On Saturday, June 18th, we celebrated the Golden Jubilee of the religious profession of Sisters Miriam Cripps, Cornelia Fitzpatrick and Virginia Fornasa, and the Silver Jubilee of Sister Cecilia Legani.
For more photos and video of this joyful event, please see our Facebook page.
Below is a brief outline of the years of service and mission of each Sister:
Sister Miriam Cripps, smsm
From: Framingham, Massachusetts
First Vows: March 9th, 1966 Waltham, MA
Mission and Ministry:
USA: BSA degree from Bentley College, Boston (1968)
Samoa: teaching at St Mary’s College, Vaimoso; Regional Financial Administrator (1968-75)
Italy: General Financial Administrator in Rome. (1975-81)
USA: Financial Administrator for Maristhill Nursing Home in Waltham (1981-85): Masters in Religious Education from Assumption College (1988)
Jamaica: Director of Religious Education in Montego Bay;
Work at Holy Family Self-Help Centre (1994-97)
USA: Aiding in Finance Office, Waltham, and in chaplaincy services at Maristhill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. (1998- present)
Sister Cornelia Fitzpatrick, smsm
From: The Bronx, New York
First Vows: March 9th, 1966 in Waltham, MA
Mission and Ministry:
USA: Parish ministry in Situate, Massachusetts (1966). Studies at Cardinal Cushing College for BA in Business Administration and in Theology(1967-71)
Peru: Teaching at Marist´s Brothers Primary School, Callao & San Jose (1971-73);
Member of a parish team forming Basic Christian Communities, developing a catechetical program and activities with youth In Chulucanas, Peru (1973-82) similar ministry in a parish with over 100 villages in Frias, Peru (1983- 87)
USA: Mission Bursar/Mission Coops (1987-91); Provincial Councillor, Director of Development Office (1991-94); Hispanic Ministry in Chicago: Community Center for Immigrant Women, initiating development program and accounting office, organizing programs for English as a Second Language and advancement of women. (1995-99) Rome, Italy: Two terms as General Financial Administrator (2000-06) Peru: Pastoral ministry and Financial and other administrative duties in Lima (2007-present)
Sister Virginia Fornasa, smsm
From: Guttenberg, New Jersey
First Vows: March 9th, 1966, in Waltham, MA
Mission and Ministry:
USA: (1966-68) Cooking for community in Waltham; 6 months service at St Stephen’s seminary in Hawaii; Fiji (1968-82) BA and Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of the South Pacific; teaching at secondary schools in urban and rural areas; Regional Councillor; Indian catechumenate and pastoral ministry. USA Vocation ministry (’83-86), Provincial Councillor (’87-88); studies for MTS at Weston Jesuit School of Theology; Provincial Leader (’89-94) Italy: Assistant General (’95-2001); Fiji: teaching at Pacific Regional Seminary; Formation Ministry; Executive Secretary for the Conference of Major Superiors in the Pacific Islands (2002-‘06) USA: returned to care for mother and sister (2006-present); Provincial Councillor (2010-11); Mission District Secretary (2012-13); Communications Secretary (2014-present)
Sister Cecilia Legani
From: Savo, Solomon Islands
First Vows: April 28, 1991, Heretaunga, NZ
Mission and Ministry:
Solomon Islands: 1991, Pastoral / Ecumenical work with women´s groups at Nazareth Apostolic Center, Red Bank and other settlements. Papua New Guinea: 1992, Xavier Institute, Catechetics, Pastoral work and Prison Ministry. Solomon Islands: 1993-‘94, St. Joseph´s Secondary School. Fiji: Suva Craft Centre, administration of small business. Kiribati. 1995-1997, Taught Religion and Home Economics at St Louis High School in Tarawa. Latin America: 1998-1999. Studied Spanish in Peru then missioned to Monteria, Colombia: Pastoral work and Prison Ministry. Sta. Eduviges, El Pozon: 2000-2003. Pastoral work with the displaced families, youth and Infancia Misionera. Bogota: 2004.2006. Pastoral work at San Louis Parish and work with the “street kids” at the Fundacion Papa Jaime la Esperanza. LTSR in Rome (Aug-Dec, 2006). Cartagena, Santa Eduviges: 2007- 2009, Pastoral work, with the youth and Children Infancia and the soup kitchen for children. Bogota.2010-2011, Caracoli, Ministering to women and children. 2012-2016: Studying Biblical Science at the Latin American Pastoral Institute, Universidad Minuto de Dios and part-time in pastoral work with adults, youth and children at San Francisco de Asis Parish.
