Sisters' Profiles
Sister Rose Marie Brooks, fmm
Sister Rose Marie Brooks entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in 1985 in Chicago, IL. She pronounced her final vows October 4, 1992 in Fall River at St. Stanislaus Parish.
Prior to her entry into the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, she graduated from St. Joseph's as an RN and worked for five years in Rhode Island Hospital Surgical Intensive Care Unit, then six more years in Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, MA.
In 1986, she was sent in mission to St. Francis Hospital where she served as a staff nurse and completed studies earning a B.S. in Nursing from Molloy College. In 1993, she was sent in mission to Bushulo , Ethiopia.
Sister Vita Marie Riccardelli, fmm
Sr. Vita Marie entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in 1960 at North Providence, RI. in 1966. . After her first vows in 1963, Vita studied nursing in Fatima Hospital, Providence and received her LPN. She made final vows in 1966. Sister later went to Roslyn and while working in St. Francis Hospital, studied for her RN at a local community college. In 1973 Vita was sent to England where at Liverpool she studied tropical diseases, and then to Ireland where she studied midwifery. After this Vita was missioned to Ghana where she worked as a nurse and midwife in a government health center until 1985. For the past twelve years, her ministry has been as a hospice nurse and/or at St. Francis Women’s Center. Vita can look back on her life and truthfully say: “Lord, it is good to be here! It’s been a happy, wonderful life, every minute. It’s hard to believe that I am preparing for a Golden Jubilee - wow! Fifty great years!“
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 Mary (Nancy) Cabral, fmm
Sister Mary (Nancy) Cabral entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in 1985 in Chicago, IL. During her novitiate, she ministered to abused women in Good Shepherd House. During the summer she worked with the migrant workers in North Carolina. Nancy pronounced her First Vows in 1988 and was sent to the Pre-novitiate house in St. Jerome's Parish to attend the Lay Ministry Course of the Archdioceseof Chicago and to attend Harry S. Truman Community College where she studied for her Associate's Degree. She was the editor of the college paper and served one year on the Community College Board of Chicago. During this time she went to the Young Religious Meetings in Peru, Mexico and Canada.
Sr. My Hoa Nguyen, fmm
Sr. My Hoa Nguyen was born on November 11 at Nha Trang, Vietnam, the eighth child of thirteen children; eight brothers and four sisters.
While in Nha Trang, Vietnam, My Hoa already has responded to God's call by teaching catechism to children. She also helped the children in her neighboorhood with their homework.
Her love of working with children continued after moving to the United States with her family. She worked as an assistant teacher for 3 to 5 year old children in a day care sponsored by the government for one year in San Jose, California.
Sr. Alma Dufault, fmm
Sr. Alma D. Dufault , fmm entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary on September 16, 1946 and made her final profession on March 19, 1952 . She completed studies at Fordham University in Social Work (MSW), and then served as a social worker in Divine Providence and McMahon Shelters in Manhattan, NY., She was sent in mission to Lebanon via Rome. While awaiting her visa to Lebanon, she spent time in Rome and in France. During this time Alma delved deeply into the history of the FMM Institute and of the Sisters who were the companions of Mary of the Passion. In 1957, at the age of 33, she was sent to the USA as the Directress of Novices . then to Rome as an Assistant General. At the General Chapter of 1972, Alma was elected Superior General. Upon completing her service as Superior General, Alma served as the first Secretary General of the newly established International Franciscan Conference. She was sent to the US Province 1988. After a renewal program, Alma was a member of a new community in Chamberino, NM. From 1992 to the present she has served as a member of the program for the Mission Resource Center in North Providence.
