Congregation of the Humility of Mary celebrates jubilees

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By Emmaline Jurgena
The Catholic Messenger

DAVENPORT — The Congregation of the Humility of Mary (CHM) will celebrate a special Mass honoring the jubilees of two vowed Sisters who are marking their 50-year anniversaries of religious life. The Mass, celebrated by Msgr. Francis Henricksen, will take place at 2 p.m. June 29 at Christ the King Chapel at St. Ambrose University in Davenport.

Sr. Kopel

Sister Barbara Kopel was born in Marshalltown and entered the CHM community in 1964, making her first profession in 1967. She earned a B.A. in social science from Marycrest College in Davenport and went on to become certified as a human resources addiction counselor at Metropolitan State College in Denver, Colo. She spent most of her active ministry in education and counseling in Iowa and Colorado.

Sr. Kopel taught at Ottumwa Heights pre-school in Ottumwa, St. Mary and St. Alphonsus in Davenport and Sacred Heart School in West Des Moines. In Colorado she taught at Notre Dame Junior High, Blessed Sacrament School and St. Thomas More and served, at various times, as a teacher, mental health counselor, adult team counselor and case manager at West Pines Psychiatric Hospital and as a case manager at the Samaritan House Homeless Shelter. Sr. Kopel now lives in Davenport where she is active in a ministry of prayer and witness.

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Sister Mary Bea Snyder, a native of Davenport, attended Ottumwa Heights College in Ottumwa where she earned an A.A. in secretarial studies, and went on to earn a B.A. in elementary education from Marycrest College in Davenport. She entered the CHM community in 1964 and pronounced her first vows in 1967. She spent her ministry in education and social services in Iowa and Colorado.

Sr. Snyder

Throughout her ministry, Sr. Snyder taught at St. Alphonsus in Davenport and St. Pius X in Rock Island, Ill., and volunteered at Project Renewal in Davenport. In Colorado Springs, Colo., she served as a teacher and principal at Divine Redeemer, director of the Marian House for Women, supervisor of the Bijou House Soup Kitchen, living skills coordinator at the Independent Center and supervisor of the Bijou House. She returned to Davenport in 2000 and worked as a service coordinator at John Lewis Coffee Shop. She then became the center director at the CHM center, and presently acts as the coordinator of Sister services.


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3 thoughts on “Congregation of the Humility of Mary celebrates jubilees

  1. I am so happy you are dedicated to a life of service for humankind!

    I am with you holding hands!

  2. Barb and Mary Bea,
    It was great to read about your many accomplishments over the last 50 years. You both have made the world a better, kinder, more loving place and been a witness to God’s goodness. May you continue to experience God’s grace in many many ways.
    Happy 50th!
    Jean

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