by Theresa Caluori, BVM

"A treasure is something of great worth or value; a person esteemed as rare or precious." Webster Dictionary

When, early in the 20th century, Bishop John P. Carroll of Helena applied to Dubuque for BVMs to staff two of the diocesan parochial schools in Butte, his request would have been last in a very long list of clerics hoping to find dedicated, affordable teachers.

But he had an advantage that most of the others didn't: he was a "BVM taught boy, born, bred and educated" in Dubuque, and so the "Treasure State" of splendid mountains, clear cold lakes and swiftly flowing streams became home to a succession of BVMs for the century to come.

At the August centennial celebration of BVM presence in Montana, another Bishop of Helena and another "BVM boy," George Leo Thomas, celebrated the liturgy at St. Ann Parish, Butte, one of the pioneer BVM missions there.

In his homily, Bishop Thomas, educated by BVMs at St. Ann 's in Butte, described the mining camp culture the Sisters met, and the immigrant population whose children they would teach. He noted that the BVMs themselves were of immigrant culture, and as with the people of Butte, many were from Ireland.

This proved to be not only mutually beneficial but also a very good fit. "We were formed by their goodness, informed by their knowledge, and transformed by their faithfulness," said Bishop Thomas. An alum echoed the impact, "I was taught by the BVMs.I am so very grateful.I am a teacher as a result."

Joellen McCarthy, BVM President and a native daughter of Butte as well, described in her homily in Missoula the relationship which developed as "your gift of friendship. Even back when the main parish activity focused on the running of the school, you welcomed us into your lives beyond the classroom.

"You showed us that generosity of spirit, that delight in the beauty of creation and that the relationships of friendship build a faith community. You taught us the meaning of church in its fullest sense. And in teaching us this important lesson you revealed to us a God of abundance, a God of openness, a God of freedom."

"We sense a resonance between our BVM spirit and the spacious spirit of Montana and its people. We BVMs describe ourselves as women who have been freed and help others to be free in God's steadfast love.

"The heart of our lives seems at one with the heart of life we have known in Montana : unconstricted, open and spacious. Among you, these past 100 years, we have known the joy of recognizing kindred spirits."

Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen, former Bishop of Helena, long time friend, sent the congregation forth with the words: "Let the celebration continue."

In that spirit the conversation overflowed into the parish hall as former students, parents, teachers, family and friends shared stories and memories and reconnected. They were joined by 20 BVMs and 15 Associates who came from California, Washington, Oregon, Arkansas, Mississippi, Illinois and Iowa as well as other areas of Montana.

Rich History

In August of 1907 eleven Sisters arrived in the "wild west" and opened St. Joseph and Immaculate Conception elementary schools. The initial days of school were filled with laughter, sobs and thudding hammers and audible orders from the foreman as the classrooms were completed.

Their values of charity, education, justice and freedom were shared with parishioners and students. In 1917 the sisters responded to the invitation to open St. Ann and St. John elementary schools. As more people moved west, BVMs opened St. Anthony School in Missoula in 1922. In 1969 BVMs became part of the staff at South Central High School in Butte.

Families living and working in the rural areas frequently requested that the sisters come and prepare their children for sacraments. They graciously responded and spent about two weeks of the summer conducting "Vacation Schools."

In the '60s and '70s there were no longer enough sisters to staff the schools and one by one they closed. The sisters found that their skills would transfer easily to new ministries and another new era of BVM history was underway in the Helena and Great Falls Billings diocese.

BVMs expanded their ministries to parishes without resident priests, superintendent of schools, hospital chaplains, music ministers and retreat directors and ministry with Native Americans. Today, five BVMs minister in Montana, and two at the "sister parish" in Guatemala.

Yes, the greatest treasure is the people of Montana with whom we have shared these past 100 years.