A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. (author unknown)
Something to Think About
Calendar of Events
NOVEMBER
2-5
RCRI Conference in St. Louis, MO
7
Serata di Gala Scholarship Fundraiser for SUA
8
St. Ursula Academy Preview Day Open House.
10
LCWR Sub-Region Meeting - Ursuline Convent Offices
11
Ursuline Convent Foundation Board Meeting
24
Leaders Meeting
25
Foundation Day of Company of St. Angela
Feast of Catherine of Alexandria
25-27
Thanksgiving - Convent Offices Closed
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Foundation of the Company and Catherine of Alexandria
“There is no doubt that Catherine of Alexandria was one of Angela’s favourite saints. She had made every effort to return to Brescia from Venice after her pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1524, in order to be in time to celebrate St. Catherine’s feast day on 25th November that year. It would be Angela’s deliberate choice to establish her Company of St. Ursula in Brescia on the saint’s feast day in 1535. This helped to establish the tradition in Angela’s day of receiving new members into the Company on this day in November.” (taken from Angela’s Alphabet by M. Ignatius Stone, OSU)
Angela’s devotion to this legendary 4th Century saint and martyr could be traced back to Angela’s childhood when her father used to read to his children almost nightly from Jacopo da Voragine’s “Golden Legend” or some other “Lives of the Saints”.
There exists a painting by Girolamo Romanino, a Brescian artist in Angela’s day, called “The Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine of Alexandria”. “This is a painting of immediate appeal to most Ursulines today, not so much on account of the theme, but because it probably contains the only existing painting of Agnela Merici while she was still alive. She only occupies a small corner on the right of the painting, but there is no mistaking her rapt attention as she gazes at the infant Jesus slipping the wedding ring on St. Catherine’s finger, symbolizing the mystic marriage of Catherine with Christ.” “For the first and probably only time, in Romanino’s painting we are meeting the real Angela and not an idealized or imagined one.” (taken from Angela’s Alphabet by M. Ignatius Stone, OSU)
This painting can be found ---the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art in Memphis, Tennessee.
Snapshots from the Feast of St. Ursula October 24, 2026
With Grateful Hearts: Reflections from our Ursuline Associates
Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, is a special time to pause and give thanks for the many blessings bestowed upon us by our loving God, who sees us, knows us intimately, and understands our every need. Yet, gratitude is not meant for just one day. We are called to recognize and give thanks for His wondrous works throughout the year.
Below, two of our faithful Ursuline Associates share what they are most grateful for this Thanksgiving season and throughout the year. Can we all pause and reflect on what makes us most grateful?
Associate Sarah Abts: I am grateful for the prayers of the Ursuline community and many other friends in getting me safely through my daily and vacation travels. I am grateful for friends who are wise and willing to share their wisdom to improve my life. I am grateful for the beauty God gives us each day in His Creation: our universe and planet Earth. I am grateful for the power to heal that God imbued in our bodies and spirits.
Associate Kitty Meyers: As I consider all of the things I have to be grateful for I know that I’m most grateful for my parents. Their deep faith in God and love for each other and for our family was so evident to me in our everyday family life. I saw the sacrifices they made to be able to provide 8-12 years of Catholic education for me and my five siblings. Their prayerful example was a constant reminder to me of God’s love and protection of us all. Their words and examples have been a compass for me in my faith, marriage, friendships, and in being in service to others. As Thanksgiving nears, I know the memories of learning how both of my parents taught me to cook will be at the forefront of my mind. Their reminders that cooking for your family is showing your love for them, and that that love comes from God will remain forever in my heart.
