Sister Mary Henning, center, joined the blanket-making crew on March 12 that included Sister Catherine Barber, right, Sister Elaine Burke, left, and Sister Marie Joseph Coomes (with her back turned.) In the distance are Associates Suzanne Reiss from Lanesville, Ind., and Carol Hill from Leitchfield, and Sister Susan Mary Mudd (with her back turned). The blankets were being donated to My Sister’s Keeper shelter in Owensboro. COURTESY OF MOUNT SAINT JOSEPH
Sisters helping My Sister’s Keeper
Ursulines and Associates make blankets for women’s shelter
BY MOUNT SAINT JOSEPH STAFF
As part of Catholic Sisters Week, several Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph and Ursuline Associates spent March 11 and 12 making blankets to donate to an Owensboro emergency shelter for women and children.
The volunteers made 15 blankets out of fleece for My Sister’s Keeper, which opened in 2022. The goal of the shelter is to offer safety to homeless women and children and help equip them with the skills to achieve self-sufficiency. Two yards of fleece were laid on top of the other, and then the sides were cut in strips an inch wide and three inches deep. The strips were then tied together to make the blankets for My Sister’s Keeper.
Sr. Amelia Stenger, OSU, organized the blanket project utilizing Ursuline Sisters at the motherhouse and Ursuline Associates Suzanne Reiss and Carol Hill.
Catholic Sisters Week is celebrated nationally March 8-14.
“I was reading an article about Catholic Sisters Week and I noticed that many communities were doing service projects as a way of looking outward,” Sr. Amelia said. “I read an article about My Sister’s Keeper and I felt it would be a good way for our Ursuline Sisters to help others who are having difficulty in their lives. A warm blanket to wrap themselves in when they come to the shelter with nothing seemed to be a way for us to be our sisters’ keeper.”
Aside from the 15 blankets, there were also five small quilts delivered to the organization in March.
Sr. Sharon Sullivan, standing, the congregational leader of the Ursuline Sisters, joins in the blanket making in Maple Hall along with Sr. George Mary Hagan, Sr. Marie Joseph Coomes and Sr. Elaine Burke. COURTESY OF MOUNT SAINT JOSEPH
