YOUNGSTOWN — The Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown had their beginnings in Europe, with the order eventually coming to Ohio.

The order is marking 150 years of service in the Mahoning Valley and was the featured topic to begin the 2024-25 season of First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown’s monthly speaker series Sept. 5.

Sister Mary McCormick, superior general of the Ursuline Sisters, said the First Friday Club provides a wonderful opportunity to gather, share a sense of community and have an opportunity to grow in faith. She said Sept. 18, 1874, is the actual founding day of the Ursuline Sisters coming to Youngstown.

“We will be gathering that day to mark that special occasion,” McCormick said.

McCormick said it was Sister Angela Merici, an Italian Catholic educator, who in 1535 founded the Company of St. Ursula in which women dedicated their lives to serving the church through the education of girls and started a new religious order for the women.

McCormick said in the 16th century, few people could read or write so the women would teach people these skills.

“The Order of St. Ursula were women who wanted to live their lives dedicated to God and engaged in a deep sense of ministry. They had a life of purpose in supporting their community,” she said.

The Ursulines spread throughout Europe with convent schools started in France.

She said the first Ursulines came to Ohio in 1845, first in Cincinnati and then to Cleveland. McCormick said in 1874, the Ursulines came from Cleveland to Youngstown, where they taught in elementary schools.

At the time, all of northern Ohio was part of the Diocese of Cleveland. The Diocese of Youngstown was formed in 1943.

“Youngstown became home for them. Since that time, about 225 women have lived their lives as Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown. Most of us were born here and most of us went to school here. Most of us went to Youngstown State University, but did not step foot on campus until graduation,” McCormick said.

She said the Ursuline Sisters taught at many local parishes as there was much growth and expansion of parishes and schools with the local steel mills. The sisters lived in convents in the Youngstown area, including on Rayen Avenue and Wick avenues.

She said with the start of the Diocese of Youngstown, the sisters saw changes, including a new motherhouse built on Shields Road in Canfield in 1953 ,

and many went to college and became educators at the schools.

McCormick said the sisters started new ministries such as the Beatitude House, AIDS ministries and other outreaches. She said in 1963, the sisters started a preschool in Canfield that was one of only two at that time in the Mahoning Valley.

“Over the years we have adapted to change, but always sharing the gift of Jesus,” McCormick said.

She said today, the Ursuline Sisters focus on compassion, hope, hospitality and respect.

SPECIAL EVENT

A Mass and dinner to honor the Ursuline Sisters will be Sept. 22. Ursuline High School president the Rev. Richard Murphy will celebrate Mass at 4 p.m. at St. Columba Cathedral, 159 W. Rayen Ave., Youngstown. Following Mass, guests will gather at Waypoint 4180, Canfield. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and dinner. Tickets are $150 each. A link to purchase them can be found at ursulinesisters mission.org. The public also may call 330-793-0434, ext. 377.

The event supports the Sisters’ “Fullness of Life, Future of Hope” campaign, which seeks to raise $10 million for three key initiatives.

Of the funds raised, $4 million will provide for retirement needs of the Sisters; $3 million will sustain their essential ministries in education, spiritual growth and pastoral care; and $3 million will be used to update their facilities, especially with safety measures.

About 800 guests, including the Ursuline Sisters, are expected.