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Poverty
Chastity
Obedience
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Local History
On September 18th, 1874, six Ursuline Sisters made the a long journey from
Cleveland to Youngstown to start a new foundation. The small group, led by
Sr. Teresa Foley, had been invited to Youngstown, to help education to the
immigrant children at St. Columba School. Within days of their arrival,
the nuns established a residence in a small house on the property, were
teaching school, and music classes. They were also planning an academy
that would eventually evolve into Ursuline Academy and then Ursuline High
School. Early records tell it like this:
At 11:00 a.m., September 18th, 1874, Father Brown met Mother M. Teresa
Foley, Sister Ursula Croxton, Sister Angela Brown (sister of Father
Brown), Sister St. John Radnor, Sister Felix Polion, and Sister St. James
Sullivan at the railway station. After dining at the rectory of St.
Columba, the sisters moved into a small frame building on Rayen Avenue.
The women of the parish had made it as cozy and inviting as their own
modest resources would permit. Gratefully and happily the sisters took
possession and begun work on the little chapel which would be the heart of
their home.
By 1883, the sisters had added teaching services at "The Immaculate," an
East Side parish. Over the years, the sisters extended their work to
various other schools in the diocese including Campbell, Struthers,
Wellsville, Leetonia, Canton and Girard. In the 1950's, they began the
first programs for religious education for the hearing impaired and
mentally retarded children. When the Diocese of Youngstown was established
in 1943, they also assisted set up the various departments in the new
diocesan offices. They worked at Father Kane's Camp a summer and offered
special educational programs in the inner city on Saturdays and throughout
the summer. Working not only in Catholic Schools, they were creatively
service to many areas of special need.
Then came renewal. In the early 60's, in response to the Second Vatican
Council, religious women began to examine their roots and to renew their
lives; clarifying the essentials and discarding some outmoded customs.
Like their founder, Saint Angela Merici they believed in moving with the
times and church.
What are sisters about? At the start of the new millennium, the Ursuline
Sisters remain a vital force in the Diocese of Youngstown and beyond. We
continue to serve in schools. We sponsor a wide broad range of ministries,
including the Beatitude House and the HIV/AIDS ministry.
As we minister in these many ways, we continue to live in community, join
others in prayer and support each other's efforts to serve the church. We
endeavor to provide special emphasis to the poor and to those with special
needs.
We feel confident that personal life as an Ursuline offers extraordinary
opportunities to make a difference in our world. The women in the Ursuline
community lead rich, full lives, they are educated and have opportunities
to grow and develop personally as women of our time. At the same time,
they aim to make a difference in the lives of others.
What is the link between those original sisters who arrived from Cleveland
to teach at St. Columba and the work of the Ursulines today? The Ursuline
Sisters of Youngstown continue to dedicate their lives to bringing a
nurturing presence in the valley and beyond. We continue to believe that
our lives are enriched by our commitment to prayer, community living and
service to the church. We promise to hold material possessions with an
open hand in our vow of poverty. We promise to love all with whom we come
in contact as we vow celibacy. In addition, we promise to listen to the
spirit as we respond to the needs of our times. This is a life of love and
service.
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