Sr. Mary Theresa Plante, fmm
Sr. Mary Theresa Plante was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan and entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary on September 17, 1948 at North Providence, Rhode Island. Mary Theresa's first sending was to Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Brighton, Massachusetts, which is now known as Franciscan Hospital for Children. From 1951 to 1952, Mary Theresa ministered as a supervisor of the children in Kennedy Memorial Hospital.
Other sendings were to Cardinal Hayes Home for Children in Millbrook, NY until 1958, and Kennedy Memorial Hospital until 1962, where Sr. Mary Theresa served in the laboratory. Another sending was to Fruit Hill where she served in the printing press.
Mary Theresa was then sent to Roslyn, NY while she was a student at St. John's University from 1964-1968, graduating with a B.S. degree in Medical Technology. An internship was done at St Vincent's Hospital from 1967-1968. She then became Administrative Technologist in the laboratory at Kennedy Memorial Hospital from 1968-1980.
A sabbatical year from 1980-1981 found Mary Theresa in Brookline, MA. and Rome.
Mary Theresa then was sent to San Francisco where she worked at Lincoln Medical Center in San Francisco, continuing to do clinical laboratory work from 1981-1985. She then returned to New York and while living in the Provincialate, she did computer work for a Drug and Alcohol Rehab Organization through 1988.
In 1989 she became the first representative of Franciscans International, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) at the United Nations, a position which lasted officially until 2011. She still continues to consult with the Franciscan group. During this time, she also held the position of Justice and Peace Coordinator for the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.
Franciscans International was an attempt to bring the whole Franciscan Family together on peace and justice issues. Since Franciscans live and work throughout the world, they had firsthand experience of the issues being discussed at the United Nations. Issues such as Rights of the Child, Poverty, World Bank issues, Indigenous issues, Peace, Religious freedom, social issues of every kind and so many more. Franciscans are involved in all of these.
The world was moving toward globalization and the governments were reticent. The UN held world conferences which Mary Theresa attended, always making statements to the governments dealing with the above issues. World collaboration with other NGO's reflected the work and concerns of the Franciscans. The internet connected all. JPIC work began with the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, who made huge contributions to the work at the UN.
Franciscans International has just celebrated it's 25th anniversary as an NGO in New York and Geneva.