The Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland installed a new leadership team at a socially distanced ceremony June 6 at Merici Crossings, their Pepper Pike residence and congregational center. The five-person team, including a president and four council members, will serve a four-year term, implementing the directional plan set at their meeting.
Sister Ritamary Welsh assumed the office of president, succeeding Sister Susan Durkin who served in that role for eight years. Sister Welsh previously served as major gifts officer in the development office of the community and also took on the role as director of the recent Ursuline Sisters’ Bold Faith Capital Campaign. Her previous ministries include, educational consultant for SDG Advisors and president of Beaumont School. She previously served two terms on the leadership team from 1992 to 2000.
Newly installed councilors are Sisters Maureen Doyle, Laura Bregar, Maureen Grady and Diana Stano.
The election and direction-setting gathering known as Chapter takes place every four years. Through prayer, dialogue and discernment, sisters identify future directions and strategies to advance their mission of transforming society through contemplation, justice and compassion. Their focus centers on empowerment, direct service and systemic change for and among the oppressed -- especially women and children -- both locally and globally.
The 131 Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland are dedicated to transforming society through contemplation, justice, and compassion. Education has always been their primary ministry, with a special emphasis on families, women, the economically poor and the powerless. The Ursulines continue to adapt their educational ministries to meet the changing needs of the Church, and also serve in prison ministry, pastoral ministry, chaplaincy, social work and ministry to the elderly and sick.
The Ursuline Sisters have served the people of Greater Cleveland since 1850.