Alumnae Update

Dear Ursuline Alumnae,

Please join me in praying for our fellow alumnae and community citizens along the entire Gulf Coast and Texas who have been dealing with the effects of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. I know that the Sisters faithfully placed our cherished Sweetheart statue in the window for protection. Many of you have asked how Ursuline fared in the storm. We had quite a few branches down around campus, some roof and water damage to the sacristy of the Shrine of OLPS and pulled off gutters and a downspout from the Sacred Heart Courtyard side of the Shrine. But all in all Ursuline did well. Clean up had been done before school resumed and the sacristy is being repaired.

Thanks to those of you who checked in on everyone. Your thoughtfulness is much appreciated.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA AWARD
We are thrilled to announce the recipient of the 2008 Distinguished Alumnae Award, Martha E. Donaldson Jaraba ‘67! Known as Betty, she resides in El Paso, Texas and has accomplished remarkable achievements in her life. Aside from all of her years as an educator, she continues to contribute countless amounts of her time and energy into creating ways to introduce students from low-income and impoverished areas of El Paso to the arts, education and culture within their community by empowering them and expanding their horizons. Her abundant community activities include establishing a literary circle which focuses on women writers of the Western World, creating television programming which promotes the arts and culture, founding an art gallery for students and local artists and sitting on numerous philanthropic committees. An active and founding member of Queen of Peace Catholic Church in El Paso, Betty serves as an Extraordinary Minister, Lector and Retreat Master.

It has been said by her children that she -traces every success in her career and her own personal life to the exemplary education and discipline- received during her years at Ursuline. Our ‘I will serve’ motto was instilled in Betty and it is one that inspires her daily. Serviam gave her a drive that motivates her to constantly seek ways in which she can enrich the lives of others.

Please join us in honoring her, as well as all classes celebrating an anniversary this year, at our annual Homecoming Mass on Sunday, November 9th at 9:30 a.m. in the Shrine followed by a Jazz Brunch in the Courtyard. Invitations for Homecoming, which will include information for our annual gala, La Fete, will be mailed to you soon. You may read more about Betty when she will be featured as our Alumnae Spotlight for the month of November.

SAF
By now you should have received the 2008-09 Serviam Annual Fund Drive (SAF) packets in the mail. Please take a moment to fill out your pledge cards and return them to the Development Office or you may also pay online at www.ursulineneworleans.org. Also, if you send in your pledge before October 1st, your name will be removed from the call list for the Phon-A-Thon, which will take place October 5th – 9th. Please join us on Sunday, October 5th for the Family Mass at 9:30 a.m. in the Shrine with Breakfast following in the cafeteria! Please RSVP by October 1st to the Development Office at 504.861.0592 or mlharris@ursulineneworleans.org. We hope you can join us!

ALUMNAE SPOTLIGHT
Please click here to check out our September Alumnae Spotlight on Mary Block Fonseca!

CONTACT INFORMATION
As you know from my last newsletter, the time had come to say, ‘Farewell’ to our own Sr. Damian Aycock and Sr. Joan Marie Aycock as they left to retire at the Ursuline Queen of Peace Community in Alton, Illinois. Many of you have asked how you may reach them as well as the other sisters who also reside there now. Please see below for their contact information:

Queen of Peace Community
845 Danforth Street
Alton, Illinois 62002
(618) 465-0791

Sister Joan Marie Aycock, OSU
Sister Damian Aycock, OSU
Sister Ruth Marie Call, OSU
Sister Jean Marie Deleery, OSU
Sister Miriam Teresa Graczak, OSU
Sister Angela Murphy, OSU
Sr. Mary Margaret Prenger, OSU
Sister Teresita Rivet, OSU
Sister Lourdes Suarez, OSU

ROSARY
A reminder that our weekly Rosary on Tuesdays at 8:00 AM and our Eucharistic Adoration, on the first Thursday of every month from 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM has resumed. All are welcomed to join our alumnae and parent groups in the Shrine at that time.