Congregation of the Humility of Mary

06/12/2026

Sister Miriam Anstey, CHM, was called home to God on June 9, 2026. A complete obituary is available here: https://www.hmdfuneralhome.com/obituaries/sr-miriam-anstey-chm

05/26/2026

The Congregation of the Humility of Mary is seeking a part-time Program Coordinator (Benefits-Eligible) for Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat in Wheatland, Iowa.
This position works collaboratively with the Retreat Director to coordinate and promote retreat programs while supporting the mission, hospitality, and spiritual nature of the retreat center.
We are seeking someone who:
Has strong organizational and communication skills
Enjoys hospitality and collaborative ministry
Has experience with planning and coordinating events/programs
Understands and supports Catholic mission and values
Is comfortable with marketing, communication, and social media
This role offers the opportunity to serve in a peaceful rural retreat setting while helping create meaningful spiritual experiences for guests and participants.
To request a full job description or apply, please contact:
Karen Eden/[email protected]/563-336-8405
*Deadline to apply- June 12th

05/22/2026

As we continue reflecting during Laudato Si' Week, today’s stories highlight the importance of caring not only for the Earth itself, but also for the living creatures and ecosystems that depend on it.

From renewable energy and sustainable gardening to creating habitats for pollinators, these simple but intentional choices remind us that caring for our common home begins right where we live.

CHM Finance Director Bill Ganoe helps reduce energy use and support renewable energy through both solar power and electric vehicles. His backyard solar array includes 12 panels mounted on a pole that quietly generate electricity and reduce his monthly electric bill by approximately $40–$50.

Bill has also been driving fully electric vehicles since 2014, beginning with a Ford Focus electric vehicle used primarily for commuting to HMC and now a Tesla Model Y with a range of more than 300 miles. Both vehicles are charged at home using electric vehicle charging equipment in his garage.

CHM Chief Operating Officer Karen Eden and her husband, Dr. Troy Eden, recently added solar panels to their chiropractic office building in DeWitt. Solar energy helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and provides a cleaner, renewable source of power for the future.

CHM Communications and Development Director Joyce Bieber planted two raised garden beds at her home this year as a way to grow fresh vegetables while becoming more connected to the rhythms of nature and the food we eat. Raised garden beds can help conserve space, improve soil quality, reduce weeds, and make gardening more accessible and manageable for many people.

Her yard also includes milkweed and other pollinator-friendly plants that provide important habitat and food sources for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators essential to healthy ecosystems. Creating spaces that support pollinators is one simple but meaningful way to help protect biodiversity and care for our common home.

05/21/2026

As we continue celebrating, today’s reflections remind us that caring for creation can take many forms — through prayer, through sharing the beauty of nature with others, and through mindful choices in our everyday routines.

Sister Lillian Stevens reminds us that caring for Earth also begins with prayer and reflection. Each morning and evening, she reads a prayer from Living Prayer: A Book of Hours for Renewing Creation, grounding her daily routine in gratitude for creation and concern for our common home.

Sister Joann Kuebrich is propagating a new houseplant from a clipping of one of her own plants to share with Sister Dolores Schuh after her recent move to a new room at the Kahl Home. The gift is meant to bring warmth, life and a touch of nature into her new living space. Houseplants not only beautify our surroundings, but can also improve air quality, reduce stress and create a greater sense of peace and well-being. This simple act of sharing new life is a meaningful reminder of the connection between caring for one another and caring for creation.

Barb Kendall shares that caring for creation has long been part of the way she cares for her home and daily life. For many years, she has used highly concentrated household cleaning products that require very small amounts for each use, helping reduce waste, packaging and unnecessary consumption. Because the products are diluted with water and are phosphate- and nitrate-free, they are designed to work in harmony with nature while lasting for years. Barb reminds us that even simple, consistent choices over time can make a meaningful difference.

05/20/2026

As we continue observing, we are grateful for the many thoughtful ways our CHM Sisters, associates and staff are living out a spirit of care for creation. Today’s reflections highlight how simple choices — from reducing waste to reusing everyday items — can become meaningful acts of stewardship and hope for the future of our common home.

Associate Mary Jo Dawe is working to reduce plastic waste by avoiding laundry and dishwasher products packaged in plastic bottles. Instead, she uses detergent sheets and dishwasher tablets that come in paper packaging, helping lessen the amount of plastic entering landfills and waterways. Concerned about the impact of microplastics on water, fish, food systems and human health, Mary Jo continues to strive to use as little plastic as possible in everyday life — while still keeping her laundry clean and soft.

Sister Kathleen Henneberry helps care for Earth through thoughtful recycling and reuse practices. In this photo, Tammy Scheper hands her an empty bag of Fair Trade coffee used in the HMC kitchen, which Sister Kathleen will add to a collection of items recycled through programs coordinated through. The CHM Laudato Si’ Committee has also been collecting hard-to-recycle items not accepted through city recycling programs, including toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes and caps, pens, and deodorant containers. Inspired by Pope Leo’s call to care for creation for future generations, Sister Kathleen also practices recycling paper and purchasing used clothing whenever possible.

05/19/2026

As we continue celebrating Laudato Si' Week, we are inspired by the thoughtful ways our CHM Sisters, associates, and staff care for Earth in their daily lives.

Today’s shared ideas remind us that even simple actions — practiced consistently and with intention — can help protect and nurture our common home for future generations.

CHM finance employee Teri Reyhons and her husband are working to bird-certify their yard through the Iowa Wildlife Federation's “Certified Wildlife Habitat” program. By adding elements such as shelter, housing, and a new birdbath for water, they are creating a space where birds can flourish in their small corner of the world. Next, they plan to focus on food sources and sustainable practices, hoping their actions may inspire others to care for creation in their own communities.

For more than 20 years, Sister Kaye Holland has creatively reused greeting cards by cutting off the fronts of cards that have been signed inside and using the blank backs to write notes. This simple practice reduces waste, keeps cards out of landfills and lessens the need to purchase new cards.

Sister Lynn Mousel believes it is important to take time to appreciate nature and allow the beauty of God’s creation to become a source of reflection and prayer. During a recent visit to Shedd Aquarium, she found herself reflecting on the life and spirit of Sister Cathleen Real, a strong advocate for care of Earth. As she walked through the aquarium the day after Sister Cathleen’s funeral, the words “all you creatures of the sea” from the funeral song “All the Ends of the Earth” remained in her heart and mind.

05/18/2026

This week, during Laudato Si' Week, we’re celebrating the many ways our CHM Sisters, staff and CHM Associates care for Earth in their daily lives. Inspired by Pope Francis’ call to care for our common home, we are sharing simple ideas and practices that promote conservation, recycling, sustainability, and mindful living. From gardening and composting to reducing waste and conserving water and energy, these everyday choices reflect our shared commitment to care for creation.Throughout the week, we’ll be sharing photos, practices, and ideas from members of our community that remind us that small actions can make a meaningful difference. We hope these reflections inspire others to continue taking simple steps toward a healthier and more sustainable world.

Associate Rosemary Hendricks cares for Earth by avoiding insecticides and pulling weeds by hand, especially during the rainy season when they quickly appear. She also practices recycling, donates leftover medications and medical supplies to a mission-run free clinic, and supports local secondhand stores by donating usable items to help others in need.

Sister Delphine Vasquez reminds us to conserve energy by making use of natural room light as much as possible rather than turning on overhead lights during the day.

Sister Cathy Talarico is very mindful about conserving electricity and does her best to reduce energy use whenever possible. Aware that much of Iowa’s electricity is still generated from coal, she hopes her efforts help keep the lungs of Mother Earth a little cleaner.

05/13/2026

A wonderful photo of some of the CWR members who participated in the Transforming Grace gathering of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) last week in St. Louis, MO. This gathering was part of the LCWR's ongoing Transforming Grace journey, bringing together leadership, justice coordinators, and communicators to cultivate skills to break down walls of division and polarization and support the efforts of women religious to respond to the unique needs of this moment and work for peace and justice.

(Photo thanks to Dee Holleran and Kathy Rice)

04/21/2026

In this issue:
New CHM Leadership
OLPR Ravine Restoration
Latest OLPR Podcast
New beekeeper at OLPR
Latest issue of Down to Humus newsletter
Upcoming Retreats at OLPR

https://conta.cc/4coVWot

Email from Congregation of the Humility of Mary Latest news from CHM! In this issue: New CHM Leadership OLPR Ravine Restoration Latest OLPR Podcast New beekeeper at OLPR Latest issue of Down to Humus

04/14/2026

Sr. Marian Smith, CHM, was called home to God on April 11, 2026. A complete obituary is available here: https://www.ilesfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Sister-Marian-Smith-CHM/Johnston-IA/1894571