Sisters' Profiles
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.
Sr. Margaret Mary Donlon, fmm
Sister Margaret Mary entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary on September 18, 1951 in North Providence. A few months after first profession, Margaret was sent to Bell Street, where she learned to put the Montessori Method into practice, also teaching CCD at Mount Carmel Parish. In February of 1956, Margaret was sent on mission to Japan via Rome. Sister Margaret made her Final Vows at the Japanese Novitiate at Totsuka on March 19, 1957. In June of 1957, she was missioned to the foundation in Pusan, Korea. Most of her ministries have been as Directress of Novices, community leadership, teaching English to the novices, translation and other secretarial ministries. Her present ministry is teaching English to the seven Korean novices as well as continuing to translate and render secretarial services.
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.
Sr. Mary Petrosky, fmm
Mary Petrosky entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary September 1951 in North Providence, RI. After making her First Vows, Mary studied in Boston at Emmanuel College, graduating in 1957 with a sociology degree. She pronounced her Final Vows in Boston in March of that same year and was sent to the Midwest where she earned her MSW from St. Louis University in 1959. Many of her ministries were in social work here in the US, Australia and Papua New Guinea. , Mary was named Director of Social Services at McMahon Children's Services in Harlem, NY. Other ministries were in leadership and religious formation here and in overseas missions.
Her present ministries are Spiritual Direction, Local Coordinator of her community and Provincial councilor.
Sr. Frances Milano, fmm
Sister Frances Milano, fmm entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Sept. 18, 1951 in North Providence. She pronounced her First Vows March 19, 1954 and her Final Vows March 19, 1957. Prior to her entry she had work experience as a receptionist and aide to a veterinarian and 8 1/2 years as clerk/teletype operator and relief manager for The Western Union Telegraph Company. This latter job entailed extensive travel throughout the United States. After she received “God’s Call”, prior to entering at Fruit Hill, Frances went on a Holy Year pilgrimage to several western European countries.
Her first mission sending was to San Francisco where she was bursar, librarian and the supervisor of young women residents. Frances was missioned to Peru and set sail in February 1958. lquitos on the Amazon was the site of her first work in Peru, teaching English. Later, she was sent to Chile, San Vicente de Tagua Tagua, where she filled a number of positions: English teacher, commissioner, bookstore clerk, and Novice Mistress. Throughout her religious life, Frances has served in various ministries: community and provincial leadership, novice directress, translator, hospital volunteer. Sent in mission to Holy Family Community in North Providence, she serves in community service wherever there is a need.
Sr. Margaret Lois Houlihan , fmm
Sr. Margaret Lois Houlihan entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary on March 16, 1947, in the 45th St. New York convent. She made her First Vows on Sept.17, 1949, and Final Vows on Sept. 17, 1952 in North Providence. Throughout her religious life she has had diverse ministries: as a linotype operator in The FMM Printing Press, music director, composer, Montessori teacher in the St Raphael Nursery, Bell St; Certified Nursing Assistant in St. Anne's Hospital, Fall River, MA. She was sent in mission to St. Teresa High School in Monrovia, Liberia, and also taught in the university and was the music director. She served in chaplaincy to higher government institutions in Kumasi, Ghana. In the USA, she served as the coordinator for Brooklyn Homeless Program and gave Music-imagery therapy in Francis House for persons suffering with AIDS. She volunteered in a child care facility and at St. Francis Center in Providence, RI. Her current ministry is librarian for the communities at Fruit Hill.
