Mother Salesia Reitmeier

Mother Salesia Reitmeier, a courageous young religious, at the age of 26 founded the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, Kentucky. She was born February 5, 1832 near Straubing, Bavaria and received the name, Ursula.

When she was 12, Ursula entered the Ursuline Boarding School. After finishing her studies at age 20 on April 25, 1852, she received the habit of the Ursuline Sisters and became Sister Salesia. She was a very pious and zealous nun, revered by her superiors, as well as the Community. For the next seven years she taught at the Ursuline Boarding School.

Then in 1858 Bishop Martin John Spalding of Louisville, Ky. sent Father Leander Streber, pastor of St. Martin's parish, to the Ursuline Convent in Straubing to obtain teachers for the German children.

Mother Salesia was chosen to be the superior, Sister Pia, the directress of education, and Sr. Maximillian to care for the domestic needs.

 

Preparation began, documents were obtained to open a new Ursuline Convent in the missionary fields of Kentucky. After a perilous voyage Mother Salesia and her two companions finally arrived in Louisville on Oct. 31,1858. A small two room frame house on Grey St. became the first Ursuline Convent in Kentucky. When Father Leander took the Sisters there on the Feast of All Saints the house was completely empty. From the beginning their years were filled with hardship and poverty. But the courageous young superior did not lose courage.

Within two weeks Mother Salesia and Sister Pia opened St. Martin's School for girls with 50 pupils. And already in the spring of 1859 Mother Salesia began the building of a small convent and academy for girls. In 1860 this building was dedicated under the title of: Ursuline Academy of the Immaculate Conception and in 1864 was incorporated by the Legislature of Kentucky as the Ursuline Society & Academy of Education.

On October 20, 1867 the cornerstone of the new academy and the chapel was laid. Building was progressing well when in the spring of 1868 the cable supporting the roof snapped and about 15 feet of the wall collapsed.

Mother Salesia's health had never been very strong. The fright from this accident, as well as the manifold cares and afflictions of the past 10 years caused her to become seriously ill. She was ready for heaven and the crown she so well deserved for her heroism and her sufferings. On the afternoon of June 25, 1868 at about 2:30, Mother Salesia's valiant soul went to God at the age of 36 years and 4 months.

Mother Salesia's death was a great loss. The sisters had lost their foundress and beloved superior; the poor and the needy lost in her a patroness; and the Catholic Church a heroine of Faith.

Compiled by Sister Loretta Burch, 1988,
for use in Morning Praise for the
occasion of Louisville Ursuline Foundation