Four women religious celebrate jubilees

Four women religious presently serving in the Diocese of Sioux City will celebrate jubilee anniversaries this year. They will be honored with a 10 a.m. Mass at Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City. Msgr. Roger Augustine, diocesan administrator, will be the celebrant.

Sister Mary Lois Lehman, PBVM, Dayton, 60-year jubilarian; Sister Michaela Galles, OSF, Sioux City; Sister Patrick Leonard Murphy, PBVM, Estherville; and Sister Mary Louise Scieszinski, PBVM, Humboldt; all 50-year jubilarians, will be honored with a Mass celebrated on April 2 at Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City.

Sister Lois Lehman, a native of Farley, Iowa, attended grade and high school at St. Joseph's in Farley. She earned a bachelor's degree at Loras College in Dubuque, majoring in elementary education and minoring in philosophy. She took some courses at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion as well as summer sessions at De Pere College in Wisconsin.

She entered the congregation of the Sisters of the Presentation in Dubuque on Sept. 8, 1944 and was received as a novice on May 3, 1945. She made her vows on May 16, 1947.

Sister Lois began her teaching career at various schools in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. In the Diocese of Sioux City she taught at schools in Algona, Storm Lake, Sheldon and Whittemore. She also taught in Timber Lake, S.D. as well as Oak Lawn, Ill. She served as an elementary principal in Storm Lake and Timber Lake, S.D. In 1990, she served as the pastoral minister at St. John's in Ogden and Christ the King in Dayton. She served in Ogden for 12 years and continues her work in Dayton, serving there for 15 years.

"Living in community as a Sister of the Presentation has been a blessing and support these past years," she said. "Being of service to the people of God, all ages, journey with them in joyful times as well as sad times. Just being present to people is a grace and blessing. An earthly reward."

Sister Lois thanks God for her faith, family and friends who have journeyed with her these many years and offered her support through their presence and prayers.

Sister Michaela Galles, a native of Kingsley, received a bachelor's from Briar Cliff College in Sioux City as well as an MS and MA from the University of Notre Dames. She did post graduate studies at Creighton University in Omaha, the University of Portland in Maryknoll and Boston College.

She entered the Franciscan community in August of 1954 and made her first vows in 1957 and final vows in 1960.

Sister Michaela taught in Catholic grade school in Chicago. In the Diocese of Sioux City she taught at high schools in Sioux City; Larchwood and Pocahontas. She also taught at high schools in Dubuque and Cascade. Her service in the diocese has also include parish ministry with religious education, serving in parishes located in Anthon, Oto, Moville, Holstein, Cherokee and Boone.

She is presently in her 23rd year of teaching at Briar Cliff University.

"My best experiences in these 50 years have been the support of my family, my community life with my sisters, teaching and meeting so many young people and their families," she said.

Sister Patrick Leonard Murphy, a native of Henry, S.D., has a master's in education administration.

She entered the congregation on Jan. 1, 1955 and received first vows Aug. 10, 1957 and final vows on Aug. 11, 1962.

Sister Patrick Leonard served for a number of years as a teacher at schools in South Dakota and Minnesota before moving to pastoral and chaplain work. Her first teaching position was in 1957 at Anoka, Minn. She also served as a principal for schools in Aberdeen, Milbank and Watertown, S.D. Since 2003, she has served as a chaplain at Avera Holy Family Hospital in Esterhville. Prior to that post, Sister Patrick Leonard served as chaplain and in mission service from 1992 to 2003 at Miles City, MT.

"I feel called to a life of ministry with others in a religious community," she said. "Our foundress began in Ireland with a small group of women of prayer and drew strength and courage from them. That continues to be my joy."

Although Sister Patrick Leonard is relatively new to Iowa, her mother (Myrtle Harkin) was born and raised near Sheldon.

"Iowans are beautiful people," she said.

Sister Mary Louise Scieszinski, a native of Webster City, received her bachelor and master's degrees from Clarke College in Dubuque.

She entered the Presentation community in 1954 and made her first vows in 1957 and final vows in 1962.

Her education ministry began in 1959 in at St. Columbkille School in Dubuque where she served as a teacher. By 1968, she was named principal at the school. Her next assignment was as curriculum director for the schools of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. She served as the director of formation for the Sisters of Presentation for four years before becoming principal at a school in Cedar Falls. Presently she is principal at St. Mary School in Humboldt, a position she has held since 1999.

"Religious life has enabled me to live in community, inspired by the charism of Nano Nagle, and to serve in Catholic schools as part of the educational ministry of the Catholic Church," she said.