Year of Consecrated Life
Sister Marian Smith retired in 1994 after 43 years as a teacher and principal in private and public schools. She taught at the Fulton Public School in Erie from 1976 to 1993. Sister Marian’s ministry today is volunteer parish work in the St. Ambrose Parish in Erie, where she greets guests during the parish monthly luncheon, which is open to women of all faiths. The women bring a dish for the potluck, pray together, play bingo and contribute to the local food pantry collection. (Photo provided)
March 13, 2015

Editor’s note: Over the course of the Year of Consecrated Life, which ends Feb. 2, 2016, we’ll introduce the orders of consecrated women and men active in the Rockford Diocese.

Congregation of the Humility of Mary (CHM)
Motherhouse in Davenport, Iowa
Represented in the Diocese of Rockford at St. Ambrose Parish, Erie

CHM Mission Statement
“We, the members of the Congregation of the Humility of Mary, call one another to live the Gospel with

For a religious, to advance on the path of obedience means to abase oneself in service, that is, to take the same path as Jesus, who “did not deem equality with God a thing to be grasped” (Phil 2:6). By emptying Himself, He made Himself a servant in order to serve.
— Pope Francis

simplicity and joy following the example of Mary.
“Like our founders, we strive to be attentive to the call of the Spirit in the signs of our times, especially the needs of the poor and the powerless.
“We commit ourselves as individuals, and as a congregation, to work for justice within the human family and care of earth itself.”

Ministry: Bringing God to People
For members and associates of the Congregation of the Humility of Mary, ministry is both freedom and risk. Freedom to be what God has called you to be; the risk of being ever open to serving in new ways as needs arise and become known.

In 1969, the Sisters of Humility were one of the first communities to adopt a policy of self-determination. Today, each Sister of Humility is free to decide for herself the ministry to which she feels called and for which she is qualified by training or experience.

Today you’ll find CHMs in a rich diversity of professions and positions. What keeps them together, despite distances and diversity in ministry, (is) their spirit of prayer and their common goal — to share Christ’s message of love and the fullness of life with all they meet.

Info: http://www.chmiowa.org/