Commencement ceremonies are in full swing as graduates prepare with joy and a little trepidation to move on to the next stage of their life journeys. Some of the seniors at Ursuline Academy in St. Louis recently visited our province offices. Besides a tour and refreshments, we had small group meetings to hear what’s been best about their Ursuline education, what they’d say to a new student, and what plans they now have. What a joy! They feel it’s all gone too fast and they praised their teachers. They spoke of how they’ve grown, learning to respect all others, make service a way of life, and lead in ways rooted in faith. Their advice to new students? Don’t waste these 
wonderful years and reach out to others every day.
Each year I have the privilege of visiting all 7 of our Ursuline-sponsored high schools in this country. Every school is richly blessed by its students and by supremely gifted and dedicated teachers and co-workers. Expand that group to include parents who value Ursuline education enough to make big sacrifices to send their daughters and the hundreds of alums who keep supporting our mission. It’s much more than a village!
When St. Angela said, almost 500 years ago, to the first women of her Company, “Act, move, believe, strive, hope, . . . for without doubt you will see marvelous things,” I’m sure she never imagined how significantly her directives would be carried into the future. We Ursulines are deeply proud of and grateful to all who share this effort with us.
winds were a good metaphor for life today. National and world events explode daily into violent storms; people’s lives change in an instant. In the midst of it all, God continues to whisper, “Be still and know that I am God.”
We, Ursuline Sisters, are offering an opportunity for volunteer service in San Antonio, Texas, July 10-16, 2017 for women ages 18-30. Service will be with persons who are homeless at Haven for Hope, a large and comprehensive center, where we’ll learn about the root causes of homelessness as well as the struggles and successes of homeless persons.
As the presidential election nears, I’m reminded of something Hubert H. Humphrey said years ago: “The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in shadows of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped.” May we all have the courage to love this way, vote with this in mind, and know that God is with us!
It’s been a busy few days! The Vocation Fair at St. Louis University on Friday brought about 30 Religious congregations to the heart of the campus. Many young adults stopped by our table to greet us, and we were delighted that they included Ursuline alums from St. Louis, Toledo, 
Kansas City, and New Orleans.
French Ursuline visitor, Sr. Colette-Marie, to witness the coming together of students, alums and parents here. There is a joy that’s tangible when this community celebrates Mass together, then partakes of good food and fun on campus.