Images of St. Angela:

 #1.

Image sent by  Sr. Lois Castillon, Ursuline Academy, Dallas, TX

It is from Thailand and the sculptor is Somrate Viensirinanathachote, Zonta Dairy village, Ratchaburi, Thailand.

#2.

Image was sent by Tori Vogegesang, St Ursula Academy, Cincinnati, OH

This is my favorite. I actually prefer it in muted colors, but I could only find the sepia tone. I think she looks so beautiful and you can tell it's radiating from inside her. She embodies peace, calm, serenity, wisdom, kindness, gentleness, compassion. I love

devotions to Mary, too and this photo reminds me of this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMfPvpxjIf4

#3.

Image sent by Eileen Davidson, Ursuline School, New Rochelle, NY

Cecelia Wong gave me this picture when I visited the Generalate last year.  I love it!

#4.

Image sent by Laura Riehle St. Ursula Villa, Cincinnati, OH

 This picture of St. Angela is one I recently purchased for our school.  It is painted by artist, Tracy Christianson.  I love it because it is a picture of young St. Angela.  She looks

pretty and she looks prayerful.  I believe the God of Beauty shows up in the faces of the people who love…and Angela loved others with her life.  This face, this beauty reminds me, every time I walk up the long stairway to our school’s faculty lunchroom, to think of her, and ask for her intercession for all of us teaching and serving the young.

#5. 

Image sent by  Martha Owen, Urban Community School, Cleveland, OH

The Desenzano Angela seems a women of strength who looks to the future with confidence and trust in God. There is a welcoming serenity and compassion etched in her face much as I imagine Angela had. Strength, confidence, compassion, serenity and trust in one welcoming eye-embrace.

#6

Image sent by Ann Carol Grant, Sacred Heart Model School, Louisville,KY

We have a beautiful statue of St. Angela in our piazza.  I have a photo of it in my office because it is a beautiful demonstration of her commitment to gracefully and confidently “Go into the world…”   

#7

Image sent my Amy Nall, Sacred Heart Academy, Louisville, KY 

This is my favorite… it’s a sculpture we have here on the Ursuline campus (Louisivlle), and it reminds me daily that I am a part of something much larger than myself and that I am called to carry on the legacy of a woman whose commitment to God and education is inspirational and life-changing!  The artistic representation reveals a woman who is looking up, to God, with open arms.  She is in the posture of praise and possibilities. She is open to the call.  I am inspired by the image and think of her 9th Counsel: “Put your whole soul into the enterprise you have undertaken – Rejoice!” St. Louis art teacher/artist who created this Angela sculpture is Annette Zobel. 

#8.

 Image sent by Angela DelPrete, Ursuline College, Cleveland OH This statue of Saint Angela Merci welcomes all visitors to Ursuline College as it is located in front of the college administration building.  It was erected in 1990 in honor of Mr. Herbert Strawbridge who was the first chairman of the Ursuline College Board of Trustees and served in that the capacity from 1969-1989.The inscription at the base of this bronze statue reads Saint Angela Merici: Leader in the Education of Women. The statue is surrounded by four poles each representing one of the four

vows of the Ursuline sisters: poverty, chastity, obedience and education.  Angela is depicted as a woman filled with spirit and energy offering the gift of education represented by the books in her outstretched arms. #9

image sent by Judy Wimberg, Ursuline Education Network I love this image of St. Angela because it depicts her as a strong woman, grounded in faith and love of God, and courageously looking forward to where God is leading her.  

#10 

Image sent by Judy Wimberg, Ursuline Education Network 

#11 

Image sent by Patricia Homan ,OSUSt. Angela Merici, Artist: Sister Agatha Fitgerald  St. Angela the Nurturer, always welcoming and hospitable.  I love this image because she is portrayed as a simple woman, providing for the needs of others with the “staff of life”.  And yet we know she provided more than food for those in need, she also was a source of wisdom, peace, gentleness and goodness.  She enriched the lives of those in Brescia, her pilgrim companions and those who came to her in need.  She not only nourished, but nurtured. 

#12

Image sent by Gretchen Rodenfels,OSU The image of Angela, the pilgrim, is central to the picture.  I was personally drawn to reflection on this image.  Angela is dressed in the typical garb of a renaissance woman.  In her hand she holds a staff and a bag.  The staff reminded me of the principles of stability and guidance in life.  It also speaks to the need of support in the journey of life.  None of us can journey alone.  The bag on the staff caused me to reflect on what is essential in life.  What do I cherish enough to put in my bag.  It is different for each of us.  Family, friends, co-workers, students, cherished possessions and hopes could be part of your bag.  The bag also caused me to ask myself, what excess baggage am I dragging along with me.  What things or memories, positive or negative, are unnecessarily filling my bag and weighing me down.  #13Image sent by St. Ursula AcademyToledo, OH Dear Judith and the Ursuline Education Network, Our favorite image of St. Angela is the statue of St. Angela as pilgrim, which stands in the

center of our Angela Lobby. Her extended hand is an invitation to us all to walk with her on a journey of faith and service. In fact, ever since this statue of Angela arrived at St. Ursula Academy, students and faculty alike have felt inspired to touch her hand as we pass through the lobby. This gentle touch is our response to her invitation to walk with her, and over the years, the many hands touching her have tarnished her fingertips. Three reasons why our statue of St. Angela means so much to us: Mrs. Kate Pfohl  (teacher)– “Angela tells us to “get moving.” Every time I pass her beautiful likeness in the form of the statue, I think: “Get moving, Kate.   You have a lot to accomplish today – students to teach!  Get moving.”  I love to tap her outstretched hand as a symbol of her “giving me the energy” to get moving!” Jenny Douglas (student) – “I love touching St. Angela’s hand on our statue.  It gives me strength and reminds me that God and St. Angela are with me always.  I also touch her hand to help keep the tradition alive in our school.”7th Grade student – “St. Angela says to me “Are you ready?”Sincerely, in Christ, Kevin Shannon

#13

Image sent by Ursuline-Dedham: I consulted with our religion faculty to select these images.  The reason they are my favorites are because they are student-produced, and as such, they represent that through the efforts of our faculty, students come to have a personal relationship with St. Angela.

 #14

Image sent by , Liz Curran, St. Ursula Academy, Cincinnati, Ohio I love the pencil sketch of Angela, it is also the one that hangs in my office.  For me it embodies one of the great themes of her writings, "Be kind, be gentle", or my favorite translation, "Be like a piazza." Her eyes are ones of compassion and acceptance that looks to her daughters and asks them to imagine the possibilities. She continues to guide our work, not by demanding but by encouraging.  

#15 

 Image sent by Emily L. Robinson,VASJ, Cleveland, OH Attached is a picture of a wooden statue of St. Angela from our Founders Chapel. The key element from this picture of St. Angela that really speak to VASJ and our mission is the scarf Angela is wearing as it represents Angela's commitment to service which is also at the core of VASJ's mission. . She is a third order Franciscan. She has roots, but not roots that tie her to a place. She is like a tree with many branches. 

#16

 Image sent by Terri Rogan , Ursuline Academy, St. Louis, MO Reflection from the Artist:  St. Louis art teacher/artist who created this Angela sculpture is Annette Zobel.

I sat down with my notes from my study and my notes from our meetings. My conclusion? Angela was a pretty neat person. But how was I going to make a

sculpture out of a bunch of words written on a piece of paper. Was I in over my head? I decided I needed more help. I started talking to Angela. I asked her to use me as a vessel to create an image of her, to use my hands to create her image. Sometimes my prayer sounded more like a plea for help. “Help me Angela – I really don’t want to embarrass either one of us.”

  So back in May, I sat down in my classroom and started to make some small models of different ideas and images of St. Angela. After I had a few models, I decided it was time to meet again with the committee to see if I was on the right track. They immediately began to gravitate toward the model that has now become the sculpture of St. Angela that we have in the Piazza. I tell you this story because I was asked to speak today about, “how I came to know Angela.” The truth is I am not exactly sure how I came to know her. But I do know that somewhere in the process of creating a model of her, she became a model for me. She is a model of a woman I want to know and to be like. To me, Angela is: Strong in her conviction, Graceful in her movement. She is not still. Grounded in earth, Rooted in nature, Reaching out to the world and to Heaven, Her branches continue to grow. Through her mission of serviam To all She is spiritual and alive. I like to think that Angela’s own vision was the seed for the sculpture that has grown and now stands in our Piazza.  To quote Angela’s own words:  “[D]o your duty …with love and charity…and  NEVER CEASE TO CULTIVATE THIS VINE THAT HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED TO YOU.”  The Ursuline Sisters dedicate their lives to living the spirit of Angela. I tried to embody in the sculpture what they live and teach us everyday. Doing this sculpture has been a tremendous honor for me. I have taught here for 18 years. I still feel I have much to learn about living in the spirit of Angela. I would like to thank the Ursuline Sisters for living and sharing their mission. Sister Mary Ann, Sister Diane, and Terri Rogan: thank you for helping me create this vision of Angela. It is your words I tried to transform into a visual image. Sister Madonna: Thank you for asking me to create a sculpture for our new Piazza. What a gift this has been for me to have this opportunity. I sincerely thank you very much.

#17

Image sent by Kevin Shannon, St. Ursula Academy, Toledo, OH

Our favorite image of St. Angela is the statue of St. Angela as pilgrim, which stands in the center of our Angela Lobby. Her extended hand is an invitation to us all to walk with her on a journey of faith and service. In fact, ever since this statue of Angela arrived at St. Ursula Academy, students and faculty alike have felt inspired to touch her hand as we pass through the lobby. This gentle touch is our response to her invitation to walk with her, and over the years, the many hands touching her have tarnished her fingertips.

Three reasons why our statue of St. Angela means so much to us:

Mrs. Kate Pfohl (teacher)– “Angela tells us to “get moving.” Every time I pass her beautiful likeness in the form of the statue, I think: “Get moving, Kate. You have a lot to accomplish today – students to teach! Get moving.” I love to tap her outstretched hand as a symbol of her “giving me the energy” to get moving!”

Jenny Douglas (student) – “I love touching St. Angela’s hand on our statue. It gives me strength and reminds me that God and St. Angela are with me always. I also touch her hand to help keep the tradition alive in our school.”

7th Grade student – “St. Angela says to me “Are you ready?”

#18Image sent by Judy Wimberg UEN