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Six Presentation Sisters Celebrate 50 Years of Religious Life June 30

Six Dubuque Presentation Sisters are observing 50 years of religious life this year. Five of the sisters have served in the Diocese of Sioux City. They begin the celebration on June 30 at Mount Loretto motherhouse, Dubuque, during an 11 a.m. prayer service followed by dinner. Family, friends and Presentation sisters and associates will join them.

Sister Marilyn Breen, PBVM, currently of Dubuque, entered the Sisters of the Presentation in 1962 and professed final vows in 1972. She taught Catholic elementary and high schools in Algona, Dubuque and Farley, Iowa. She served as Director of Education at St. Patrick Parish, Cedar Falls, and St. Columbkille Parish, Dubuque, Iowa. She was in congregational leadership from 1989 to 1998, serving as vice president from 1993 to 1998. Presently Sister Marilyn is Director of Religious Education of St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Dubuque.

“As I celebrate this year of jubilee I am aware that God has graced my life with community, family, friends, and opportunities to grow as a person of faith. The light that I received at Baptism continues to offer hospitality and life to those I meet. My life is much different than I would have imagined in 1962, however it is filled with peace, challenge, and hope as I consider the future bearing the lantern of our foundress Nano Nagle,” states Sister Marilyn.

Sister Ellen Mary Garrett, PBVM, presently of Dubuque, Iowa, entered the Sisters of the Presentation in 1961 and professed final vows in 1969. She taught at Catholic schools in Charles City, Danbury, Dubuque and Key West in Iowa, and Timber Lake, South Dakota, and Shoreview, Minnesota; she was principal in Osage, Iowa. Currently Sister Ellen Mary is in community prayer and service as librarian and communications at Mount Loretto Motherhouse, Dubuque.

Reflecting on the celebration of jubilee, Sister Ellen Mary says, “Celebrating jubilee to me means declaring the blessings God has graced me in family, teachers and friends, who encourage me in resolve to offer faith and hospitality to others and their relationship with the world.
Sister Mary Michaeline Healy, PBVM, currently of Caledonia, Minnesota, entered the Sisters of the Presentation in 1962 and professed final vows in 1969. She taught at Catholic schools in Algona, Bankston, Bode, Dubuque, Farley, Osage and Salix in Iowa. She served as parish minister in Salix. Presently Sister Michaeline is Pastoral Associate of St. Mary Parish, Caledonia, Minnesota.
“Our year of jubilee is a wonderful time to reflect on Nano Nagle's words, ‘Go out into the winding lanes and there you will find Christ.’ That has been so true for me. My heart is filled with joy and gratitude for those who have daily touched my life through teaching, ministering to the sick and dying, celebrating new life,” states Sister Michaeline.

Sister Mary Joellen Price, PBVM, presently of Hiawatha, Iowa, entered the Sisters of the Presentation in 1962 and professed final vows in 1970. She taught music at Catholic schools and parishes in Algona, Key West/Dubuque, Lawler, Sheldon and Storm Lake and was liturgist in Sioux City in Iowa. She was coordinator of Mount Loretto, Dubuque. She served as liturgist at Christ the King Parish, Kansas City, Missouri. Currently Sister Joellen is Pastoral Associate of St. Pius X Parish, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

“As I have helped develop a collaborative project with the 11 parishes in the Cedar Rapids area to create a Metro Catholic Outreach – a center which provides a food pantry plus a call center for referrals and emergency financial assistance for those in need. As this has unfolded, I am so aware of Nano’s passion, presence and her dependence on God each day as we take the risk to reach out to those made poor in our area,” states Sister Joellen.

Sister Ruth Ann Takes, PBVM, currently of New Hope, Minnesota, entered the Sisters of the Presentation in 1962 and professed final vows in 1969. She taught music at Catholic schools and parishes in Timber Lake, South Dakota; in Cedar Falls, Dubuque, Humboldt, Mason City, Varina and Whittemore and was pastoral minister and liturgist in Varina, in Iowa; she was pastoral administrator in Clara City, Minnesota. She was coordinator at Mount Loretto, Dubuque. Presently Sister Ruth Ann is Pastoral Care Associate of St. Therese of New Hope residential center, New Hope.

Reflecting on this jubilee, Sister Ruth Ann says, “I see this year as a time to set things right, to recall my first love and dedication to God, a time to return to my roots, to reflect on God’s divine plan as lived these past 50 years and dream into the future.”

Also celebrating on June 30 is Sister Margaret Anne Kramer, PBVM, of Dubuque.