MUSCATINE, Iowa — There’s a tiny white dog with crippled back legs and a big mission living at Muscatine’s Center for Social Action.

Sister Irma Ries, executive director of the Center, named the petite Maltese dog Nano, in honor of Nano Nagle, who founded the Sisters of the Presentation, the convent Ries became part of 50 years ago.

Ries said Nagle devoted her life to being a teacher for poor children during the day, and  walking the streets with her lantern at night, seeking  poor, elderly and sick people whom she could help.

Ries said the abundant affection that Nano, 2, shows visitors at the Center is one more way of fulfilling Nagle’s mission to minister to people in need.

“She has a disability,” said Ries, referring to Nano’s back legs. “It helps us realize we all have some disabilities.”

The Muscatine Center for Social Action provides shelter, basic health care, educational and vocational support services for the homeless and near homeless of Muscatine County, and gives Ries welcome opportunities to minister to people in need.

Ries’ mother, Julia Ries, 91, of Manchester, said her daughter has always been a caring person, but she was surprised when Ries, the second oldest of her 13 children, said she wanted to become a Sister.

“She was always a happy-go-lucky girl,” said Julia Ries.

Ries recalls a joyful childhood, growing up on her parents’ farm in Iowa and watching their family grow.

Her father Matt passed away in 1979.

“I always thought I would be married, have children and be a farm wife,” said Ries.  “But, with the unfolding of my life over the past 50 years, I have come to know and believe that the Spirit of the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.”

As she prepares to celebrate her jubilee, or 50th year as a Sister of the Presentation, Ries said her decision led to a rich life of joy.

She entered the Convent at age 17 and took her final vows at age 25.  

Her education includes a Masters of Arts and a bachelor’s degree from Clarke College in Dubuque, and a Masters of Arts in religious education from the University of St. Thomas in Houston.

She served as an elementary teacher and principal in Catholic schools in Iowa and Minnesota and was also director of religious education and pastoral minister in parishes in those states.

Ries had first-hand experiences with poverty when she spent the summer of 1979 in Entre Rios, Boliva with Sister Julianne Brockamp. She was also a migrant minister in the Red River Valley of North Dakota in the summers of 1984 and  1985.

“She always has the gusto to take off and go and try new things,” said Ries’ sister, Carla Zumbach, 50, of Monticello. “You can depend on her for that.”

Ries gained more experience with migrant workers when she moved to Washington, Iowa, and met people from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua who were moving there to work at the IBP meat processing plant in Columbus Junction.

“I heard about all the services they have in Muscatine and I knew that someday I’d like to live and work here,” said Ries.

That opportunity came in 1993 when she accepted an invitation to become a pastoral minister at Sts. Mary and Mathias churches in Muscatine.

In the late 1990s, Ries was asked to join the staff at what was then called the Muscatine Center for Strategic Action.

She took some time to consider the off and ultimately, accepted it, believing Nano Nagle would have done the same.

“I will always be grateful I said yes,” said Ries. “I so look forward to coming in every day and saying ‘Good morning,’ to people I care about.”

Ries also expresses that same devotion to her family, which now numbers 152  with her nieces and nephews.

Julia said her daughter’s desire to put others first is a consistent trait in her life.

“She always seems to know just what to say or do at home with our family,” said Julia.  “She always says, ‘If you need me, I’ll be here,’ and she is. It helps to have Irma.”

Jubilee Celebration

Sr. Irma Ries will observe her golden jubilee 50th anniversary celebration Saturday, June 27, with four of her Presentation Sisters at Mount Loretto Motherhouse in Dubuque. The celebration, themed “Rooted and Grounded in Love,” will begin with a 10:30 a.m. liturgy in Sacred Heart Chapel and a dinner afterwards. They will meet family and friends at a reception before the Presentation Sisters and Associates.

Sister Nano NagleNano Nagle was born in Ireland in 1718 and made her  first annual vows in 1777.   Her first order was called the Sisters of the Charitable Instruction of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, but it was later changed to Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or the Presentation Sisters. She died in 1784 and her last words were “Love one another. Spend yourselves for the poor.”