Our Story

The Ursuline Centre opened in 1912 as the Mount Angela Ursuline Academy, a school for grades kindergarten through high school, including a boarding school for girls. The Collegiate Gothic building, designed by renowned architect George Shanley, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. Today, the Centre is owned and operated by the Ursuline Centre Historical Foundation, and offers a preschool, a conference and retreat ministry and a museum.

Our Ursuline-sponsored Preschool gives children a value-based educational background in a Christian environment. Our experienced teachers and nurturing classrooms allow kids to flourish and excel.

The Retreat and Conference Centre is a gathering place for thousands of people from numerous religious, civic, and non-profit organizations, including the Montana Association for the Blind, Big Sky Apantao, the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings and the Great Falls Camera Club. Our guests enjoy our superior food service and the unique ambiance of our historical building.

Early Ursuline History

Located in the heart of Montana, the Ursuline Centre was built over 110 years ago as a boarding school in the growing city of Great Falls. The Ursuline Sisters added to their mission activities among the Native Americans at the invitation of Bishop Mathias Lenihan of the Diocese of Great Falls. Renowned local architect George Shanley designed their Collegiate Gothic building.

Mount Angela Academy for girls opened in the majestic building on Central Avenue on September 3, 1912. It had room for 175 boarding students and 350 day students. The Ursuline Academy, as it was later called, educated thousands of children along the way. The alumni include several current Board members.

The Ursuline Centre also is the birthplace of the College of Great Falls, now known as the University of Providence. It was a cooperative effort of the local diocese and the Sisters of Providence and the Ursuline Sisters. Dozens of nurses and teachers were educated here throughout the 1930’s and 1940’s.

The educational mission of the Ursuline Academy gradually moved to the diocese and parishes over the course of the 1960’s. Ursuline sisters staffed both the parish elementary schools and Great Falls Central Catholic High School, and boarding students from rural towns lived at the Centre. The sisters began providing early childhood education in 1968, which is still in high demand today.

In 1972, the Ursuline Sisters decided to open a Retreat and Conference Center, providing spiritual and intellectual renewal to the Great Falls area. In addition to retreats, it now provides affordable meeting space to churches and other non-profit organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Montana Association for the Blind and school groups. The Ursuline Heritage Museum tells the story of the early Ursuline Sisters who came to Montana in 1884 as missionaries to the Native Americans and white settlers. Historic tours are available by calling (406) 452-8585 or by email information@ursulinecentre.com

Our Mission Statement

In the tradition of service, Ursuline Centre strives to meet the ever-changing needs of the people of Montana by providing a setting and atmosphere for spiritual and intellectual renewal and growth. In the Ursuline spirit of inclusive hospitality, the Centre welcomes many diverse groups, respecting each one as Christ in our midst.