Stirrings and Zoomings

November 25th is the feast of Catherine of Alexandria, but it is also the actual founding day (1535) of the Company of St. Ursula by St. Angela Merici. For 19 years, this has been a day for the Ursulines of Bruno and Prelate to gather for prayer, input and celebration. This, our 20th year, should have been extra special, instead we met on the internet through zoom. We still prayed, we still had input and some together time, but the feasting and physical togetherness were missing. But thank goodness for apps like zoom, it allowed us a small measure of celebration.

We started with a beautiful prayer, one which asked:

Who shall find a follower of Angela?

Look, we are all around you—women of courage--compassionate, affirming, hoping, seeking justice, wishing to stand with the poor.

Who shall find a follower of Angela?

Look, we are all around you—building, achieving, challenging, adapting, supporting new ideas, responding to the needs of our times.

Who shall find a follower of Angela?

Look we are all around you--following the Spirit; advising; directing; collaborating; suffering; choosing; above all, learning.

Who shall find a follower of Angela?

Look, we are all around you--failing, succeeding, creating, letting go, promoting peace, being for one another.

Who shall find a follower of Angela?

Look, we are all around you--reaching out, risking, searching, mediating, praying and loving at the feet of Jesus Christ.

This was followed by a PowerPoint, comparing our trials and tribulations to those of Angela's time. We are in very similar circumstances and found comfort in Angela's words to her company. Angela was steadfast in her belief in God's providence and assured her daughters that all would be well and to "at the same time rejoice." On that note we parted, allowing Angela's words to give us hope and strength.

"...at the same time rejoice."

Statue by Helen Norman, commissioned by Ursulines of Prelate