Sisters' Profiles
Sr. Helen Mary Riordan, fmm
Sr. Helen Mary Riordan, fmm, entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary on September 16, 1946 in Holy Family Novitiate North Providence. She made her first vows on March 19, 1949, and her final vows on March 19, 1952 in Holy Family Chapel, North Providence. After completing studies in nursing, she was sent in mission to St. Francis Sanatorium in Roslyn where she cared for children with rheumatic fever. She served by nursing in the Franciscan Hospital for Children, formerly called Kennedy Memorial Hospital, Brighton, Ma., the FMM Nursing Center and Fruit Hill Day Center for Elderly. Later, her ministry was receptionist and doing other community services in St. Francis Convent, Roslyn, NY. At present, her ministry at Fruit Hill is intercessory prayer for the Church and the world, and occasionally writing to her legislators about matters of concern.
Sister Anne Kelly, fmm
Sister Anne Kelly entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary on September 18, 1950 at the age of seventeen. After pronouncing her first vows on March 19, 1953, she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in 1957 from Emmanuel College with a major in Mathematics. She pronounced her final vows on March 19, 1956 and was sent in mission to St. Anthony’s Community in Fall River, MA. Where Sr. Anne taught the fourth grade at Espiritu Santo School for one year.
In July l958, Sr. Anne was sent to Rome where after one month, was missioned to Pakistan where she spent nine years as a Professor of English in Nazareth College in Hyderabad.
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. Aline Giroux, fmm
Sr. Aline Giroux, fmm entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary on March 15, 1952 In North Providence and pronounced her Final Vows September 17, 1959. Most of Sr. Aline's ministries have been in the health care field. After obtaining her license as an R.N. she did staff nursing in St. Louis and North Providence. Then she was sent to St. Francis Cardiac Hospital in Long Island where she was the assistant supervisor in the operating room, followed by serving as administrative assistant in charge of four hospital departments. After completing studies leading to an MBA, she became the assistant administrator of St. Francis Hospital, Long Island. Sister has served in administration in facilities in the United States and in Africa. Her present ministries are Director of the Fruit Hill Day Services and serving on the Board of Directors for Franciscan Children's Hospital and Rehabilitation Center in Brighton and the Board of the Fruit Hill Day Services for the Elderly.
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.
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.
