"To Serve the Church and the Community at Large"

As Vatican II renewal got underway, new ministries and activities were begun.

Sr. Jeanne Marie Rowan, director of Camp Ladyglen, arranged for the camp to participate in the Camp Care Program which offered camping activities to children who did not have the opportunity to share camping activities because of financial difficulties.

The Sisters eagerly responded to the invitation of Rev. Ronald Kurth to participate in the SHARE AND CARE project at the Corner of Bush and Ontario Streets. They shared their “extras,” their time, and their prayers for the needy.

“Living room dialogues” called many Sisters to meet with and laity in sharing the common elements of Christian belief with those of other faiths. They met in homes for prayer together in mutual respect and open discussion.

Sr. Rose Margaret Dostal spoke on “Crisis Values” at the First Congregational Church. Sr. Jane Catherine Lauer addressed the St. Paul’s Lutheran Congregation on “The Passion Interpreted by Artists through the Centuries.”

Bishop John A. Donovan appointed Sr. Jane Connors to the Commission on Education of the Ohio Council of Churches.

For over a century the Ursulines had taught CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) classes throughout the diocese. Bishop Donovan saw the need for anew format. He sent Sisters Pauline Burger and Philip Neri Neary to Fordham University to obtain Master of Arts degrees in Religious Education. Later Sister Pauline opened the Diocesan Religious Education Center I Defiance, Ohio and began an apostolate that focuses on educating adults in Scriptural history and understanding. Other Sisters followed and obtained advanced degrees in Religious Education. Sr. Beth Hemminger from the University of Notre Dame, Sister Deborah Foster from Seattle University, Sisters Bernarda Breidenbach and Marie Denis Hoffman from Aquinas College, and Sister Regina Smith from LaSalle College.