The Ursuline Order was founded in Brescia, in Italy. From there it spread through Europe and came to Ireland in 1771.
The Foundress, St. Angela Merici, looking to the needs of her time, saw the education and training of girls as one of the most pressing. Her aim was to educate girls so that they would be a Christianising influence in the homes in which they lived and in the homes which they would subsequently establish for themselves.Whereas in the course of over four hundred and fifty years, new works have been undertaken, according to the needs of time and place,the basic thrust of the Ursuline Apostolate is in the ministry of Education in its many forms.
Ursulines today are still searching for new and better ways of sharing in the mission of Christ through their work of Christian formation.
Though circumstances vary widely in the different countries, the aim remains what it has always been – to develop our students to their full potential spiritually, academically, physically and socially. In keeping with the spirit of St. Angela, who always stressed the importance of each individual, the particular needs of students are, as far as possible, identified and catered for. Great stress is placed on contact with parents who are always recognised as the principal educators of their children.
“Be bound to one another by the bond of Love, respecting, helping, bearing with each other in Jesus Christ”
(St. Angela Merici)
September 27, 1987 marked the Bicentenary of the foundation of the Ursuline Convent, Thurles. On that date 200 years ago Anastasia Tobin came back to her native Thurles having been professed as Sr Clare Ursula in the Ursuline Convent, Cork. She took up residence in a little thatched cottage on the site of the present convent.
From the beginning, helped by her sister Mary, she got the required permission from the Protestant Vicar General of the diocese to start a school. This was in fact the first Catholic School in the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly.
Since then, through the ups and downs of history, the work of education has continued and expanded. Efforts to be faithful to what is best in our tradition have not prevented us from moving forward as required by these challenging times, and facing curriculum development in a technological era.