Sr. Barbara Dopierala, fmm entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary March 25, 1981 in Otwock, Poland. She pronounced her first vows in March 1983 in Otwock and her final profession was April 5, 1986 in Polanow, Poland.

Her past ministries include director of the orphanage in Labunie, Poland from 1983 until 1987. She was sent in mission to the USA Province January 19, 1988. She served in the Franciscan Missionary of Mary Nursing Center while she was studying English. She obtained reciprocity as a Registered Nurse in 1991 and entered the field in Pediatrics.

She has served in religious formation as the prenovice directress in Waukegan, IL and Pawtucket, RI Prenovitiates. She worked as a nurse in St. Theresa’s Hospital, Waukegan, at Hospice Inpatient Unit-Providence, RI Hospice care in Providence and in Cardinal Hayes Home for Children in Millbrook, NY.

Her present ministry is Director of Novices in Mary of Nazareth Novitiate, West Greenwich, RI.


Sr. Gloria Carpinello, fmm entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary September 15, 1955 in Holy Family Novitiate North Providence. She made her first vows March 19, 1958 and her final vows March 19, 1962 in Holy Family Chapel, N. Providence, RI. Her diverse, past, ministries in the USA and in her overseas mission in Ghana-Liberia include Home Economics teacher, Formation of Young African religious, collaboration with US AID Development Project with Cooperative Villagers, Home Economics Extension worker with village women in collaboration with the Liberian Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Service to Ghana Liberia as provincial. In the USA her ministries include spiritual direction, pastoral care, administrator of a Medical Clinic, and participation in a Volunteer Clown Troup. Her present ministries are Chaplain Bon Secours, Maria Manor St. Petersburg, Florida, and organizing a Resident Clown Troup at Bon Scours, Maria Manor.
 

Sr. Minda Castrillo, fmm entered the Franciscan Missionaries March 19, 1955 in Tagatay, Philippines and pronounced first vows September 17, 1958 and her final vows in September 17, 1961. Her past ministries include teaching in the Franciscan seminary and guidance counselor of students and their parents in Lady of Loreto College of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary. She served the seminary in doing the screening of their postulants by administering a battery of psychological tests and analyzing their profiles. With the martial law of the Marcos regime, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary had to phase out their college. Sr. Minda became qualified in Clinical Pastoral Care which brought her to the hospital apostolate and supervision of seminarians, religious, and pastors of varied denominations. Her preparation in this ministry was based first at St. Luke’s Hospital and then In Makati Medical Hospital. She was in this ministry from 1975 to 1993 except for the year of her residency in St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital and Heart Institute in Houston Texas in 1976. In 1993, she was sent in mission to the U.S.A. province. Her present ministry is chaplaincy work at St. Francis Hospital, Roslyn.

 
 

Sr. Maria del Pilar (Ana Lina) Garcia, fmm entered the Franciscan Missionaries March 15, 1955 in Pamplona, Spain and pronounced first vows March 19, 1958 and her final vows March 19, 1961 in St. Rosa International Novitiate in Grottaferrata, Italy.

She has had specialized training and talent in sewing and the making of vestments for the chapel. Her talent was used in the making of vestments for the late Pope John XXXIII.

In 1961, she was sent in mission to the USA, Divine Providence Shelter, in New York where she served as a child care worker. Most of her ministries in the USA have been in child care. Presently, she ministers in Holy Family’s parish social services center where she is considered by the participants to be the "heart of the center." She also visits the sick in their homes as a Eucharistic minister.
Sr. Emilia Palma, fmm entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary at Immaculate Heart of Mary Novitiate in Tagaytay in 1955. She pronounced her first vows in June 1958 and was sent to teach at Our Lady of Loreto Academy in Manila. After pronouncing her final vows in June, 1961, she was sent to the newly founded Stella Maris College in Cebu. Her ministries throughout her religious have been in the field of teaching; in Monrovia, Liberia teaching at St. Theresa’s School for girls;, in Yekepa, a mountain, mining town to administer to more than a thousand children of the miners. Her present ministry is Chamberino, New Mexico where she is doing religious education and pastoral care.
Sr. Marie-Paule Willem, fmm entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary 15, 1955 at Gooreind, Belgium. She pronounced her first vows in June 13, 1958 and her final vows June 13, 1962. After her first vows, she helped the foundation of a school for ‘puericultrices" in Mechelen (Malines) where she taught until 1965, the year she was missioned to Argentina. There she worked in Buenos Aires, Intiyaco and San Antonio de Padua, during the persecution and the second term of Peron. In 1974 she was sent to Asuncion, Paraguay, during the difficult time of the persecution of the "campesinos". There she served the political prisoners until they made her leave in 1977. In 1979 she was sent to the USA, Texas, on the Mexican Border, where she worked in Roma and Sullivan City-Penitas as a DRE, and with the immigrants until 1989.

In 1991 she went to co-found Our Lady of Guadalupe in Chamberino, New Mexico. She served as the parish Life Coordinator (pastor) of Garfield-Derry-Arrey-Hillsboro. After a sabbatical year in Brussels (Lumen Vitea) and Rome (San Isidoro) she returned to 97th street NY where she became the coordinator at the Senior Service Center. Her present ministry is the pastoral Associate at Holy name Parish, New York.
Sr. Eugenia Choi, fmm entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary December 15, 1956 in Macao, China. She pronounced her first vows December 15, 1958 and her final vows December 15, 1961 in Macau. She taught in Colegio Santa Rosa de Lima in Macau, and then served as the directress of the normal school program, and principal of St. Joseph High School in Macau. She was sent to the USA province in 1968 to continue her studies. After completing her studies she stayed on in the U.S., to work for the Chinese Immigrants in the area of her educational preparation. From 1975 she ministered as a psychologist on health for Chinese Children, in Tuft’s University Hospital and then in South Cove Health Center in Boston, MA At that time she was the only Chinese bilingual psychologist who was available and willing to render that service. Other ministries were Guidance Counselor at the Cathedral Grammar School, Vocational Counselor at Chinatown Manpower Project, Inc., Educational Consultant Board of Education NYC, Guidance Counselor Corlears Junior High School,, Pastoral ministry for Chinese Parishioners in Holy Name of Jesus Parish in San Francisco. Her present ministry is Supervisor of Counseling at Immigrant Social Services, Inc. NYC.


Sr. Maria Silva, fmm entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary September 9, 1946 in Holy Family Novitiate North Providence. She made her first vows September 17, 1948, and her final vows, September 17, 1954 in Holy Family Chapel, N. Providence. Her varied ministries include child care in Divine Providence Shelter, McMahon Shelter and Cardinal Hayes home for Children all in New York. In St. Louis, Hotel Alverne a residence for the elderly, she served as sacristan and social activities coordinator, She served as food supervisor at St. Francis

She served as a local coordinator in a house of hospitality. Her care and love of the elderly led her to minister as a home health aide in a community health agency and a nurses’ aide in the Fmm Nursing Center. Pastoral care In St. Antoine’s Residence was her most recent ministry. Presently her ministry is that of intercessory prayer for the needs of the Church and of the world.
Sr. Theresa Arsenault, fmm entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary September 15, 1945 in Holy Family Novitiate North Providence. She made her first vows March 19, 1948, and her final vows, March 19, 1951 in Holy Family Chapel, N. Providence.

The care of and the teaching of children has been Sr. Theresa’s ministry throughout her religious life both in the USA and In Japan. She began as a group mother in Divine Provide Shelter, McMahon Shelter and in St. Francis Sanatarium now known as St. Francis Hospital. She was sent in mission to Japan where she taught in Stella Maris International School in Kobe, in Yokahoma in two international schools. In Shukagawa, Japan, she taught English to Japanese children and helped in the Montessori kindergarten. Sent in mission to the USA, her ministries were teaching religion to Navajo children in Chichiltah and Saw Mill, AZ; Thoreau, NM and serving in local leadership. She tutored adults and pre-school children in St. Louis MO. She served in pastoral care in St. Antoine’s Residence and as a receptionist in St. Francis Community, Roslyn, NY. Her present ministry is that of intercessory prayer for the needs of the Church and of the world and in community service.
Sr. Virginia Marie Daly, fmm entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary September 15, 1945 in Holy Family Novitiate North Providence. She made her first vows March 19, 1946, and her final vows, March 19, 1951 in Holy Family Chapel, N. Providence..

Her ministries have been in child care in Orient Heights, MA, Kennedy Memorial Hospital now known as Franciscan Hospital for Children and Divine Providence Shelter, NY and as a teacher in Mt. St. Francis, Woonsocket, RI. She worked on the linotype machine in the FMM Fruit Hill Printing Press, N. Providence, RI. She served as the province treasurer for several years. After specialized studies in Gerontology, she was appointed the director of the Fruit Hill Day program for Elderly. She is presently at St. Antoine’s Residence in N. Smithfield, RI. Her ministry is that of intercessory prayer for the needs of the Church and of the world.
Sr. Caterina Isonni, fmm entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary September 15, 1945 in St. Rosa International Novitiate, Grottaferrata, Italy. She made her first vows March 19, 1948, and her final vows, March 19, 1951 In Grottaferrata. Italy.

Sent in Mission to the USA Province her ministry has been mostly in child care at Kennedy Memorial Hospital now known as Franciscan Hospital for Children, Brighton, MA as a group manager of the boys’ Unit; Divine Providence Shelter and Cardinal Hayes Home for Children in Millbrook, NY as a supervisor. After completing her service as a child care worker and supervisor in Cardinal Hayes Home for Children, she cared for the grounds beautifying the various areas.
Her present ministry is the Fruit Hill Day Service for Elderly where her fluency in the Italian language is much appreciated by participants whose native tongue is Italian.

 
Cathy Boudreau, FMM, entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary December 12, 1945 in the Holy Family Novitiate N. Providence. After pronouncing her first vows in June, 1948, she was sent in mission to East Boston, then to Kennedy Memorial Hospital, now known as Franciscan Hospital for Children. She made her final vows in June 1951 in Holy Family Chapel. After completing her studies in nursing she was missioned to St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, NY serving as Director of Nursing. In 1969 she was sent to Indonesia and missioned to the Island of Flores. She returned to the USA province in 1986 to care for her mother. Unable to renew her visa for Indonesia, she was assigned to Fruit Hill to help in the care of elderly sisters. Later she was sent to Hazlehurst, GA. to work as a transcriptionist in a clinic. In 1990 she was sent to St. Bonaventure Mission in Thoreau, NM to work as a secretary in a pre-school. Later her assignment to Oakland/San Francisco area enabled her to serve the Catholic Indonesian community. After closing the two communities in this area, she again was sent to St. Francis Community in Roslyn where she is local treasurer and volunteers in the Hospital.


Sr. Simone Laurette Decelles, fmm, entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary March 16 1941 in Holy Family Novitiate North Providence. She made her first vows September 17, 1943 and final vows September 17, 1946 in Holy Family Chapel, N. Providence.

Her ministry throughout her religious life has been as a teacher. She began her teaching ministry in Mt. St. Francis School in Woonsocket, RI. Most of her years as a teacher were spent in Espirito Santo School in Fall River, MA. She also taught religious education in several parishes in Fall River and did home visitation. She has served in local leadership. Her present ministry is that of intercessory prayer for the needs of the Church and the world. She is active in community service.
Sr. Gilberte Marie Belhumeur, fmm entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary June 11, 1941 in Quebec, Canada. She made her first vows September 15, 1943 and her final vows December 15, 1946 in Quebec.

Her ministry during her early years was in Communication first in Quebec for 10 years and then in Vanves, France for 20 years. She used her skills in the operation of the large printing press. Thus, she was instrumental in communicating the Good News of God’s love. Gilberte was sent in mission to the USA in 1971 to care for her aged, blind mother. After her mother’s death she was sent to Holy Family Community in N. Providence, RI where she assisted in the care of Sisters in the Nursing Center. Her present ministry is the Fruit Hill Day Service for Elderly. With a warm smile, she greets the participants each morning and accompanies them throughout the day.
Sr. Alice Dorothy Smilanich, fmm entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary June 13, 1941 in Holy Family Novitiate North Providence. She made her first vows December 15, 1943 in North Providence and her final vows December 15 1946 in Monrovia, Liberia.

Her past ministries include local coordinator of her community and Director of St. Theresa’ School in Liberia, Africa from 1945 to 1970. She returned to the USA for medical treatment and while recuperating, served as the local coordinator in communities of Our Lady of the Eucharist in Brighton and Grace Haven in Narragansett, RI. She was sent again to her missions in Africa first in Jirapa where she served as an accountant in the hospital then to Monrovia where she served as the secretary of education for the diocese. In Gbarnga, city, which is in north central Liberia, West Africa, at the intersection of roads from Monrovia and northern Sierra Leone, she was the librarian of the seminary. After another interlude for surgery in the USA, she was sent one last time to St. Martin de Porres in Gbarnga, Africa where again she served as the secretary of education for the diocese. Presently she is in St. Antoine’s Residence where her ministry is that of intercessory prayer for the needs of the Church and the world.
Sr. Margarida Tavares, fmm entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary September 15, 1940 in Holy Family Novitiate North Providence. She made her first vows September 15, 1941 and her final vows September 17 1946 in Holy Family Chapel, N. Providence, RI.

Her past ministries have included various community services in St Antoine, Cincinnati, OH, St. Clement’s In Boston, MA, Holy Family in N. Providence and Our Lady of Hope in Woonsocket, RI. After completing her preparation as a nurse’ aide, she worked in St. Francis Hospital, Roslyn, NY. She taught religious education in St. Anthony’s, Fall River and in Lebanon, NH. From 1978 to 1990, her ministries have been in child care and in a grandparent program in Cambridge, MA. Her present ministry is her ministry is that of intercessory prayer for the needs of the Church and the world.


Sr, Savina D’Agostino, fmm entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary March 15, 1931 in Holy Family Novitiate North Providence. She made her first vows September 17, 1936 final vows September 17, 1936 in Holy Family Chapel, N. Providence.

Her past ministries include sacristan, religious education, seamstress, home visitation, and care of the sick. She spent twenty six years on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. Her great love is for the Navajo People who she visited in their hogans instructing them in the Catholic faith and caring for the sick amongst them. She spent thirteen years in San Francisco and three years in St. Louis with a ministry to the elderly. A skilled seamstress, she conducted sewing and quilting classes for the residents. The remainders of her years have been spent at Fruit Hill as sacristan and other community services using her many gifts. Presently, she is volunteering in the Fruit Hill Day Services for the Elderly.