By Sister Mary McCauley, BVM
November 1, 2014
Halloween brought a special treat to Dubuque and in
particular to Mt Carmel, the Motherhouse for the Sisters of Charity, BVM, as
the infamous Nuns on the Bus “BUS”
drove into the Mt. Carmel property around 6 p.m. Mary Martens, BVM, and Mary
McCauley, BVM, welcomed them. It was a special joy for Mary McCauley, who had
experienced the first Iowa trip, to not only greet the five “Nuns on the Bus”:
Marti McCarthy, SSS; Bernardine Karge, OP; Richelle Friedman, PBVM; Jeanie
Hagedorn, CHM; and Elaine Hagedorn, CHM – but also to reconnect with members of
the staff….Ashley Wilson, Abbey Watson, Melissa Regan, the documentary
filmmaker, and of course Bill, the affable and competent driver! After a simple
supper, wonderful sharing and reliving of the past few days, all were pleased
to rest and prepare for the voting experience on the following day.
On Saturday morning, the Bus arrived at Mt. Carmel around
9:15. This time the bus was greeted by many of the retired BVM Sisters who
reside at Mt. Carmel. After an opportunity to sign the bus, be interviewed by
Melissa, and to express their gratitude for the Nuns on the Bus initiative, the
residents enthusiastically waved farewell to the twenty plus NUNS who were
going to vote.
When asked why they were voting, responses from the “Nuns on
the Bus”came quickly: “I vote because it
is my right…it is my privilege!” “For me, voting is a matter of justice!” “I
consider voting a moral responsibility.” “Voting is a way to witness to the ‘We the People’ part of our
Constitution.” “Voting is one significant way to engage in our democratic form
of government.”
Upon arrival at the Dubuque Voting Annex, “the voting nuns”
got off the bus and were greeted enthusiastically by approximately thirty
faithful Dubuque residents. When all had proudly and gratefully cast their ballots,
the bus returned the “voting nuns” to Mt. Carmel as the faithful riders and
staff continued to La Crosse, Wisconsin for another experience in democracy!
