Milwaukee  Celebration Celebrates 
123 Years of Service 

by Janet Desmond, BVM

The Wisconsin celebration of the 175th anniversary of the BVM congregation was held in Milwaukee at Holy Rosary Church , now part of Three Holy Women Parish, on April 19. Former students, families, friends and parishioners packed a standing room only Mass and a reception in the church hall.

The location of the church between the waters of Lake Michigan and the Milwaukee River, and the blessing with Easter water during the liturgy connected with the anniversary theme of "Crossing the Waters, Currents of Hope."

The history of the Sisters of Charity, BVM, in Milwaukee is long-standing. BVMs founded three schools in Milwaukee within 14 years: Holy Rosary, 1885; Holy Angels Academy, 1892; and Gesu, 1899.

As our first mission and the parish with the longest BVM presence in Milwaukee, Holy Rosary was a fitting setting for our celebration. Parishioners and pastor Fr. Tim Kitzke welcomed us with loving hearts and fond memories, especially of Ellen Therese Barrett, BVM. Ellen carried out our BVM commitment to service and fidelity in education and parish ministry in the parish for 40+ years until her death on Nov. 13, 2007.

During the liturgy BVM Virginia Stone (Alice Rose) in her reflection called on all present to be faithful to the challenges of today's Gospel. "To take what the gospels offer, what we have garnered from this remarkable BVM community of women, what we treasure in our own lives-and become a more powerful and healing presence on this beautiful, broken planet."

Today, BVMs continue to serve in Milwaukee . Sisters are active in adult literacy, day care, jail ministry, social services, justice and peace work, spiritual formation and parish ministry.

The BVM congregation has been blessed with 193 members who entered from Milwaukee; 622 Sisters served in the Milwaukee Catholic school system through the years and 17 BVMs will remain here forever, either in Calvary or Holy Cross cemetery.

The BVM presence has lasted here 123 good years and it continues.