Last week, I was at Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Delaware, for student workshops on making discerned choices about the future. It was, as always, delightful to 
be there, but by then we knew that enormous changes were looming for all schools, due to the coronavirus. As our nation and world face the unique challenges of this time, here’s a meditative Prayer for a Pandemic written by Cameron Bellm, a Seattle mom of 2 young boys:
May we who are merely inconvenienced remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home, remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close
remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips remember those that have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market
remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country, let us choose love.
During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other,
Let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors.
Amen.
Seventh grade girls of Ursuline Academy/New Orleans were blessed with a whole day of retreat last week at their Archdiocesan Retreat Center. Directed and accompanied by several of their teachers, they tuned in to the Holy Spirit, listened and learned, prayed and sang. The beautiful grounds on a nice day added much. I loved helping them discover what “face of St. Angela” they want to bring to their school community at this time in their lives. They are true witnesses of Angela’s joy, concern for others, and desire to use their gifts in a spirit of “Serviam”.
After countless beautiful celebrations for the feast of St. Angela Merici, today came news of a church named for her in Guyana. The town where the church is located is “La Parfaite Harmonie,” meaning “Perfect Harmony.” Would not our beloved Angela be delighted? And can we not see her rejoicing over this vibrant little community and the three Ursuline Sisters pictured with them?
They celebrated their 7th anniversary as a community last Sunday. Please keep our Brothers and Sisters in your prayers,as they continue to build their community and spread the Good News of the Lord.”
Earlier this month, I attended the National Conference on Faith-Based Service held in Cleveland, Ohio. One hundred plus people gathered as community to share, deepen and expand ideas and dreams about service that can change our world. It was a great gathering, and so much continues to resonate for me:
Having shared that, I am happy to announce our Ursuline Summer Service program for 2020. We will work at an amazing place in San Antonio, Texas, 
Backlit With Joy 