Name/Title
Sister Irene Howell and Sister Therese RooneyEntry/Object ID
AS.0001Description
Sister Irene (Pierre) Howell, left, and Sister Therese (Peter Claver) Rooney, right, upon their arrival in Assinins, Michigan. The two women were the first IBVM Sisters to minister in the community. The Holy Name of Jesus Church, located near U.S. 41 and Tribal Center Road, is in the background and Keweenaw Bay is visible in the distance. This property is part of the L'Anse Reservation.
On July 1st, 1978, IBVM Sisters arrived in Assinins, Michigan to establish a ministry in the community. In the following months, they undertook religious education, pastoral care and other duties. The IBVM remained in Assinins until withdrawing in the 1990s.Context
Born in 1585 in North Yorkshire, England, Mary Ward founded the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1609. Focused on education, the Sisters developed their ministry despite significant political, spiritual, and material challenges. In 1880, the Canadian Mission of the IBVM established a presence in Illinois, and the following year, the IBVM North American Branch was created. In 1892, their ministry expanded into Chicago, and by 1896, the Sisters had opened a school in Michigan. Over the following decades, further growth resulted in ministries in California and Arizona, both of which began in 1949. In the early 21st Century, the IBVM and its companions are active in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, California, and Arizona.Collection
Series 3: FoundationsLexicon
Search Terms
Religion, Religious Organizations, Sisters of Loretto, Native American, American Indian, CatholicReproductions
Notes
Please contact the IBVM Archives for all inquiries or requests (archives@ibvm.us).