Leaders, residents dedicate Mount Carmel Bluffs senior living community 

Leaders playing key roles in the redevelopment of Mount Carmel Bluffs gathered with residents to dedicate the senior living community on August 17, 2023. A shared ministry of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) and Presbyterian Homes & Services (PHS), the community serves BVM as well as older adults of all faiths in the greater Dubuque area.
The land on which Mount Carmel Bluffs was built overlooking the scenic bluffs of the Mississippi River was first purchased by BVM in 1889. It later grew to become the largest convent in North America. In 2018, the congregation partnered with PHS to construct a new senior living community to honor God and enrich the lives and touch the hearts of older adults.
Speakers at the dedication of Mount Carmel Bluffs included Geri Schilling-Johnson, campus administrator, LaDonna Manternach, BVM president, Dan Lindh, PHS president and CEO, Katy Wethal, City of Dubuque councilwoman, David Palmer, Senior Housing Partners project developer, and the Rev. Monsignor Thomas Toale, Ph.D., moderator of the curia - Archdiocese of Dubuque.
The amenity-rich, wellness-focused community offers independent living apartments and townhomes, enriched living apartments, memory care apartments and long-term care suites. At the heart of Mount Carmel Bluffs is the BVM Motherhouse, a landmark preserved and remodeled as the “Town Center.”