Mount Saint Joseph Center was closed completely from Jan. 26 to Feb. 2 because of a major ice storm.
The staff could not get to the center and even today as they come back to work only two out of eleven have
electricity in their homes. The electricity was reconnected about noon on Sunday Feb 1 at the Center . The Center is trying to
bring the systems back on line but several heating units and the freezer are not working. There will be much to do before
we get back to normal. The following pictures will give you an idea of what has happenend here in our part of Kentucky.

Meditation: Beauty and Pain

In life there are many ways to look at most things. In the case of the ice storm of 2009 this is the case.
The ice sparkled in the sun to give a fairyland effect but the devastation beneath became evident as power lines,
branches and whole trees succumbed to the weight of the ice and snow. The following pictures give an idea of
what the Center and parts of the Mount looked like from Tuesday, when the storm started, to Sunday when
the ice began to melt. The pictures brought words to mind as they were taken.

DEVASTATION






The saucer magnolia next to the museum lost more branches but several of the limbs remain strong.
It is determined to live a few more years.

SADNESS

The Southern Magnolia lost many of its branches but not nearly as many as the maples behind it.


LOSS



One of the oldest maples outside the St. Ann wing of the Center lost a large limb that damaged one of the lights.

SUFFERING



The 1882 St. Joseph statue in the front yard had ice hanging from its face.

RESILIENCE

The Japanese Cherry that was planted eight years ago by the museum was bowed low.
It has come back completely.


STRIPPED

The maples by the Gift Shop were stripped.

SORROW

When an Ursuline Sister dies we walk with her down All Saints Avenue to the cemetery.
On Tuesday we walked down the Avenue to see our beautiful maples broken.

REBUILD



The greenhouse where we keep our patio tropical plants for the winter and plant the seeds for the spring
garden was hit by falling branches and most of the glass was broken. All the plants froze.

WOUNDED SOLDIERS



The Maples lining the farm entrance were badly damaged . The first picture shows them with ice and the
second after the ice had melted.

WISDOM AND STRENGTH



The Gossip Tree has lived through many events over its long lifetime.
It has been damaged but it still stands strong.

BEAUTY
With all the broken limbs and power lines and all the suffering the ice has caused, there is also
beauty and a sense of determination.


The bald Cypress by the Villa was bowed completely to the ground with ice.


Two days later it had already begun to pull itself up.


The blue spruce by Paul Volk Hall was a naturally decorated Christmas tree.


The lake remained a beautiful wonderland.

The storm has caused much suffering for thousands of people across several states.
Many are still without electricity but people are finding ways to take care of themselves, their families and help each
other weather the storm. We ask for prayers for our faithful staff, the electricians, Red Cross workers, National Guard
and so many others who are sharing their talents to help bring things back to normal.