The Martha Buser, OSU Lecture Series
Who Was Martha Buser
The lecture series and award honors the life of Martha Buser. She entered the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville in 1950 at age 19. She remained true to her vocation until her death in 2023. Sister Martha touched the lives of countless students, friends and anyone asking her for guidance in the spiritual life. She authored two books, "Also in Your Midst" and "Lover of Us All", about Saint Angela Merici, foundress of the Company of Saint Ursula, from whom Ursuline Sisters trace their origin. Martha believed, “When all is said and done, all the books about Angela Merici written and read, nothing is left but to acknowledge: it’s all about love.” She lived her faith.
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Talks by Kathleen Norris and Dianne Aprile
Watch their video here. ​​​​
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The Martha Buser, OSU Spirit Award
The Martha Buser Award is presented to an individual who through her day-to-day activities and life’s work has embodied the values so beautifully lived out by Martha Buser, OSU. Amongst these values are an ongoing commitment to embracing the spiritual dimensions of life, a consistent loving respect for all people all while demonstrating resilience and perseverance in her vocation. As a spiritual advisor Martha advised people to “go where there is life”. The honoree has given life to her immediate community and the community at large in many ways.
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Dianne Aprile
has been awarded the first Martha Buser, OSU Spirit Award. Ms. Aprile has distinguished herself as a journalist, a poet and the author of five books. Her poetry and essays have appeared in anthologies, journals, and in newspapers throughout the country. She currently teaches nonfiction at Spalding University’s Naslund-Mann School of Writing. As a journalist she was part of a Courier-Journal team that won a staff Pulitzer Prize in 1989. Today Ms. Aprile also leads independent workshops and Zoom classes throughout the U.S. She is currently writing a Kentucky-based memoir.
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Kathleen Norris
was chosen to deliver the inaugural Buser lecture because of her remarkable career as the author of poetry, essays and books that examine the spiritual life in a unique way. She is an award-winning poet, writer, and bestselling author. The New York Times described her as “one of history’s writing pilgrims…boldly willing to forsake any number of cultural fads, trends and preoccupations in favor . . .[of a] searching expedition within herself….” We are so pleased she chose to be part of this event. ​
Martha Buser
Dianne Aprile with The Martha Buser, OSU, Spirit Award
Sponsors & Co-sponsors
The event was presented by AOM,. a group of people touched by Martha’s life and example.
Co-sponsors who made it possible were:
The Company of St. Angela
The Thomas Merton Center
The Drepung Gomang Center for Engaging Compassion
The Center for Interfaith Relations
The Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, and
A special thanks to Thomas Bradshaw Clark