Mount Carmel Bluffs Housing Counselor Alyssa Gantzert (l.), BVM CFOO Alan Stache, BVM President LaDonna Manternach, and Mount Carmel Bluffs Campus Administrator Geri Schilling-Johnson, along with members of the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, cut the ribbon on the new apartments in the BVM Motherhouse.
by Michelle London
On the south end of Dubuque, overlooking the Mississippi River, a familiar silhouette has taken on new life.
For more than a century, the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary has stood as a place of prayer, formation, and community. Its halls have echoed with the footsteps of generations of sisters—women who came to learn, to serve, and to begin lives rooted in faith. Today, those same halls are welcoming a new chapter.
“This renovation represents far more than a construction project,” says Geri Schilling-Johnson, Mount Carmel Bluffs campus administrator, during a home blessing service and ribbon cutting this week. “It reflects a shared vision nearly a decade in the making, rooted in preserving the history and spirit of this remarkable campus while meeting evolving needs.”
That vision is now fully realized with the completion of 22 independent living apartments—marking the final phase of the Mount Carmel Bluffs redevelopment.
A Building Made to Endure
The story of the Motherhouse begins long before modern amenities and apartment layouts. Construction started in 1890, when Bishop John Hennessy envisioned a structure that would reflect both permanence and purpose.
“It was built to last,” says BVM President LaDonna Manternach, who offered a brief history of the building during the service. “It had limestone foundations seven feet thick, maple floors, and solid oak woodwork.”
When the first sisters arrived in 1893, the building was grand—but not entirely finished.
“Their early enthusiasm was moderated when turning the tap brought no water, when no light came from the gas fixtures, and the great iron radiators stayed cold,” says LaDonna.
Without city utilities, which wouldn’t arrive for 10 years, the sisters adapted, relying on candles, fireplaces, and a well for water until infrastructure caught up.
From the beginning, the Motherhouse has been a place shaped by both aspiration and adaptation.
Over the decades, it evolved alongside the congregation: electric lighting came in 1908, elevators in the mid-20th century, and there were significant renovations through the 1970s and beyond. Each change responded to a need while preserving the building’s essential character.
That transformation is especially striking for those who remember earlier layouts.
BVMs Mary Agnes O’Connor (l.) and Barbara Gaul check out the new space where sisters used to sleep in dorm rooms.
“These used to be eight-bed dorms,” say BVM Emelyn Malecki. “And the kitchen and nurse’s station were at the end of the hall, where there is now a beautiful apartment with a gorgeous view.”
A Living Legacy
“This stately place built 135 years ago is ushering in a new era of senior apartment living,” LaDonna says. “Honoring its rich history while preparing for its future, we celebrate not only the preservation of a shared landmark, but also the continuation of its mission.”
The transformation is part of a broader reimagining of the campus. Through a partnership with Presbyterian Homes & Services, Mount Carmel Bluffs has become a vibrant senior living community—one that integrates skilled care, independent living, and shared spaces designed to support body, mind, and spirit.
“The redevelopment has transformed the campus into a thriving community that supports wellness, independence, and connection,” Geri says. “Today, with the completion of the Motherhouse apartments, we celebrate the fulfillment of that vision.”
Following the service and a ribbon cutting by the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, sisters and guests were treated to tours of the new units.
A Place to Call Home
The blending of old and new residents has people looking forward to experiencing life at Mount Carmel Bluffs.
“I love the people I know who live here,” says Michelle Leland, who attended the event with her sister and brother-in-law, Cinda and Tom Welu. “It’s nice to visit now. And I hope to live here someday.”
Cinda, who was a water instructor at the old pool for the Roberta Kuhn Center, echoed that sense of anticipation.
“We’re not ready… not yet,” she says of her and her husband, Tom. “But we certainly want to stay up to date on what’s happening here.”
BVM Mira Mosle (l.) and guests Michelle Leland (l.) and Tom and Cinda Welu tourthe new space at Mount Carmel Bluffs Motherhouse.
Designed for Modern Living
The newly renovated apartments offer contemporary comfort within a historic framework. Layouts range from modest one-bedroom units to larger, more distinctive residences—some tucked into the building’s iconic turrets.
The apartments also reveal thoughtful preservation details. In one turret residence, original bookshelves still curve beneath the windowsills—an architectural feature that connects past and present. Throughout the building, original solid wood shutters have been left intact, offering both a little character and continuity with the Motherhouse’s earliest days.
“It’s incredible what they’ve done,” says BVM Marilyn Wilson. “Every one of them is different.”
The hallways have become a gallery of legacy and creativity. Artwork by several BVMs line the exterior corridors, displayed alongside works by lay artists and photographers—a blending of community voices across the generations.
At the same time, the development is responding to broader demographic realities.
“The demand for senior housing continues to increase,” Geri says.
The apartments are designed to meet that need, offering independence while maintaining proximity to care, community, and spiritual life.
The project itself was the result of extensive collaboration. Gronen Construction served as project managers alongside numerous partners, staff, and supporters who brought it all to life.
A Sacred Continuity
Despite all the changes, the essence of the Motherhouse remains intact.
“It has long been a place of service, prayer, learning, and hospitality,” Geri says.
That legacy was woven throughout the blessing ceremony, where Scripture readings and prayers grounded the moment in something deeper than bricks and mortar.
“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established,” one reading from Proverbs proclaims. “Through knowledge, its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.”
Those treasures are not only architectural, but human: memories, relationships, and a shared sense of purpose.
Looking Ahead
As tours began and visitors stepped into the newly completed apartments, the mood was both celebratory and reflective.
“May this be a time of joyful remembrance, deep gratitude, and peace as we celebrate both our treasured past and promising future,” LaDonna says.
That dual focus—honoring what has been while embracing what is to come—defines the renewal of the Motherhouse. It is not simply a restored building—it is a continuation of a place where history is not preserved behind glass, but lived in, and where new residents become part of the story.
And so, a legacy of faith, community, and care continues to unfold.
Michelle London is a communications specialist for the Sisters of Charity, BVM in Dubuque, Iowa.
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