Sr. Jeanne d’Arc Saeko Mera, fmm

Jeanne d’Arc Saeko Mera entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary March 15, 1949 in Yokohama, Japan. After pronouncing her final vows September 1, 1956 in Sapporo, Japan, her ministries in Japan were teaching in a Kindergarten in Tenshi from 1956 to 1958, working with children in an orphanage in Kitahiroshima from 1958 to 1966. She obtained a Montessori Certificate in Early Childhood in 1973 and a B.A. in Education in 1979. Her ministry was as a Teacher and Director of Stella Maris Kindergarten in Kobe, Japan.

In 1979 she was sent in mission to the United States to Kennedy Memorial Day School Program in Brighton, MA serving as an Intern and teacher’s aide. She obtained experience in special education and obtained a Master of Arts in Special Education. Throughout her years, her various ministries have been in Montessori education and healing arts. Presently, she continues her healing ministry.

Sr. Jeanne taught in the Montessori School in Cambridge, MA, and was the Head Teacher at St. Joseph’s Montessori School in Fall River, MA. She was sent in mission to Thoreau, NM where she served as Director of Tekakwitha Montessori School from 1982 to 1994.

From 1994 to 2000 she served as the head Teacher at the Center for Montessori Teachers’ Education in White Plains, NY. She obtained another Montessori Certificate for Early Infant and Toddler Education. Later she combined early childhood education, teacher's training and holistic health into her training program.

In 1999, she obtained a certificate as an Ohashi Instructor (Holistic Healing). Later she worked at Isabella Geriatric Center, New York.

From 2001 to 2003 her ministries were founding OCOS (Our Children Our Selves) In New Rochelle. This program for parents which taught them parenting skills for young children in their homes, community building, and integration of culture.

For the past ten years Sr Jeanne has travUueled to Japan each year bringing her *OCOS skills and philosophy to various kindergartens and parent's groups which i-ncludes teacher's training.

At the present time she continues her Ohashi healing ministries.

She continues her educational ministry by working with two groups of children and parents, one of which is located in Manhattan and the other in Yonkers. These programs concern parenting skills, and observation skills which open the eyes of the parents to the inner power of their children. Through the children's inner energy, peace will be brought to society.