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The Catholic communities of Mound City, La Cygne and Osawatomie came together on Nov. 22 to honor the Ursuline Sisters of Paola with the Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne Award.

The annual award is presented to a person or community that exemplifies the spirit of the saint for which it is named. St. Rose Philippine Duchesne is the only canonized saint in the Catholic church who ever lived on Kansas soil, according to a news release.

The Ursuline Sisters were given the Duchesne Award by Archbishop Joseph Naumann, who presided at the Eucharistic Celebration in Sacred Heart Church, Mound City. Father Regie Saldanha, pastor of the three parishes involved in the event, was also in attendance. Sister Helen Smith accepted the award on behalf of her religious community.

In 1841, at the age of 71, Duchesne traveled from St. Charles, Mo., by boat and bullock cart to Sugar Creek, Kan., to work there among the Potawatomi Indians. She was devoted to educating them and caring for their sick. The Potawatomi, impressed with her compassion, self-sacrifice and holiness, called her “the woman who always prays,” according to a news release.

The Ursulines taught school at the St. Philip Neri grade school in Osawatomie and taught First Holy Communion classes and Vacation Bible Schools in all three parishes, including Our Lady of Lourdes in La Cygne.

They have been instrumental in the religious education and faith formation of many young people in this part of the Kansas City Catholic Archdiocese, according to a news release.

“We chose the Ursuline Sisters of Paola as worthy recipients of this award, and we recognize them in gratitude for their tireless efforts in education and boundless love in every part of this region,” Saldanha said.

Ursuline nuns attending the ceremony and the celebratory potluck dinner following included Sisters Kathleen Condry, Kathleen Dueber, Betsy Moyer, Ann Marie Scherman, Dee Long, Jane Falke, Angela Fitzpatrick, Martina Rockers, Marcella Schrant, Susanne Bauer, Celine Leeker and Helen Smith.

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