The Ursuline Sisters began their ministry in Kentucky in 1858 when three sisters from Germany, led by Mother Salesia Reitmeier answered a call to teach at St. Martin School in Louisville. Within two weeks of their arrival, the sisters were teaching 50 students with plans for constructing a convent and boarding school on Chestnut Street near Shelby. The building was completed in 1859 and was named Ursuline Academy. The new boarding school for girls offered classes from elementary through the twelfth grade.

Soon the Ursuline Sisters were asked to operate and staff other schools. They soon established Sacred Heart Academy in 1877 on Workhorse Rd (now Lexington Rd.) and by 1881, 20 schools were in the care of the growing community of 108 sisters. In addition to schools in Kentucky, the Ursulines also served in 23 other states and three foreign countries.

In 1917, the sisters completed construction of their new Motherhouse on what was to become the Ursuline Campus on Lexington Rd..

By 1958, the centennial of the congregation, the Ursuline Sisters had staffed or were staffing 23 parochial schools in the Louisville area as well as schools in other states. They owned and operated Ursuline College, Ursuline Academy, Sacred Heart Academy, Sacred Heart Model School and the Ursuline Speech Clinic.

Ursuline Sisters:

Are in 13 dioceses in 11 states, as well as in Peru, South America.

Teach in pre-schools, grade schools and colleges

Serve on parish and diocesan staffs

Work for peace and social justice on a variety of fronts

Work with the elderly and underprivileged:

-minister in hospitals
-resettle immigrants
-work with abused women and their children

What We Believe

We know from experience that in order to keep pace with a changing world, we have to change with it. Above all, we believe knowledge and compassion can change a life for the better, forever. That's what being an Ursuline is all about. We've seen it happen.