For The Catholic Messenger
DAVENPORT — The Congregation of the Humility of Mary (CHM) recently celebrated the jubilees of four sisters and three associates.
70 years
Sister Dorothy Ann Chevalier (Mary St. Monica), a Newton native, entered the CHM community in 1955 and professed first vows in 1958. She studied education at Ottumwa Heights College in Ottumwa before earning a BA in elementary education from Marycrest College in Davenport and a master’s degree in elementary administration from Drake University in Des Moines. Her ministry in Iowa included teaching or administration at schools in Fort Madison, Davenport, Centerville, Dunlap, Albia, Urbandale, Missouri Valley and Burlington. Outside Iowa, she taught or administrated at schools in Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska and Texas.
Sister Chevalier completed interpreter training at St. Paul Technical College in St. Paul, Minnesota, earned a certificate in clinical pastoral education from Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines and received chaplain certification from the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. In Oklahoma, she served in pastoral care and chaplaincy at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa and Ascension St. John Jane Phillips Medical Center in Bartlesville. She is retired and lives in Johnston, Iowa.
Sister Johnelle Howanach of Great Falls, Montana, entered the CHM community in 1955 and professed first vows in 1958. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Marycrest College, studied music and choral instruction at Gonzaga University in Spokane, was certified in liturgical music at Notre Dame University in Indiana, and studied theology at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota and Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California. Her ministry in music education included teaching at St. Austin in Minneapolis, Lourdes Memorial School in Bettendorf and St. Mary in Great Falls. She also taught religious education in parishes in Chinook and Glendive, Montana.
From 1994 to 2002, she served as director of Citizen’s Advocacy in Great Falls. She received awards for championing the rights of people with disabilities from the Montana Advocacy Program, Montana Council on Developmental Disabilities, the University of Montana Rural Institute and Great Falls YMCA. Sister Howanach resides in Great Falls and continues to advocate for the dignity of people with disabilities.
Sister Mary Rehmann (Marilyn Therese), a Davenport native, entered the CHM community in 1955 and professed first vows in 1958. She earned an AA degree in education from Ottumwa Heights College, a BA in natural science from Marycrest College, an MS in zoology from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, and a JD from DePaul College of Law in Chicago. Her educational ministry in Iowa included teaching at St. Anthony School in Des Moines, Gehlen High School in LeMars, and in Davenport at St. Alphonsus School, Assumption High School and Marycrest College.
She practiced law in Springfield, Illinois for eight years, specializing in water and air pollution regulations for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. While on sabbatical in Boston, she volunteered at the Massachusetts Correctional Women’s Prison. Eager to do direct client representation, she served as a staff attorney at legal aid offices in Williamson and Morgantown, West Virginia. She concluded her law practice there as a private attorney representing low-income clients in Social Security disability cases.
Sister Rehmann served as CHM President from 2008-2012 and worked in the CHM archives from 2012-2018. She resides in Davenport.
50 years
Sister Kaye Holland, an Ottumwa native, entered the community in 1975 and professed first vows in 1978. She earned an RN from St. Joseph School of Nursing in Ottumwa, followed by a BS in Nursing from Marycrest College and a certificate in enterostomal therapy from Tucson Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona. Her nursing ministry included serving with the Visiting Nurses Association in Davenport and as a care coordinator at the Humility of Mary Center. In Montana, she worked as a home health nurse at Northern Montana Home Care in Havre, and as a staff nurse at Central Montana Medical Center in Lewistown and St. Vincent Hospital in Billings. After retiring from nursing, Sister Holland served as the supportive living coordinator at the Humility of Mary Center and volunteered with Humility of Mary Housing. She resides in Davenport.
CHM Associates
CHM Associates are people called to live the CHM mission without vows and within the context of their contemporary lives.
James and Mary McCue — 50 Years
The McCues, who reside in Coralville, are among the first CHM Associates. The parents of eight adult children are passionate about social justice issues.
Johnnie Phillips — 25 Years
A native of New Orleans, Phillips met and befriended a CHM sister while working at San Diego State University. Although far from Davenport, Phillips has been united with CHM sisters and associates in friendship and prayer.
