Sisters say farewell to original Academy building with gratitude

With most of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph at Maple Mount for Community Days, the Sisters gathered at 6 p.m. on July 15, 2022, for a Gratitude Ritual to say goodbye to the building that brought the original Sisters to western Kentucky.

Father Paul Joseph Volk built Mount Saint Joseph Academy in 1874, and five Ursuline Sisters of Louisville traveled by flatboat down the Ohio River to lead the school. The Academy spurred many young women to become Ursuline Sisters, and the community became independent of Louisville in 1912.

The Academy closed in 1983 and transformed to the Mount Saint Joseph Retreat Center. The Retreat Center did not reopen in 2021 following the shutdown due to Covid-19, after it was determined that the original bricks still in use were disintegrating at the foundation. The Ursuline Sisters made the difficult decision in the summer of 2021 to deconstruct the building. There is no date set for that work to begin.

Sister Pam Mueller, in one of her final duties as a Leadership Council member, designed and led the Gratitude Ritual. She is a 1968 graduate of the Academy, and gathered facts about the building to share with the Sisters. The Sisters gathered in front of the 1874 building on a muggy Friday night to pray, share memories and bless the building one last time. Here are some photos.

Sister Elaine Burke, center, talks with Sister Jane Falke before the ceremony began, as Sister George Mary Hagan looks over the program. Sister Elaine is a 1949 graduate of the Academy.
This brick, mostly hidden behind bushes, commemorates the original building erected by Father Paul Joseph Volk in 1874. Since then, additions were constructed in 1882, 1904, 1962 and 1998.
Sister Mary Celine Weidenbenner begins the ceremony by carrying a sunflower and placing it on the front steps of the 1874 building. The Sisters sang “This is holy ground,” during the procession.
Sister Suzanne Sims, right, and Sister Angela Fitzpatrick also carry sunflowers, and behind them Sister Michele Morek and Sister Mary Timothy Bland bring bowls to the table.
The sunflowers were placed behind these “past, present and future” signs on the original steps.
Sister Michele Morek pours water into a bowl, while Sister Mary Timothy Bland awaits her chance to fill a bowl.
Sister Michele Ann Intravia carries a bowl with incense to the table. Sister Pam Mueller lighted the incense with the prayer “Let our prayers of gratitude rise like incense.”
Sister Pam Mueller shares information on the history of the buildings as the incense smolders in front of her.
The Sisters pray antiphonally with Psalm 92, which begins “It is good to give thanks to God, to sing praise to your name.”
The Sisters were each given a slip of colored paper and a marker. They were urged to share with the Sister next to them what they are most grateful for concerning the building, or what their hope or dream is for the future. Then they were to write a word or phrase on their slip of paper. Here, Sister Ruth Gehres, right, a 1951 graduate of the Academy, talks with Sister Angela Fitzpatrick about her gratefulness.
Sister Karla Kaelin, right, Sister Mary Timothy Bland, center, and Sister Maureen O’Neill discuss their thoughts on the building. Sister Karla is a 1963 Academy graduate, and Sister Maureen graduated in 1966.
Sister Julia Head, right, a 1960 Academy graduate, points out where her bedroom was during her high school days to Sister Sharon Sullivan.
Sister Suzanne Sims, right, a 1966 Academy graduate, shares her memories with Sister Cecelia Joseph Olinger, a 1958 graduate.
After filling out their slips of paper, the Sisters were urged to pin the slips to the candles on the front table. Sister Mary Henning, a 1964 Academy graduate, attaches her slip as Sister Betsy Moyer stands by to assist.
Sprigs from the boxwood bushes in front of the building were dipped in water and the Sisters were offered the chance to bless the building. Sister Joan Riedley, a 1963 Academy graduate, takes her turn blessing the building.
Sister Mary Celine Weidenbenner, a 1962 Academy graduate, blesses the building, as Sister Pam Mueller looks on in the background.
Sister Martha Keller attaches her gratitude slip to a candle.
Quite a few memories were attached to the candles.
Sister Judith Nell Riney, left, a 1965 Academy graduate, and Sister Pat Lynch lead the Litany of Thanksgiving for the Sisters, who responded “We give thanks.”
The Sisters concluded the ceremony by singing “Magnificat.”
Sister Amelia Stenger, the outgoing congregational leader, thanked everyone for participating.