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Motherhouse Sisters Relocate; |
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(from top) Gabrielle Hagerty, BVM bids farewell to Margaret Swann, BVM as Margaret leaves for Sinsinawa. Joan Newhart, BVM (Joan Michael) reconnects one of many computers which made the move. Vincentia Kaeferstein, BVM receives a welcome hug from James Marie Gross, PBVM at Mt. Loretto. Lynn Lester, BVM (Ann Joseph) uses the elevator to assist in moving from the top floor of the Motherhouse, the Loggia.
(from top) Sisters extend a blessing to those moving. Mary O'Connor, BVM (Bertille) gets assistance from Catherina Walsh, BVM as she prepares to leave for the Julien Inn in downtown Dubuque. BVMs Judith Dewell and Eliza Kenney are among volunteers packing Motherhouse library books. Support Services Coordinator Clemenza Finney, BVM takes materials to storage. Mount Carmel buildings and grounds staff take a pause from moving truckloads of furniture and furnishings.
(from top) Rosemary Sage, BVM (Michael David) directs Bette Gambonini, BVM (Esther Mary) in arranging her room at the BVM Center. Pat Potok, BVM (Liberata) surveys the St. Columbkille's Convent Suites room of Mary Ernest Rothe, BVM (standing). Anita Frances McCarthy, BVM leads a final blessing of the north wing, which will be deconstructed.
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When you walk An old furnace repaired many times, whose continued life could not be guaranteed by any expert and a house full of women whose average age was the mid-eighties are not very compatible. After much study and consideration by the whole congregation and a vote of the legislative body, it was decided that the wisest action was not to replace the old furnace but to install an earth-friendly geo-thermal system. While the new heating/cooling system was being installed, renovation would be done to the bedroom areas. Since major renovation was to take place, asbestos had to be removed. The process would be healthier, smoother and quicker if there were no residents in the building. This necessitated the relocation of 71 sisters. Seven sites were found to accommodate the Motherhouse Residents and the Loggia community during the renovation:
“Field trips” were conducted to most of the sites. The sisters were asked to think about where they would be able to live their life to the fullest and what was important to them. If everyone were to receive her first choice, we would have had to build another story on the BVM Center ! So compromises had to be made. Hold your head up high… There were challenges with the preparation, the move itself and the daily living away from Mt. Carmel or in a different space on the ‘Hill'—an affectionate name that Dubuque BVMs have for the Mt. Carmel complex. One group often forgotten in any discussion of this process is the ‘left behind residents,' those living in Caritas or Marian Hall and the residents who have moved to the BVM Center. They did not have to leave Mt. Carmel but their friends did. The folks who prayed with them, played cards with them, wrote letters for them, read to them or just talked and laughed with them were gone and it is lonesome, especially in the evenings when all ‘the dispersed' have returned to their temporary residences. For all the stress experienced with moving, the Motherhouse residents kept in wonderful good spirits. There was an excitement in the house from the end of February through the third week of March as BVMs, Associates and friends from far and near came to be helpers. You would never have known that lives were about to be disrupted and in many ways turned up-side-down. And don't be What are some of the challenges which the residents face each day even now after ‘the big move'?
You'll never walk alone… The Motherhouse and Loggia residents know that they do not walk alone in this endeavor. They are accompanied by thoughtful, cheerful staff members who themselves have become commuters. They appreciate the sensitivity of the staff to their needs. Sally, one of the housekeeping staff on Caritas 2, saw BVM Ann Regina Dobel trying to rest in a straight chair. Sally found two recliners and moved them to the turret room on Caritas 2, so that the commuters would have a quiet, comfortable place to rest between their volunteer jobs and dinner or liturgy. There is great gratitude among the sisters to the congregation. They especially appreciate the spiritual and moral support which they have experienced and the actual physical support of the helpers who came and graciously gave of their time and energy to help them move, promising to come back to help all return to Mt. Carmel. Those who helped the Loggia move from the area without elevator access were greatly appreciated. The residents appreciate the amount of planning, hard work, patience, sensitivity and genuine empathy which they have received from the coordinators of the Mt. Carmel complex. Because of it, the move was accomplished more smoothly than anyone could have imagined. The lines of communications were kept open and two-way. This alleviated much of the stress and anxiety. All the sites have welcomed our sisters. The Sisters of the Presentation and the Dominican Sisters have offered gracious hospitality to the sisters living with them. St. Columbkille parish is happy to have sisters living in the convent suites. The staff of the Julien worked to address the needs of their new residents. The Presentation Sisters who had lived in St. Joseph Convent, Key West, alerted the congregation to the coming availability of the building Everyone appreciates the efforts which the Motherhouse community has made to ease each other's concerns and to work at making the relocation work. They do not walk alone, we are all with them, but more importantly they are with each other! About the author: Eileen Healy, BVM (Patrick Ellen), Dubuque, is relocation coordinator for the Motherhouse move. If you wish to support this major renovation of the Mount Carmel Motherhouse, please contact the BVM Development Office at 563.588.2351 or by email. Return to Table of Contents. |
