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One of Ursuline Academy’s most
cherished traditions is the Ring Day Ceremony, which has been performed at
Ursuline for over 50 years. Every Fall, juniors anticipate the coming of St.
Ursula’s Feast Day, the day they will receive their class rings.
The Ursuline ring has a center
green stone representing the school color, flanked by the Serviam shield and
the Ursuline Coat of Arms. When displayed in color, the Serviam shield is
green against a white background; green symbolizes victory and immortality
and white symbolizes purity. This shield is an emblem of loyalty know to
Ursuline students throughout the world. The seven stars, representing Ursa
Minor, are a reminder of St. Ursula, patron saint of education. The stars
tell of the heights to which our ideals must soar. The cross stands for
faith, the foundation of all Christian action. Serviam is the motto of all
the Ursuline schools nationwide. The word Serviam, “I Will Serve,” is
symbolized by the virtue of devotedness.
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The Ursuline Coat of Arms
reproduces, except for a few details, the old coat-of-arms of the
Congregation in Paris. The left side is for St. Angela, who began the
Ursulines in 1535 in Brescia, Italy. The right side is dedicated to St.
Ursula. The motto, Soli Deo Gloria, “For the sole glory of God,” is the
summation of the work of St. Angela and is the life work of the Ursuline
Sisters.
Rings have long been considered
symbols of importance or office, and they are an outward sign of some great
relationship. During the Junior Ring Ceremony, the Ursuline Academy class
rings are blessed during the Mass for St. Ursula. All Ursuline students and
faculty, as well as the parents of the juniors, are present for this special
moment in the life of an Ursuline student. All watch as each junior accepts
her Ursuline ring, a symbol of her relationship with Ursuline Academy and
all members of the Ursuline community, a symbol of the acceptance of and
dedication to the Ursuline mission. The circle of the ring represents
eternity, and Ursuline will be in the hearts of its students...always.
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