September 16, 2016, Adrian, Michigan – Adrian Dominican Sisters from throughout the United States came home to their Motherhouse in Adrian, Michigan, for a special week this summer to mark their Jubilees, their years of service and dedication to their Church and the Congregation. The 2016 Jubilee Class includes nine Sisters serving 75 years; 22 celebrating 70 years; 41 celebrating 60 years; 16 celebrating 50 years; and one celebrating 25 years.
Among the Adrian Dominican Jubilarians with connections to the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings is:
Sister Mina Riggs, OP, formerly known as Sister Michael Mary, is celebrating 60 years of religious life. Born in Conrad, Montana, she and her family moved to Seattle when she was young. She graduated from Holy Angels Academy in 1955 and, in September of that same year, entered the Edmonds Dominican Congregation. The Edmonds Dominicans merged with the Adrian Dominicans in 2003. She professed first vows on June 13, 1958, and final vows on June 14, 1961.
Sister Mina holds a bachelor’s degree in English and education from Holy Names College in Spokane, Washington; a master’s degree in English from the College of Holy Names in Oakland, California; and certificates in standard general teaching through Washington State and as a master catechist through the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Sister Mina’s first teaching assignment took her to Miles City, Montana, where she taught seventh grade at Sacred Heart Elementary School from 1960 to 1964. She then returned to Seattle, serving from 1964 to 1981 at Bishop Blanchet High School. She later served in teaching and administration at Bishop Garcia Diego High School in Santa Barbara, California from 1981 to 1988 and stayed in Santa Barbara until 2009 to serve as pastoral minister at St. Raphael Parish.
Currently retired at the Adrian Dominican Motherhouse in Adrian, Sister Mina is active in prayer ministry and as a volunteer in the Archives Office and a Eucharistic minister.
“I enjoyed my first teaching assignment in Miles City, Montana,” Sister Mina recalled. “People were very friendly, the students were enjoyable, and the parents were interested in their children’s progress.”
In reflecting on religious life, Sister Mina said, “I have loved being a Dominican Sister. Dominicans’ emphasis on prayer, study, and community has helped me to draw closer to God and to enjoy the support of a loving community.”
The Dominican Sisters of Adrian are a Congregation of nearly 700 vowed women religious whose roots go back to St. Dominic in the 13th century. The Sisters minister in 26 states; the District of Columbia; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and in five other nations: Canada, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Norway, and the Philippines. The Sisters and more than 200 Associates are organized into seven regional Mission Chapters, each under the leadership of a Chapter Prioress.
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