FMM USA - The World Needs Missionaries

Sr. Simone Laurette Decelles, fmm 

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

Sr. Simone’s 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 Espiritu 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.

Sr. Rosemary Rita Freda, fmm 

Sister Rosemary Rita Freda entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary on September 15, 1962 and pronounced her Final Vows on March 19, 1970 in N. Providence, R.I. Since she was an RN with a Baccalaureate degree prior to her entry, Sister was sent in mission in 1964 to Kennedy Memorial Hospital, now called Franciscan Hospital for Children in Brighton, Ma. She then worked full time as a Visiting Nurse with the Boston VNA while studying and obtaining a Master’s degree in Public Health Nursing.  In 1972, she was sent in mission to Australia where she studied Midwifery and then served as a Nurse Midwife in Papua New Guinea.   Missioned back to the United States in 1976, Sister served as a nurse in the F.M.M. Nursing Facility and as the local coordinator of her community. After completing graduate studies in Theology, she served as a hospital chaplain at hospitals in Fall River and Chicago. She served as a pastoral associate in a parish in San Francisco. Presently, Sister is ministering in Community service and in prayer for the Church and for the world.

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Sister Elfriede M. Jackson, fmm

Sister Elfriede M. Jackson, fmm was born in River Cess Country, Liberia, She entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary September 15, 1960 in North Providence as there was no novitiate in Liberia.  She pronounced her final vows in Monrovia in 1966. She was sent in mission to Jirapa Hospital in Ghana to study nursing and then returned to Sanaquillie, Liberia to run a clinic.  Sent in mission to Coldash, England, she served as a community nurse.  She was member of a team of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary who started the Coldash Retreat Center. Then, she was sent in mission to Liberia to organize and open a retreat center. During the Liberian civil she was sent to the United States where she served as a member of the novitiate formation team.  Presently, she resides in Trinity Community in North Providence where she assists in the FMM Assisted Living Residence and the Fruit Hill Day Program for Elderly.

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Sr. Caterina Isonni, fmm 

Sr. Caterina Isonni entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary on September 15, 1945 in St. Rosa International Novitiate, Grottaferrata, Italy. She made her first vows on March 19, 1948, and her final vows on March 19, 1951 In Grottaferrata. Italy.

Sent in Mission to the USA Province, her ministry was 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.

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Sr. Therese C. Landry, fmm

Sr. Therese C. Landry entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary at North Providence in December 1946, and made her Final Vows at Holy Family Novitiate on June 13, 1952. After completing her nursing studies at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital School of Nursing and obtaining her R.N., she was sent in mission to St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, NY. where she served as the operating Room supervisor. Several years later, Sister graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Nursing from St. Louis University. She was sent in Mission to St, Francis Community in Roslyn, NY. She studied, obtaining a. Master in Business Administration at Adelphi University after which she served as the Executive Director of St. Francis Hospital from 1977 to 1979.   After a Sabbatical, she was appointed the Coordinator and Directress of Health Services in the F.M.M. Nursing Facility. Subsequent ministries are Clinical Pastoral Care, Home Health Nursing Hospitality for Children, care of elderly, sick Sisters. Her present ministry at Fruit Hill, is that of intercessory prayer for the Church and the world.

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