Jubilarians
BVM Sisters Celebrate Jubilees
Sixteen Sisters of Charity, BVM will celebrate jubilee anniversaries this year:
- Two sisters celebrate 75 years in religious life on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, at a liturgy at Mount Carmel. They entered the BVM congregation on Sept. 8, 1936. Both are now retired at Mount Carmel.
- Thirteen sisters celebrate 50 years in religious life on Sunday, July 31, at a liturgy at Mount Carmel. They entered the BVM congregation on July 31, 1961.
- One sister celebrates 25 years in religious life on Sunday, July 31, at a liturgy at Mount Carmel. She entered the BVM congregation on July 16, 1986.
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Sister Noella Cavallero was born in San Francisco, Calif. She was an educator, administrator and volunteer. Sister Noella taught in Council Bluffs, Iowa; Butte, Mont.; Kealia, Kauai, Hawaii; and San Jose, San Francisco and Sacramento, Calif. She served as principal for 19 years in Sacramento and as a volunteer for 14 years in San Francisco.
Sister Ann Galvin (Syra) was a native of Kansas City, Mo. She was an educator and counselor. She taught in Des Moines, Iowa; San Francisco, Calif.; Butte, Mont.; and Boulder Colo. In Chicago, Ill., Sister Ann taught from the elementary through college level of schooling and also served as high school counselor. In California, she served on the office staff at Guadalupe in Los Gatos and as part-time teacher in San José. Sister Ann passed away on June 20, 2011, and would have celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in September 2011.
Sister Mary James Orth (James) was born in Burlington, Iowa. She was an educator, administrator and volunteer. Sister Mary James taught and was principal/superior in Memphis, Tenn. She also taught in Lincoln, Neb.; Mundelein, Ill.; and Cascade, Clinton, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines and Iowa City, Iowa. She served as secretary to the treasurer at the BVM Center, Dubuque, Iowa; and as school secretary, teacher aide/tutor and volunteer in Granada Hills, Los Angles and Reseda, Calif.
Sister Aimee was born in San Francisco, Calif. She was an educator, administrator and volunteer. Sister Aimee taught in Chicago, and taught and/or was superior in Wichita, Kan.; Phoenix, Ariz.; and Montrose, Pasadena, Burbank, Carlsbad, Glendale, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Mateo, Calif. She served as reading specialist, day care director and volunteer in San Francisco. Sister Aimee passed away March 29, 2011, and would have celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in September 2011.
Sister Mariella Stratton was a native of Farley, Iowa. She was an educator, administrator and volunteer. Sister Mariella taught in Chicago, Ill.; and Dubuque, Fort Dodge and Sioux City, Iowa. She was superior/teacher in Rock Island, Ill. She served as assistant supervisor, director of the retirement program and volunteer at the Mount Carmel Motherhouse in Dubuque. Sister Mariella passed away on June 9, 2011, and would have celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in September 2011.
Sister Mary B. Breslin (Brenan) is a native of Chicago, Ill. As an administrator, she has served in Chicago at Mundelein College as secretary, office manager, treasurer, VP business affairs/treasurer and president. Sister Mary was VP for finance: NAES College; associate director: Commission on Institutions of Higher Education: North Central Association; and is currently VP of the North Central Association.
Sister Theresa Caluori (Martin Jerome) was born in Missoula, Mont., and has served as an educator and pastoral minister. She taught elementary school in Chicago, Ill.; San Francisco, Calif.; and Portland, Ore. Sister Theresa was a parish minister in Boone and Dubuque, Iowa; Livingston, Mont.; Salem, Ore.; and San Francisco. She was a pastoral administrator in Bridger, Mont., and served as a BVM congregational employee on the West Regional team for seven years.
Sister Maureen Patrice Fury is a native of Dubuque, Iowa, and has served as educator, administrator and pastoral minister. “As a community, we believe that where one BVM is, we are all present,” Sister Maureen Patrice shares. “I have lived and worked with dedicated women sharing their gifts, reaching out to meet the needs of God’s people in a variety of ministries.” She taught elementary school in Dubuque and St. Louis, Mo. She was coordinator of religious education in Chicago, Ill.; co-director of pastoral care at Mount Carmel in Dubuque; and pastoral minister in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Currently Sister Maureen Patrice is pastoral minister at Mercy Hospital in Dubuque. “I have been touched not only by my BVM sisters, but by those I have come to know through my ministries.”
Sister Joan Lingen (Ramone Mary) was born in Chicago, Ill. She graduated from Clarke College (now Clarke University) in Dubuque, Iowa. Having BVMs as her teachers at Clarke was an important factor in her decision to become a Sister of Charity, BVM. An educator and administrator, Sister Joan taught in Tujunga, Calif.; and Chicago, Ill. She taught art at Clarke College for many years. Since 2006, she has been the Provost/VP for Academic Affairs at Clarke.
Sister Irene Lukefahr is a native of St. Louis, Mo., and has served as educator, administrator and pastoral minister. She says, “Each of my many ministries and mission experiences has had its rewards and joys as well as challenges!” Sister Irene taught elementary school in Kansas City, Mo.; Lincoln, Ill.; and Davenport, Iowa. She taught and was administrative assistant in Rock Island, Ill. She was school principal in Memphis, Tenn.; director of religious education in Dalton, Ga.; and director of adult education and parish minister in St. Louis. She served in parish ministry and as a counselor in San Jose and Sunnyvale, Calif. Sister Irene has ministered in Kumasi, Ghana, since 2006. “For me, being a BVM in today’s church means being part of a wonderful and gifted community of women religious and lay associates who together witness to God’s steadfast love and serve the cause of justice wherever we are in the world.” She plans additional informal jubilee celebrations with family and friends and also celebrated on April 19, 2011, at the Mass of Holy Chrism in Ghana.
Sister Yvonne Mattioli (Angela) was born in Oak Park, Ill. “Being a Sister of Charity, BVM means for me living in a loving, supportive and faithful religious community of sisters who are blessed with an inspiring pioneer heritage and who minister to all of God’s people by living our core values of freedom, charity, education and justice,” she says. Sister Yvonne has served as an educator, clinical professional counselor and in pastoral ministry. She taught elementary school in Wichita, Kan., and Chicago, Ill. She was religion teacher/youth minister and youth religious education consultant in Chicago. Also in Illinois, Sister Yvonne was a mental health therapist, counselor and director of pastoral concerns. She is currently a pastoral care minister for retired BVM sisters at Mount Carmel, Dubuque, Iowa.
Sister Joellen McCarthy is a native of Butte, Mont., and has served as an educator, administrator and parish minister. She taught high school in San Francisco, Calif. “Each ministry called forth gifts and talents that invited me to the next choice of ministry,” Sister Joellen observes. She feels she has continued the ministry of education throughout her BVM life. “I see the role of a teacher is to create a learning environment where persons discover their gifts and talents and experience their contribution to a greater whole.” At Wright Hall in Chicago, Ill., she served on the formation staff, as director of associates, and in outreach to the elderly in the BVM Neighbors Program. She served in parish ministry in Chicago and Leon, Nicaragua. Sister Joellen was program coordinator for the Center for Mission Studies and the Lay Mission Orientation Team in N.Y. She also served the BVM congregation in leadership as vice president and president. She is currently office coordinator of the 8th Day Center in Chicago. “For me, these threads have woven a seamless garment rather than distinct ministries.” She hopes to celebrate her jubilee in Chicago and Butte, as well as in Dubuque.
Sister M. Colleen McGinnity (Rose Maureen) was born in St. Paul, Minn. She has served as an educator, administrator, nurse and parish minister. “I believe God calls each of us to the vocation where we can most grow,” Sister Colleen says, adding that “my family has always been very supportive of me in my life as a BVM.” She taught elementary school in East Moline, Ill., and West Hempstead, N.Y. In Dubuque, Iowa, she was formation coordinator and on the staff of the Life and Mission Resource Team. She was director of religious education in Sebastian, Texas, and Oak Park, Ill., and served in parish ministry in Chariton, Iowa. She ministered as a nurse in Des Moines, Iowa, and Baton Rouge, La. Sister Colleen currently serves as director of parish/pastoral ministry in Port Charlotte, Fla. “Life as a BVM has challenged me to grow, blessed me through friendships . . . and allowed me to minister to and with the People of God in incredibly life-giving ways.”
Sister Marguerite Murphy (John) is a native of San Francisco, Calif., and served as an educator and administrator. She taught elementary school in Kansas City, Mo., and Glendale and Los Angeles, Calif. Sister Marguerite served as school administrator in Los Angeles and Glendale and is currently school administrator in Los Angeles, Calif.
Sister Peggy Nolan (Timothy Maura) was born in St. Paul, Minn. She says, “Being a BVM has enriched me greatly in ways that an 18 year old entering the convent 50 years ago could never have imagined.” Sister Peggy has served as an educator, administrator and pastoral minister. She taught high school in Emmetsburg and Boone, Iowa. She was a teacher and religious education coordinator in St. Paul, Minn. She ministered as a staff member of the Working Boys’ Center in Quito, Ecuador. “I loved my four years there,” Sister Peggy says. “I received the gifts of openness to another culture and awareness of the grace and grit needed by those struggling to lift themselves and others from poverty.” She served as director of formation, associates and novices in Dubuque, Iowa, and as pastoral associate in Chicago, Ill. She also served the BVM congregation in leadership as vice president, and currently ministers in the development office at Mount Carmel, Dubuque, Iowa.
Sister Dolores Peppard (Dolores Mary) is a native of Chicago, Ill., and has served as an educator, administrator and pastoral associate. “I’ve been so blessed to really love each place I’ve ministered. I’ve met wonderful people and I’m a better woman because of them.” Sister “Dee” taught high school in Mundelein, Ill., and Lincoln, Neb. She has ministered as religion director in Omaha, Neb., and director of religious education in Orland Park, Ill. She served as pastoral associate in Deerfield, Ill., and currently ministers as pastoral associate in Mount Prospect, Ill. As a BVM, she feels that “through community and ministry I’ve experienced the abundance of God’s love in the people with whom I share life . . . the Spirit of God calls each of us to stretch: to enlarge our hearts and expand our vision.” Sister Dee will also celebrate her jubilee on May 14, 2011, at St. Raymond de Penafort Church in Mt. Prospect.
Sister Sandra Rodemyer (St. Philip) was born in LaCrosse, Wis. She has served as an educator and administrator. Sister Sandra taught high school in Council Bluffs, Iowa City and West Des Moines, Iowa. She has been able to serve her home diocese of Des Moines for 43 years of ministry. “I am blessed to have been able to do that. I always wanted to serve the diocese that gave birth to my vocation.” She ministered as director of DMARC food pantry in Des Moines for over a decade. She currently serves in ministry at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women/Mercy Hospice. “I have been doubly blessed to have served God and his people as a Sister of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This journey, in the company of such wonderfully strong, faith-filled women, has been a blessing in itself.”
Sister Joyce Rohlik (Joyce Mary) is a native of DeKalb, Ill. and has served as an educator and pastoral minister. “Whatever mission I was on,” she says, “that was my favorite at that time and I thought it was the best place for me.” She taught elementary and high school in Berwyn, Chicago and Oak Park, Ill.; Muscatine, Iowa; and Orlando, Fla. In Altamonte Springs, Fla., Sister Joyce was coordinator for Americana Healthcare and the Life Care Center. She served as coordinator of ministries and pastoral minister in Goldenrod, Fla. She served in parish ministry in DeBary, Fla. Since 2007, she has ministered as diocesan annulment advocate in Lakeland, Fla. “I feel blessed to have shared these past 50 years with so many special BVM women who have touched my life.” Sister Joyce will also celebrate with the sisters of the Orlando diocese this fall.
Sister Luann Brown was born in Racine, Wis. She says, “I embrace and try to embody the core values of charity, justice, education and freedom. There are many ways to release the freedom in myself and others in order that we are able to be the people God intends us to be.” She has taught at three different elementary schools in St. Louis, Mo. She taught special education at Nuevo Mundo in Guayaquil and Yachay Wasi in Quito, both in Ecuador, for many years. Sister Luann is currently a special education teacher at Yachay Wasi. “My years in Ecuador have given me the opportunity to learn a new language and culture and receive the gifts of the beauty of the people here.”
Greetings may be sent to these Sisters at 1050 Carmel Dr., Dubuque, IA 52003.
For more information, contact:
Jody Iler
Communications Specialist
Sisters of Charity, BVM
1100 Carmel Dr.
Dubuque, IA 52003
563-588-2351
www.bvmcong.org