Dear Ursuline Families, 

Next Wednesday, we will gather to celebrate the Feast Day of St. Angela Merici, honoring our visionary foundress. I’ve been reflecting on St. Angela’s remarkable courage and faith in advance of her Feast Day. She took a bold leap to create new opportunities for women at a time when their choices were incredibly limited. In the 1500s, women were typically expected to marry or join a religious order. Yet St. Angela envisioned a third way—a community where women could dedicate their lives to God while remaining in their homes and with their families. The Company she founded grew over time to expand around the world and to take root in ministries such as Ursuline Academy of Dallas.  

As we prepare for this special celebration, we are reminded of St. Angela’s strength, wisdom, and enduring legacy. Her vision continues to inspire the mission of our Ursuline community and the generations of Ursuline Sisters who have carried forward her work. During Mass, in addition to continuing the cherished tradition of handing out Kit Kat bars—a joyful practice inherited by Sister Lois Castillon as a way for the girls to experience St. Angela’s generous love—we will mark an important moment in Ursuline history: the official transfer of sponsorship from the Ursuline Sisters to the Ursuline Education Foundation (UEF). 

Decades ago, inspired by St. Angela’s foresight, the Ursuline Sisters began preparing for the future as they faced the realities of fewer women joining their order and an aging population. Their thoughtful planning led to the creation of the Ursuline Education Foundation, which now serves as the sponsoring body for Ursuline Schools in the Central Province. This transition ensures that our schools remain firmly rooted in their Catholic and Ursuline identity, preserving the mission for generations to come. 

You may be wondering, “What does this mean for Ursuline Academy of Dallas and my daughter?” Rest assured, the daily life, faith formation, and curriculum at our school will remain unchanged. Our commitment to academic excellence, innovation, service, and spiritual development—hallmarks of an Ursuline education—will continue to flourish. The UEF will work with us to support and strengthen our mission, ensuring that the education we provide remains exceptional and firmly rooted in Catholic values. 

Earlier this month, Sr. Lois and I visited the class meetings to share the news of the sponsorship transfer and answer students’ thoughtful questions. We shared a video that helped the girls understand what the Mass and special ceremony signify, and Sr. Lois reminded the girls of how special it is to be a student in an Ursuline school.  

This transfer of sponsorship, as Sr. Lois and I explained to our students, is a profoundly selfless gift from the Ursuline Sisters. I am honored to continue nurturing the mission and identity of Ursuline Schools as envisioned by St. Angela and lovingly upheld by the Sisters. We are deeply grateful to Sr. Lois for her wisdom, trust, and steadfast support throughout this process. Both she and Sr. Mary remain cherished members of our community and will continue to be actively involved at the school for as long as possible. 

We warmly invite you to join us in spirit by watching the St. Angela Mass and sponsorship ceremony next Wednesday, January 29, at 10 a.m. on UA Live, Channel 1. For more information about the UEF and a detailed FAQ, please visit https://www.ursulinedallas.org/mission/uef.

Thank you, as always, for entrusting us with your daughters. Together, we carry forward the values and vision of St. Angela with faith, courage, and joy. 

Yours in Serviam, 

Andrea Shurley