Living Holy Lives When St. Angela Merici founded the Ursulines in 1535, she promised, “You’ll witness wonderful things if you direct all to the praise and glory of God.” The wisdom of her words proves true in the 21st century! Our Sisters are engaged in gospel service with wonderful people around the Mahoning Valley. Several work with families in the diocese. Sister Mary Alyce Koval ministers at St. Luke and St. Charles parishes, Sister Janice Kusick at St. Angela Merici Parish, Sister Martha Reed at St. Columba Parish Cathedral, and Sister Regina Rogers at St. Edward Parish, all in Youngstown. Other Sisters are active with our major ministries. Sister Patricia McNicholas serves as donor relations director for all of Ursuline Sisters Mission. Sister Norma Raupple leads our Immigrant Outreach program and works closely with volunteers and Associate formation. Sisters Carole Suhar and Darla Jean Vogelsang work with women in our Immigrant Outreach program as well. Sister Nancy Dawson helped 13 incarcerated men become Catholics through our Prison Ministry. Still others maintain their own ministries. Sister Dorothy Kundracik operates our Altar Bread Ministry. Sisters Bridget Nolan and Diane Toth bring food and friendship to seniors through Meals on Wheels. Sister Marie Maravola brightens lives as a pastoral minister at the Antonine Village in North Jackson. Sister Mary McCormick educates the next generation of faith leaders as a professor and academic dean at St. Mary’s Seminary and Graduate School of Theology in Cleveland. Many more are active in ministries offered from the Motherhouse. Sister Pauline Dalpe is a mental health counselor. Sister Nancy DiCola oversees some of our archiving efforts. Sister Elizabeth Anne Freidhoff keeps us all going as Community Secretary. Sister Mary Ann Diersing helps in our administrative office. Sister Jan Gier is a friendly face and voice to visitors at our Motherhouse front desk. Sister Eileen Kernan offers spiritual direction at home and in the field. She, along with Sisters Kathleen McCarragher and Marlene LoGrasso, also began a “Nuns & Nones” group in 2022. Sister Kathleen Minchin continues to serve with our HIV/AIDS Café. Sister Nancy Pawlen ministers with our Education & Wellness programs, our Volunteer Outreach Ministry, and with St. Rose Parish, Girard. Sister Marilyn Hoover earned a gold medal for the 90+ age group when walking the 5k of our Nun Run. Sister Charlotte Italiano keeps in touch with contacts at Holy Family and St. Joseph the Provider schools. Sisters Mary Ann Coz and Helen Nordick are active with our Prayer Ministry. We keep all of you in our prayers, and hope you’ll keep us in yours as well. From left, front row, are Sisters Mary Ann Coz, Marilyn Hoover, Nancy Dawson, Helen Nordick, Diane Toth, Jan Gier, Marlene LoGrasso, and Charlotte Italiano. Middle row are Sisters Eileen Kernan, Marie Maravola, Bridget Nolan, Kathleen Minchin, Martha Reed, Kathleen McCarragher, Regina Rogers, Elizabeth Anne Freidhoff, Nancy Pawlen and Mary McCormick. Back row are Sisters Darla Jean Vogelsang, Pauline Dalpe, Janice Kusick, Nancy DiCola, Dorothy Kundracik, Patricia McNicholas, Norma Raupple, Mary Ann Diersing, Carole Suhar and Mary Alyce Koval.
A St. Luke Story: How We’ve Found Strength By Sister Mary Alyce KovalParish Leader at St. Luke Church, Boardman Our task as Christians is to build the City of God on earth. For almost 60 years, St. Luke parishioners have worked together to achieve this goal. And then came an unprecedented challenge in early 2020 which challenged us to keep the story going. Prayer was strengthened through the challenge of virtual worship; hundreds of parishioners and virtual visitors live streamed remained connected. Sacred words and music were the bonds that kept every heart bonded to one another. The gift of Community was strengthened through phone calls, cards group texts and other creative ways of connecting: front porch drop offs of food, quick visits in driveways and other surprises. Service to others didn’t stop, in just changed its face: monetary for food and non-perishable and personal care items, Christmas gifts for the needy and so much more. Daily Mass in St. Luke’s Chapel is attended by about 15 people. Enjoying time together after Mass. Now reality is back — Mass in person, informal gatherings for coffee, picnics, St. Vincent de Paul food service, school supply collections and one-on-one personal contacts. Parishioners here at St. Luke didn’t STOP building the City of God, they just found creative ways of continuing to do it. St. Luke parishioners Bob and Loreta Lape. Church members are collecting school supplies for families served by St. Vincent de Paul.