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The Angeline Award, established in 1990, recognizes a woman who possesses the qualities of Saint Angela Merici and the Ursuline Sisters’ charism – a contemplative love of God resulting in an openness and eagerness to serve the needs of others.
Out of her profound relationship with God, St. Angela addressed the needs and concerns of her time. The Ursulines Sisters bestow this award to affirm a woman who, out of that same love and commitment to God, is responding to the contemporary challenges facing women and families. |
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Past Recipients of the Angeline Award
Donna McKinney Hansen of Spokane, Washington (1991), a graduate of Ursuline College, for her work as a former social worker and as a secretary for social ministries
Juana Gil Sanchez of Callao, Peru, South America (1992), for founding an organization for senior citizens and helping bring a medical team to her community
Barbara Emrich Cassidy of Louisville, Kentucky (1994), for her service to the elderly and her work with the Ursuline Bargain Barn to help retired sisters
Margo Thompson Borders of Louisville (1996), for her work with her church in adopting a Vietnamese family, organizing neighbors to help an elderly couple and involvement in different social service agencies that serve women and families
Maria Scharfenberger of Louisville (1998), for her extensive work with the Hispanic community
Jane M. Thibault, Ph.D. of Louisville (2000), a gerontologist, for ongoing commitment to the senior population, serving on numerous committees and establishing Spiritually Aware Growing Elders Resources, Inc.
Mary Kwan, M.D. of Houston, Texas (2002), a graduate of the former Ursuline College for her work to provide medical care to the poor. |
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Sr. Lynn Jarrell (left) presents Paula Fangman
with the 2010 Angeline Award.
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"Jesus said to do for others and to love your neighbors. Those words, that lesson are the most influential things in my life."
It’s a lesson Paula Fangman weaves into her daily life. It’s also the reason she was honored with the 2010 Angeline Award. Paula’s good works were celebrated during a liturgy and ceremony at the Ursuline Sisters’ Motherhouse Chapel on Saturday, October 30.
"I couldn’t believe it. I felt very humbled," Paula said about learning she would be honored with the award. "I was moved by that."
The Angeline Award is given once every two years to a woman who "exemplifies in her daily life the Charism of the Ursulines and their foundress, St. Angela Merici."
"St. Angela [Merici’s] idea was to live among the people," the former Ursuline Sister and current Ursuline Associate said recently. "Her idea of teaching young girls, her far reaching ideas of being among the people truly put her ahead of her times."
In addition, the award criterion requires that an honoree have a "contemplative love of God resulting in the openness and eagerness to serve the needs of others." Each person given the Angeline Award shows Christian Leadership by tackling serious problems such as poverty, domestic abuse, the needs of children, and other social issues.
Paula and her husband, Tom Fangman, who passed away in 2002, fostered seven Vietnamese children through the foster care program under Catholic Charities. Paula has spent years volunteering for Hosparus.
"I was involved with a support group for people who lost spouses," Paula said. "I also sit with patients. Sometimes a person reaches out to you, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes it just helps the family members to know you’ll sit with their loved one so they can run errands or do other things that are needed. "
Paula works with a program called Arriba Niņos through the Church of the Annunciation in Shelbyville, KY, where she is an active member. Arriba Niņos means "upward children." Four churches in the area are currently partnering to tutor Hispanic students in 1st through 8th grades.
"It means a lot to these children to simply have help with their homework and to know someone is interested in them," Paula said about the program.
Paula participates as well in pastoral care at Amber Oaks a home/assisted living facility in Shelbyville; "Catholics at the Capitol" sponsored by the Catholic Conference of Kentucky; "Call to Action," which focuses on preserving the vision of Vatican II; and Centro Latino, a group that provides assistance with food, clothing, education, and more to Hispanics and others in need in Shelbyville.
She sings for the Archdiocesan Mass of the Air, which is taped in the Ursuline Motherhouse Chapel and in her own church she sings in the choir, is a pianist, cantor and much more. She loves her church, and it seems the congregation feels the same. The choir at Paula’s church provided the liturgical music at the Angeline Award ceremony.
When asked why she does so much in the community, she responded with humility and simply gave the credit to her family and the Ursuline Sisters.
"I learned so much in my early development from Sister Clara, who was my home room teacher, and Sister Ida, who taught me music," Paula said. "Sister Clara [Nollett] was just so warm, loving and funny; and Sister Ida [Jones] really encouraged me through my music.
"Also, my mother and father really taught me early to give of yourself. They were always doing for others. When my dad would grow vegetables, he would always share with our neighbor."
Paula said those lessons from her parents and the Ursuline Sisters in her early childhood brought her back to the Ursulines again and again. She attended Ursuline College in 1950 and was invested as an Ursuline Sisters in 1951. She remained with the sisters until 1971, when she married and left for New Jersey.
She returned to her roots and Kentucky in 2002. It was then that Paula reconnected with the sisters by becoming a part of the Ursuline Associate Call (for more on the Call, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary see page 7). She now joins the Ursuline Sisters and Associates in a regular prayer group and, on the day we talked with Paula, she was headed to meet other associates to make Christmas Cards.
"I really learned throughout my life that when
you give to others, you get it back in many ways, and it’s so true.
"When I go to Amber Oaks and I see these little old ladies and men and they’re always glad to see me, I’m filled with love and happiness. It’s the same with the children [at Arriba Niņos]. There is just so much happiness."
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