Sr. Mildred Morrissey, FFM

Sr. Millie was the middle child of seven children born in Boston, Massachusetts. She attended Catholic Schools from Kindergarten through High School. She continued her studies at State Teachers College in Boston. During that time, through one of her friends, Sr. Millie met the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary. She discovered that they were from St. Clement’s Eucharistic Shrine in Boston where Sr. Millie often went to pray. From this chance meeting, Sr. Millie, while continuing her studies, went as a counselor to Camp St. Helene in Palenville, NY for two summers with the FMM’s. During this time, she was impressed by the sisters’ life style, especially their devotion to the Eucharist and the recitation of the Office, which was chanted beautifully each morning and evening in the Camp Chapel. Sr. Millie graduated from college and taught for one year in the Back Bay area of Boston. Her second grade class was mostly African-American students and from this experience she decided religious life for her would have to include a missionary aspect! Prior to meeting the FMM’s she had only known sisters who remained in the classroom year after year.

She entered the FMM’s on September 15, 1954, after visiting Richard Cardinal Cushing, who looked around at her family members and asked “Where are the photographers”. (The Cardinal enjoyed having his picture taken). Her first cousin, Fr. John F. Fitzgerald, CSP, former General of the Paulist Fathers, was the celebrant when she received the habit on March 19, 1955. Sr. Millie pronounced her First Vows on March 19, 1957 and on March 19, 1960, her Final Vows.

As a Young Professed sister, Sr. Millie did studies at St. Louis University and graduated with a degree as a Medical Social Worker. She was missioned to Cardinal Hayes Home for Children as a social worker. After Final Vows in 1960, she was missioned to Divine Providence Shelter in New York to work in Social Work Office. Two years later she was missioned to St. Anthony Convent in Fall River, MA where she taught fifth grade at Espirito Santo School and also did catechetical work.

In 1965, Sr. Millie was missioned to Australia where she taught in Essenton, Victoria. In 1966 she was missioned for two years to Marymead Children’s Center where she was sacristan and taught at the Catholic Regional High School in Canberra. She had several other mission sendings after Canberra. Her final mission assignment in Australia was back to Marymead Children’s Center where she was Program Director until she returned to the USA in 1984.

Back in the US Sr. Millie had several mission sendings. Ater a Sabbatical Program in Texas, she was missioned to Fall River where she was Principal at Espirito Santo School from 1985-1991. Sr. Millie participated in a Franciscan Life Experience in Rye Beach, NH and then followed the Wellsprings Program in Glens Falls, NY. She was missioned to Visitation Community where she was the Vice President for Mission Effectiveness at Franciscan Children’s Hospital in Brighton, MA. She also served one term as Provincial Councilor. From 1993 – 1998 she was Principal of St. Bridget School in Abington, MA. In 1994 she was asked to become a member of Nazareth Novitiate in Fall River and later West Greenwich. Her school ministry changed from Abington, MA to Principal of All Saints Academy in Middletown, RI, until she left in 2002.

In 2003 Sr. Millie was missioned to Emanuel Community in Pine Mountain, GA. She was the Religious Education Director for Christ the King Parish as well as a Eucharistic Minister. In her “spare time” she was a volunteer teacher at the local public school.

As Sr. Millie’s heath began to decline, she was missioned to the FMM Assisted Living Residence in North Providence, RI. She helped in the convent library, was a Mass lector and helped our sisters missioned from other countries with their English. She was also Local Coordinator of Holy Family Community from 2017 – 2024. Sr. Millie was missioned to St. Antoine Residence on January 10, 2025. She was called home by her loving God on March 11, 2025.

On the occasion of her Golden Jubilee Sr. Millie said,” I have given these 50 years to grow closer and closer to God for which I am eternally grateful. I have a hope and a dream that I will be able to continue to use every day striving for a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, whether that is in sickness or in health.”

Sr. Millie’s funeral will be held Friday, March 21, 2025 at 10:00 AM in Holy Family Chapel, 399 Fruit Hill Avenue, North Providence. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Cumberland, RI.

Visiting hours will be on Thursday, March 20, 2025 from 4:00-7:00 PM in Holy Family Chapel.