The Asian Pacific Ursuline Education Conference

Ursuline University of Languages
Wenzao, Taiwan
21st- 24th October 2016 

image right: The five delegates from the Australian Province: Mrs Debbie Ryan, Sr. Lee Veriga, Sr. Patty Andrew, Mrs AnnMarie Pawsey, Mrs Kay Gleeson

Brief History

The Asia Pacific Ursuline Education Conference was an initiative of the Ursulines of the Roman Union for Ursuline educators in the Asia Pacific region. It is held every four years and is hosted by one of the 4 Roman Union provinces in the region. These being; Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan and Australia. The first one was held in Indonesia in 1977 and the most recent one held in Kaoshuing, Taiwan at the Ursuline University of Languages in Wenzao. Its history therefore spans 29 years.

Since its inception, the Conference has expanded to include Ursuline sisters of the other union groups. These comprise the French – Canadian Union who have sisters in their foundations in the Phillipines and Japan; the Tildonk Union of Belgium who have sisters coming from their foundations in India. This year one Ursuline sister and a teacher came from Vietnam. They belong to a French group of Ursulines who established Ursuline schools in Vietnam.
The Conference Logo as shown above depicting the initial letters of its name, features within the A the face of St. Angela Merici, the foundress of the Ursulines and within the U the face of St. Ursula the patroness of the Ursulines. The year number is decorated with 7 stars which represent the delegations from each country attending the Conference.

The Conference 2016

The theme for this year’s Conference was inspired by the encyclical letter of Pope Francis; Laudato Si.’ This was introduced by the first keynote speaker Sr. Christine De Vinne osu, president of Ursuline College USA. Her talk integrated the wisdom of Francis of Assisi, Angela Merici and Pope Francis. In this sharing she accented the splendid universal communion which comes from the insights of these three great people.

At the end of Sr. Christine’s talk we were referred to our prepared notes. Here there was a selection of coloured photos- each capturing the “splendid universal communion” Sr. Christine had spoken about. We were invited to sit in silence gazing at the images. After a time we were then asked to formulate our response in a prayer. This was Lee’s response;

God of all creation,
Of light, wonder and abundance,
Your spirit animates all life and charges it with
Beauty, colour, energy and simplicity.
Among the mountains and the seas, all creatures unite as one to praise you.
Each person, alone and together reflects their uniqueness, gifted from you.
As one, our voices, our beings, seek to respond,
seek to show your compassion to our earth,
To bring all within your loving and healing embrace.

The second keynote speaker, Dr. Chin-Der Ou, chairman of the Good Shepherd Social Welfare Foundation, Taiwan, focussed on the ongoing nature of ecological conversion. He cited particular examples of how this change in environmental consciousness is occurring gradually in Taiwan, a country despite its beauty is most vulnerable to natural disasters. The third keynote speaker, Sr Justina osu, Principal of Ursuline medium school in India, spoke about enhancing the quality of human life through environment Education in our Ursuline schools.

The sessions following the keynote speakers enabled us to process all this material and discover ways the ideas could be incorporated into our own local situations. There was an the opportunity to visit Taijiang National Park to see the protective measures that are being built around the endangered black-faced Spoonbill birds.  

We then journeyed along the Sicao Green Tunnel flanked by lush mangrove trees. It provides a well reserved wetland for the largest variety of species and plants in Taiwan. 

The Conference concluded with an evening of thanks and celebration where those from the represented countries presented a cultural item. The photo below captures the Indonesian delegation performing a traditional dance and song. 

We were also entertained by the glove puppet show and had an opportunity to talk with the puppeteers. These were enthusiastic young men and women who enjoyed sharing about the dress and the workings of each of the puppets as they brought to life many well - known characters of Chinese folklore. 

Our time together was enriching in terms of the learning, the building and strengthening of networks and the growth in awareness of the uniqueness of our shared Ursuline charism. We recalled Pope Francis’ description of the world as being our common home. Life shared during the time of the Conference helped us realise that not only do we share a common home but we share the gift of animating our common home with the collective spirit of St. Angela.
Praise be!

Patty Andrew and Lee Veriga