years, Ursuline Sisters were teaching at several local parish schools and quickly extended their educational plans to other sites in and around Youngstown, including Campbell, Struthers, Wellsville, Leetonia, Canton, and Girard.

When Youngstown became an official Diocese in 1943, Ursuline Sisters helped in setting up many of the new departments in the diocesan offices. By the 1950’s the Ursuline Sisters established programs of religious education for children with hearing impairments and developmentally disabled children. The Ursuline Sisters also found themselves working at Father Kane’s Camp in the summer and offering special educational programs in the inner city on Saturdays.

The sisters served not only in Catholic schools but also continued to work in other areas of special need. In the early 1960’s the Second Vatican Council called upon all religious women to examine their roots and to renew their lives. The Ursuline Sisters in Youngstown took this mandate seriously and like their founder, Saint Angela Merici, began clarifying the essentials of their lives together and discarding outmoded customs. With a renewed sense of service to the Church and the world, the Ursulines widened their service to include a variety of professions.

The Ursuline Sisters now sponsor a broad range of ministries, including the Beatitude House and the HIV/AIDS ministry. They are teachers, musicians, pastoral ministers, social workers, nurses, directors’ of non- profits, and retired professionals. The Youngtown Ursulines still are a vital presence in this corner of Ohio and beyond.

The sisters lived experience proves that a personal life as an Ursuline Sister offers extraordinary opportunities to make a difference in the world. The women in the Ursuline community lead rich, full lives; are educated and have opportunities to grow and develop as women of our time.

An Ursuline Sister of Youngstown dedicates her life to bringing a nurturing presence to her service to others. She knows that her life is enriched by her commitment to prayer, community living and service to others.