DAVENPORT — The Congregation of the Humility of Mary (CHM) will celebrate the jubilees of nine vowed Sisters and four Associates during Mass on June 24 at Christ the King Chapel on the St. Ambrose University campus. Bishop Martin Amos will preside at the liturgy, which begins at 2 p.m.
The jubilarians:
75 years
Sister Mary Ruth Morris was born in 1921 in South Dakota and entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in 1937. She pronounced first vows in 1940. She received a B.S. from Marycrest College in Davenport, an M.S. from Marquette University in Milwaukee, and a Medical Records Certification from St. Mary College in Omaha. Her teaching ministry took place at these schools: Walsh High and St. Mary in Ottumwa, Lenihan High in Marshalltown and Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa. In addition, she taught at Illinois State University in Normal, Ill.; in the Peace Corps for two years in Ghana, Africa; and The Rainbow Literacy Center in Canton, Miss. She also worked in the medical records department at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Ottumwa. Sr. Morris’ current ministry is prayer and witness. She resides at Bishop Drumm Retirement Center.
70 years
Sister Carolyn Mullin was born in 1920 in Omaha and entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in 1942. She professed first vows in 1945 and received a B.A. in business education from Marycrest College, an M.A. in business education from the University of Iowa and an M.A. in religious education from Fort Wright College, Spokane, Wash. Sr. Mullin taught at these schools: Melrose public; St. Alphonsus, Davenport; Catholic Central, Walsh High and Ottumwa Heights, Ottumwa; and Catholic Central High, Great Falls, Mont. Sr. Mullin worked as a director of religious education at the Des Moines chancery; and in the Great Falls Diocese, Great Falls, Mont.; Our Lady of Good Help, Hoquiam, Wash.; St. Philomena, Des Moines; Seattle Archdiocese; and St. Mary, Seattle. She also worked as CHM novitiate director and was the first CHM development director from 1989-92. She lives at Bishop Drumm Retirement Center. Her ministry is prayer and witness.
60 years
• Sister Roberta Brich (Mary Roberta Ann) was born in Minden, Iowa, in 1934, and entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in 1952. She professed first vows in 1955. She received her B.A. in education from Marycrest College and an education specialists degree from Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz. Sr. Brich taught in these schools: St. Anthony, Des Moines, St. Patrick, Ottumwa; St. Mary, Marshalltown; and St. Pius, Rock Island, Ill. She was a principal at St. Louis the King School in Hawaii and St. Joseph School in Neola, Iowa. Sr. Brich worked at the Conflict Center in Denver, Colo., before becoming CHM vice president from 1996-2004 and president from 2004-08. Currently Sr. Brich is religious education coordinator at St. Anthony Parish in Davenport.
• Sister Maria Caridad Inda (Maria Caritas) was born in Mexico City in 1934 and entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in 1952. She professed first vows in 1955. She graduated from Marycrest College with a B.A. in Spanish. She received an M.A. in Spanish and Latin American literature from St. Louis University in St. Louis, and a Ph.D. in international studies from The American University in Washington, D.C. Sr. Inda’s teaching ministry took place at Ottumwa Heights; St. Joseph High, Neola; and St. Aquinas High, Fort Madison. Later, she was the director of the Projects/Spanish Program for the Latin American Bureau of the USCCB in Davenport, the information coordinator for International Education Development in Washington, D.C., and executive director of the Spanish Education Development Center in D.C. Since 1987, Sr. Inda has been executive director of the Center for International Resources, Inc. (CIRIMEX) in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, which offers intensive, integrated, total immersion programs to develop both language fluency and a comprehensive knowledge of contemporary Latin American culture as reflected in Mexican society. Her translation credits include “The Theology of Liberation” by Gustavo Gutierrez and the “Medellin Documents” from CELAM. Besides her interest in the interface of politics and religion, Sr. Inda has done translation work in the area of nonviolent action, such as Dr. Gene Sharp’s work “From Dictatorship to Democracy.”
• Sister Joan LeBeau (Mary Leanne) was born in 1933 in Chicago and entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in 1952. She pronounced first vows in 1955. Sr. LeBeau went to St. Mary School in Chicago where she received her high school diploma. She worked in food service at Ottumwa Heights College; St. Vincent’s, Davenport; Dowling School, Des Moines; Crestview Acres and Preferred Risk, both in West Des Moines; and Bishop Drumm Retirement Center, Johnston. In Des Moines she also worked in environmental services at Mercy Hospital and in housekeeping at Mercy Senior Services and Park Place Apartments, and as assistant CHM coordinator at Bishop Drumm Retirement Center. Sr. LeBeau’s current ministry is prayer and witness at the Humility of Mary Center in Davenport.
• Sister Michelle Schiffgens (Marie Michelle) was born in 1930 in Ottawa, Ill., and entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in 1952. She made her first profession in 1954. She received a B.A. in elementary education from Marycrest College and an M.A. in education/developmental reading and a Ph.D. in education from the University of Iowa. She furthered her education with postdoctoral courses in early childhood education at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Sr. Schiffgens taught school at St. Vincent, Davenport; St. Mary, Ottumwa; and St. Pius, Rock Island. In addition, she was principal and teacher at John F. Kennedy, Davenport. Also, in Davenport, she was a teacher at Marycrest College and teacher and education department chair at Teikyo Marycrest/Marycrest International University. Sr. Schiffgens was an education consultant and volunteer at Davenport schools, and later a reading assistant and assessment coordinator there. She currently resides at Bishop Drumm Retirement Center.
50 years
• Sister Margaretha Fitzgerald (M. Isabelle) was born in Marshalltown, Iowa, in 1942. She entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in 1962 and made her first profession in 1965. She received her B.A. and M.A. in elementary education from Marycrest College. She also received an M.A. in religious studies from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. Her teaching career took place at these schools: St. Joseph, Neola, St. Mary, Oskaloosa; St. Mary, Sigourney; St. Theresa and Christ the King, both in Des Moines; Lourdes Memorial, Bettendorf; Holy Trinity, Davenport; and St. Anthony, Des Moines. She also taught at Sacred Heart Cathedral School, Dodge City, Kan. Sr. Fitzgerald lives in Des Moines and is active as a care giver, substitute teacher and in a ministry of prayer and witness.
• Sister Sue Sellers (Mary Matthew) was born in Des Moines in 1943 and entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in 1962. She pronounced first vows in 1965. She received her B.A. in education from Marycrest College. Her teaching ministry took place at these schools: St. Mary, Oskaloosa; St. Mary, Ottumwa; and Sacred Heart, West Des Moines. She taught in Montana and Colorado; served as director at Roth Hall, Ottumwa Heights Center; admissions counselor and a librarian at Marycrest/TMU, Davenport; manager at McAuley Terrace Apartments, Johnston; center director at Humility of Mary Center, Davenport; and resident assistant at Martina Place, Johnston. She is the CHM coordinator at Bishop Drumm Retirement Center.
• Sister Mary Ellen Freeman was born in Chicago in 1943 and entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in 1962. She pronounced first vows in 1965. She received her B.A. in elementary education from Marycrest College. Her teaching ministry took place at these schools: Lourdes, Bettendorf; Marshalltown Area Catholic; St. Anthony, Des Moines; and Bellevue Area Catholic, Bellevue. She also taught in Arizona, Illinois and was a vice principal for several years. Sr. Freeman currently lives in Schaumburg, Ill., and is active on several CHM committees and in a ministry of prayer and witness.
25 years
Emily Hale, of Gulfport, Miss.; Millie Rodgers of Ottumwa; and Linda Straw and Elfides Salazar, both of Albuquerque, N.M., are celebrating 25 years as CHM Associates. The CHM Associate program was developed to answer the call of many seeking a deeper, spiritual existence without becoming fully vowed members. The linkage with the Humility
Sisters offers a support system, a way to experience other perspectives, a nudge to keep growing — a spiritual resource.
