BVM sisters celebrate diamond jubilees

DUBUQUE — Eleven Sisters of Charity, BVM, celebrated 70 years in religious life this fall. They gathered in the Mount Carmel Motherhouse Chapel in Dubuque, Iowa, on Sept. 10, 2017, for a liturgy of thanksgiving.

They entered the BVM congregation on Sept. 8, 1947. They professed first vows on March 19, 1950, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1955. Unless otherwise noted, the sisters are retired and living at Mount Carmel.

The following seven Sisters of Charity, BVM, have ties to the Archdiocese of Dubuque:

Sister Mary Paul Francis Bailey, BVM

Sister Mary Paul Francis Bailey, BVM, was born in Springfield, Illinois. Sister served as economics department chair and instructor at Clarke University in Dubuque, where she was also part-time economics instructor and part-time director of student accounts, and later served as student loan clerk. She taught at LaSalle HS in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She taught elementary and secondary school in Milwaukee; Kansas City, Missouri; Clarksdale, Mississippi; and Rock Island and Chicago, Illinois, where she was also on the faculty at Mundelein College and Loyola University Chicago; and was treasurer at the Immaculata HS.

Sister Helen Marie Macatee, BVM

Sister Helen Marie Macatee, BVM, was born in Hollywood, California. Sister worked in nursing and as driver/assistant at Marian Hall, Dubuque. She taught elementary school in Chicago; Fort Dodge and Muscatine, Iowa; Hempstead and West Hempstead, New York; Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona; North Hollywood and Santa Ana, California; St. Louis; and in Zimbabwe, Africa.

Sister Eileen McGovern, BVM (James Leone)

Sister Eileen McGovern, BVM (James Leone), was born in Dubuque and entered the BVM congregation from Cathedral Parish. Sister taught at Clarke University, where she was sociology department chair; she was psychiatric social worker in Dubuque/Jackson County, clinical social worker at the Gannon Center, and speech/Spanish therapist and family/marriage counselor for Catholic Charities. She served the BVM congregation as vice president and later as pastoral care volunteer at Mount Carmel. She ministered as school social worker at Grant Wood Area Education Agency in Cedar Rapids. She taught elementary school in Lincoln, Nebraska; San Francisco; and Des Moines, Iowa. She taught on the university level in Bogotá, Columbia, and Salta, Argentina.

Sister Ann Daniel O’Neill, BVM

Sister Ann Daniel O’Neill, BVM, was born in Chicago. Sister taught music at St. Joseph Academy and St. Mary/Raphael, and served the BVM congregation as associate administrator at Marian Hall, Dubuque. She was a volunteer at St. John School in Waterloo, Iowa. She taught elementary school in Marcus and Emmetsburg, Iowa; Chicago and Berwyn, Illinois; Wilmot, Wisconsin; and Rapid City, South Dakota.

Sister Joan Redden, BVM (James Irene)

Sister Joan Redden, BVM (James Irene), was born in Chicago. Sister was a motherhouse volunteer for many years in Dubuque. She taught elementary and secondary school in Davenport, Clinton and Iowa City, Iowa; Chicago, North Chicago, Cicero, Lombard and Lake Forest, Illinois; and Seattle and Mountlake Terrace, Washington. She was an assistant apartment manager in Waukegan, and religious education director in Oakbrook Terrace, both in Illinois.

Sister Virginia Stone, BVM (Alice Rose)

Sister Virginia Stone, BVM (Alice Rose), was born in Milwaukee. Sister taught at St. Peter School, Clermont, Iowa. She taught elementary school and/or was principal in Bellerose and West Hempstead, New York; and Maywood, Chicago and Antioch, Illinois, where she was also parish minister. She served as religious education coordinator in Union Grove and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was consultant for the Office for Parish Councils and Spirituality Formation/ Spirituality for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, where she currently lives and ministers as spirituality consultant.

Sister Margaret Zimmerman, BVM (Jamesella)

Sister Margaret Zimmerman, BVM (Jamesella), was born in Milwaukee. Sister served as administrator of the BVM Center and director of the BVM Retirement Finance Office at Mount Carmel, where she later volunteered. She taught elementary school in Kansas City, Missouri; Lincoln, Illinois; and Phoenix. In California, she taught elementary school in Tujunga and N. Hollywood; was principal in N. Hollywood and Santa Ana; and served as associate superintendent for the Diocese of Orange. In Chicago, she served as administrator at BVM residence Wright Hall and as a BVM regional representative.

 The following four Sisters of Charity, BVM also celebrated 70 years in religious life this fall.

Sister Gayle Brabec, BVM (Luellen)

Sister Gayle Brabec, BVM (Luellen) was born in Perham, Minnesota. Sister served the BVM congregation as a regional representative in Davenport, Iowa. She taught elementary school in Chicago; Boulder, Colorado; and Kauai, Hawaii; and was principal in Butte, Montana. She was audio visual coordinator in Hempstead and West Hempstead, New York. She served in rural ministry in Davenport, Knoxville, Wesley and Sac City, Iowa; and was director of rural life offices in Kentucky.

Sister Mary Judine Bruch, BVM

Sister Mary Judine Bruch was born in Granite City, Illinois. She taught elementary school in Chicago, San Francisco, and Missoula, Montana, and was principal in Omaha, Nebraska. Sister served in parish ministry in Denver and as self-employed counselor in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, for many years.

Sister Jean Granville, BVM (Suzette)

Sister Jean Granville, BVM (Suzette) was born in St. Louis. She was principal at Holy Ghost School in Jackson. Sister taught and/or was principal in Chicago, Maywood, Round Lake and Calumet Park, Illinois; and Hempstead, New York. In the St. Louis area, she served as director of N. Deanery Elementary Schools, Catholic School Office; coordinator of the EDUC Program, Talton Outreach Center; and was school principal. She was a director of parish outreach and volunteered in immigrant/refugee work, also in St. Louis.

Sister Marion Pasdiora, BVM (Jean Victor)

Sister Marion Pasdiora, BVM (Jean Victor) was born in Chicago. Sister taught elementary and secondary school in Boone, Sioux City and Fort Dodge, Iowa; Lead, South Dakota; and Wilmot, Wisconsin. She served as high school bursar/treasurer, business manager and teacher in Mundelein, Illinois, where she was later secretary at a university and volunteered as assistant sacristan.

 To send a congratulatory message to a sister on her jubilee or to donate to the BVM congregation on behalf of these sisters, please go to www.bvmcong.org/whatsnew_jubs.cfm.