Sisters of Humility Celebrate Jubilees
Davenport, Iowa – The Congregation of the Humility of Mary celebrated the Jubilees of nine vowed sisters at a special Mass of Celebration at Christ the King Chapel, St. Ambrose University Campus in Davenport, Iowa, on Sunday, June 28 at 2:00 pm. Rev. Msgr. Francis Henricksen was the principal celebrant at the liturgy honoring the Jubilarians.
These Sisters of Humility have special ties to the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings.
Sister Ursula Keough – 75 years
Sister Ursula Keough was born in 1922 in Opheim, Montana, and entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in 1940. Her first vows were pronounced in 1943.
Sister Ursula studied education at Great Falls College in Great Falls, Montana and received a bachelor of arts in education and home economics from Marycrest College in Davenport, Iowa. She later studied theology at St. Mary in Maroga, California, received a basic certificate in clinical pastoral education from St. Luke Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and took graduate courses in theology at Seattle University in Seattle, Washington.
Her ministry in education in Montana took her to St. Mary School in Great Falls (1943-1947), St. Leo School in Lewistown (1947-1949; 1953-1956) and Sacred Heart School in Glendive (1949-1951). She was teacher and principal at St. Agnes School in Red Lodge (1957-1958), St. Matthew School in Sidney (1962-1967) and St. Joseph School in Great Falls (1967-1973).
Sister Ursula was a volunteer in the CHM New Hope Experimental Community in Des Moines Iowa from 2003-2009. She currently lives at Humility of Mary Center in Davenport, Iowa, where she is active in a ministry of prayer and witness.
Sister Rosalia Riedel (Mary Andrew) – 70 Years
Sister Rosalia Riedel was born in 1923 in Milford, Ohio. She entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in 1945 and made her first profession in 1948.
Sister Rosalia received a B.A. in Elementary Education from Marycrest College in Davenport, IA, and 40 years later received a Certified Nurse’s Aide degree from Scott Community College in Davenport.
Sister Rosalia taught in Lewistown, MT, at St. Leo Grade School (1951-1956).
After teaching her ministry focused in a different direction. She worked in Davenport at the Center for Active Seniors as a program assistant, a program facilitator and finally as a volunteer. Sister Rosalia now resides at Bishop Drumm retirement center in Johnston, IA, where she is active in a ministry of prayer and witness.
Sister Dorothy Ann Chevalier (Mary St. Monica) – 60 years
Sister Dorothy Ann Chevalier was born in 1936 in Newton, Iowa, and entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary (CHM) in 1955. Her first vows were pronounced in 1958.
Sister Chevalier studied education at Ottumwa Heights College in Ottumwa, Iowa, received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Marycrest College in Davenport, Iowa, and a master’s degree in elementary administration from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She completed the interpreter training program at St. Paul Technical College in St. Paul, Minnesota, received a certificate in clinical pastoral education from Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines and a NACC Chaplain Certificate from St. John/Jane Phillips Medical Center in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
She taught at Sacred Heart School in Glendive (1964-1966) and St. Agnes School in Red Lodge (1966-1967).
Her ministry in pastoral care and chaplaincy took her Oklahoma where she worked at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa and Jane Phillips Medical Center in Bartlesville. Sister Dorothy Ann currently is in a ministry of prayer and witness and she is active as a volunteer in Johnston, Iowa.
Sister Johnelle Howanach – 60 years
Sister Johnelle Howanach was born in 1934 in Great Falls, Montana, and entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in 1956. Her first vows were pronounced in 1958.
Sister Johnelle received a bachelor’s degree in music from Marycrest College in Davenport, Iowa, studied music and choral instrumental at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, was certified to teach liturgical music at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana and studied theology at College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota and Moraga in Oakland, California.
Her ministry in music education took her to St. Austin in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lourdes Memorial School in Betttendorf, Iowa, and St. Mary in Great Falls, Montana. She also taught religious education in various parishes in Chinook and Glendive Montana. From 1974 – 1984 she cared for her parents in Belt, Montana.
After her parents passed away, Sister Johnelle provided foster care for a five-year-old Native American girl, Melissa, who was one of the first children to be diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome in Montana. Sister Johnelle’s proudest moment came years later, when the girl who wasn’t supposed to be able to learn received her high school diploma. Since then Sister Johnelle helped Melissa start her own company (www.lissiesluvyums.com) making gourmet dog biscuits with some of the proceeds funding lectures they present on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Of special significance was the Plenary Presentation at the Third Annual Illinois Statewide Transition Conference in 2007, and participation in the Native American Tribal Leaders Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2011.
From 1994 -2002 she was director of Citizen’s Advocacy in Great Falls. Since 2002 she has ministered in Great Falls as a self-employed job support specialist and an educator and speaker on FAS/FAE. In 2007 Sister Johnelle received the Advocacy Award from the Montana Advocacy Program, Montana Council on Developmental Disabilities and University of Montana Rural Institute for furthering the rights and dignities of individuals with disabilities through educating and marketing a successful Montana business model. Sister Johnelle has received a distinguished service award from the Great Falls YWCA for dedicating her life to serving as an advocate for developmentally disabled and underprivileged people. Since 2013 Sister Johnelle has been active in supporting efforts to improve the legal system especially those wrongly incarcerated.
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