Sisters celebrate each other during Community Days

Since 1917, the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph have set aside time in July for Community Days, when all the Sisters who are able, return to Maple Mount to discuss community business and enjoy each other’s company. This year’s Community Days meetings took place in the Mother Aloysius Room.

Sister Ruth Gehres once again served as the intrepid photographer from Community Days from July 6-9, 2021. Here are photos from the week.

The tradition for the opening night party is for the leadership Council to serve the Sisters ice cream. Here, Sister Amelia Stenger, right, and Sister Judith Nell Riney demonstrate their scooping skills.
Sister Pat Lynch serves “lefty” to Sister Michele Ann Intravia.
Sister Pam Mueller asks, “strawberry anyone?”
Sister Mary Celine Weidenbenner believes in the adage, “Everything is better with chocolate sauce on it.”
Sister Amanda Rose Mahoney makes the tough decision on which toppings to choose.
Sister Martha Keller, left, and Sister Betsy Moyer are all smiles awaiting ice cream.
Two of the Sisters who came the farthest for Community Days were Sister Jacinta Powers, left, and Sister Angela Fitzpatrick. Sister Jacinta is serving in Chinle, Ariz., and Sister Angela serves in the Kansas City, Kan., area.
Sister Sharon Sullivan, left, draws a laugh from Sister Nancy Murphy. The two served in leadership together from 2010-16.
Sister Susanne Bauer, left, Sister Michael Ann Monaghan, center, and Sister Claudia Hayden get ready for the next round of meetings.
Sister Mary Henning, left, and Sister Mary Ellen Backes, center, talk with Carolyn Larocco, who manages the Sisters’ investments.
Sister Emma Anne Munsterman, left, and Sister Carol Shively, center, give Sister Ann McGrew their undivided attention as she makes a point.
One of the biggest jobs of Community Days is acting as secretary to make sure the minutes of every meeting are accurate. The secretaries this year were Sister Marilyn Mueth, left, and Sister Cecelia Joseph Olinger.
Sister Jacinta Powers, left, and Sister Betsy Moyer take notes during one of the meetings in the Mother Aloysius Room. The two used to live together when they both served in Maple Mount.
Sister Amelia Stenger, left, the congregational leader, talks with Martha Alle, director of Finance for the Sisters, and Carolyn Larocco during a break.
Something funny was said to generate smiles from Sister Cheryl Clemons, left, Sister Barbara Jean Head, center, and Sister Carol Shively.
Sister Rita Scott makes a point to Sister Mary Celine Weidenbenner, center, and Sister Mary Timothy Bland.
Sister Jane Falke, left, and Sister Karla Kaelin enjoy some after-dinner conversation.
Sister Mary Timothy Bland, standing, and Sister Mary Agnes VonderHaar are in deep discussion about a topic.
Who says meetings can’t be fun? Not this table, from left, Sisters Angela Fitzpatrick, Nancy Murphy, Susan Mary Mudd and Julia Head.
Whatever Sister Julia Head, right, is saying has captured the attention of these Sisters, from left, Sisters Sharon Sullivan, Martha Keller and Mary Ellen Backes.
Sister Catherine Marie Lauterwasser, left, and Sister Marietta Wethington enjoy a conversation during a break. The two entered the community together in 1955.
The Sisters who are sisters include these two, Sister Rosanne, left, and Sister Laurita Spalding.
Sister Monica Seaton and Sister Mary McDermott find something to smile about.
This group is having way too much fun! Standing from left are Sister Susan Mary Mudd, Sister Angela Fitzpatrick and Sister George Mary Hagan; seated from left are Sisters Rosanne Spalding, Mary Celine Weidenbenner, Margaret Ann Aull, Laurita Spalding, Monica Seaton and Mary McDermott.
An afternoon snack hits the spot for Sister Carol Shively, left, Sister Helena Fischer, center, and Sister Amelia Stenger.
Sister Elaine Burke, left, and Sister Susan Mary Mudd, right, listen as Sister Mary Matthias Ward makes a point during a meeting.
Sister Ann Patrice Cecil, left, and Sister Lois Lindle are ready to move on to the next topic.
Sister Suzanne Sims, left, and Sister Martha Keller are all smiles one afternoon.
Sister Marie Julie Fecher, left, imparts some wisdom to Sister Pam Mueller. Sister Marie Julie will celebrate 80 years as a Sister in 2022.
Sister Ruth Gehres, left, finally gets in front of the camera, along with Sister Jane Falke, center, and Sister Suzanne Sims.
Sister Amelia Stenger drapes an arm around Sister Marie Bosco Wathen as they talk with Sister Vivian Bowles.
Sister Judith Nell Riney appears to be losing this battle with the flower arrangement.
Sister Karla Kaelin, left, shares a big laugh with Sister Helena Fischer.
Sister Barbara Jean Head, left, and Sister Nancy Liddy wrap up for the day.
Sister Grace Simpson, left, and Sister Joan Riedley share some smiles in the chapel. Both Sisters serve in Louisville.
The leadership Council hands out each Sister’s ministry assignment for the coming year during a commissioning ceremony in the chapel on July 9. Here, the Council commissions Sister Helena Fischer, Sister Sara Marie Gomez, and Sister Vivian Bowles.
The Sisters who celebrated jubilees of religious profession in 2020 and 2021 gathered at this long table on July 11, as they prayed for one another.