Sr. Patricia Murphy, fmm

Throughout her religious life, Patricia’s primary ministry has been teaching, at first in the USA; then in Japan; and again in the USA. But she has always had a great concern for the poor and suffering and has found numerous ways to reach out to them over the years. Her greatest interest is in people, which she shows by her compassion and understanding of the burdens she knows all carry.

After serving five and a half years in Boston, Patricia was missioned to St. Anthony's Convent in Fall River where she began teaching and, at the same time, followed courses in Catholic Teacher's College in Providence, RI. 1958 saw Patricia off to Japan where she taught for 6 1/2 years i the English school in Kobe. On returning to the USA, Patricia obtained a BA in Sociology from Emmanuel College, Boston and did further study in Theology in NYC. From 1969 to 1986, she served as Principal of Espiritu Sancto School. She also served a term as local superior of the community. For the next two years, Pat was teaching in Chicago while living in the FMM novitiate community there. She was called in 1988 to Holy Family Community, North Providence to serve as local coordinator until 1991. After a session in Franciscan studies at St. Bonaventure's University, Pat was sent to San Francisco, California where she served with the Franciscan Friars pastoral outreach efforts in the Tenderloin District. In 1995, Patricia was sent to Our Lady of the Visitation Convent - Cambridge, MA where she continued some teaching, did "Grand-Parenting" work in schools, helped in a shelter for homeless women, and reached out to many a street person! Since being missioned to RI in 2004, Pat visits pastorally in the FMM Assisted Living Residence there and in nursing homes. She serves as a sacristan and Eucharistic minister in Holy Family Chapel.