Sisters' Profiles
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.
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.
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.
