Journey

Summer 2016 • A Publication of the Sisters of Charity, BVM 

Journey 

A Faith-Filled 

Side by Side

I N T H I S I S S U E 

Summer Two Thousand Sixteen 

Volume 44, Number 2 

Mission Statement: We are the Sisters of Charity 

of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a community of 

Catholic women called to live the mission of 

Jesus through our core values of Freedom, 

Education, Charity and Justice. 

Salt is published three times per year for friends 

and family of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed 

Virgin Mary. 

Editor/Design: Angie Connolly 

aconnolly@bvmcong.org 

Managing Editor: Jody Iler 

Communication Advisory Committee: 

Luann Brown, BVM; Lois Dolphin, BVM; Bette 

Gambonini, BVM; Helen Gourlay, BVM; Mira 

Mosle, BVM; Mary Nolan, BVM; Associate 

Christine Olsem 

If you would like to receive Salt, 

contact: development@bvmcong.org 

1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, Iowa 52003 

563.588.2351 

2016 Calendar of Events 

A Faith-Filled Journey, Side by Side 

3 Seasoning 

by BVMs Teri Hadro, 

Mira Mosle and Kate Hendel 

4 Discerning the Call: Serving 

Congregation, Church & World 

by Mary Martens, BVM 

8 What is Association? 

by Associate Nancy McCarville 

9 Reaching Out, Touching Lives 

by Bette Gambonini, BVM 

10 The Evolution of Association 

by Associate Nancy Van Anne 

12 Nourishing the Companion Process 

by Associate Virginia A. Piecuch 

14 BVM Associates: Who are They? 

by Associate Grace Mendez 

16 Sharing ‘Our Mount Carmel Home’ 

by Associate Joann Crowley Beers 

4 

Suzanne Effinger, BVM (Frances Carol) 

July 

15–17 BVM Associate Retreat 

Mount Carmel, Dubuque, Iowa 

August 

9–13 LCWR National Assembly 

Atlanta, Ga. 

September 

11 Diamond Jubilee Celebration 


17 Reflections on Core Values 

18 Salt Briefs 

In Loving Memory 

32 Associates: Companions 

on the Journey 

14 

Associate Carol De Carvalho 

October 

30 Mass for Benefactors 

Holy Family Church, Chicago 

November 

6 Mass for Benefactors 


20 

In recognition of our Donors of Distinction, 

included in this issue of Salt is our annual report, 

BVM Perspective. For a complete list of 

our benefactors, visit www. bvmcong.org. 

For more information, visit: 

www.bvmcong.org/whatsnew_calendar.cfm 

Check us out online: 

www.bvmcong.org 

www.facebook.com/bvmsisters 

www.youtube.com/bvmsisters 

twitter/bvmsisters 

www.pinterest.com/bvmsisters 

On the cover: Sisters and associates walk side by side as they 

embrace the charism and mission of BVM Foundress Mary 

Frances Clarke. On the cover, BVM Donard Collins (l.) helps 

Associate Marilyn Heinz prepare a meal for the needy at St. 

Patrick Parish in Dubuque, Iowa. Read on for the inspiring story 

of BVM association and the ever widening Circle of Friends. 

2 | SALT MAGAZINE

SEASONing 

As you retrieved this newest issue of Salt from your mailbox, 

you may first have noticed the weight. It feels heavier than most issues. 

You are so right! 

Within these pages, we are for the first time including a copy of our 

annual report to donors, Perspective. The listing acknowledges those 

who were designated as Donors of Distinction this past year. A full 

listing of our more than 8,000 benefactors is available by visiting our 

website at www.bvmcong.org. 

BVM leadership team members are (l. to r.) 

Mira Mosle, Teri Hadro and Kate Hendel. 

Since its inception, Salt has shared the impact of the BVM mission on 

individuals and groups in need, and provided color, shape and context 

to the values, communal life and God-quest of our sisters. 

From the beginning, this has been a journey shared by and made possible 

by so many others. This issue celebrates our partnership with you, 

our donors, and with the growing number of persons who have caught 

the charism of Mary Frances Clarke and chosen to live God’s mission 

of unconditional love within the context of the BVM core values: BVM 

associates. 

You will read of their journeys, of the evolving work of the Spirit in our 

midst, and of ministries which bring life and hope beyond measure. 

We begin with a glimpse of a significant April event in the life of our 

congregation: the discernment and election of BVM leadership, women 

called to serve the congregation. These Spirit-filled days flowed into 

contemplative dialogue on the needs of our church and world, and our 

call to boldly share our abundance of gifts. 

In times of extraordinary attentiveness to the murmurings of the Spirit, 

and in times of daily, quiet reflection and action, we give thanks for 

you, our faith-filled companions with whom we are in mutual relationship 

for the incarnation of God’s mission. We celebrate your fidelity, 

your generosity of spirit, your faith. 

In awe and gratitude, we experience God’s lavish love, and pray that we 

may all continue to live “the mathematics of abundance.” 

The Mathematics of Abundance 

Teach us, Sacred One, 

the multiplication tables of the kin-dom— 

the exponential growth of love shared, 

kindness offered, and smiles sewn 

in the fields of our daily routines. 

Teach us the memorization tricks of the 

saints, 

the algebra of the care-free. 

When will we learn the ancient wisdom 

that the gods and goddesses of fortune 

bow down before the extravagant ones, 

those who risk an open heart, and the 

happy-go-lucky? 

Teach us, in this time, not to be afraid, 

not to fear a harvest of overwhelming 

blessings, 

to master the mathematics of abundance, 

by which seven loaves of bread times a 

few small fish 

equals a feast for the multitude. 

Amen. 

—Sanguin, Bruce. Prayers for Evolutionary Mystics 

(Vancouver, BC: Self-published, 2010), 120. 

SUMMER TWO THOUSAND SIXTEEN | 3

Sisters and associates raise their hands in blessing and thanksgiving for the dedicated ministry of the current leadership team. 

Discerning the Call: 

Serving Congregation, Church & World 

by Mary Martens, BVM 

The April 2016 BVM Senate of Elections and Business Senate at the Best Western 

Hotel in Dubuque, Iowa, united 150 sisters and 10 associates in communal 

listening and discernment, thoughtful discussions, and written reflections. 

Video streaming enabled BVMs beyond the Dubuque area and over 100 sisters 

at Mount Carmel to join in the Senate process, as all focused first on the theme, 

“Discerning the Call, Serving the Congregation.” 

Mount Carmel sisters had enthusiastic praise for the technology. “We were such a 

part of everything that took place, doing the same things here just as they were 

happening at the hotel,” shared Dolores Doohan, BVM (Sarah James). “The whole 

community was able to participate together in the process.” 

Top: Mary Ellen Madden, BVM staff member at 8th Day Center in Chicago, joins in the communal blessing of food during the community led liturgy. 

Bottom: BVM Janet Desmond (Janet Mary) enjoys the enactment play featuring scenarios envisioning the future of BVM mission and core values. 

4 | SALT MAGAZINE

BVM Leadership Elected 

BVMs celebrate the re-election of President 

Teri Hadro, BVM (l.); and the election of First 

Vice President Lou Anglin, BVM (r.); and 

Second Vice President LaDonna 

Manternach, BVM. Together they will 

guide the community in “Serving the 

Congregation; Serving the Church and 

World.” 

Sisters Consider Prospective Leaders 

Simple, sung prayer mantras accompanied 

the various sessions during the 

days spent in thoughtful sharing at the 

heart level, as all discerned the kind of 

leadership needed by the congregation at 

this time. An afternoon Mass of the Holy 

Spirit at the Motherhouse Chapel set the 

tone for the process. 

Questions provided by the two 

facilitators helped all present consider the 

gifts and abilities of six candidates, who 

responded by naming aspects of the congregation’s 

present and future realities that 

inspire and challenge them individually. 

Table groups developed possible leadership 

team configurations consisting of 

president and two vice presidents. 

BVM Teri Hadro was re-elected as 

president for a second term. Lou Anglin, 

BVM was chosen as first vice president 

and BVM LaDonna Manternach as second 

vice president. Four-year terms for 

the leadership team begin Aug. 1. 

A Time to Rekindle Relationships 

Left: BVMs Jan Pertle (Anton Mary) (l.) and Bertha Fox (Dolorose), reconnect as they arrive at the Senate. 

Right: Joanne Marie Lucid, BVM (Michael Mary) (l.) and Deanna Marie Carr, BVM (Bernita) share a 

friendly “meet and greet” moment. 

BVMs (l. to r.) Sheila 

Mary O’Brien (Mary 

Trea), Mary Agnes 

O’Connor (St. Agnes), 

and Patricia Thalhuber 

(Herbert Mary) process 

into the Motherhouse 

Chapel at the opening 

liturgy for the 2016 

Senate of Elections. 

Looking to the Uncertain Future 

At the Business Senate which followed 

elections, the theme transitioned to “Discerning 

the Call: Serving the Church and 

World.” This session, too, engaged everyone 

mentally and emotionally in shaping 

the congregation’s future. Sisters and 

associates prayed together at a community 

led liturgy, recommitting themselves 

with gratitude to BVM mission and core 

5 | SALT MAGAZINE 


Clockwise: The cast depicting “Scenarios: Imagining Alternative Futures and Their Implications” 

included (l. to r.) Associate Grace Mendez, and BVMs Donard Collins, Carol 

Blitgen (John Carol), LaDonna Manternach, and Patricia Nolan (Ann Carol). BVMs Mary 

Martens, (Loras) (l.) and Marge Clark contemplate the various configurations for the new 

leadership team. BVMs (l. to r.) Anita Therese Hayes, Irene Lukefahr and Patricia Bombard 

discuss the possibilities of potential leadership candidates. 

values. Those at Mount Carmel and elsewhere 

remained connected and involved 

via video streaming. 

The Team Talk, “Unwrapping the Gift 

of Uncertainty,” presented by current 

President Teri Hadro, First Vice President 

Mira Mosle, and Second Vice President 

Kate Hendel highlighted three challenging 

“gifts” offered by the always uncertain 

future. Drawing on BVM history and 

looking forward to how the congregation 

will continue to further God’s mission, 

the leadership team proposed that BVMs 

consider abundance, boldness and connections. 

Along with uncertainty comes the 

abundance of God’s infinite love and 

care, for every person, in every situation, 

in nature itself. As Mira pointed out, 

“What appeared at times to be deprivation 

and loss has evolved into fullness 

unanticipated.” 

Each blessing of fullness is accompanied 

by God’s call to share, acting with 

boldness in confronting the unknown. 

“To act boldly,” Kate proposed, “certain 

virtues are required. They are openness, 

faith, hope and imagination.” 

There are new connections needed 

for making God’s mission our own. Teri 

stated, “As a congregation, our demographics 

suggest we may be completing 

our mission . . . What is God asking of us 

in these circumstances and in these times? 

How can we make God’s love visible?” 

Recognizing that the congregation 

is faced with decisions about the future, 

these will be based on the concepts of 

stewardship and mission. 

Simplify, Envision, Collaborate 

As the number of sisters continues to 

decline, a Governance Study Group is 

working to simplify structures. To help 

everyone think about the future creatively, 

the group presented a scripted drama entitled, 

“Governance Together for Mission.” 

The cast personified Mission and the 

BVM core values of Freedom, Education, 

Charity and Justice, conversing with one 

another about ways mission continues 

into the future. The goal of the presentation 

was to facilitate further reflection and 

dialogue leading to direction-setting at the 

2018 Senate. 

Along with the congregation’s desire 

and responsibility to envision a future in 

terms of collaborative outreach with partners 

in mission and ministry, it attends to 

careful planning for BVM retirement care 

and for Mount Carmel land and facilities. 

“I am feeling confident that we will 

be able, together, to create a future full 

of hope,” was one sister’s response to the 

wealth of information and inspiration. 

Another reflected, “I believe we will have 

made good decisions to continue living as 

women of the Gospel witnessing to God’s 

love.” A third commented, “The reason I 

feel both challenged and inspired is that the 

needs are so great and the call is so present 

to keep responding to those needs.” 

The Leadership Team thanked the 

many persons who are part of the larger 

BVM family, beyond our sisters and associates, 

who share their goodness with the 

congregation: staff, friends, alums, family, 

colleagues, donors, volunteers and all 

who generously continue to support both 

BVM life and God’s mission. 

About the author: Mary Martens, BVM lives 

in Dubuque and serves as representative to 

the National Farm Worker Ministry. 

6 | SALT MAGAZINE

Congratulations to Golden Jubilarians 

BVM Sisters Susan Coler and Mary Ann Cronin celebrated their 

golden jubilees with an Evening Prayer of Jubilee and Gratitude on 

April 12 in the Mount Carmel Motherhouse Chapel, followed by a 

reception. They entered the BVM congregation in July 1966. 

Susan Coler, BVM was born in St. Paul, Minn., and professed final 

vows on July 21, 1984. She taught at Xavier HS in St. Louis, and 

was music instructor, academic advisor and co-director of student 

development at Mundelein College, Chicago. In St. Paul, she 

served as law clerk for a federal district judge. Since 1991, she has 

ministered as an attorney in Minneapolis/St. Paul.“I feel blessed 

to have shared this journey with so many generous people who 

have shared their love, wisdom and spirituality with me,” says Sister 

Susan. “BVMs of incredible wisdom, grace and strength have 

inspired me to think boldly and act justly.” 

Ann Cronin, BVM was born in San Francisco and professed final 

vows on Oct. 3, 1976. Ann taught elementary school at St. Robert 

Bellarmine in Burbank and Mission Dolores, St. Paul ES and St. 

Thomas More ES in San Francisco, where she also ministered as 

elementary school principal, administrative assistant, substitute 

teacher, volunteer, day care tutor, and worked in alumni/development. 

She continues to minister as part time day care tutor and 

parish substitute. “Being a BVM is the most important gift I possess,” 

says Sister Ann. “Every day I thank God for the gift of belonging 

to this wonderful, faith-filled congregation.” 

Sharon Rezmer, BVM (l.) celebrates her profession 

of first vows with Kathleen Carr, BVM, who 

served as her Initial Membership liaison. 

BVM Novice 

Professes First Vows 

Congratulations to Sharon Rezmer, BVM who professed 

her first vows as a BVM on Dec. 20, 2015, at Mount Carmel 

in Dubuque, Iowa! 

Sharon entered the BVM congregation on Dec. 15, 2012. 

During her year of discernment with BVM sisters at 

Edmunds Street in Chicago, Marjorie 

Heidkamp, BVM (Herberdette) was her companion and 

Kathy Carr, BVM served as her liaison with the congregation’s 

Initial Membership team. 

Sharon began her non-canonical novitiate year on Dec. 

8, 2013, living in Chicago with BVMs Margaret (Peggy) 

Geraghty (St. Cabrini), and Diane O’Donnell (Joanella). 

While engaged in her discernment year, she continued 

her ministry as health care coordinator for the Cenacle 

Sisters, Chicago. Lou Anglin, BVM served as her novice 

director. 

Golden Jubilarians Ann Cronin, BVM (Mary Ann) (l.) and Susan Coler, BVM 

light candles at the prayer service at Mount Carmel. 

She was welcomed to Mount Carmel as a canonical 

novice in December 2014, living with BVMs Paulette 

Skiba, Lou Anglin, and M. Lynn Lester (Ann Joseph). Sharon 

is currently ministering as parish visitor for both St. 

Raphael and St. Patrick parishes in Dubuque. 

A Moment in Time 

BVMs enjoy the great outdoors in Butte, 

Mont., circa 1940. Taking time away 

from teaching at St. Joseph Elementary 

School, sisters hike in the mountains 

and prepare fried steaks for dinner! Pictured 

(l. to r.) are BVMs Annette O’Toole, 

Lolita Geris, Cleonica Meier, and Rita 

Rose Coleman. 


What is Association? 

by Associate Nancy McCarville 

We are BVM Associates! 

Following the Gospel in a particular way, 

we have formed mutual and supportive 

relationships with the Sisters of Charity 

of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We renew and 

strengthen our bonds in celebration, in 

service, and in prayer. We share a spirituality 

that touches convictions of who we 

are in our deepest selves and that infuses 

everything we do. 

Whether in an immersion experience 

at the border or at a parish outreach meal, 

we work together “being freed and helping 

others enjoy freedom in God’s steadfast 

love.” Though the spirit, the prayer, and the 

mission are shared, we are not vowed sisters. 

We are distinct in our family lifestyles and 

professions. 

Baptism calls our faithful selves to show 

mercy to the marginalized and the poor. Listening 

to and being led by the Spirit toward a 

contagious BVM charism, we associates have 

climbed upon the wings of BVM mission. 

We come with our energies and talents, hoping 

to assume a role in the narrative of BVM 

Foundress Mary Frances Clarke. 

Grateful for our part in the BVM journey, 

we keep a close eye on how we model 

“freedom in God’s love.” Paying attention 

to what God is stirring in us, we keep our 

associate commitments alive. 

While internalizing the core values of 

charity, education, justice and freedom, we 

ask: Do we give back more than we receive? 

Do we call forth others’ confidence with our 

encouragement? Do our responses in everyday 

situations free others and free us to be 

our most faithful selves? 

In swapping stories with the sisters of 

personal ministries infused by the core values, 

we associates are primed and sisters are 

enriched by the vistas we share. Whether 

preparing students for GED exams or repurposing 

T-shirts as diapers bound for 

Madagascar missions, authentic and animated 

conversations spark hospitality of joy. 

In enjoying and emulating BVM relationship, 

we prepare ourselves to carry 

the BVM heart into the future. California 

Associate Bob Kutter senses this seat of 

relationship: “In the core values, the BVM 

community lives and breathes social justice, 

but . . . there is a lightness of spirit, a gratitude 

for life, and a feeling of hope.” 

Associates’ participation in BVM relationship 

and ministry depends on their 

circumstances. Some recite the associate 

prayer each day. Others rally in support of 

anti-human trafficking and nonviolence, 

and join migrants in Arizona and field 

workers in Florida. Frequently, they advise 

government officials of their positions on 

social justice issues. Association is generous 

in answering needs of ministry and prayer. 

However, even greater generosity calls. It 

is the hope of the BVM and associate community 

that association will carry on the 

Mary Frances Clarke legacy self-sufficiently. 

Taking steps toward the sustainability of 

association, we anticipate development of 

leadership, as well as growth in membership. 

The gifts that, without reservation, we offer 

to the BVM congregation extend to leading 

and making appropriate decisions for association 

as the future becomes the present. 

Undoubtedly, Mary Frances Clarke 

knew a little about challenges as she offered 

encouragement to her early community: 

“Leave the future to God. I have no fears so 

long as you are working unitedly but that 

God will aid us as in the past.” (Letter of 

Mary Frances Clarke #212) 

About the author: Associate Co-coordinator 

Nancy McCarville is a former BVM who lives in 

Waterloo, Iowa. She is a member of the Associate 

Coordinator Team (ACT). 

Prayer of Associates 

Prayer of Mary Frances Clarke, adapted 

O Lord Jesus, keep me ever 

faithful to the Spirit of 

Mary Frances Clarke 

According to the wisdom of 

your own heart—humble, 

courageous, patient, loving, 

obedient; 

A person of simplicity and 

prayer, steadfast against 

injustice and violence 

And sensitive always to your 

ways of compassion and to the 

guidance of your Holy Spirit. 

Give me, dear Lord Jesus, 

the necessary strength 

and creativity to make me 

your hands in the world today. 

Amen. 

8 | SALT MAGAZINE

Reaching Out, Touching Lives 

by Bette Gambonini, BVM 

“Tell me what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” 

This famous quote 

from Mary Oliver’s 

poem “The Summer 

Day” came to mind 

as I asked three 

associates of the 

Sisters of Charity of 

the Blessed Virgin 

Mary how they are 

involved in ministry. 

“What gives you life? 

How have you been touched by those 

with whom you serve? How has your 

presence touched the lives of others?” 

Even though they felt that they were 

not really “doing ministry,” their lived 

experiences reveal their real stories: stories 

of being the voice, feet and hands of 

Jesus in Los Angeles; Dubuque, Iowa; and 

Beach Park, Ill. 

What is ministry? A prayer response 

from the BVM publication, The Gift That 

is Ours—BVM Spirituality, Mission Refl ection 

Part II, notes: “We are women [and 

men] who have been touched by God’s 

steadfast love who are called to be visible 

signs of faith, hope and compassion for 

and with God’s People.” Ministry, then, 

might be described as our response to 

God’s call to reach out to those in need. 

Associate Clara Schwartz (l.) works in 

the CBS Law Department in Studio City, 

Calif. “Outside of my work,” she says, “I 

am there whenever there is something that 

needs doing.” The simple things Clara does 

reflect her ministry coming alive: supplying 

dinners for families in the San Fernando 

Mission Housing Project (which provides 

overnight housing for the homeless); baking 

birthday cakes for staff members; or 

providing DVDs to “Operation Gratitude” 

to be sent to our U.S. troops overseas. She 

also helps pack boxes and write postcards 

and letters to the troops, sending ng words of 

gratitude and encouragement. 

Associate Betty Takes, (center) of 

Dubuque, earned her Bachelor of Science 

degree in nursing in her 40s. “I was 

assigned to do a change project in health 

care for my senior year thesis,” Betty 

shares. “I was working in critical care and 

found that most of the time the visitors 

of patients who were in the dying process 

were talking to one another and not to the 

patient. I would talk to the patient and 

ask pertinent questions and found that the 

patient would answer without hesitation. 

I modeled a positive approach to the visitors 

and changed the subject to the issue at 

hand, being that of the seriousness of the 

illness and the patient’s wishes and needs.” 

In 1979, Betty and four other nurses 

started the Hospice of Dubuque, volunteering 

nights and Saturdays. They held 

classes for other volunteers, establishing 

guidelines and support for patients and 

families. Seventeen years later, at the age of 

80, Betty still volunteers for the community-based 

nonprofit. She also brought hospice 

to our BVM sisters at Marian Hall. 

“God has been at my side helping me 

my whole life. I would live my life the 

same way if I had a do over,” Betty says. 

“I have been blessed by the patients and 

families I have worked with and with the 

staff and volunteers. Hospice workers are 

called to this vocation. It is not work to us 

but a calling by God. 

I had a great husband 

who supported me 

in my efforts. He 

became a volunteer 

by helping out wherever 

he was needed.” 

Associate Danette 

Elfering Bookstein, 

(r.) a senior manager 

for Trustmark Insurance 

Company, lives 

in Beach Park, Ill. 

When asked about sharing her ministry, 

Danette reflects: “God has called me in 

many areas of ministry. At this time, I feel 

that I have been called to minister to the 

youth in our parish.” 

She continues: “Several years ago I 

taught religious education to the fifth and 

sixth graders in our parish. I loved helping 

them grow in their faith but felt God 

calling me to work with the high school 

teens. My daughter was part of the youth 

group in our parish and the growth in her 

faith that I witnessed led me to join this 

ministry. I co-lead a small group of freshman 

girls. It has been rewarding to see their 

spiritual growth and excitement; I look 

forward to walking alongside them on their 

faith journey over the next three years.” 

We, too, may now be inspired to ask: 

“How has my ministry given life to me? 

How have I touched the lives of others? 

How have others touched my life?” On 

reflection, we may find our own answers 

to Mary Oliver’s quote: “Tell me what is 

it you plan to do with your one wild and 

precious life?” 

About the author: Bette Gambonini, BVM 

(Esther Mary) lives in Sunnyvale, Calif., and 

ministers as a liturgy coordinator for the 

Sisters of the Holy Names in Campbell. She 

is a member of the BVM Communications 

Advisory Committee. 


Associate Coordinators (seated, l. to r.) Associate Nancy Van Anne, Betty Voss, BVM (Leonice), Therese Frelo, BVM (Ann Carmelle); (standing, l. to r.) BVMs 

Joan Stritesky (Magdaletta), Nancy McCarthy (Josephine Mary) and Elizabeth Avalos; and Associate Nancy McCarville. Not pictured are Coordinators Ann 

Therese Chaput, BVM and Associates Kay Ann Derner Brown and Elizabeth Fitting. 

The Evolution of Association 

by Associate Nancy Van Anne 

The concept of “association” 

—the formal relationship 

between laity and religious 

in mission and ministry—has 

continued to develop and gain 

momentum over the years. 

The early history of association 

between the laity and the 

Sisters of Charity of the Blessed 

Virgin Mary is aptly described 

by Associate Norman C. Freund 

in his book, A History of BVM 

Association to 2005, detailing 

the actions and events which 

provided the groundwork for 

the associate program as it is 

known today. 

1993–2000: Coordinator 

Joan Stritesky, BVM (Magdaletta) 

Joan was appointed as the first fulltime 

coordinator of the program in 1993. 

She was assisted throughout her sevenyear 

tenure by her friend and colleague, 

Therese Frelo, BVM (Ann Carmelle). 

Many significant changes occurred 

during this period, primarily due to Joan’s 

intense efforts to educate and inform the 

community about the nature, purpose and 

importance of “affiliation,” as association 

was first named. 

The changes affecting affiliates during 

this time included participation in community 

meetings and service on community 

committees. A significant change was 

the name change! In 1995, the “Affiliate 

Program” became “The Associate Relationship/Associate 

Program.” 

In 1997, an Associate Advisory Committee 

(AAC) was formed, composed 

of equal numbers of BVMs and associates 

selected from the congregation’s 

regions. The names of associates were now 

included in an Associate Community 

Register. A commitment ritual was created, 

during which a stole was presented 

and each associate signed the register, 

indicating the date accepted into the program 

and community number assigned. 

In February 1999, Joan’s last year 

of service, the AAC formed a proposal 

regarding future coordination of the program. 

In May 2000 the BVM Community 

Board appointed Betty Voss, BVM 

(Leonice) as the new coordinator. 

2000–06: Betty Voss, BVM (Leonice) and 

Associate Nancy Van Anne 

From the beginning of Betty’s time 

as coordinator, and as a result of Nancy’s 

offer “to help out in any way I can,” 

Nancy Van Anne became a virtual assistant 

coordinator. In March 2001, Nancy 

was appointed as co-coordinator on a half 

10 | SALT MAGAZINE

time basis. This marked the first time an 

associate would serve in a leadership position 

in the program. 

The first action taken by Betty and 

Nancy was to visit all current associates, 

enabling them to also talk with BVMs in the 

area, become personally acquainted with the 

membership, and assess current conditions 

and future needs of the program. 

Because of overlapping responsibilities, 

changes in the committee structure of 

the advisory groups were addressed. Two 

committees were operating at the time, 

the AAC and the Associate Coordinating 

Team (ACT). These were merged into one 

and renamed the Associate Coordinating 

Committee (ACC). 

The Associate Handbook was created 

to collect, organize and publicize information 

on the meaning and process of 

becoming an associate. Copies of the process 

were sent to all BVMs and associates. 

Role descriptions of coordinators, ACC 

members, and the role of the local community 

were included, plus a list of available 

resources: handouts, articles, letters 

of BVM Foundress Mary Frances Clarke, 

a brochure, video tapes, and a list of possible 

speakers. 

The phrase “contact sister” was 

changed to “companion” because both 

BVMs and associates were serving as primary 

guides to those preparing to enter 

the program. An orientation notebook 

was used as a “teacher’s manual” for companions 

as they orient the associate to the 

nature and purpose of association. 

Companioning workshops were presented 

in Chicago, Dubuque, southern 

and northern California, Florida, Phoenix 

and Seattle. The workshops addressed 

themes of importance to association: 

mutual expectations; BVM heritage; mission, 

ministry and charism; BVM spirituality, 

prayer and community; and the 

availability of the supporting resources. 

Betty and Nancy worked with a local 

artist and company in Dubuque, Iowa, to 

create the associate pin, presented to each 

new member, along with the stole, at the 

commitment ceremony. 

2006–12: Elizabeth Avalos, BVM and 

Nancy McCarthy, BVM (Josephine Mary) 

2006–09: Associate Kay Brown and 

2009–12: Associate Elizabeth Fitting 

With a new set of co-coordinators, the 

Associate Office moved from Denver to 

the West. Co-coordinators now lived at a 

great distance from each other, spread from 

Illinois to Oklahoma to California. The 

business of the program was conducted via 

Skype at the weekly group meetings. 

The co-coordinators revised the orientation 

notebook, renaming the document 

“Orientation to Association.” The revision 

expanded the source of information available 

to the companion and the associate 

candidate, including discussion and reflection 

questions and prayers, plus expanded 

material relating to BVM history, core 

values, mission and ministry. 

Several new aspects of the Associate 

Program were established, leading to a 

deepening of relationships between associates 

and BVMs. These included an annual 

associate retreat at Mount Carmel and an 

electronic newsletter. Service and immersion 

activities were encouraged and made 

available. The co-coordinators arranged 

for associates to gather with one another 

at local and nationally scheduled BVM 

meetings. At this time, BVM associates 

numbered 192. 

June 2014–Present: 

Associate Nancy McCarville 

September 2014–Present: 

Associate Grace Mendez 

June 2015–Present: 

Associates Kimberly Emery and Lori Ritz 

A new era in the evolution of association 

began in 2014 with the appointment 

of Nancy and Grace as associate 

co-coordinators. As the number of associates 

increased, Kimberly and Lori joined 

the Associate Coordinator Team (ACT) 

in 2015. 

This represented the first time that 

leadership was totally in the hands of 

associates! A vice president of the BVM 

congregation continued to serve as liaison 

between the associate leadership and the 

BVM community. 

The early efforts of the ACT team 

were directed toward discerning the future 

relationship and roles of religious and 

associates in today’s culture. Input is being 

gathered from national sources, local 

leadership and extensive conversation in 

clusters, on the BVM website, and among 

community members. Thus, as in many 

other congregations, the clarification and 

deepening of associate-sister relationships 

is ongoing. 

Today, the Associate Program, “officially” 

beginning with six members in 

1976, numbers 187. Its leadership over the 

past 40 years has evolved from “committee 

status” to a BVM full-time coordinator, to 

the inclusion of associates as co-coordinators 

along with congregational members, 

and finally, to having the entire leadership 

team comprised of BVM associates. 

The movement of lay men and 

women toward association and the commitment 

to live the core values of the 

Sisters of Charity, BVM will continue to 

strengthen—as time deepens the enduring 

bond between them. 

The current Associate Coordinator Team (ACT), (l. to r.) Kimberly Emery, Lori 

Ritz, Grace Mendez and Nancy McCarville, share responsibilities as the first 

leadership group comprised of associates only. 

About the author: Associate Nancy M. Van 

Anne is professor emeritus at the University of 

Northern Colorado, Greeley. 


Associate MaryLane Blomquist celebrates her commitment at with her companion Harriet Holles, BVM (Agneda). 

Nourishing the Companion Process 

by Associate Virginia A. Piecuch 

Each person interested in 

becoming an associate of the 


Virgin Mary is accompanied by a 

companion during the process of 

discernment and orientation. The 

Associate Handbook notes that 

the areas to be covered during 

this time are: history of the BVM 

congregation; charism of Foundress 

Mary Frances Clarke; mission 

and core values; spirituality as 

expressed in prayer, community 

and ministry; and opportunities 

for service. The companion 

process can be accomplished in a 

variety of ways. 

Process is Unique to Each 

After Associate MaryLane Blomquist began 

an inquiry into association 15 years ago, 

she “finally got more serious” when she 

moved back to Geneseo, Ill., from Wisconsin 

in 2011. Taught by the BVMs in 

grade school, she was companioned in 

the associate process by Harriet Holles, BVM 

(Agneda), who had been her math teacher 

at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa. 

MaryLane shares: “When I was doing 

the discernment process monthly with 

Harriet in Dubuque, I was very focused 

on the journey of Mary Frances Clarke 

and her ‘Circle of Friends.’ We talked 

about what they left behind, their faith 

in going forward to a strange land and 

then ‘out west’ to Dubuque. At my commitment 

ceremony, Harriet read an 

excerpt from Creating Community, by 

BVM Ann Harrington (St. Remi). Mary 

Frances Clarke’s journey to Dubuque had 

a direct effect on my life.” 

“MaryLane was attracted to Mary 

Frances Clarke and her journey, the history, 

and the core values,” Harriet affirms. 

“It was a long journey for her, from 

freshman year at Clarke to the process of 

becoming an associate. I companioned 

another woman on her associate journey 

and I was struck with how different the 

process was for each of them. It depends 

so much on where they are in their lives 

and what changes have come about. Our 

lives are always changing; the BVM community 

has changed. If we are serious, we 

are all about growth and understanding.” 

Former BVM Embraces Association 

A former BVM, Associate Joyce Mach 

remained in contact with many BVMs. 

Some of them visited her when she moved 

to Florida. Joyce recalls, “When we gathered 

and began our discussions, I felt like 

I had never left the BVMs. I enjoyed our 

talks during our overnights at the Franciscan 

Center in Tampa. It was good to be 

with people who had the same love for the 

community and the same care for others. 

It revived things that were dear to me. I 

was happy to review the history and the 

letters of Mary Frances Clarke again. The 

12 | SALT MAGAZINE

core values were special to me, reminding 

me of the many things I learned at St. 

Mary HS in Chicago. Some of the topics 

were new, but most were not.” 

Joyce Mary Rohlik, BVM, who knew Joyce 

Mach for two years before beginning the 

companion process with her, says, “I found 

the Associate Handbook worked wonderfully 

to bring about meaningful discussions. 

I, along with BVMs Colleen McGinnity 

(Rose Maureen) and Ann DeNicolo (Ann 

Thomas) used the handbook with Associates 

Sue Browne (now deceased), Christine 

Middendorf, and Joyce Mach. Having been 

a BVM, Joyce could easily identify with the 

core values and Mary Frances Clarke. We 

covered a lot of material because we met less 

often and we all came together from a distance. 

Our discussions were lively, fun and 

inspirational.” 

Companion Journey Unfolds ‘by Phone’ 

Associate Linda Carstens, a Clarke graduate, 

participated in the 2014 BVM Kino 

Border Immersion Trip after reading 

about it on the BVM website. Soon after, 

she began the process to become an associate, 

facilitated by telephone from her 

home in Albuquerque, N.M., with her 

companion in Phoenix, Associate Lori Ritz. 

Linda shares, “Even though the materials 

were meant for a group, we used 

them as best we could. I learned a lot 

more about BVM history, but the core 

values meant a lot to me. It seemed like 

I was talking to a friend about what we 

had in common. We made such a good 

connection since we were both serving 

Spanish-speaking kids. It’s important that 

there be alternative ways to go through 

the companion process. Our way worked 

very well for me.” 

In January Linda spent two weeks of 

vacation in Guayaquil, Ecuador, helping 

Ann Credidio, BVM at Damien House, 

a residential hospital for Hansen’s disease 

patients. She wished she could have stayed 

longer. 

Since Lori’s own companion process 

was conducted the same way with 

Elizabeth Avalos, BVM, she did not find 

it strange to companion Linda over the 

telephone. She says, “Even though we did 

not know each other before we began, 

we immediately established a relationship 

because we realized we were both Spanish 

students of Lucilda O’Connor, BVM at 

Clarke. We are also both in early childhood 

education.” 

Lori adds, “Using the handbook, 

we planned the subject and had discussions 

every other Sunday evening. It was 

individualized for Linda and adapted 

to our conversations . . . our prayer and 

discussions worked well. Since we have 

some people in isolation without BVMs 

or associates nearby, we have to tailor the 

companion process to their needs. By 

2014, we completed the process and have 

been using Zoom on the computer, which 

is much easier because we can see each 

other.” 

Linda and Lori finally connected 

in person in northern California at the 

Bay Area Conference of Associates and 

Religious (BACAR) and at an immersion 

experience in San Jose. 

‘No Right Way to be an Associate’ 

Associate Susan Hoerger, who is not 

Catholic, grew up in Madison, Wis. She 

had several Dominican sister friends and 

taught in a Catholic school. Susan knew 

no BVMs or associates, only her good 

friend, Carmella Huser, who was beginning 

the process to become an associate. 

Interested, Susan asked Dee Myers, 

BVM (Dolore) if she could join the group 

with Carmella and BVMs Marilyn Wilson 

(Claudia Mary), Bette Gambonini (Esther 

Mary), and Elizabeth Avalos, who were 

meeting monthly at Dee’s home in Belmont, 

Calif. 

Having no experience with BVMs, 

Susan felt “profound ignorance” when 

she joined the group, but notes, “I was 

attracted to enriching my spiritual life. 

I enjoyed coming together regularly to 

discuss, not debate; to share beliefs with 

a common foundation; and have time for 

prayer and meditation.” 

She liked the process and shares, “The 

structure of discussing the history of the 

community and the core values appealed 

to me. It was done within a scriptural 

context and related to the world we live 

in today. I also appreciate that there is no 

right way to be an associate.” 

Dee notes, “The Associate Handbook 

guided us through our journey while 

the supplementary writings of BVMs 

Kathryn Lawlor (John Laurian) and 

Ann Harrington enriched us. Susan 

and Carmella, quick readers, soaked up 

other stories of Mary Frances Clarke and 

absorbed the history of how our BVM 

community developed. Prayer time 

was significant as we remembered our 

foundress and how she depended on the 

Spirit of God and all the saints to guide 

and drive our BVM journey. 

“As we reflected and pursued what 

it meant to follow the charism of Mary 

Frances Clarke with new friends,” Dee concludes, 

“we deepened our own appreciation 

of the core values in our daily lives.” 

Associates and companions (l. to r.) Joyce Mary Rohlik, BVM, Associates Joyce 

Mach and Christine Middendorf, and Colleen McGinnity, BVM (Rose Maureen) 

enjoy a special bond. 

About the author: Associate Virginia Piecuch is 

a parish liturgy volunteer, proofreader for a vocation 

journal, and watercolor artist in Chicago. 


BVM Associates: Who are They? 

by Associate Grace Mendez 

Associates are men and women from 

many faith traditions and walks of life 

who share the BVM mission of “being 

freed and helping others enjoy freedom 

in God’s steadfast love.” (BVM Constitution 

# 10) And it is true! We became associates 

because the charism and core values of 

the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin 

Mary fit what we believe, what we live. 

Most of us were introduced to the 

BVMs through our education or that 

of our children. Some of us taught with 

BVMs. Their example and sharing of life 

and mission attracted us, challenged us, 

and encouraged us to “join with vowed 

members in living the BVM charism of 

freedom in God’s steadfast love, the core 

values of charity, justice, education and 

freedom, and the traditions of the congregation.” 

(2003 Associate Handbook) 

Is There a Typical Associate? 

Just looking at statistics, maybe . . . 

She would be Catholic, retired, in her 70s, 

and educated by the sisters. But statistics 

don’t give the depth of the mix. 

Although most of our associates are 

women, 21 men have completed the 

commitment to share in the BVM community. 

Why affiliate with this group of 

religious women? 

When asked his reasons for becoming 

an associate, Jim Plant replies, “to 

serve God . . . to belong to a spiritual 

community, to help others in whatever 

capacity I can.” This is a common theme 

to association—that desire to share the 

charism of the BVMs and to serve in any 

capacity, under the constrictions of our 

life situations. 

Some associates are married. We have 

12 couples, nine of whom became associates 

at the same time; the rest completed 

the process separately. At his commitment 

ceremony (with his wife), Associate 

Francis De Carvalho shared, “I consider 

my commitment today as not only that 

of becoming a BVM associate, but also a 

renewal of many calls to faithfulness: my 

baptismal promises, my confirmation, 

my marriage vows. And I feel especially 

blessed to be called to enter this new 

chapter in my life alongside my partner in 

life, my wife, Carol.” 

Associates are getting older just as the 

BVM sisters are. We range in age from 

33 to 93, with the majority of us (64%) 

being 70 or older, and only 5% under the 

age of 50. Age is a factor in active participation 

in the BVM causes. 

Associates don’t have participation 

modes per se, but they seem to fit into 

three areas. Some are extremely active in 

social justice issues and/or parish activities. 

Many participate in gatherings called 

“clusters,” immersion experiences, retreats, 

and days of reflection. Others are supporters 

in prayer and readings. 

We recently lost our oldest associate 

Mary Schmidt (95), with whom I spoke 

a month before her passing. She told me, 

“I can’t answer the survey, but I say the 

associate prayer every day.” This prayer 

support is a vital piece of our associate 

commitment! 

The Challenge of Staying Connected 

At the end of January 2016, there were 

185 associates in 25 states and Ecuador. 

There are three large geographic groupings 

of associates: 44 (24%) reside in Iowa; 38 

(21%) in California; and 31 (17%) in Illinois. 

Twelve states have only one associate 

living there! This makes for difficulty in 

staying connected. 

Most associates meet with BVM sisters 

in clusters which can vary in size and focus. 

We have two gatherings of associates using 

Zoom technology, a video communication 

format. One of these is a Colorado cluster; 

the other is an east coast cluster. A large 

cluster in Montana meets via Skype. 

Some clusters are social gatherings; 

some meet to study congregational stances 

and reflect on books suggested by BVM 

leadership; some read the Sunday scriptures 

and pray for the intentions of the 

group and the congregation. 

The Montrose, Calif., cluster has two 

meetings once a month on the same day; 

one covers the Associate Discernment Book 

for candidates and inquirers, and one 

shares reflections on readings and plans 

social justice activities. 

BVM Charism Reflects Common Bond 

A belief in the core values isn’t restricted 

to being Catholic. Buddhist, Jewish and 

Protestant associates also share in the 

charism of BVM Foundress Mary Frances 

Clarke. In her commitment reflection, 

Associate Emily Kruse shared, “I am honored 

to be a part of this community that 

is full of spirit, committed to social justice—or 

the Jewish teaching of tikun olam: 

14 | SALT MAGAZINE

Associates at a Glance 

repairing the world—and so incredibly 

welcoming to everyone.” 

In her article, “Right Livelihood” in 

BVM Association magazine (2012), Associate 

Lorie Murphy said, “Being a BVM 

associate is an integral part of my own 

spirituality as a Buddhist. One of the key 

elements of the Buddhist Noble Eightfold 

Path is ‘Right Livelihood,’ which states that 

work and career should be integrated into 

life with harmony, integrity and balance.” 

Associates walk their paths in many 

careers—as nurses, lawyers, accountants, 

tax preparers, parish members, students, 

educators, activists, fundraisers, receptionists, 

mothers and fathers, deacons 

and retirees. They exhibit the core values 

while carrying signs at peace rallies, helping 

at Mount Carmel, working in their 

parishes, feeding and clothing the homeless, 

sharing with their students, raising 

their children, reading BVM publications, 

donating to BVM causes, and praying for 

the BVM community. 

So, is there a “typical” associate? 

Typical is a shared belief that where 

one BVM is, all of us are there; that the 

living out of the core values of education, 

charity, justice and freedom are a 

part of our daily walk; that we share in 

the charism of Mary Frances Clarke and 

her sisters through our actions and our 

prayers; and that BVM associates can 

carry that charism in continued community 

into the future. 

About the author: Associate Co-coordinator 

Grace Mendez is a member of the Associate 

Coordinator Team (ACT). 

ASSOCIATES RANGE IN AGE FROM 33 TO 93 

WHERE ASSOCIATES RESIDE: 

Illinois 

17% 

AGE 70+ 

AGES 50-70 

UNDER AGE 50 

OF THE 185 ASSOCIATES 21 ARE MEN 

Other 

8% 

California 

31% 

12 COUPLES ARE ASSOCIATES 

IOWA 

44% 

ASSOCIATES WALK WITH 

BVM IN THREE AREAS: 

PRAYER 

CLUSTER 

MEETINGS 

SOCIAL 

JUSTICE 


Sharing ‘Our Mount Carmel Home’ 

by Associate Joann Crowley Beers 

Long before BVM association was formalized, 

lay people have been deeply 

involved with the Sisters of Charity of the 

Blessed Virgin Mary, working with sisters 

in their ministries or turning to them for 

spiritual guidance and friendship. Wherever 

there were BVMs, the charism and 

core values were inevitably shared. 

Since a structure for association was developed 

in the ’90s, retreats and days of 

recollection have been offered in many 

places near BVM ministries. 

Retreats Offer Sanctuary for Growth 

Annual summer retreats for associates 

at Mount Carmel in Dubuque, Iowa, 

began in 2011, when Marilyn Wilson, 

BVM (Claudia Mary), facilitated a retreat 

on the spirituality of BVM Foundress 

Mary Frances Clarke. From that time on, 

the Motherhouse has been a summer destination 

for associates. 

Retreats have been offered on prayer, 

education, spiritual companioning, and 

freedom. Always included are discussions 

among the retreatants, visits with sisters, 

and time to experience the natural beauty 

of Mount Carmel. As Associate Norm 

Freund, says, “No place on earth is more 

central to the charism, history and spirituality 

of the BVMs than Mount Carmel.” 

Whatever their background, associates 

who have come to the summer retreats 

consistently express their gratitude for 

being invited into the sisters’ home. 

Associate Nancy McCarville reflects, 

“The atmosphere at Mount Carmel centers 

me on my relationship with BVMs 

and the association they created.” Associate 

Oweene Stone shares that “the energy 

and atmosphere . . . of peace, love, respect 

and acceptance permeates my soul!” 

Sense of Community 

Links Associates, BVMs 

Other associates feel that the experience 

of community is central. Associate 

Marilyn Wasmundt explains, “When I 

come to Mount Carmel I have the feeling 

of coming home—coming into a group of 

loving, understanding, accepting, welcoming 

‘family members’—joining a group 

that has the same values as I do. I can 

be myself and be understood.” Associate 

No place on earth . . . 

is more central to the charism, 

history and spirituality of the BVMs 

than Mount Carmel. 

—Associate Norm Freund 

Kimberly Emery believes that “the Holy 

Spirit led me to Mount Carmel to learn 

from and share with those who were to 

become my future ‘circle of friends.’” 

The retreats have given Associate 

Grace Mendez “a deeper appreciation of 

the BVMs and how they got to where the 

community is today . . . and a renewal of 

my connection to the associate and vowed 

community in shared mission and love of 

God.” 

A highlight of summer retreats is 

interaction with Mount Carmel sisters. 

Associate Lori Ritz says, “I am amazed at 

their humility and the fact that they see 

themselves as ever growing.” During the 

2012 retreat on prayer, Nancy remembers 

her discussion with a BVM sister. 

After some opening comments, Nancy 

said, “Well, we’d better get to our topic, 

‘prayer.’ The sister responded, ‘But we 

are already in prayer.’ Her experience of 

prayer—the Spirit surrounding us like fish 

in an ocean—has since grounded my own 

approach.” 

Participants are ‘Gifts to Each Other’ 

Summer retreats are also enhanced 

by the BVM sisters who choose to attend 

them along with the associates. Catherine 

Jean Hayen, BVM, finds it “a mutual 

blessing” for BVMs and associates to share 

their faith journeys. Julie O’Neill, BVM, 

offers, “Getting to know associates in a 

more reflective way is the ‘heart’ of the 

retreat experience.” She sees sisters and 

associates as gifts to each other, so “we can 

be, indeed, a true circle of friends.” Donna 

Schauf, BVM (Blanche), appreciates learning 

how associates live the BVM core 

values in their lives. “It is especially great 

to get to know more of these wonderful 

Spirit-filled persons.” 

Mount Carmel has become a place 

where associates encounter, and are energized 

by, the vibrant living charism that 

embraces all who are open to receive it. 

This is a product of the congregational history 

deeply rooted there, and of the living 

exemplars of Mary Frances Clarke’s values, 

who live “on the hill.” 

As associates imbibe this spirit and 

these values, they are personally enriched. 

Perhaps they can also carry them out into 

a world that might otherwise not encounter 

the BVM charism. 

About the author: Former BVM and Associate 

Joann Crowley Beers is a spiritual director and 

has facilitated two BVM Associate Retreats. 

She lives in Lodi, Wis., with her husband Bill. 

16 | SALT MAGAZINE

Lorie Murphy 

Christine Middendorf 

James Tackes 

Kathy Weishaar 

Reflections on 

Core Values 

BVM associates contribute their 

unique gifts to the mission of the 


Virgin Mary as they embody the core 

values of justice, education, freedom 

and charity in their daily lives. 

Read how four associates view these 

values from their own perspectives. 

Justice 

Associate Lorie Murphy 

As an associate, I am linked 

to the BVM community in all 

four core values, but the value 

of justice is the one that keeps 

me most closely connected in 

my daily work. It is the value 

that grounds me as I begin each 

day and the one I reflect on 

repeatedly as I journey beside 

so many people in my role of 

counselor and life coach. 

It is an honor and a 

privilege to walk beside another 

human being as they reflect, 

question and examine who they 

want to be in the stories of their 

individual lives. They trust me 

to hold their vulnerability, pain 

and fear as they explore their 

hopes, dreams and desires. 

I am forever aware of my 

responsibility to respond to 

them without judgment and to 

treat each person with dignity, 

respect and compassion. The 

core value of justice helps me 

to remember to see the divine 

in each person that I encounter 

and to do my utmost to 

help them to grow into the 

best persons they can be. 

Education 

Associate Christine Middendorf 

I can personally attest to 

the fact that education was and 

is a pillar of the BVM sisters’ 

work and mission throughout 

their ministry history because 

I have been a “BVM girl” since 

1955. The educators in Chicago 

that I was privileged to 

meet at St. Tarcissus ES, The 

Immaculata HS, and Mundelein 

College instilled in me a 

thirst for learning which has 

never slackened. 

The career path that I 

chose was definitely influenced 

by BVM Sisters Irenea Burns, 

Ambrosia Biedermann, Ann 

Ida Gannon, Sharon Rose, 

Joan Frances Crowley, and 

especially Jeanelle Bergen. 

That thirst led me to start a 

master’s degree program at the 

age of 60, which led to teaching 

at St. Leo University in Florida 

as an adjunct professor. I feel 

that I have a responsibility to 

others to awaken the quest for 

learning in them. My “almost 

lifelong” association with the 

sisters reinforces the necessity of 

learning continuously. 

Freedom 

Associate James Tackes 

As an associate member 

of the BVM community, I 

continually strive to grow in 

accordance with their core values. 

One of these is freedom. 

To me, freedom is that 

liberation that occurs when 

one’s conscience disagrees with 

something being imposed on 

one. It may be that the item 

being imposed is unjust, or 

there is a question of inequality 

or veracity, or the use of 

excessive power. One’s innermost 

feelings convey that there 

is something wrong, something 

that just doesn’t fit. Conscience 

gives us the freedom to 

further explore. 

A good example of this 

occurred when the Vatican 

presented the Doctrinal 

Assessment to the Leadership 

Conference of Women 

Religious (LCWR), questioning 

the life and ministries of 

religious sisters in the United 

States. Having the freedom to 

disagree through reasonable 

dialogue, the sisters validated 

their own position. They had 

implemented the teachings 

of Vatican II, bringing their 

congregations into the 21st 

century. 

When the sensus fidelium 

disagrees with a teaching, it 

might open the door for people 

to use their own consciences. 

As theology and science evolve, 

we have the freedom to question 

how they might be understood 

by us today. 

Charity 

Associate Kathy Weishaar 

When I was studying 

to become an associate, my 

definition of charity was, “I do 

not have a lot of money but I 

donate what I can.” 

As I read the Associate 

Handbook, my definition of 

charity evolved. Upon selfreflection, 

I saw my life as a 

charitable one: I chose a teaching 

profession because I enjoy 

the students and I taught religious 

education for my church. 

As my life progressed, my 

third child was very special 

and still is. Because of him, 

I met many people who live 

charitable lives and my perspective 

of charity expanded. 

Special needs people can be 

loud, interruptive and messy; 

they and their supporters 

often live isolated from much 

of society. I am amazed at the 

people who treat us with charity 

when we are out in public. 

Charity defined, in this case, is 

one of acceptance and patience 

for someone who has different 

social skills. 

I became an associate 

because I needed more from 

my Catholic faith. As I have 

met and worked with BVMs, 

they are an inspiring example 

of charity. Their ministries 

support integration for many 

kinds of people with varying 

needs. These examples have led 

me to a mature definition of 

charity: Living a life of love for 

everyone we meet. 

As they treat others with dignity 

and respect, foster and fulfill the 

thirst for learning, embrace the 

freedom to question, and live lives 

reflecting a love for others—associates 

walk with BVM sisters, living 

out the core values into the future. 


SALT BRIEFS 

RCIF Announces New Board Member 

Mount Carmel Hosts Motherhouse Road Trip 

A Nun’s Life Ministry took to the road to visit the Sisters of Charity, 

BVM at the Mount Carmel Motherhouse in Dubuque, Iowa, in 

March. The podcast was live-streamed (audio and video) over the 

internet. BVMs Lou Anglin and Paulette Skiba joined hosts, IHM 

sisters Julie Vieira and Maxine Kollasch, to discuss the traditions 

of religious life including discernment, prayer and spirituality. A 

live chat room provided online listeners the ability to interact with 

each other and the sisters during the podcast. To listen to the podcast, 

visit: http://bit.ly/1UDwQT5. 

St. Paul, San Francisco Celebrates Centennial 

San Francisco’s St. 

Paul Elementary 

School celebrated 

its 100th anniversary 

with a two-day event 

April 30–May 1. The 

school has served 

approximately 

BVMs Ann Dress (l.) and Bette Gambonini (Esther Mary) 

12,000 students during 

the past century and fostered many vocations. Fifteen BVM 

sisters arrived in San Francisco July 8, 1916, from Dubuque, Iowa. 

BVMs remained a continuous presence—from founding Principal 

Conradine Davies, BVM to the last BVM Principal, Mary Ann Cronin, 

who left that role in 2001. St. Paul continues to emphasize Catholic 

tradition, academic excellence, diversity and community. BVM 

President Teri Hadro represented the community for the celebration, 

saying, “. . . the magnetic energy of the St. Paul community 

made this school and its sister high school across the street one of 

the most memorable of BVM missions . . .” 

Discernment Weekend 

Date: Friday, Oct. 7–8, 2016 

Contact: Sr. Rita Cameron, PBVM 

vocations@dubuquepresentations.org 

563-588-2008 

Margaret Mary Cosgrove, BVM 

has joined the Board of Religious 

Communities Investment Fund 

(RCIF). “I feel very honored to be 

invited,” she says. “It was always 

hard for me as a treasurer to find 

groups that not only wanted to do 

community investment, but had 

the infrastructure to do it well, like 

RCIF does.” She lives in Dubuque, 

Iowa, and is the director of client 

services for Great Lakes Advisors, where her clients are religious 

congregations. 

‘BVMs at the UN’ 

BVMs Sara McAlpin 

(Philip Mary) (r.)and 

Mary Martens (Loras) 

attended the Commission 

on the Status 

of Women (CSW) 

conference in New 

York, March 13-18. 

BVMs partner with the 

Loretto Community, a non-governmental organization (NGO) 

accredited to the United Nations. The annual event and partnership 

offer high school and college students and adults global 

outreach opportunities with the goal of eliminating genderbased 

discrimination. This year’s theme focused on Beijing 

Declaration and Platform for Action. 

BVM Receives 

Award 

Mary McCauley, BVM was 

honored with the Church 

Women United Human 

Rights Award at its annual 

prayer gathering on May 

6 at Shalom Spirituality 

Center in Dubuque, Iowa. 

This year’s service theme 

was “Finding Grace at 

the Table.” The featured 

program focused on 

“I was an immigrant/refugee and you welcomed me.” Mary 

served as pastoral administrator at St. Bridget Parish in Postville, 

Iowa, during the immigration workplace raid on May 12, 2008. 

“I accept this honor in the name of all of my friends in Postville 

who were affected by the devastating raid,” Mary shared, noting 

that “justice continues to be the aim of BVMs” as they live the 

call to “Welcome the Stranger.” 

18 | SALT MAGAZINE

BVMs Appointed to New Leadership Positions 

Xavier College Preparatory 

in Phoenix 

has announced that 

longtime Principal 

Mary Joan Fitzgerald, 

BVM (John Raymond) 

(r.) will become the 

school’s president, 

and Vice Principal of 

Academics and Campus 

Minister Joan Nuckols, BVM (l.) will become its new principal. 

Both positions are effective July 1, and exemplify an emerging 

administration model of dual leadership structure offering 

shared authority and responsibilities to better serve Catholic 

high schools, students, families and communities. Xaiver has 

been staffed by the Sisters of Charity, BVM since 1943, when they 

established the Catholic high school for girls known as Xavier 

College Preparatory. 

Dowling Catholic HS Honors BVM 

Carolyn Farrell, 

BVM (Lester) was 

presented with 

the Distinguished 

Alumni Award 

at the Scholastic 

Achievement Ceremony 

April 19 at 

Dowling Catholic 

HS, West Des 

Moines, Iowa. 

Carolyn ministered as teacher and principal, and served as director, 

interim president and associate vice president for universities 

in Dubuque, Iowa, and Chicago. She was a member of the 

Dubuque City Council and served as mayor of Dubuque. She 

notes, “Serious education was the goal of the BVMs” and urged 

Dowling HS students to “be grateful for the opportunity your 

education offers you as you continue your life journey.” 

100th Birthday Celebration 

Chris Murray, (l.) Carolyn Farrell, BVM and Paul Duwelius (r.) 

Marilyn Thomas, BVM celebrated 

her 100th birthday on April 17, 2016, 

with a celebratory liturgy and dinner 

at Mount Carmel. Marilyn ministered 

as music teacher and secretary for the 

Mother General, BVM provincials and 

two college presidents. She taught 

music and French to novices and 

maintained payroll accounts for the 

congregation. BVM President Teri Hadro, in her celebratory “Welcome,” 

reflected: “In a prayer attributed to our foundress Mary 

Frances Clarke, BVMs ask to ‘be a fit instrument’ in God’s hands. 

Marilyn, could there be a better metaphor for your life as a BVM?” 

Welcoming 

Refugees 

Campaign 

The Sisters of 

Charity, BVM, join 

with Catholic Sisters 

of the Upper 

Mississippi River Valley, who are calling on citizens and politicians 

to work together to welcome refugees. They have launched a 

public awareness campaign in June and July to remind potential 

candidates and voters to address this critical issue when they 

vote in November. 

Billboards urging communities to welcome refugees are placed in 

designated areas in Iowa, Wisconsin and Nebraska, featuring the 

message based on the words of Jesus and taken from the Gospel 

of Matthew: “I was a stranger a refugee and you welcomed me.” 

Prayer services will be scheduled and postcards sent to government 

officials nationwide. 

In Loving Memory 

“Lord, for your faithful people life is changed, not taken away.” 

Pray for the Sisters of Charity, BVM and 

Associates who have died January–May 2016: 

Sarah Ann Braig 

March 16, 1943–Jan. 29, 2016 

H. Dorothy Townsell 

(Mildred Ann) 

July 20, 1912–March 18, 2016 

Mary John Agnes Smith 

March 6, 1927–March 25, 2016 

Eva Sheehan 

April 12, 1917–April 1, 2016 

Incarnata Gephart 

Dec. 3, 1920–April 21, 2016 

Maxine Marie Rummelhart 

(Rupert) 

June 26, 1926–April 25, 2016 

Veronica J. (Jackie) Burke, BVM 

(Timothena) 

May 6, 1921–May 11,2016 

Sisters Invite all to #PrayItForward 

BVMs, along with Catholic Sisters of the 

Upper Mississippi River Valley, celebrated 

National Catholic Sisters Week (NCSW) with 

a new social justice campaign called “Pray it 

Forward.” The campaign—funded by a grant 

from NCSW—featured six one-minute 

videos with Catholic sisters holding signs that illustrate social 

justice issues such as human trafficking, violence, and poor environmental 

practices. The videos invited viewers to join sisters in 

raising awareness of and praying for resolution of the issues. To 

view videos, visit: http://bit.ly/1VKuF2t. 

Frances Eileen Dunne, BVM 

Feb. 22, 1925–May 26, 2016 

BVM Associates 

Violet Boge 

June 26, 1931–Feb. 24, 2016 

Phyllis Walsh 

Dec. 22, 1926–Jan. 16, 2016 

Read a sister’s obituary/funeral 

reflection, at: www.bvmcong. 

org. A memorial fund has been 

established. If you would like to add 

to this memorial, please send your 

gift to the BVM Development Office 

or visit our website for online giving. 


2014–2015 Annual Report 

Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

The Office of Development 

is maintained by 

the congregation of 

the Sisters of Charity 

of the Blessed Virgin 

Mary and is recognized 

as a nonprofit, taxexempt, 

religious organization 

by the state 

of Iowa and Federal 

Government. 

Operating expenses 

for the 2014–2015 

fiscal year were 

$445,768. 

We cannot thank you enough for your generous support and friendship. The Sisters of Charity 

of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and those they serve, are truly blessed that you have partnered 

with them in mission. It is with sincere gratitude that we present this accounting of the Office 

of Development. 

23% 

17% 

54% 

Fund Distribution 

Fiscal year Sept. 1, 2014–Aug. 31, 2015 

The total receipts from the following 

categories were $3,305,631: 

Bequests | $1,795,985 

BVM Support Fund | $765,002 

Unrestricted | $544,503 

Donor Restricted | $107,709 

Education Endowment Fund | $92,432 

3% 3% 

14% 

This is an audited 

report reviewed by Eide 

Bailly. 

7% 

2% 

Sources of Gifts 

BVM Perspective | 2014–15 Annual Report 

This list acknowledges 

new Donors of Distinction 

from the past year. 

Visit our website to 

view the complete list 

of donors, available 

in print by request. 

For a print copy of our 

benefactors showing 

gifts received from 

Sept. 1, 2014–Aug. 

31, 2015, contact the 

development office at 

563-585-2854. 

12% 

23% 

42% 

Alumni | 4,741 

Family | 1,534 

Friends | 2,544 

Other | 1,349 

Former BVMs | 830 

BVM Associates | 285 

The women and men listed in this report represent the deep level of support of the life and ministry of 

the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A cross () is used to indicate that the person has died. 

We include their names to honor their commitment and their memory. 

20

Donors of Distinction 

Sisters Network Connects with Donors 


The Sisters Development Network (SDN) assists the Office of Development in furthering 

the relationships of our monthly and legacy benefactors. Legacy benefactors are those 

who have included the BVMs in their estate plans. The sisters add a personal touch by 

sending cards and letters, making phone calls, and keeping our benefactors informed 

about all that is happening at Mount Carmel. 

Dolores Becker Alice Caulfield Donard Collins Mary Crimmin Ann Cronin Jeroma Day 

(Alissio) 

(Agnes) 

Dolores Doohan Alice M. Dunphy Mary Jean Ferry Marie Greaney Flo Heflin Therese Jacobs 

(Sarah James) (St. Gerard) (St. Christopher) (David Therese) (Floretta) (Therese Carmelle) 

Kate Keating Marion Murphy Marie Neff Julie O’Neill 

(St. Wilma) (John Patrice) (Charles Marie) 

How to 

Contact Us 

Reach out to the Office 

of Development at 

any time with your 

questions: 

1100 Carmel Drive 

Dubuque, IA 52001-7991 

563-585-2854 

development@bvmcong.org 

www.bvmcong.org 

Andy Schroeder Shirley Brown Kyle Collins Lori Hesseling Jean Short 

Development Director Assoc. Director of Development Donor Relations Representative Administrative Assistant Gift Entry Specialist 


21

BVM Monthly Partners 

Friends who contribute monthly to the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: 


Names in bold are new members. 

Anonymous (11) 

Judith Andrews 

Paul and Mary Bauer 

Joyce Beasley 

Kathleen Bebe 

Mary and Louis Bencomo 

Joan Benson 

Marcella Betts 

Robert and Connie Bintner 

Sandra Bjorklund 

Hylda Blaske 

Judith and Queston Boston 

Lois and Richard Bowman 

Barbara Bravard 

Kathleen Brown 

Jill Burleson 

Lucille Caravette 

Katherine Casey 

Adrian Collins 

Michael Collins 

Norine Collins 

Veronica and Matthew Cook 

Violet Corr 

Sandra Craig 

Mary Anne Critz 

Jane Cronkleton 

Harriet Dailey 

Rose Marie Davidsaver 

Vincent and Mary DeBow 

Geraldine Delaney 

Dennis Dietrich 

Patricia and Joseph Dobes 

M Maureen Doherty 

Elena Duarte 

Catherine Eberle 

Georg and Sonya Ek 

Kimberly Emery 

Fred Faller 

Peter and Marie Ferry 

Roberta and William Flaherty 

Katharine and Robert Forrester 

Fort Bragg Electric Inc 

Virginia Rose Forte 

Phillip Genovese 

Donna and Mike Gomez 

Eileen Hanna 

John and Virginia Heitz 

Marilyn Highlander-Pool 

and Lloyd Pool 

Ilene Hruby 

Alan and Sharon Kalitzky 

Francis Kehoe 

Carol Kerry 

Laura Knapp and Joseph Knapp 

Christine and William Koentopp 

Richard Kreitzberg 

Mary Ann and James Krems 

Rose Ann Krieg 

Joan LaBue 

Christen LaFayette 

Mary Leonard 

Patricia and Michael Livingston 

Lois Loveless 

Rose Mary Luh 

Tess Malumphy 

Rebecca and Alfred Marti 

John Matcovich and 

Jennifer Lucas Young 

Susan and Frank Matule 

Keith and Dorothy McCaffrey 

Ralph and Mary Catherine 

McCaffrey 

Nancy McCarville 

Kathleen McCormac 

Mary McGonigle-McCourt 

Mary and John McInerney 

Carol McManus 

Barbara and John McNiff 

Grace Mendez 

Muriel and Ronald Mendonca 

Mary and Roman Merritt 

Rita Michaels 

Marie Myers 

Colleen and James Nieman 

Kathleen and Neftali Nieves 

Rose Nikodem 

Mary Anne and Carl Nordeen 

Joan and Robert O’Keefe 

Eileen O’Shea & Marybeth Coleman 

Reverend Lawrence Percell 

Shirley Perry 

Bernadette McCall Proulx 

Suzanne and Thomas Purcell III 

Vivianne Toomey Rago 

and Albert Rago 

Jennifer and Greg Reese 

Patricia Robb & Stephen Clarke 

Marilyn Roche 

Dorothy and Frank Rothman 

Brother Leo V Ryan, CSV 

Louise and Jose Santiago 

Agnes Saucerman 

Margaret Schneider 

Angela Schreiner 

Andy and Kara Schroeder 

Sharon Scully 

Diane and Roger Serzen 

Nancy and John Singleton 

Shawn Singleton 

Sylvia Standaert 

Douglas Stillings 

Nancy Swanson 

William Taylor 

Keith Timmons 

Virginia and Paul C Tobin Sr 

Fortunato Trapani 

Francis Tworek 

Charles Vermeyen 

Therese Wagner 

Robert and Donna Wahlert 

Joan and Neil West 

Donna Tobin Westemeyer 

and John Westemeyer 

Lynn Whitmore 

Marjorie Wood 

Caroline Zygowicz 

Enjoying their daily stroll around Mount Carmel are BVMs Marilyn Thomas (l.) and 

Laurene Brady. 

The Sisters of Charity, BVM were blessed by the generosity of benefactors during 

Great Give Day, a 24-hour nationwide online giving event promoting philanthropic 

support. The gifts received will help preserve the mature, stately oak trees at 

Mount Carmel by treating those infected with oak wilt disease. The Mount Carmel 

property is a reminder of God’s creation, given to both the BVM sisters and the 

surrounding community to care for and enjoy. 

22


Mary Frances Clarke Society 

The Mary Frances Clarke Society honors those whose total lifetime giving to the 

Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary has reached the following levels: 



$250,000 and more 

Mary Ann Annetti Estate 

Mary Sally Aylward 

The Bisenius Family 

Jean Callahan 

William and Dorothy 

Cullen Estate 

Jeanne and James Ferry Estate 

Frances Flary Estate 

John Gormley Estate 

Mary King Gormley Estate 

Joseph Green Estate 

Elma Jochumsen Estate 

Mary Keeley 

Louise Kuhn Estate 

Frances Aid MacEinri 

Edna McCabe Estate 

Gertrude McKay Estate 

Mary Watters Miller Estate 

Anne Mosle Estate 

The George and Amy Newman 

Foundation 

Reverend Monsignor Joseph 

O’Dea Estate 

Lorraine Pucik 

Marion Rapp 

William & Alice Robinson Estate 

Mary Margaret Ronan Estate 

Edward & Joseph Ryan Estate 

Saint Mary Alumnae Association 

Reverend Leon Schneider 

Robert G and Kathryn R 

Schwemley Foundation 

The Immaculata Alumnae 

Association 

August VandeVoorde Estate 

Frances Waibel Trust 

James Williams Trust 

$100,000 to $249,999 

Anonymous (5) 

Joseph and Patricia Barta 

Clara Bendel Estate 

Mary Bradley Trust 

Catherine Cashman Estate 

Cathedral High School Alumni 

Association 

Chicago Province of the Society 

of Jesus 

Reverend Edward Collins Estate 

Dorothy Colucci Estate 

Conlon Construction Company 

Paul and Mary Conover 

Jane Delaney 

Frances Rose Dewey Trust 

Edward Dolan 

EJ & LR Dondlinger Charitable Trust 

Margaret Dorcey Trust 

George Dunne Estate 

Mary Madeline Ebinger Estate 

Mary Flynn Estate 

Elizabeth Gaul 

Catherine Geary Estate 

Maurice Giustine Estate 

Catherine Halligan Trust 

John Hansman Estate 

Louise Healy Estate 

Dolores Hope 

Margaret Izzo Trust 

Dorothy Janssen Estate 

John Deere Classic 

Clifford Julius Estate 

Barbara June 

Loretto Kendall 

Molly Kurtz 

Elizabeth Ann Lavaty Estate 

Mary Lawlis 

Loretta Lifka 

Margaret Malloy Estate 

Grace Mark 

Thomas McHale Trust 

Alice McMahon Estate 

Mary Meaney Estate 

Marie Miske Estate 

Jean Monforti Estate 

Arthur Naes Estate 

K Angela O’Donnell Estate 

Thomas and Winnie O’Halloran 

Alice Cavanaugh Powers 

Janet Powers 

Mary Quattrochi Estate 

Kathleen Lally Quilter 

Kenneth Rittenmeyer Estate 

Agnes Rocca Estate 

Doretta Roche 

Saint Paul High School 

San Francisco 

Mary Justine Sheil Estate 

Joanne Stanislawski 

Marie Townsell 

Nancy Van Anne 

Helen Walters Estate 

$50,000 to $99,999 

Anonymous (4) 

American Trust and Savings Bank 

Argentina Andoni Estate 

Carol Auclair 

June Bellingham Estate and 

Charles Bellingham 

Maribeth and James Benham 

Catherine Blake Estate 

Helen Brach Foundation 

Adelaide Brennan 

Frances Bussanmas 

Rev. Monsignor John Cardiff 

The Carrigan Charitable Trust 

Annabel Christensen 

Victor Colucci Estate 

Margaret Croke Estate 

Willis Dake 

Lemoyne Decker Estate 

Loretta Duggan 

Elizabeth Matula Dustman 

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation 

Reverend Richard Feller 

Urban Fleege Estate 

Virginia C Forte 

James Gearen 

Catherine Gibson 

Dorothy Glancey Estate 

Greater Milwaukee Foundation 

John Hanley Estate 

Marian Harding Estate 

Robert Huot 

Evangeline Jansen Estate 

Winifred Kelly Estate 

Madeleine Kinney Estate 

Harold Kutchera Trust 

Anna Leeney Estate 

Donald Linch 

Kathryn Lynch Estate 

Mary C Mackin 

M Winifred Mahoney Estate 

Charles Malone Estate 

Mercedes McCambridge 

Naola McDermott 

Donald McEleney 


Mary Miller Estate 

Genevieve Moran Estate 

Marguerite Mullin 

James Normanly Estate 

Lydia O’Connor 

Virginia and V Robert Payant 

Joe Rauch Estate 

Frances Regan Estate 

Mary Rhomberg 

Joan Rockwell 

Saint Joseph Academy Alumnae, 

Dubuque Chapter 

Rose Schafer Estate 

Marion Schmidt Trust 

Dorothy Schumacher 

Nancy and Dennis Scranton 

Margaret Tiedemann Estate 

? 

Did You Know? 

We have donors from: 

50 

States 

3 

U.S. Territories 

6 

Foreign Countries 

Wilfred and Mary Jane 

Von Der Ahe Estate 

Rose Walsh 

Marie Walsh Estate 

Betty Klein Whitted 

Thomas Wren Estate 

Cho and Margaret Wu 

$25,000 to $49,999 

Anonymous (7) 

Lois Anderson 

Richard and Mary Anderson 

Mary Babyar Estate 

Alice Bizulis Estate 

James Blaine Estate 

Bernice Blenker Estate 

Mary Boden Estate 

Wayne Braig Estate 

Elmer Brennan 

Margaret Caddick 

Christopher Calt 

Mary Cannon and William Ryan 

Drew 

Susan Carlson 

Reverend Leo Francis Carton 

Trust 


23

Mary Frances Clarke Society continued. 


Ann Charvat Estate 

Catherine Coffey Estate 

Chris and Monica Columbus 

Geraldine Connors Estate 

Convalescent Equipment and 

Supply Co 

Michael T Crowley Sr 

Marie D’Amore 

Nancy and William Davidson 

Beatrice Dormedy Estate 

Mary McDonald Downes 

Dubuque Bank & Trust Company 

Virginia Durr 

Marilyn and Donald Duwelius 

Catherine and Robert Everhart 

Eleanor and Nickolas Fesunoff 


Loretta Franklin 

Freas Foundation Inc 

John Gearen Estate 

Betty Golden 

Paul Gordon 

John Gordon 

Sarah Gottschall Estate 

Ruth and Jake Graves 

Samuel Green 

Joan Grossman 

Mary Haake 

Mary Anne Hagy Family Trust 

Lucile Haley 

Francis Hanley 

Theresa Healy 

Margaret Hovens Estate 

Libbie Irmick Trust 

Elaine Johnston 

John Kane 

Marguerite Karnick 

Marion Kennedy Estate 

Donna and Wayne Kern 

Frances Kieltyka Estate 

Ann King Estate 


John and MaryAdele Krolikowski 

Sharon and Rollin Lacy 

Ursula Healy Lawson Estate 

Reverend Monsignor Arthur 

Lirette 

Agnes Llewellyn Estate 

Rosemary and Raymond 

Lusson 

James Joseph Lynch Estate 

Sheila Lyng 

Mazza Foundation 

John McAloon 


Timothy McCormick 

Marie McEnroe Estate 

Margaret McEvoy Estate 

Helen McKenna 

Marie Antoinette McNamara 

Estate 

Joan Judge Mirabal 

Florence Moffett Estate 

Marie and Paul Montavon 

Jeanette Cofone Mooney Estate 

and William Mooney Estate 

Doris Munstermann 

Joseph J O’Hare III 

Kathleen O’Kane 

Dianne and Timothy O’Leary 

Mary O’Leary Estate 

Shirley and John O’Reilly 

Helen McCabe Osbourn 

Lois and Stanley Osman 

John Phelan 

Lillian Phelan Estate 

James Piloni and Paula Walsh 

Mary Ellen and Robert Quinn 

Margaret Reid Trust 

Helen Rooney 

Lester Rumpf Estate 

Bernard Schmitz Estate 

Marie Scott Estate 

C A Shea & Company Inc 

Violet Sheehan 

Society for the Propagation of 

the Faith 

Dorcel Spengler 

Anna Stefaniak 

Leona Stimpson Estate 

Dorothy and Frances Sugrue 

Elizabeth Sykora and 

Stephena Fredette 

Eileen Tracy Estate 

US Bank 

Wahlert Foundation 

Reverend Patrick Walsh 

Margaret Welch Estate 

Donna Tobin Westemeyer and 

John Westemeyer 

Kathryn and M W Whitlow 

Marjorie Wood 

Fred Woodard 

Xavier College Preparatory 

Audrey Zywicki 

$10,000 to $24,999 


Mary Adams 

Richard and Patricia Albright 

Father John Aldera Foundation 

Teresa and Garry Allen 

Catherine Allen Estate 

Margaret Mary Allen Estate 

Thomas R Allen Jr Living Trust 

Joan and Thomas Anzalone 

Joseph Arneson Estate 

Cyrilla and Frank Bajda Estate 

Bernadette Baraty 

Miriam Barry 

Helen and M Bates 

Joan and Gene Beak 

Leora Beaton 

Nancy Beatty 

Raquel Bech and Larry Martin 

Norbert Behr Estate 

Alfred and Rita Belluomini 


Rosemary Berg Estate 

Harold Berneman Estate 

Phyllis and James Bjork 

Rosemary Boland 

Theodora Bostick 

Dorothy and Evelyn Bouhan 

Trust 

Glenn Boysen 

Helen Brame 

Louis Brizzolara 

George Broell 

Patricia and John Brow 

Burke Family Foundation 

Michael and Monica Caffarella 

Joseph and Sandra Cain 

Loretta Campbell 

Yvonne Cardy 

Mabel Carmody 

Mary Claire Casey 

Irma Cashman Estate 

Frances Cashman Trust 

Gladys Chapman 

Ruth Charles 

Mary Catherine Chezik Estate 

Ann and Michael Ciresi 

Reverend H Robert Clark 

Daniel Clyne 

Margaret Coffey 

William L Coffey Jr Estate 

Madeline Cohn Estate 

Dorothy Collins 

Kathryn Condon 

Steve and Loretta Conlon 

Margaret Conner Estate 

Daniel Connolly 

Reverend Edward Connolly 

Reverend Edward Connors Trust 

Mary Connors Trust 

Robert Conway Estate 

Frances and Conrad Cook 


Cecilia Moran Cooper 

Jayne Copps 

Julia Corboy 

Edward Cosgrove 

Lorraine Cote 

Phyllis Cozzola 

Priscilla Crowe Estate 

Reverend Ambrose 

Cunningham 

Margaret Curtin and James Wilder 

Sally Davenport 


Frances Dawson Estate 

Margaret Delaney Trust 

Janet Desmond Estate 

Frank and Joy Deutmeyer 

Margaret Dillon 

Mary and Terry Dillon 

Dorothy Dingfelder 

Barbara Doan 



Richard Dompke 

Joseph Doran Estate 

Jacqueline Powers Doud and 

Robert Doud 

Thomas W Dower Foundation 

Reverend Michael Doyle, OSM 

Leo and Norma Drilling 

Jerome and Joan Duffy 

Meneve Dunham 

Ellen and Edward Dunn 


Rita Ewalt 

John and Malvina Farrell 

James Fehl and Carol Mizeur 

Edward Feuerbacher 

Judge Edward G Finnegan 

Memorial Fund 

William and Alison Fitzgerald 

L Patricia Fitzmaurice Trust 

Iva and Hugh Flaherty 

Joseph and Elsie Flynn 

Shirley Ford 

Katherine Forster Estate 


Alice Fox 

Arthur Freas 

Ellen Frey 

Garnetta Kramer Charitable 

Foundation 

Martha Garrett 

Loretta and Bernard Garvey 

Mary Garzoni 

Marie Gath Estate 

Margaret and Frank Gebhardt 

Dorothy Gehringer 

Mary Georgine 

Mary Therese Gill 

Rosemary Giunta 


Payson Gould 

Carol Graser Estate 

Reverend Joseph Graves 

Lucille and Edward Grennan 

Eugene and Peggy Grennan 

Eileen Halloran Estate 

The Halstead Family 

Mary Hardiman-Desmond and 

Michael Desmond 

Patricia Harrison 

Mary Ellen Harrison Estate 

The Hart Family 

Mary Haugh 

Evelyne Hayny 

Reverend Monsignor John 

Heaney 

John and Virginia Heitz 

Philip Heles 

Dorothy Higgins and 

Betty Ann McEnroe 

Marion Hillabold Estate 

Conrad Hilton Fund for Sisters 

24


Rita and Eugene Hoffmann 

Paul and Gina Hoffmann 

Mark Hogan and 

Barb Stone-Potter 

Jack Horton 

Margaret Hotka 

Eugenia Hoy 

Ilene Hruby 

Ann Huber 

Reverend Leo Huber Foundation 

Donald Jacobs 

Thomas and Judith Jacobs 

Camille Jacques 

Marie Jameson 

Catherine Johnson 

Janet Sloan Johnston 

Irene Jones 

Patricia Joyce 

Pat and Randy Judge 

Brother James R Keane, CFC 

Mary Kelley 

Sheryl and Gary Kelley 

Lorraine M and 

G Dudley Kennedy 

Mary Kennedy 

The Kerr Family 

James Kineen 

Gerald Kinzelman 

Llewellyn Kirby 

The Klauer Family Charitable 

Foundation 

Walter Knepper Estate 

Byron Knox Estate 

William Kolody 

Patricia Kommer 

Marietta Korak 

Janel Kordick 

George Kostakis 

Kramer Family Fund 

William and Rosemarie Kraus 

Mary Kreider Estate 

Thomas & Janet Krocheski Fund 

Paul and Susan Kurt 

The Kutter Family Fund 

Paul and Debbie Lambert 

Lands’ End Inc 

Mary Jo Langer 

Jeanne and Desmond LaPlace 

Patricia Laraia 

Michelle LaRue 

Sophie Drzymala Laverty 

Denise Lefebvre Estate 

Grace Lepard Trust 

Jean and Peter Lococo 

Adeline Lococo Trust 

Steven and Teresa Loftus 

Frances Lohmiller 

Barbara Mankus Louthan 

Mary Ellen and John Lucas 

Monsignor Michael Lucid Estate 

Bertha Lucy 

Pearl Lukasik Trust Estate 

Timothy Lyne 

Reverend Thomas Maher 

Patrick and Maria Mahoney 

Terence Mahoney 

Hazel Mahoney Estate 

Verna Mailander Estate 

Naomi Majewski 

Helen Maloney Trust 

Tess Malumphy 

Bernadette Manning Estate 

Adrienne Mansi 

Gustave Manthey 

Harry and Margaret Martens 

Estate 

Rose and Charles Matt Estate 



McCaffrey 

Virginia McCarthy 

John McCarthy 

Patricia McCarthy 

Reverend Patrick Pearse 

McCarthy Estate 

Josanne and G Thomas 

McCarver 

Monica McCauley Estate 

James McCulloch 

Virginia McDermott 

Sarah McDermott Estate 

John and Virginia McDonagh 

Warren McEleney 

James McElmeel 

Margaret McEnery 

Reverend Monsignor Edward 

McEvoy Estate 

John and Mary McHugh 

Michael and Kathleen McKibbin 

Reverend Monsignor Charles 

McNamee 


John McParland 

Veronica McShane Estate 

Robert McWade 

Mary McWade Estate 

Terry Medhurst 

Richard Meerians Estate 

Elizabeth Mengel 

Reverend William Menster 

Coletta Mertes Estate 

Francis Meyer 

Carol Michael Trust 

Virginia and Eugene Migely Jr 

Maggie and Eugene Mikkelson 

Lewis Miller Estate 

Anne McGrath Miriani Estate 

The Mission Club 

Molo Oil Company 

Daniel and Katherine Molyneaux 

Robert Monfort 

Norine Morrison Estate 

Mount Saint Gertrude Alumnae 

Association 

Leo Mullin 

James Murphy 

William and Rita Nash 

Dorothy Nieland Estate 

Mark Niemczyk 

Frank and Lois Noonan 


Jack Norris 

John O’Brien Estate 

Ethel O’Connor 

Mary Alice O’Donnell Estate 

James O’Grady 

Margaret O’Grady Estate 

Jean O’Keefe and Marianne Littau 

Mary Rose O’Malley Estate 

Rosemary O’Meara 

Virginia O’Meara 

Janis Pajdusak Estate 

Mary Jo Paveza 

Marguerite Pearson 

Dolores Pencz 

Barbara and Robert Perkaus 

Grace Pertell 

Elizabeth Petty and Karen Milner 

Geraldine Phillips 

Helen Pidgeon Estate 

Rita Pilsl 

Margaret Ponty 

Elizabeth Postell 

Power Drive Inc 

Rose Marie Princ 

? 

Did You Know? 

8,040 

Total number of gifts 

1,776 

First time donors 

31 

Age of youngest donor 

103 

Age of oldest donor 


25

Mary Frances Clarke Society continued. 

Projects of the Heart NFP 

Margaret Quane Estate 

James Quilter 

Gerard Quinlan Estate 

Antoinette Quinn Estate 

Patricia and Robert Quirk 

Robert Reder 

Reverend Gary Reller 

Ellade Rice 

Kristina Richter-Becker and 

Jeff Becker 

Patricia Riggs 

Catherine and Harry Riley 

Michael and Anna Mary Riniker 

Eileen Rocap 

Marie and James Rocap III 

Francis Rochex Trust 

Marjorie Roethler 

Mary Foster Romig Estate 

David Rose Estate 


Alexander and Lucille Rudolf 

Family Fund 

Katherine Kehoe Runkle Estate 

Virginia Kennedy Ryan 


Des Moines, Iowa 

Saint Joseph Church 

Saint Richard Catholic Church 

Saint Vincent de Paul Society 

Joseph and Suzanne Sana 

Jacqueline and Maurice Sardi 

Ruth Scallon 

Mary Scarpino 

Beth Kaiser Schafer 

Alan Schoen 

Mona Schoentrup Estate 

Miriam Schuchardt 

Thomas and Lou Schulte 

Mary Scriven 

Sharon Scully 

Robert Seelman 

Helen Shafer Estate 

Patricia Kennedy Shanahan 

Don and Erma Shanklin 

Mary Sharbel Estate 

Mary Shellenberg 

William Sherlock 

Lawrence Shimkus Estate 

Sharon and Jeffrey Siirola 

Davida Silva 

Janet Sisler 

Therese Slowiak 

Patrick and Mary Sly 

Anna Smith Estate 

Elizabeth Smurlo 

Joseph Smurlo 

Melvin Soberg 

James and Diana Spiegel 

Jayne and Joseph Spittler 

Judy Stark 

Mary Celeste and 

Donald Steinwachs 

Linda and Terence Stevinson 

Straka Johnson Architects PC 

Myra Stratton 

Marie and Paul Swope Jr 

Mary Syron Estate 


Anita Terpstra 

Shirley Thiel 

Patty Thomas 

Rosalie Tiedje 

Keith Timmons 

Maryanne Tondreau Estate 

Jean and Kenneth Toth 

Gregory Tucker 

Joanne Twomey 

Lorraine Vantucci 

Alice Vaughn Estate 

Mary Vergano 

Marguerite Verschelden 

Rev. Monsignor Robert Vogl 


Jean Wallace 

Jocile Walsh 

Jeanne Walsh Trust 

WealthEngine.com 

Arlene Welbes 

Bernard and Caroline Westner 

William Wetzel 

Jane Wetzel Estate 

Lynn Whitmore 

Michele and Steven Whitty 

Most Reverend Gerald Wilkerson 

Mary and Sam Winklebleck 

Catherine Wohner 

Barbara Yusunas 

Ernest Zenaty 

Helen Zollmann Estate 

Legacy Partners 

The Legacy Partners Society identifies and honors those donors whose commitment and concern for 

the future of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is demonstrated through their estate plans: 




John Abbey Estate 

Therese and Richard Abril 

Mary Adams 

Catherine Allen Estate 

Kathleen Anderson-Knight and 

Michael Knight 

Mary Ann Annetti Estate 

Carol Auclair 


Mary Babyar Estate 

Elena Baca 

Cyrilla and Frank Bajda Estate 

Maryln and Louis Balaban 

Catherine Banville 

Marcella Barda Estate 

Lois and Clarence Barrett 

Lucile Barry Estate 

Mary Josephine Barry Estate 

Nancy Beatty 

Florence Busch-Beaudry 

Robert Beaulieu Estate 

Dorothy and Fred Becklenberg 

Norbert Behr Estate 

Reverend Monsignor Elmer 

Behrmann Estate 

June Bellingham Estate and 

Charles Bellingham 

Karen Morris Bellis and 

Robert Baker 

Mafalda Benchea 

Clara Bendel Estate 

Paulette Beraldi 

Rosemary Berg Estate 

Nona and Jeff Bernard 

Harold Berneman Estate 

Angela Hanley Berry 

Diane Berryman 

The Bisenius Family 

Alice Bizulis Estate 

Harold Black and Jane Swails 

Catherine Blaes Estate 

Catherine Blake Estate 

Bernice Blenker Estate 

Jeanne Kaeferstein Bloom Estate 

Mary Boden Estate 

Lorraine Body 

Elizabeth Bonnes Estate 

Dorothy $ Evelyn Bouhan Trust 

Margaret Boyd 

Kathleen Boyle 

Rosemary Boyle 

Clara Boyle Estate 

LeVergne Boyle Estate 

Wayne Braig Estate 

Kathleen Brannigan 


Diane Broderick and Jim Russell 

Virginia Broderick Estate 

Rita Brown 

Helen Burke Estate 

Helen Buysse Estate 

Helen Caffery Estate 

Anna Cagney Estate 

Kevin Cahill Estate 

Joseph Caldwell 

Terrence Callahan Estate 

Mary Callen Trust 

Mary Adele Carlman Trust 

Mary T Casey 

Elizabeth Casey Estate 

Catherine Cashman Estate 

Irma Cashman Estate 

Mary Catherine Chezik Estate 

Stephanie Chodera 

John Christensen Estate 

Joan and Giles Clark 

John and Bonnie Clark 

Lyle Clemens Estate 

Carolyn and Brett Clements 

Madeline Cohn Estate 


Victor Colucci Estate 

Catherine Condon 

John Connelly 

Geraldine Connors Estate 

Reverend Edward Connors Trust 

Mary Connors Trust 

Robert Conway Estate 

Leona Cook 


Irene Cook Estate 


Rita Corbett 

Maureen and William Cosgriff 

Ramona Coutre 

Sandra Craig 

Margaret Croke Estate 

Patricia Cronin 

Susan Crook 

Priscilla Crowe Estate 

Joan Crowley 

Diane and Paul Culhane 

William and Dorothy Cullen 

Estate 

Margaret and James Culotta 

26


Legacy Partners continued. 

Reverend Ambrose 

Cunningham 

Bernard Cunningham 

Helen Cunningham 

Leah Curtin Estate 

Adrienne Curtis 

Harriet Dailey 

Willis Dake 

Reverend Monsignor John W 

Dalton 

Lauretta Flick Daly Trust 

Marie D’Amore 

Dorothy Davis Estate 

Frances Dawson Estate 

Lemoyne Decker Estate 

Louis Dehner Trust 

Patrick Delaney 

Margaret Delaney Trust 

Donna Dening 

Janet Desmond Estate 

Frances Rose Dewey Trust 

Kathleen Dieterle 

Margaret Diffenderffer Estate 

Santa and Thomas DiMarco 

Estelle Disselhorst 

Mary Geraldine Dolan Estate 

Barbara Donovan 

Laurence Donovan 

Joseph Doran Estate 

Margaret Dorcey Trust 

Beatrice Dormedy Estate 


Robert Doud 

Mary Kay Dougherty 

Eleanore Dowling Estate 

Lois Doyle 

Marcella Doyle 

Patricia Doyle 

Catherine Drake Estate 

Leo and Norma Drilling 

Agatha Drilling Estate 

Emma Dry 

Meneve Dunham 

Shirley Dunne 

George Dunne Estate 

Elizabeth Matula Dustman 

Betty and Roy Dy 

Cathryn Dye 


Bernice Ebinger 

Mary Effinger 

Mary Eisenstein Estate 

Arline Elliott 

Catherine Enderle 

Steven and Dianne Enderle 

Florence Endriz Estate 

Rita Ewalt 

Sheila Feeney 

Geraldine Ferring Estate 

Mary Finan Estate 

Joan and Michael Finnerty 

Barbara Uskiwich Fischer 

Memorial Mass Honors Beloved Sisters 

Mary Louise Fischer 

Marguerite Carroll Fisher Estate 

Elizabeth Fitting 

Dorothy Fitzgerald Estate 

Nearly 100 

friends and 

family of the 

Sisters of 

Charity, BVM 

gathered for 

the annual Memorial 

Mass at 

Mount Carmel 

in Dubuque, 

Iowa. “Today 

we remember 

BVMs who hold 

a special place 

in our lives and 

hearts,” President 

Teri Hadro reflected. For many, it was their first time attending the Memorial 

Mass as they came to pay tribute to a sister and visit her grave in the cemetery. “The 

Memorial Mass continues to be a special event,” said Andy Schroeder, development 

director. “The sisters we lost this year are sadly missed but fondly remembered. We 

were blessed to have this day together to share stories about our loved ones.” 


L Patricia Fitzmaurice Trust 

Louis Fitzpatrick Estate 

Urban Fleege Estate 

Joseph and Elsie Flynn 

Sharlene and James Flynn 

Mary Flynn Estate 

Shirley Ford 

Charles Forster Estate 

Katherine Forster Estate 



Bernadine Foster 

Reverend Robert Foster Estate 

Alice Fox 

Mildred Freese 

Norman and Marabeth Freund 

Mary and Richard Friedrich 

Robert Fryer 

Rosemary and Louis Fulgaro 

Reverend Kevin Gaffey 

Gladys Gallagher 

Delpha Gard 

Peter and Pamela Gardner 


Mary Garzoni 

Marie Gath Estate 

John Gearen Estate 

BVM Kate Keating (St. Wilma) drives guests Jean Jackson (l.) and Ann Nagy via golf cart to 

visit the cemetery. 

Michael and Margaret Geary 

Catherine Geary Estate 


Rita Giersch 

Myra Gist 

Rosemary Giunta 

Dorothy Glancey Estate 

Margaret Goodwin 

Paul Gordon 

Mary Gorman 

John Gormley Estate 

Mary King Gormley Estate 

Gary Gossman 

Reverend James Graham, CM 

Carol Graser Estate 

Reverend Joseph Graves 

Harold Gray 

Samuel Green 

Joseph Green Estate 

Joan Grossman 

Stephen Haase 

Margaret Mary Haerter 

Mary Anne Hagy Family Trust 

Catherine Halligan Trust 

Helen Hallin Estate 

Eileen Halloran Estate 

Francis Hanley 

John Hanley Estate 

Marie Hannaford Estate 

Marian Harding Estate 

Alice Harkin Estate 


Harrington 

Elizabeth Harris Estate 

Patricia Harrison 

Mary Ellen Harrison Estate 

Michael and Janet Healy 

Louise Healy Estate 

Rita Hedberg 

Margaret (Peggy) Hertel Estate 

Theodore and Patricia Heuchling 

Andreana Higgins 

Marion Hillabold Estate 

Steven Hinkhouse 

Mary Hoffman 

Harold Hoge 

Patricia Holsten 

Lillian Horacek 

Frances Horne Estate 

Joan Hosmanek 

Margaret Hotka 

Margaret Hovens Estate 


Raymond Hughes Estate 

James Hughes Estate 

Virginia Huot Estate 

Mary Kathryne Husted 

Mary Igoe Estate 

Libbie Irmick Trust 

Agnes Masako Ito 

James W Ivers Estate Jr 

Margaret Izzo Trust 

Evangeline Jansen Estate 

Dorothy Janssen Estate 


27

Legacy Partners continued. 


Carole Jaroch 

Mary Jean Jarvis 

Genevieve Jensen Estate 

Patricia and Roger Jewett 


Maureen Jorris 



Grace Judge Estate 

Mary Kanabay Estate 

Reverend Albert Kaparich 

Estate 


Madeline Kaser 

Francis Kauffman 

Joseph Kearney Estate 

Kathryn Kearney Trust 

Mary Kearns Estate 

Elizabeth Keimig 

Mary Kelley 

Winifred Kelly Estate 

Loretto Kendall 

Lorraine M and 

G Dudley Kennedy 

Ellen and Francis Kennedy 

Estate 

Dorothy Bauer Kentner 

Frances Kieltyka Estate 

Ann King Estate 

Dorothy Kinney Estate 

Mary Kircher Estate 

Veronica Kirkland Estate 

Robert and Linda Kirsch 

Birdies for Charity Update 

This year’s John Deere Classic Birdies for Charity® 

will take place in Silvis, Ill., on Aug. 8–14. Proceeds 

will provide new energy efficient lighting at Mount 

Carmel. You can participate by making a gift! For a 

pledge form, visit: http://bit.ly/1WTiySd. 

The Sisters of Charity, BVM Office of Development 

reports that the 2015 John Deere Classic “Birdies for 

Charity®” was a success! The event raised over $70,000 

from more than 750 donors, and the John Deere Foundation 

provided an additional matching gift of more 

than $3,500. We are grateful for the generous support 

of friends and family. You are making a difference in the 

lives of the sisters and those to whom they minister! 

Geraldine and Daniel 

Klinglesmith 

Walter Knepper Estate 



Mrs Marilynne Kowalski 

Judith Kraen 

Barbara Krahn 

Anne and Alphonse Kraus Estate 

Mary Kreider Estate 

George Kremenak 

Gloria and John Kromer 

Mary Kurby 

Harriet Kurk Estate 

Molly Kurtz 

Leola Lafser 

Mary Lamb Estate 

Mary Larkin 

Reverend Raymond Lassuy Estate 

Marie Laurvick Estate 

Elizabeth Ann Lavaty Estate 

Roberta and Michael Lavin 

Anna Leeney Estate 

Eleanore Lenick Estate 

Catherine Leonard 

Mary Leonard 

Grace Lepard Trust 

Laura LeRoy 

Jeanne Leuthen 

Thomas Lewis 

Loretta Lifka 

Marianne Littau 

Agnes Llewellyn Estate 

Margaret Loftus 

Walter Long Estate 

Augusta Lootens Estate 


Eleanor McManus Lorenz 

Jean Lowry-Goderre 

Monsignor Michael Lucid Estate 

Bertha Lucy 

Pearl Lukasik Trust Estate 


Sheila Lyng 

Mary Maas 

Robert Harry Mace Jr 

Frances Aid MacEinri 

Mary C Mackin 

Ellen Magers 

Mary Maglione 

M Winifred Mahoney Estate 

Verna Mailander Estate 

Velma Maloney Estate 

Helen Maloney Trust 

Tess Malumphy 

Jean Mann 

Bernadette Manning Estate 


Grace Mark 

Mary Martin Estate 

Rose and Charles Matt Estate 

Elizabeth and Roger Maulik 

Mary McAuliffe 

Ellen McBride and Paul Navine 

Edna McCabe Estate 


Margaret McCarthy Estate 

Reverend Patrick Pearse 

McCarthy Estate 


Monica McCauley Estate 

Maureen McCourt 


Anne McDermott 

Sarah McDermott Estate 

Anne McDonough 

John McElroy 


Mary and Edward McEvilly 

Catherine and Patricia McEvoy 

Reverend Monsignor Edward 

McEvoy Estate 

Margaret McEvoy Estate 

Eileen McGeeney Estate 

Mabel McGinty Estate 

Lorraine McIlhon Estate 

Gertrude McKay Estate 

Mary McKenna Estate 

Marguerite McMeans Estate 

Louise McMurchy 

James & Dolores McNally Estate 

Veronica McShane Estate 

Robert McWade 

Mary Meaney Estate 

Genevieve Melius Estate 


Coletta Mertes Estate 

Grace Messina 

Francis Meyer 

Irene Meyer 

Ruth Meyer Estate 

Rita Michaels 

Betty and Peter Michelozzi 

Judith and Thomas Millea 

Mary Miller Estate 

Mary Watters Miller Estate 

Joan Judge Mirabal 

Anne McGrath Miriani Estate 

Marie Miske Estate 

Joseph and Clelia Molinelli Trust 

Virginia Molloy Estate 

Veronica Monahan Estate 

Jill Montrey and 

Robert Enzenauer 

Jeanette Cofone Mooney Estate 

and William Mooney Estate 

Catherine Moore Estate 

Norine Morrison Estate 

Margaret Motz 

Mary Mucker 

Marcella Muhl Estate 

Leo Mullin 

Christopher Murphy and 

Patrick Weber 

Marie Louise Murphy Estate 

Virginia Murphy Estate 

Alice and William Myers 

Arthur Naes Estate 

Barbara Neff 

Margaret Nelle 

28


Marcelline Niemann 

Reverend Tim Nolan 

Joan Nowicki 

Mary Alice Nuckols Estate 

Rosemary O’Brien 

Elsie O’Brien 

Margaret and Roger O’Brien 

Edward O’Brien Estate 

Marian O’Brien Estate 

Robert O’Connor 


O’Dea Estate 

Ruth O’Dell Estate 

Mary Alice O’Donnell Estate 

James O’Grady 


Marilorraine O’Leary 

John O’Loughlin Estate 

Stevanie Jan Olson 

Mae O’Malley Estate 

Mary Rose O’Malley Estate 

Anne O’Neill-Strite 

Kateri O’Shea and Tina Stretch 

Theresa and T J Parson 

Doris Clemence Parsons Estate 

Rae Paul 


Marian Pearson 

Gertrude Pertle 

Mary Peterson 


Lillian Phelan Estate 

Helen Pidgeon Estate 


Barbara Prendergast 


Marie Printz 

Vivian Purcell Estate 

Margaret Quane Estate 

Mary Quattrochi Estate 

Kathleen Lally Quilter 

Gerard Quinlan Estate 

Helen Quinlan Estate 

Antoinette Quinn Estate 

Catharine Quirk Estate 

Nancy Reardon 

Miriam Reedy 

Doris Reeves 

Dianne Reistroffer 

Susan Rezek 

Louis and Kathleen Rezzonico 

Mary Rider and Thomas Corbett 

Katherine Riley Estate 

Lori Ritz 

Helen Roach 

Alonzo Robertson Estate 

William and Alice Robinson 

Estate 

Eileen Rocap 

Francis Rochex Trust 

Mary Ellen Whalen Rodgers 

Estate 

Mary and Charles Roe 

Jeanne Roerig 

Mary Margaret Ronan Estate 

Helen Rooney 

David Rose Estate 


Helen and Lester Rumpf Estate 

Lester Rumpf Estate 

Edward and Joseph Ryan 

Estate 

Paul Ryan Estate 

Laura Rybski 

Mary and Norbert Samford 

Vaclav and Otilie Sana Estate 

Robert Saunders 

Walter Schauf Estate 

Margaret Schmidt 

Marion Schmidt Trust 

Maureen and Bill Schmit 

Marie Schmitt 

Bernard Schmitz Estate 

Mary Schneider Estate 

Judith and Kenneth 

Schneiderman 

Sheryl Schulte 

Dorothy Schumacher 

Elizabeth Scotese 

Marie Scott Estate 

Sharon Scully 

June Seery 

Jane Serio 



Grace Shaddick Estate 

Helen Shafer Estate 

Mary Sharbel Estate 

Terrence Shaughnessy 

Reverend Vincent Sheehy 

Mary Justine Sheil Estate 

Yao Shen Trust 

Marion Sigafoose Estate 

Josephine Silberschlag Estate 

Rita Siver Estate 

Kathleen Slattery Estate 

Dolores Smith 

Therese Snyder 

Melvin Soberg 

Hannah and Bernard Spalding 

Elizabeth and Arnold Spencer 

Estate 

Katherine and Robert Stafford 

Sylvia Standaert 

Louise Stawasz Estate 

Geraldine Steenveld 

Patricia Stephenson 

Robert Stewart 

Leona Stimpson Estate 

Daniel Stokes Estate 

Myra Stratton 

Elaine Stuart Estate 

Dorothy and Frances Sugrue 

Lorraine Sullivan 

Terrence Sullivan 

Mary Rose and Stephen 

Swedish Estate 

Elizabeth Sykora and 

Stephena Fredette 

Mary Syron Estate 

Joana TenBieg 


Rita Theisen 

Lydia Thibault Estate 

Margaret Tiedemann Estate 

Mary Tischler 

Susan and M James Toner 

Eileen Tracy Estate 

Patricia Kelliher Tripeny 

Albert Trotta 

Jacquelyn Turner 

Joanne Twomey 

Peggy and Keith Unangst 

Moira Urich 

Donald Valentini 

Mary Vallely 


August VandeVoorde Estate 

Lorraine Vantucci 

Alice Vaughn Estate 

Charles Vermeyen 

John Vestecka Estate 

Karen Volz and Lance Heeren 

Wilfred and Mary Jane 

Von Der Ahe Estate 


Frances Waibel Trust 


Marie Walsh Estate 

Jeanne Walsh Trust 

Helen Walters Estate 

Janet Walther 

Marilyn and Donald Wasmundt 

Mary Weeks 

Rose Pusheck Weisbrod Estate 

Alice Weiser Estate 

Jane Wetzel Estate 


Kathleen Wicker 

Kathleen Wiederholt Estate 

Mary and Arnold Wieser 

Leslie Wilson 

Marjorie Wood 

Anne Clare Wrenn Trust 

Sarah Wright Estate 

Joanne and Robert Yerkes 

Dorothy Young 

Mary Young Estate 

Marilyn Zefran 

Helen Zollmann Estate 


MOUNT CARMEL PARTNERS 

Mount Carmel Partners are those benefactors who have shown their generosity to the 

Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary with their gifts of $1,000 or more during the fiscal year Sept. 1, 2014–Aug. 31, 2015: 

Names in bold are new members 


Suzanne and Charles Adams 

Father John Aldera Foundation 

Mary Ann Anderson 

Richard and Mary Anderson 

Tom Anzalone 

Martyann and Gerald Apa 

Carol Auclair 


Shirley Baldwin-Kordick 

Marianne and Walter Barker 

Joseph and Patricia Barta 

Helen and M Bates 

Angela and Joseph Bear 

Leora Beaton 

Raquel Bech and Larry Martin 

Alfred and Rita Belluomini 

Louise Belt 


The Benevity Community 

Impact Fund 

Maribeth and James Benham 

Cathleen and Peter Bergmann 

Rosemary and Eugene Bestgen 

Adelaide Bialek 

Robert and Connie Bintner 

Rick Blase 

Hylda Blaske 

Donald and Lauri Blough 

James Bolan 

Rosemary Boland 

Theodora Bostick 

Helen Brach Foundation 

Margaret Brady 


29

Mount Carmel Partners continued. 


Thomas and Trudy Braig 

Helen Brame 


Margaret and Eugene Bruckert 

Virginia and George Buchik 

Laura Buckingham 

Gabrielle Buckley 

Burke Family Foundation 

Kathleen Burke 

Joe and Jane Burnett 

Mary Lou Byggere 

Margaret Caddick 

Joseph and Sandra Cain 

Christopher and Kathlyn Callen 

Loretta Campbell 

Mary Cannon and 

William Ryan Drew 

Susan Carlson 

The Carrigan Charitable Trust 

Mary Claire Casey 

Robert Caulfield 

Nell and Rollie Cavaletto 

Annabel Christensen 

Mary Ann Cicero 

Ann and Michael Ciresi 

Alice Clark 

Patricia Clark 

Robert and Gwen Clark 

Lawrence and Pamela Clennon 

Adrian Collins 


Conlon Construction Company 

Margaret Conner Estate 



Maryellen Cosgrove 

Ronald and Robin Cross 

Tim Cruise 

Margaret Curtin and James Wilder 

Steven and Marilyn Daly 

Karla and Chris Danson 


Beatrice Davis 

Janet and Robert Deans 

Vincent and Mary DeBow 

Francis and Carol DeCarvalho 

Geraldine Delaney 

Richard and Annette Delaney 

Frank and Joy Deutmeyer 

Terry Devitt and Michael Hoffman 

Family Fund 


Eileen Doherty 


The E J and L R Dondlinger 

Charitable Trust 


Robert Doud 

Thomas W Dower Foundation 

Mary McDonald Downes 

Joan Doyle 

Reverend Michael Doyle, OSM 

Emma Dry 

Elena Duarte 

Dubuque Bank & Trust Company 

Jerome and Joan Duffy 

Mary Duffy Charitable Foundation 

Meneve Dunham 

John Dunlap 

Shirley Dunne 

Virginia Durr 

Marilyn and Donald Duwelius 

M Rella Dwyer 

Barbara Eilts 

Exelon 

Mary Farren 

William and Jeanne Farrow 

Joseph and Jill Farry 

William Fecht 

James Fehl and Carol Mizeur 

Laura Feld-Mushaw 

Peter and Marie Ferry 

Eleanor and Nickolas Fesunoff 

Edward Feuerbacher 

Leroy Finn Estate 

Judge Edward G Finnegan 

Memorial Fund 

John and Susan Fitzpatrick 

Iva and Hugh Flaherty 

Sheila Fleming and 

Kathleen Philben 

Diane and John Flynn 

George Forsyth 


Rosemary Forte 



Shirley Fox 

Loretta Franklin 

Stephen and Gail Froehlich 

Gallagher Family Foundation 

Gladys Gallagher 


Loretta and Bernard Garvey 

Patricia Garvey 

Kathleen and Steven Gaskill 

Chris Gaspard 

Reverend Patrick Geary 

Paul-E and David Geddes 


Mary Therese Gill 

Esther Gliot 

Tony and Trish Glowacki 

Betty Golden 

James and Becky Golden 


James and Lisa Goodman 

Mary Pat Goodwin 

Paul Gordon 

Graphic Arts Finishing Company 

Ruth and Jake Graves 

Greater Milwaukee Foundation 

Eugene and Peggy Grennan 

Cheryl Gross 

Joan Grossman 

Hanassab Oriental Rug Imports 

Catherine Hanus-Zank 

Mary Hardiman-Desmond and 

Michael Desmond 

John and Madonna Hart 

Elizabeth Hayes 

Margaret Hayhurst 

Barbara Hazelett 

Marilyn Highlander-Pool and 

Lloyd Pool 

Conrad Hilton Fund for Sisters 

Paul and Gina Hoffmann 

Harold Hoge 

Richard Holm 

Joan Hosmanek 

Eugenia Hoy 

Ilene Hruby 


Reverend John Hurley 

Patrick and Ginny Hurley 

Kent and Barb Iliff 

Diane Sue Imhoff 

The Immaculata Alumnae 

Association 

Camille Jacques 

Michael and Paula Jansen 

John Deere Classic 

Gayle Johnson 

Jean Johnson 

Elaine Johnston 


Irene Jones 

Edward Joyce 



Barbara June 


Madeline Kaser 

Eileen Keane 

John Kearney 

Barbara Kelley 

Sheryl and Gary Kelley 

Carolyn Kelly 

Kathleen and Terrence Kennedy 

Rita and Thomas Kent III 

Donna and Wayne Kern 

Molly and Scott Killam 

James Kineen 

The Klauer Family Charitable 

Foundation 

Kathleen Klein 

The Klenda Foundation 

Charles and Elizabeth Knudson 

Mari Koerner 


Mary Jo Koman-Keogh 


Judith Kraen 

Kramer Family Fund 

Garnetta Kramer Charitable 

Foundation 

William and Rosemarie Kraus 


Thomas & Janet Krocheski Fund 

John and MaryAdele Krolikowski 

Gloria and John Kromer 

The Kutter Family Fund 

Joan LaBue 

Judith Lambert 

Jeanne and Desmond LaPlace 

Patricia Laraia 

Mark and Shirley Larkin 

Michelle LaRue 

David Leahy and Barbara Weller 

Adele Baiocchi LeGere 

Marguerite Leoni 

Donald Linch 

Brother Bernard Lococo 

Jean and Peter Lococo 

Sherrill Lousberg 


Loyola University 

Mary Ellen and John Lucas 


Mary Maas 

Kathleen Maas Weigert and 

Andrew Weigert 

Ron MacDonald and G C Gantner 

Reverend Arthur J Maher 

Reverend Thomas Maher 

Virginia and Joseph Mallof Family 

Fund 

Charles Malone Estate 

Tess Malumphy 

John and Mary Manley 

Reverend William Mannion 


Marian and Bernard Marren 

Eleanor Marsolais 

Judith and Richard Matlock 

Susan and Frank Matule 

Judith Mayotte 

George and Katharine 

McAndrews 



McCaffrey 

Joan and John McCarthy 

Josanne and G Thomas 

McCarver 


Dorothy and David McClung 

Timothy McCormick 


Virginia McDermott 


Patricia and James McGrane 

John and Grace McGuire 

Michael and Kathleen McKibbin 


Barbara and Brendan McShane 

Terry Medhurst 

Grace Mendez 


Elizabeth Mengel 

Brian and Diane Mertes 

Peter and Margot Mestad 

Rita Michaels 

Virginia and Eugene Migely Jr 

Maggie and Eugene Mikkelson 

Beatrice and Roy Miller 

30


Deborah Miller 

Martha and Douglas Miller 

Daniel and Katherine Molyneaux 

Robert Monfort 

Florence and Daniel Morgen 

Morley Family Fund 

Mount Saint Gertrude 

Alumnae Association 

Elizabeth Mueller 

Leo Mullin 

Marguerite Mullin 

Daniel and Mary Mulvihill 

Janice and Francis Murphy Jr 

Lorena Murphy 

Robert Murphy and Emily Chew 

Maria Murphy-Fontes 

William Nash 

Edward and Patricia Nash 

Kathleen and Neftali Nieves 

The Nolan Family 

Frank and Lois Noonan 

Patricia O’Brien 

Timothy and Patricia O’Brien 

Cindy and Daniel O’Connell 

June O’Connor 

Joseph J O’Hare III 


Robert and Jacqueline O’Keeffe 

Dianne and Timothy O’Leary 

Ann and Charles Olson 

James O’Meara 

Shirley and John O’Reilly 

Eileen O’Shea and Marybeth 

Coleman 

Mary Frances O’Shea and 

Charles Hegarty 

Roger and Luanus Ott 

Margaret Ottoline 

Mass Celebrates 

BVM Benefactors 

Each year the Sisters of 

Charity, BVM express their 

gratitude by sharing a liturgy 

with many of our benefactors. 

Masses are held both 

in the Greater Chicago area 

and at Mount Carmel. The 

Benefactor Mass is a favorite 

among the sisters as they 

thank those who support 

them and their mission 

throughout the year. 

Ronald and Patricia Papini 

Donald and Kim Parker 

Elizabeth and Robert Parkinson Jr 

Mary Jo Paveza 


Barbara and Robert Perkaus 

Grace Pertell 



Polk Brothers Foundation 

Dennis and Kathleen Pollard 

Karen Pollasky 

Alice Cavanaugh Powers 

Preferred Network Access Inc 

Barbara Pribyl-Szymanski and 

Robert Szymanski 


Mary Ellen and Robert Quinn 

Andrea Raila 

Francis Rekasis 

Richard and Dianne Renspie 

Gerald Rice 

Kristina Richter-Becker and 

Jeff Becker 

Patricia Riggs 

Catherine and Harry Riley 

Michael and Anna Mary Riniker 

Daniel and Kathryn Ripple 

Helen Roach 

William and Alice Robinson 

Estate 

James Roche 

Jeanne Roerig 

Donald and Marlyn Rosengren 


Katherine and Thomas Rucinsky 

Alexander and Lucille Rudolf 

Family Fund 

Kathleen Runstrom 

James Ryan 

Marcia and Oscar Sablan 

Saint Augustine Church 



Dubuque Chapter 

Saint Mary Alumnae Association 

Saint Paul High School 

San Francisco 

Saint Richard Catholic Church 

Robert Sammon 

Joseph and Suzanne Sana 

Mary Scarpino 

Beth Kaiser Schafer 

John and Donna Schmidt 

Lucida Schmit 

Donna and Tom Schneider 

Alan Schoen 

Louise Welsh Schrank 

Patricia Schreiber 

Miriam Schuchardt 

Sheryl Schulte 

John Schwartz 

Robert G and Kathryn R 

Schwemley Foundation 

Katherine and Donald Schwerin 

Sharon Scully 


C A Shea & Company Inc 

Mary Shea 

Mary Shellenberg 

Marie Shiels-Djouadi 

Sharon and Jeffrey Siirola 

Davida Silva 

Joann Simpson 

Joseph and Sandra Sipek 

Janet Sisler 

Therese Slowiak 

Anita Therese Hayes, BVM and guest light candles in honor 

of deceased Donors of Distinction. 

Barbara Smith 

W Jeffrey Smoller 

Frances Spillane 

Victoria Steffes 

Mary Celeste and Donald 

Steinwachs 

Thomas and Marlene Stemlar 

Charles and Alice Stevens 

Linda and Terence Stevinson 

Myra Stratton 

Patricia and Thomas Stuart 

Christopher Sullivan 

Patricia and William Sullivan 

Elizabeth and Joseph Sweeney 

Pauline and Arthur Tarvardian 



Shirley Smitas Thiel 

Patty Thomas 

Rosalie Tiedje 

Patricia Tilghman 

Keith Timmons 

Reverend Monsignor Thomas 

Toale 

Paul and Catherine Tosetti 

Sandra Trant and 

Glenn Darrington 

Kathleen Scanlan Tschida 

Veronica and Edward Tschosik 

Gregory Tucker 

Tully Family Foundation 

Joanne Twomey 


Richard Vlerick 

James and Kathryn Vogl 

Renee Wagenblatt 



Mary Anne and Bruno Walke 

Vivian Walkosz 

Jean Wallace 


Jocile Walsh 

Colleen and Michael Wartelle 

Kathleen Weishaar 

Arlene Welbes 

Ann and William Wernz 

Donna Tobin Westemeyer and 

John Westemeyer 

Katherine Wetoska 

Lynn Whitmore 


Frances and Mitchell Wiet 

Mary Wilens 

James Williams Trust 

Mary and Sam Winklebleck 

Mark Winsor and Robert McHugh 

Alice Wolfe 

Marjorie Wood 

Cho and Margaret Wu 

Maria and John Young 

Barbara Yusunas 

Paschal and Janet Zuccaro 



31

Sisters of Charity 

of theBlessed Virgin Mary 

Freed by Love, Acting for Justice 

1100 Carmel Drive 

Dubuque, Iowa 

52003-7991 

Non-Profit Org. 

U.S. Postage 

PAID 

Dubuque, IA 

WINC 

Check us out online: 

http://www.facebook.com/bvmsisters 

http://twitter.com/bvmsisters 

http://www.youtube.com/bvmsisters 

http://www.pinterest.com/bvmsisters 

https://www.instagram.com/bvmsisters 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bvmsisters 

http://blog.bvmcong.org 

F R E E D O M , E D U C A T I O N , C H A R I T Y and J U S T I C E 

BVM Associates: Companions on the Journey 

Join Us! 

Sisters and Associates form a community of believers who embrace the 

gospel vision as lived out through the charism of BVM Foundress Mary 

Frances Clarke and BVM Core Values. 

They offer one another support, friendship and community as they 

reach out together in prayer and ministry to others, both locally and 

globally. 

Associates participate in: 

• Days of prayer and retreats 

• Service on committees 

• Justice projects 

• Ministries and volunteer services 

• Gatherings and social events 

For more information on becoming an Associate, contact: 

associates@bvmcong.org | 563.588.2351 

32 | SALT MAGAZINE 

www.bvmcong.org

Journey

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