Discovering the soul of Ursuline

Dr. Gelpi, director of Mission and Formation, reflects on his recent pilgrimage through the sacred places where St. Angela lived, taught, and led, sharing insights he believes can help our school community grow in faith and purpose. His journey illustrates how a deeper understanding of our Ursuline roots can strengthen our global sisterhood and deepen our understanding of the values that guide us.

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Q: Dr. Gelpi, what was the purpose of this pilgrimage?

A: The purpose was to literally walk in the footsteps of St. Angela Merici so we could better understand her writings, her leadership, and her charism. Leading up to the trip, I met virtually for eight weeks with Ursuline Sisters from around the globe who helped me understand Angela’s life in its historical, political, and religious context. When we arrived in Italy on October 16, that foundation transformed every place we visited. Angela’s life came alive before us.

Q: Where did your journey take you over the two weeks?

A: We traveled from October 16 to October 31, beginning in Milan and continuing through Desenzano, Brescia, Assisi, and finally in Rome.

• Desenzano: We stayed at the Mericianum, a retreat center run by Ursuline Sisters, near the site where Angela’s vision of her sister and the angels is believed to have occurred. We visited Angela’s birthplace, her parish church, the Duomo, and nearby Salò, where she lived after the death of her parents.
   
• Brescia: We spent three days in the city where Angela lived most of her adult life. Our visits included the Merician Museum at St. Afra, where her crypt lies, Casa Sant’Angela, San Clemente, and both the old and new Duomos. We also toured the ancient sections of Old Brescia.
   
• Assisi: We visited the Basilica, the Church of Santa Chiara, Chiesa Nuova, and San Damiano, and celebrated Mass at the Lower Church–High Altar.
   
• Rome: Our final four days were spent in the heart of the Church, visiting the Ursuline Generalate, touring St. Peter’s after a Papal Audience, and closing our pilgrimage with a liturgy at the Generalate.

At every stop, we prayed together, reflected in small groups, and deepened our understanding of Angela’s spirituality.

Q: Who traveled with you? What was the group like?

A: Our group included 34 travelers, Ursuline Sisters and lay people, from Ireland, England, Australia, Ghana, Taiwan, the Philippines, Cameroon, Senegal, Ukraine, Croatia, Poland, and the United States. I was one of only three American lay participants.

The diversity of the group made the experience extraordinary. We were not bound by geography or background, but united by Angela’s spirit and the shared mission that connects Ursuline communities around the world.
 

"We were not bound by geography or background, but united by Angela’s spirit and the shared mission that connects Ursuline communities around the world."
- Dr. David Gelpi, director of Mission and Formation

Q: What moments from the pilgrimage left the deepest impression on you?

A: Several moments left a profound impression on me: standing in the room where Angela slept, praying at her crypt, seeing the art created in her honor, and walking the same cloister where she prayed each day.

Beyond Angela, I found myself moved while praying before the San Damiano Cross; standing in the presence of Pope Francis; and visiting the sacred spaces connected to St. Francis, St. Clare, St. Carlo Acutis, St. Ignatius, and St. Francis Xavier.

Just as powerful, though, was the presence of the Ursuline Sisters themselves, women who embody Angela’s charism with humility, gentleness, courage, and deep prayerfulness. Their witness reminded all of us that we share the responsibility of carrying the Ursuline spirit forward.

Q: You mentioned the Sisters. What does their presence mean for Ursuline today?

A: Their presence made everything real. They weren’t simply guides; they were living links to Angela and to a centuries-long tradition of women who devoted themselves to faith, community, and service.

The Sisters spoke often about legacy and how essential it is for lay educators, students, families, and alumnae to understand that we, too, are now stewards of Angela’s charism and spirituality. Their encouragement was gentle but clear: “You carry this with us. You are part of our story.”

That message carries enormous meaning for a school like ours. As the Ursuline Education Foundation takes shape, these connections, to the Sisters, to our global Ursuline network, to Angela’s own life, underscore why this work matters. It’s not just financial support; it’s spiritual continuity. It’s mission.
 

"The Sisters spoke often about legacy and how essential it is for lay educators, students, families, and alumnae to understand that we, too, are now stewards of Angela’s charism and spirituality."
- Dr. David Gelpi, director of Mission and Formation

Q: How can sharing your pilgrimage help strengthen our connections to Ursuline communities around the world?

A: This pilgrimage helped me see firsthand that Ursuline schools across the globe share the same heartbeat. We may speak different languages, live on different continents, and navigate different daily realities, but the charism is the same.

By sharing what I experienced, I hope to make that global sisterhood feel real for our students. When they understand that they belong to something larger, an international family shaped by Serviam, compassion, courage, and faith, they walk with a deeper sense of purpose and belonging.

Strengthening those connections supports everything we are doing at Ursuline, including the Ursuline Education Foundation. A clearer understanding of our shared mission only deepens our commitment to carrying it forward.

Q: What do you hope this pilgrimage will bring to our students and to the wider Ursuline School community?

A: I hope it helps our students see the rare beauty of sisterhood, the kind that transcends time, distance, and culture. Our girls are in their most formative years, and these are the moments when a sense of belonging, purpose, and identity can shape them for life.

When they hear stories of Angela’s courage, when they see the global community that surrounds them, and when they understand that they are part of a centuries-old legacy, they begin to recognize their own gifts and responsibilities more clearly.

This pilgrimage has the potential to deepen our community’s sense of mission, strengthen our ties to Ursuline communities worldwide, and guide us as we move confidently into the future, including the important work ahead with the Ursuline Education Foundation.

Q: If you could leave the community with one message from your time in Italy, what would it be?

A: That Angela’s charism is not a relic. Period.

My hope is to convey that St. Angela’s charism and spirituality are alive, active, and entrusted to all of us. Each one of us can walk with her when we act with love and compassion. We can honor her when we serve others. As a school community, we strengthen our future when we engage deeply with who we are and what we were founded to be. St. Angela extends an open invitation to walk with her, perhaps a little more closely, and to feel her grace and her strength. The unity that comes from being part of this global Ursuline sisterhood is a quiet strength that binds us across time, culture, and distance.

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Thank you, Dr. Gelpi, for sharing your journey. We look forward to learning from your experience and reflecting more deeply on St. Angela’s spirit and the enduring call to Serviam.