INCORPORATION

Incorporation is the gradual and ongoing process for a woman to become part of the Ursuline community.

The process is transformative in its two-way, ever-deepening sharing of lives in community. Both the community and the woman change.

CANDIDATE

In response to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, an interested woman comes to observe and to be introduced into Ursuline life as a candidate.

In the context of mutual discernment, both the candidate and the community explore her vocation to religious life within the Ursuline community.

During this time of transition, the woman is guided in becoming attentive to God’s action in her life and in discerning how best to respond to God’s action. The community welcomes the candidate, provides a supportive Christian atmosphere that enables her to grow in her relationship with Jesus, and keeps itself open to growth through the candidate’s presence among them.

In an environment of mutual trust and receptiveness, the candidate enters into this first phase of incorporation.

NOVICE

The candidate advances in her quest when she becomes an Ursuline novice.

She is given the opportunity to deepen her knowledge and love of Jesus. The novitiate provides time for reflection and integration of the key dimensions of consecrated life:

• spirituality
• community
• Ursuline history and tradition
• apostolic life
• personal development

The novice makes a thirty-day retreat of election during the novitiate, geared to discernment of the choice of vocation.

adapted from Incorporation Process of 2005-06

The Ursulines of the Eastern Province belong to a branch of Ursulines called the Roman Union of Ursulines.

There are many Ursuline groups throughout the U.S. and in other parts of the world. In 1900 some of those groups joined together at the invitation of Pope Leo XIII to form what he envisioned as a united institute created from smaller, independent Ursuline communities. Their purpose was for sharing their strengths and minimizing their weaknesses, in common purpose, practices, and as time went on, personnel, ministries, and structures of governance. Many groups from around the world—predominantly Europe and the U.S.—responded to the invitation. Over time and to the present, the Roman Union expanded to other continents.

The Ursulines of the Roman Union are now located around the world, and they have their central government in Rome. The United States currently has four provinces: Northeast, East, Central, and West.

There are other groups of Ursulines in the U.S. and Canada, such as those in Kentucky, Ohio, Kansas, and New York, as well as Canadian provinces.All the North American Ursulines are in communication through meetings and shared initiatives.

BACKGROUND OF THE ROMAN UNION

To explain the Roman Union, some background enables a long view of its role in contemporary religious life.

After the founding of the Company of St. Ursula in 1535, Angela Merici did not live to see the spread of her Company beyond the city of Brescia in Lombardy, what is now northern Italy. Members lived at home, came together from time to time for spiritual formation and community, and ministered to local needs. But the Company became known for its service, making it a desirable ministry in other dioceses, and members took it to other cities of northern Italy, from there into France, then beyond. New communal living arrangements developed.

As the Company spread, and after the Council of Trent (1545-1563) adaptations and changes were mandated for congregations of women religious, differing from Angela’s original ideas. The Council regulated women religious in the church, and the Company adapted itself; some groups lived in communities serving local apostolates, others became cloistered with obligations and the way of life of monastic religious life. The latter form clearly limited the ministry originally envisioned as serving the diverse needs of the social environment in which it was located, but schools were attached to the monasteries for the education of young girls. The Order of St. Ursula, the Ursulines, spread throughout Europe and beyond, and its chief work became education.

The Ursuline monasteries became known by the city in which they were located: Ursulines of Paris, Ursulines of Lyons, and so on. These groups were governed by the local bishop and had few formal connections with each other. When they sent missionaries to the New World, the new foundations were closely related to their founding monasteries, and gradually they became communities independent of their community of origin, for example, the Quebec Ursulines founded from monasteries in France.

In 1900 for a variety of reasons, Pope Leo XIII offered a plan for joining the various Ursuline groups, for mutual help and the strength of unity. In consolidation greater effectiveness was envisioned. While many local groups, with the approval of the local bishop, joined the new institute, some were prevented and others chose not to join. Later, other unions were formed among national or regional Ursuline groups.

The new group who responded to the call of Leo XIII took the name of the Roman Union of the Order of St. Ursula. Provinces were created along national, cultural, or geographical lines, and the Roman Union spread throughout all the continents. The communities in the Roman Union live according to a common Constitution as an apostolic institute headed by a Prioress General, with its Generalate in Rome.

They have indeed found strength in unity, with a vision that crosses nationalities, cultures, and ethnicities.

The Present

The Roman Union can be found in thirty-six countries.

There are 2,268 sisters who are Ursulines of the Roman Union.

Africa: Botswana, Cameroon, Senegal, South Africa

The Americas: Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, United
States, Venezuela

Asia/Pacifica: Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor

Europe: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Great
Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Ukraine

Ursuline communities across North America extend the mission of Angela Merici. Adapting to times and places beyond 16th century Brescia, they make present her leadership and vision in the contemporary world.

The following links connect with some of these communities.

If a life of prayer and service within a community resonates with your inner desire for a meaningful life dedicated to God as Jesus revealed God, and in service of others as Jesus lived, here are some steps to take in order to satisfy your questions about the Ursuline way of living that dedication.

For an introduction to the Ursulines, scan the Web pages listed on the menu to the left: Who We Are, What We Do, and How We Pray.

The Web page called Vocation of a Consecrated Life explains the stages of initiation into the life of an Ursuline.

In the Gospel Jesus chose disciples “who would be with him and be sent.” Prayer is time with Jesus that motivates where to be sent in our ministries of service. Ursuline life is rooted in prayer, and the period of initiation into this life guides development in prayer and your spiritual life leading to the joyful fulfillment of service to others.

A first step in your quest is to make contact with the Vocation Office at 1338 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10804-2121. Their phone number is 914.712.0060.

They will answer your questions and ask you about yourself. From there they will suggest ways for you to proceed in your search for a dedicated life by meeting Ursulines, developing spiritual insight into the nature of your vocation, and assisting in your decision making about your future.

As you respond to the invitation of the Holy Spirit, you will experience those gifts that the Spirit gives to keep you true to your response to God: love, joy, peace, patience. And that will lead you to the next steps.

The Ursuline Associates are Christian women and men who, within their own state in life, join with Ursulines in prayer, mutual support, and service.

Together they seek to deepen their lives of prayer and service as followers of Jesus in the spirit of St. Angela Merici.

Angela offered a new expression of dedication to Christ within the heart of society. In the sixteenth century, she lived in a time of political turmoil and international conflict, a time of profound social change and of questions of meaning, like ours in the twenty-first century.

Her response was to root herself in prayer that the life and works of Jesus would transform her and impel her to works on behalf of those around her who were in need.

She was a discerning and realistic woman who understood, through the prism of love, the human heart and the influence of society. Thus she was able to bring peace and reconciliation to individuals, families, and political leaders. She expressed the kindness of Jesus by sharing with men and women of her society in care for the sick, instruction for those who needed knowledge about their faith, and guidance for others in their spiritual journey.

The Ursuline Associates share in that tradition and mission of the companions of St. Angela as it has been transmitted over five hundred years through the Ursulines who inherited her spiritual legacy and strive to embody it in their lives.

The Associates program consists of regular meetings of Associates and Ursulines, days of prayer, gatherings with the local Ursuline community, and membership in the North American Conference of Associates and Religious.

For further information about the Ursuline Associates, contact:

The Ursuline Associates Program
1338 North Avenue
New Rochelle, New York 10804-2121

The Ursuline charism is rooted in and draws its nourishment from prayer. As Jesus taught us, prayer begins with God. It is our face-to-face encounter with the living God. The human being fully alive and in conversation with God most glorifies God.

What words or actions are worthy of God? The prayer of the Church, foremost in the Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass. There we join Jesus in the self-giving of his life, death, and resurrection, by making our own gift of ourselves.Ursulines value the Mass and the sacraments as the best expression of the prayer of the people of God.

Our personal prayer readies us for an encounter with God who loves each of us. We can best understand that unconditional love in observing the love of a mother and father for their child. The God who created the universe in all its wonder and complexity is the God who is named Love.

This love of God for each of us is beyond our understanding, and we can only rely on its reality as Jesus tells us repeatedly in the Gospels.

Ursulines set aside a time and a place each day for encountering God. Our prayer is often expressed in the marvelous words of the psalms or in the words given to us by friends of God and prophets. We make their words our own, on our own behalf or for others.

From these prayers said in quiet devotion, or from reading a passage in the Gospels, we are led into meditation, where our own words from our heart reach out to God or enter into Jesus’ story in the Gospels to be nourished for our life journey.

In prayer, God comes to meet us in a direct encounter in which we feel presence and joy without words, the joy of contemplating God. God we experience as creator, savior, Spirit among us. When we pray, we take with us before God the people and events that are part of our everyday lives. Our families and those we love, those we live and work with, those who need our care, wherever they are—these we take with us as we are present before God in prayer.

The Lord’s prayer taught us that our prayers of petition follow his model: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. For our loved ones, friends, those in need, those who have gone before us into eternal life; for peace, reconciliation, healing, the resolution of family conflict; for a home, a job, deliverance from evil: we express our needs to God and these intentions are with us even without words whenever we stand before God.

Rooted in prayer, the Ursuline charism extends its reach as the vine its branches into generative works, our ministries, where we are situated.

The ideal of Ursuline life, found in Angela Merici, is contemplatives in action.

THE MODEL FOR PRAYER

Any discussion of prayer surely includes the words of Jesus (Matthew 7: 1-15):

“And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray like this:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors;
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Come And See The How We Pray SlideShow

Ursulines serve the people of God around the world. Africa, Asia, Central and South America are sites where Ursulines minister through education and social outreach to local needs.

Ursulines from the United States have been part of the Catholic Church’s efforts to speak the Gospel to many nations through their lives of service.

Whether they are in Thailand, Indonesia, Botswana, or Venezuela, Ursulines began their ministries through the founding of schools, and later extended their service to meet local needs in such things as initiating new farming methods, caring for victims of AIDS, bringing catechetical and sacramental services to remote areas, and working for social justice.

Today’s U.S. overseas ministries follow in the Ursuline tradition. Founded by St. Angela Merici in 1535, Ursulines were from the start dauntless and among the earliest religious sisters to arrive in the New World. In 1639, Marie of the Incarnation arrived in Quebec to serve the native population. Ursulines were invited to New Orleans in 1727 to educate youth and to care for the sick in a fast-growing settlement in New France.

In the mid-nineteenth century Ursulines were invited to serve the German and Irish immigrants in New York. Ursulines from various communities sent sisters to Montana in 1884 to educate native Americans. In 1905 Ursulines went to Alaska to educate the native children. Schools were founded in China, and the Ursulines, driven from the mainland at the time of the Revolution, settled in Taiwan. Many of these worldwide foundations continue to flourish.

Today, Ursulines of the United States, in this great tradition, take their apostolic mission to all parts of the globe.

Come And See The Global Reach SlideShow

Maps courtesy of www.theodora.com/maps used with permission.

“Called anew by Jesus Christ, let us live together, in the heart of the world, the Good News of hope, reconciliation, and solidarity.” General Chapter, Ursulines of the Roman Union, 2007.

“With Angela, woman of peace and reconciliation, we are listening to our world; and we hear the call, more urgent than ever, to be Peacemakers. In response, we commit ourselves to live and work for Peace through Justice in all our relationships, towards all people and cultures, toward the earth and all creation.” General Chapter, Ursulines of the Roman Union, 2001.

As Ursulines, we choose to be actively engaged in the transformation of society, and we open our hearts to undergo a transformation of our own consciousness and actions. As a community and as individuals, we recognize our capability, opportunity, and responsibility to work with organizations and groups to promote justice, peace, and the integrity of creation. We share a vision with other men and women of faith, and in the tradition of the prophets, we have a voice to speak the truth in love.

● The Ursulines of the Roman Union, based in Rome, sponsor an International Commission of Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC), comprised of five sisters from different areas of the world and two members of the General Council of the Roman Union.

● The Ursulines of the United States sponsor regional offices of Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation, to carry JPIC initiatives to the local level. In the Eastern U.S.A., the office is located at the Provincial Center in New Rochelle, NY.

● The Office of JPIC for the Eastern Province gathers a group of about twenty-five sisters and friends who meet monthly to pray, discuss, and reflect on social issues.

● The office of JPIC networks with other groups:

◦ New York State Religious Coalition Against Human Trafficking
◦ Religious Organizations Along the River (ROAR), concerned with ecological issues such as water and land use.
◦ The Religious Orders Partnership, working with the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) at the United Nations
◦ North American Ursuline Justice Committee, comprised of all Ursuline groups in North America
◦ The Tri-State Coalition on Corporate Responsibility, filing resolutions and voting by proxies to influence corporations in their social responsibilities

JPIC information is electronically disseminated through a newsletter, Connecting, which addresses significant social issues, their nature, and responsive activities. Activities include, but are not limited to, letter writing to elected officials of government, demonstrations, information gathering and exchanging, e-mail alerts, prayer services, personal participation, and group meetings.

No one of us can do everything, but all of us can do something.

Mary Sullivan, Director
Office of Justice Peace and the Integrity of Creation
1338 North Avenue
New Rochelle, NY 10804-2121

Women Empowering Others

● faithful to their mission in the church

● continuing God’s action in the world

● extending the mission of Jesus

● engaging society through service

● working with like-minded men and women to meet contemporary needs

Daring to Make a Difference

Ursulines past and present founded ministries that

► educate for knowledge, skills, self-determination, and wisdom

► meet today’s needs

and in a distinctive way:

► follow the patterns set by St. Angela Merici: grounded in prayer and Jesus’ command to love one another as he loved

► with a core commitment to serve church and society

► with the daring of Ursuline global ministries and a worldwide vision of human interconnectedness

► with the abundant love, joy, and peace that are the fruits of the Holy Spirit

The twenty-first century challenges people of faith to take the message of Jesus into society and the church. War, violence, and inequity have become part of everyday experience in U.S. society, as scandal within the clergy and hierarchy has become part of the Catholic experience. At the same time, models of self-giving in service to those in need and laity seeking a voice in the well-being of the church are equally compelling as people of faith live responsibly and faithfully. These dedicated people offer hope in the contemporary world.

Ursulines have been part of this Christian commitment to influence society and the church since their founding by Angela Merici in 1535. She represents an icon of the independent and dedicated woman who recognized unaddressed needs and ecclesiastical scandals in her environment. Her response was respectful of prevailing institutions but unflinchingly realistic in responding to real needs.

Angela envisioned a company of dedicated women embedded in their society, with contemplation in their prayer life informing their action for others. The dynamism of her insight quickly spread and put down roots beyond her lifetime and beyond the city of Brescia, Italy, to live and flourish to the present on all continents.

Ursulines are her worldwide descendants, marked by her spirit, aspiring to be contemplatives in action. They are women religious, part of the larger community of men and women religious faithful to the Catholic church and dedicated to adapting the mission of Jesus to the times, in the U.S. and in distant places.

Before universal public education, Ursulines were best known as educators who educated girls for responsible family life, citizenship, and loyalty to the faith. With the accessibility and pluralism of public education in the nineteenth and twentieth century U.S.,Ursulines rededicated themselves to the moral and religious as well as intellectual and imaginative education of parochial schools for boys and girls, private secondary schools, and colleges, part of the U.S. Catholic school system.

More recently, and side by side with education, Ursulines extended their mission to new enterprises that build a society of peace and justice and work for the integrity of creation. Like the model found in Angela Merici,these new ministries identify the structures and needs in their cities and regions that call for change, assess their abilities to undertake those changes, and gather men and women who will join them in responsive initiatives.

Ursulines are women empowering others,who have committed themselves to a mission of service. Their members offer services that seek to equalize pervasive inequities of class and race; simplicity of lifestyle to counter secular materialism; and life in common as witness of the church as a gathering of people faithful to the vision of Jesus.